Recap:
There is a compelling truth that echoes through the centuries: God is bigger than anyone can imagine. Yet there is also a more intimate and equally surprising message: every human life is sacred—and at the same time, marked by sin. These two truths, held in tension, point toward humanity’s profound need for divine intervention.
From the very beginning, God’s plan has not involved any backup strategy. It has always been a covenant relationship—an unbreakable partnership—between the Creator and humanity. Even when human beings chose sin, God’s response was neither to abandon them nor to devise a last-minute alternative. From the start, divine intention was that this covenant would be secured by a perfect person. And so God arrived, clothed in human flesh, to save the very world He had made. This reality is known as Incarnation: God became human to save us.
For some, hearing that “God became human to save us” may feel like an astonishing claim, yet it forms the cornerstone of the Christian story. It also underscores the journey through earlier foundational truths:
- God is grander and more magnificent than any human mind can fathom.
- Each life is sacred, carrying intrinsic worth and dignity.
- All are simultaneously flawed and sinful, falling short of divine holiness.
- Covenant was never a last resort but always the guiding plan, ultimately fulfilled through Christ.
These foundational themes guide believers toward one crucial conviction: Jesus is King. He is not merely a teacher or a miracle-worker but the rightful ruler who inaugurates a Kingdom unlike any other. The Christian faith rests on this reality, urging believers and seekers alike to grasp the depth of its significance.
A recommended companion on this journey is a concise volume called God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible. This book offers a sweeping overview of how Scripture centers around a coming King and His kingdom—an unfolding story from Genesis to Revelation. It illuminates how humanity, though sinful, is called into sacred relationship with a God who is establishing His reign. For those wishing to explore more deeply, it is a highly accessible resource that pairs beautifully with any study about the Kingdom of God.
Amid these grand themes, there is also a simpler and more personal invitation. Scripture teaches that belonging to Christ transforms a person entirely. This truth is captured perfectly in 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” Deep reflection on this verse reminds everyone that faith in Christ is not a cosmetic change but a profound rebirth. The old, sinful self passes away, replaced by a new life aligned with the values and purposes of God’s Kingdom.
Such a Kingdom is not distant and abstract; it reaches back to the idyllic vision of Eden, where all creation once lived in perfect harmony—humanity at peace with God, with one another, with the animals, and with the earth. The theological concept of Shalom describes this state of comprehensive well-being and flourishing. Yet that Shalom was fractured by sin, resulting in the brokenness, pain, and disorder still observed today. Nevertheless, Scripture repeatedly offers glimpses of hope. Passages such as Isaiah 2:4 and Isaiah 11:6–9 foretell a future where nations abandon war, and where predators and prey dwell together in peace—promises that stand as signposts of God’s ultimate plan to restore Shalom.
When Jesus announces, “The Kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the good news,” He signals that this plan of restoration has begun in earnest. George Eldon Ladd once defined the Kingdom as “God’s reign breaking into human history through Jesus Christ,” a powerful summation of what it means that Jesus is King. In Christ, there is a decisive intervention: He heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, raises the dead, and drives out demons—all tangible demonstrations that the power of God’s reign is already at work, even if not yet fully consummated.
Therein lies the tension often described as “the already and the not yet.” Believers witness glimpses of this Kingdom’s transformative power—a healing here, a deliverance there—yet still endure pain, discord, and sorrow. The war against evil has already been won at the Cross (the spiritual “D-Day”), though individual battles continue until Jesus returns to usher in complete restoration (the equivalent of “V-E Day,” victory in every corner of creation).
Living under the rule of this benevolent King requires surrender. Just as a loving parent sets firm boundaries for a child’s well-being, so does the King call for complete devotion. Parables about the Rich Young Ruler who walked away sorrowfully after Jesus asked him to relinquish his riches illustrate that no attachment—whether wealth, status, or personal comfort—should overshadow the authority of Jesus. Full surrender grants freedom, as it aligns a life with God’s intention to undo the havoc of sin and restore each person to wholeness.
All of this culminates in the central act that reminds believers of Christ’s sacrificial love: the Cross. Through His death and resurrection, humanity’s sin is forgiven, covenant promises are realized, and the path to new life becomes clear. Observing sacred communion further anchors this truth: His body was given and His blood was shed to ensure everyone’s place in the coming Kingdom, where all things are made right.
Every soul, whether newly exploring Christianity or having walked the path of faith for decades, is invited to consider surrender anew. Are there remaining attachments that take precedence over God’s rightful Kingship? Are there hidden corners of resistance or deep-seated idols that keep the heart from fully bowing to the One who gave everything? Each must reckon with these questions, trusting that the King who calls for surrender is the same King who heals wounds, restores hope, and promises an eternal home where Shalom is the unbreakable reality.
The story, then, is both cosmic and personal. It is the grand narrative of a God who is bigger than can be fathomed, who views humanity as sacred yet recognizes human sinfulness, who establishes an unchanging covenant, becomes human in the Incarnation, and ultimately reveals Himself as the long-awaited King. The final word is one of hope: although the fullness of the Kingdom is not yet visible, it has indeed arrived in part. The old life truly is gone, and a new life has begun—for anyone who chooses to live under the reign of Jesus, the King of Kings.
Group Questions:
Icebreakers
- If you had an entire day free from all responsibilities, how would you spend it?
- What’s one place in nature (a park, mountain, beach, etc.) that gives you a sense of awe or wonder?
- What is one thing—big or small—that you’re really looking forward to this month?
Discussion Questions
- God’s Grandeur and Our Value
- The sermon states that “God is bigger than anyone can imagine” but also that each human life is sacred.
- How does thinking about God’s infinite greatness shape your view of everyday life?
- In what ways does believing you are “sacred” but also “sinful” affect your self-understanding?
- Covenant and Incarnation
- We learned that God’s plan always involved a covenant with humanity and that God became human in Jesus.
- What does a “covenant relationship” mean to you personally, and why is it significant that God had no backup plan?
- How does the Incarnation (God becoming human) change or deepen your perception of who God is?
- Jesus as King
- The sermon emphasizes that Jesus is not just a teacher or miracle-worker but the King who inaugurates a new kind of Kingdom.
- What do you think it means to say “Jesus is King” in our modern context?
- Can you identify any “already but not yet” signs of God’s Kingdom in the world around you?
- Shalom and Restoration
- Scripture talks about a future where peace (Shalom) is fully restored.
- Where do you see glimpses of this peace in your life or community?
- In what ways can believers participate in bringing about (or reflecting) this peace here and now?
- Surrender and Devotion
- The sermon encourages us to consider if there are areas we need to surrender to Christ’s Kingship.
- Is there an area in your life—like priorities, finances, relationships—that feels hard to fully entrust to God?
- How might surrendering that area lead to freedom rather than restriction?
- New Life in Christ
- “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- What does this verse suggest about the way faith transforms a person?
- Can you share a personal example—or one you’ve witnessed—of someone living out this “new life”?
- Reflection on the Cross
- The sermon mentions the Cross as central to the covenant and redemption.
- How does reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus affect your perspective on God’s love and justice?
- In what ways does communion (or the Lord’s Supper) remind us of these truths?
- Living the Kingdom Daily
- The Christian story isn’t only cosmic; it’s personal.
- What small, practical steps can you take this week to live more fully under the reign of Jesus?
- How might you share or represent this Kingdom perspective in your relationships, workplace, or community?