Matthew | Mark | Luke | John | King | Ethic | Subjects

Forgive the double-entendre in the title, but it illustrates the principle that you find throughout Luke’s sequel, and that those acts of preaching often were accompanied by acts of mercy and compassion:

• Jesus came back to talk “kingdom” 40 days (Acts 1:3)
• Timetables weren’t part of the agenda (Acts 1:6)
• Philip preached it (Acts 8:12)
• Paul and Barnabas preached it, with a prophecy of trouble (Acts 14:21-23)
• Paul argued it persuasively (Acts 19:31)
• He committed to it, foreknowing the consequences (Acts 20:25)
• He explained and declared it (Acts 28:23)
• Boldly and unhindered, right up to the end (Acts 28:31)

And Paul and others wrote about it – what it isn’t and what it is:

• Not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)
• Not talk, but power ()I Corinthians 4:20)

That it is to be inherited, but not by everyone:

• Not the immoral (I Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:21, Ephesians 5:5)
• Not flesh and blood (I Corinthians 15:50)
• Not those through whom a disobedient spirit works (Ephesians 2:2)
• Because that opposing “kingdom” will be destroyed (I Corinthians 15:24)

The inheritors receive it as a gift:

• Qualified and rescued for it by the Father (Colossians 1:11-13)
• Called by God into it (I Thessalonians 2:12)
• Judged worthy of it by God (II Thessalonians 1:5)
• Chosen by God to be rich in faith (James 2:5)
• Doing, in gratitude, what makes their calling/election sure (II Peter 1:11)

And they were both receiving it and would receive it soon:

• Inspiring awe and thanksgiving (Hebrews 12:28)
• Accompanied by a “rich welcome” (II Peter 1:11 again)
• Associated with a charge to serve (Revelation 1:6, II Timothy 4:1) and reign while serving (Revelation 5:10)

Okay, I sneaked in a lot more than just the book of Acts here. Still, the theme of “acts of service” in the kingdom is consistent.

If we are concerned with sharing and serving, we don’t have to be concerned about the timing of the breaking in and coming of the kingdom.

We’re part of it.