"Jesus' Short Sermon"

The sermon on January 23 centered on Matthew 4:17 where Jesus preaches, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 

I can hardly believe that I'm preaching a sermon on this without even mentioning the movie "Cars." The story is not about the kingship of Christ, but the transformation that takes place in Lightning McQueen is a great picture of life in the kingdom. I won't spoil the ending, but it still makes me a bit teary.

Here is the man-on-the-street video clip where no one names the kingdom of God as Jesus' main message (but admittedly there are some great answers in the bunch!):

Herman Bavinck sheds light on the nature of the kingdom of God (in quotations to long to preach). (Bavinck, Herman. Reformed Dogmatics. Vol. 3. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008.)

 “Accordingly, to the extent that the rule of God is not immediately fully realized in believers here on earth, and they on their part do not yet fully receive and enjoy the goods of that kingdom – eternal life, the vision of God, complete salvation – the kingdom is indeed still in the future. But insofar as it is established here on earth by the person and works of Christ it is planted in human hearts by rebirth, faith, and repentance, that kingdom is present, and believers are already citizens of and participants in it.” (247)

“In the Synoptics, Christ appears on the scene as a preacher and founder of the kingdom of God. That kingdom includes within itself the love of the Father, the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and eternal life; and Jesus, in his capacity as Messiah, ascribes to himself the power to grant all these benefits to his disciples. Just as he has power to heal the sick, so he also has the authority to forgive sins. By this combination of powers, he proves that he is the complete Savior of his people. For that reason, too, there is no way of gaining admission into that kingdom and no participation in those benefits except by faith in his name. For it is he himself who gives his life as a ransom for many and who, in his death, breaks his body and sheds his blood to inaugurate and confirm the new covenant with all its blessings.” (383)