Main Idea: When faith feels complex or unraveling, return to the simple truth of Jesus as Lord and His kingdom breaking into our world.

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1. Wrestling with Doubt and Complexity
Faith can feel fragile: Doubts and questions can leave us feeling exposed, as if faith rests on a "naked foundation."
Instead of despair, doubts drive us to focus on Jesus and His central message: the good news of the kingdom.

Matthew 4:17 (NIV) – "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'"

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2. Jesus’ Core Message: The Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus’ proclamation: Everywhere Jesus went, He preached the kingdom of heaven—God’s redemptive reign breaking into earth (Mark 1:15, Matthew 4:17, Luke 4:43).

What is the kingdom?
A reality where heaven meets earth: slow, small, hidden, but worth everything (Matthew 13:24-33, 44-46).

Good news for the hurting, lost, excluded, enslaved, and blind: God has come to rescue and redeem.

Scripture Examples:
Matthew 13:24-30 (NIV) – "Jesus told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, “Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?” “An enemy did this,” he replied. The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” “No,” he answered, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”'"

Matthew 13:31-33 (NIV) – "He told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.' He told them still another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.'"

Matthew 13:44-46 (NIV) – "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

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3. Jesus: The King of the Kingdom
Who is the King? Jesus is the unique King who died for His people’s sins, unlike any other ruler.

The early church’s message: After Jesus’ ascension, His followers proclaimed Him as the anointed King, the Christ.

Acts 5:42 (NIV) – "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah."

Earliest Christian creed: "Jesus is Lord."

Grounding truth: When theology feels complicated or church divisions frustrate, return to two truths:
Jesus is Lord.
His kingdom has come near.

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4. Living in the Kingdom: Repent and Believe
Jesus’ invitation: Repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15). This means daily realigning our hearts with God’s kingdom.

Searching the heart: Reflect on where rival "kingdoms" (fear, worry, power, money, pleasure) have captured your thoughts or dreams.

Prayer as alignment: The Lord’s Prayer ("Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," Matthew 6:10) reorients us to God’s reign.

God’s presence in all times:
In the best moments, Jesus corrects and guides us.
In the worst moments, He shows up unexpectedly—e.g., in the busyness of bedtime with kids or in the midst of disappointment.

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5. The Ascension and the Ever-Present King

Jesus’ ascension: After 40 days teaching about the kingdom, Jesus ascended as King (Acts 1:3, 9).

Implication: Jesus is Lord today and every day, reigning and inviting us to follow.

C.S. Lewis, Miracles
It is always shocking to meet life where we thought we were alone. “Look out!” we cry, “it’s alive.” And therefore this is the very point at which so many draw back—I would have done so myself if I could—and proceed no further with Christianity. An “impersonal God”—well and good. A subjective God of beauty, truth and goodness, inside our own heads—better still. A formless life- force surging through us, a vast power which we can tap—best of all. But God Himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord, perhaps approaching at an infinite speed, the hunter, king, husband—that is quite another matter. There comes a moment when the children who have been playing at burglars hush suddenly: was that a real footstep in the hall? There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (“Man’s search for God”!) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us!

When everything unravels: Return to the truth that Jesus is Lord, and His kingdom is near. Seek first His kingdom, and everything else falls into place (Matthew 6:33).

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6. Application: Where Is Jesus Inviting You?
Challenge: In moments of doubt or complexity, ask:
Where is Jesus inviting me to repent and believe His good news?

How can I seek His kingdom first in my daily life?

Encouragement: The King is in the room, calling you to be found in His kingdom—where healing, forgiveness, and purpose await.