Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders
Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact
Home

 
Gateway Church gathers
for worship Sundays
at 10:30 a.m.

Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd.
(Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia.

For directions, click here.



Ministry of the Word:
Recent sermons


Our quarterly e-magazine
Gateway Today


For the Gateway family
Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail


A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY


AUDIO

 


Living in the Kingdom of God

Jerry Varnado, pastor
Gateway Church, Athens GA

March 28, 2004
  • Main Scripture text: John 3:1-3.

  • Jesus taught more on the Kingdom of God than any other subject.

  • Misconceptions about the Kingdom can be a stumbling block to our Christian growth, our life in grace, and our fulfilling God's purpose for our lives.


  • What is the Kingdom of God?
  • We tend to think of a kingdom in geographic terms, but all that is required for a kingdom to exist is a king and subjects.

  • A Scriptural definition of the Kingdom of God is this: The established reign and rule of God.

  • Where is the Kingdom of God?
  • The Old Covenant of the Law didn't work because it was an external code that humans were to obey -- and they couldn't.

  • In the New Covenant, God has done something different. He changes our hearts so that we desire to obey Him; He puts His law inside us; and He puts His Spirit in us to move and empower us to obey that law.

  • The Kingdom of God is the established reign and rule of God in us. It is the Holy Spirit within us who gives us the power to obey God.

  • When does the Kingdom come?
  • We do not build the Kingdom; the Kingdom comes comes from heaven in the person of the Holy Spirit who indwells us and empowers us to obey God.

  • The fulfillment of the Kingdom will be at some future time, the coming of the Kingdom is not limited to its future fulfillment.

  • The Kingdom is now, as people are drawn into relationship with God and the reign and rule of God is established in their lives.


  • Living in the Kingdom isn't "something else to do." It is a way of life. It is living supernaturally, rather than naturally.

  • This is one reason I have emphasized that we should "eagerly desire spiritual gifts." The gifts are essential to living in the Kingdom.


Supporting texts: John 3:5 | Psalm 24:1-2 | Luke 11:15-20 | John 8:29 | Luke 17:20-21 | Jeremiah 31:31-34 | Ezekiel 36:24-27 | Isaiah 59: 2 | Luke 13:24 | Mark 1:1415 | 1 Corinthians 15:19 | Matthew 6:9-13 | 1 Corinthians 14:1

A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here.
(Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.)

An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available
free of charge (U.S. requests only).
Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office.
Please specify tape number 040328a: Living in the Kingdom of God.


© 2004 Gerald R. Varnado

To the Gateway Church home page

How to contact us