Sermon & Small Group Resources
This is the second sermon in our series on God’s Kingdom. This sermon is ‘Kingdom Here and Now’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Luke 17:20-37
Download the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).
Next Steps this Week
BIBLE READING: Luke 17:20-37
Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”
“Where, Lord?” they asked.
He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
CONNECT: How can your life act as a signpost to King Jesus and his Kingdom?
WARM-UP
Have you ever found yourself distracted from the task at hand?
What is the danger of being distracted from the realities of the coming of the Kingdom of God?
READ Luke 17:20-21
What is the Kingdom of God and where is it?
What does it mean that the Kingdom of God is in our midst? How and in whom has it entered our midst?
Think about your frontline. How does being part of the Kingdom of God impact how you live, interact with others, and work on your frontline?
READ Luke 17:22-25
Why would the disciples and early church long to see one of the days of the Son of Man? What causes you to long for these days?
Why would it have been tempting to run after false claims? What is Jesus’ command to his disciples?
What are some of the ‘false messiahs’ that people may put their hope in today? What may you be most at risk of putting your hope in other than the Son of Man? What is Jesus’ command to us?
Are we at risk of missing the return of Jesus? Why/Why not?
What type of king is Jesus? How will the rejection of him play out? How do we benefit from this?
READ Luke 17:26-37
What was it like in the days of Noah and the days of Lot?
Will there be any indication or warning of the return of Jesus? How does this both give us hope and also spur us on to serve God?
What can distract us from loosing sight of the Kingdom of God? How can we help and serve one another in this way?
What does it look like to ‘lose our life’ in V33? How is this hard and joyful at the same time? What is the inheritance in store for those who lose their life for Jesus’ sake?
How could we help each other in both the easy and hard times of following Jesus?
APPLY: How can you keep your focus on the hope of the kingdom of God?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you that you haven’t left humanity in its mess but have drawn near and brought your kingdom in the person of Jesus. Help us to not lose sight of the now and not yet of the Kingdom. Keep us from false messiahs, and renew us in your hope daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
GOING DEEPER
On Your Frontline This Week: How are you going to be available in the busyness of life for gospel conversations?
Listen, Watch, and Read:
Series Resources:
Some helpful resources for our Series:
OUTLINE: for Series with key verses, big ideas, and reflection questions:
https://bit.ly/39w5GgkFOR FAMILIES: Download the St Bart’s Kids Lego Devotional Guide: https://bit.ly/2YrP3Mf
WEBSITE: “Gospel of the Kingdom of God” by the Bible Project: https://bit.ly/2NFP2SJ
BOOK: “Goldsworthy Trilogy: Gospel & Kingdom, Gospel & Wisdom, the Gospel in Revelation” by Graeme Goldsworthy
BOOK: “Luke for Everyone” by Tom Wright
Course: “The Bible Overview” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course).
https://bit.ly/3pGDVH7 (We’ll also be offering this in Term 3 of 2021 at St Bart’s.)
WITH CHILDREN
Grow as Families
Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.
Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray
High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions
Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids Talk (Coming Soon)
eBook: Bible eBook
Bonus: Lego Devotional for Series
