Kingdom Pictures: 5 Ways to See the Kingdom of GodSample
The Kingdom of God Is Like a Party
We could say the kingdom of God is like a party. Why? Because we often compare it to parties, feasts, banquets, and weddings.
Have you ever been to a Jewish wedding? Weddings typically lasted for five to seven days, and usually, the entire village gathered for a wedding. It is not an accident that the first miracle of Jesus happened at a wedding feast. The host was running out of wine, and Mary asked Jesus to do something about it. Jesus sees the party falling apart because there is not enough wine, which would have been very embarrassing for the host. So, what is the first miracle the Son of God performs? He turned water into wine. How amazing is this? He wanted the party to continue. The party must go on. Jesus loved a good party. He turned water into wine even though everyone already had plenty to drink. He does not want the party to end. That is the kind of Jesus we are following.
When Jesus was giving us parables about how the kingdom of God is like a party, he always made sure of one thing: The party includes EVERYONE. Jesus includes the orphans and the widows. We need to include everyone left out - the lame, the blind, the homeless, the lepers. There is room for everyone! God’s party is for everyone. You can come just as you are! You don’t have to look a certain way or behave in a certain way.
God still invites people to leave their troubles, fights, and worries and come to a beautiful party. It is not about being the most successful, most beautiful, or richest person. We can leave our workaholism and the rat race and come to the party. That is good news. When we are lonely and isolated, we can come out of our isolation and join a party where a great celebration is going on—a celebration where water turns into wine. We can leave the exclusive parties where everyone thinks, votes, and behaves like us and join one big inclusive party of a different sort.
How does it make you feel to think the kingdom of God is like a party?
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About this Plan
If you study the life of Jesus, you will find he had one message he proclaimed over and over again: the gospel of the Kingdom of God. What exactly is the Kingdom of God? In this plan, we will explore five pictures that help us see and understand what the Kingdom of God is all about and how this one message has the potential to transform your life.
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