Focus on the Kingdom
Don't misunderstand what I am trying to remind us of here.
The Church is a gift from God; it's the community of faith and it is very important to our walk.
In fact, to grow in sanctification apart from the church is an impossibility.
But, I think we have to see the Church in the right priority according to Scripture AND according to how Scripture defines how Jesus sees it.
No doubt, Jesus will come back one day for His Church. But, I believe, Western Culture, has caused us to overemphasize the importance of the Church (if that is possible), and when we do, it causes many of us to operate in a way that is contrary to the overall teaching of Scripture.
We must remember that until Jesus returns, the Church is not the end game.
The Church is not the focus of Jesus throughout Scripture.
What, then, is the end game? What should the focus be?
Jesus told us:
Mark 1:14: Jesus "preached the gospel of the kingdom of God"
Mark 1:15: Jesus says, "The time has come," and "The kingdom of God has come near"
Luke 4:43: Jesus says, "for this purpose I have been sent"
Luke 9:2: Jesus sends his disciples out to "preach the kingdom of God"
Luke 10:9: Jesus sends out 72 people to say, "The kingdom of God has come near to you"
John 18:36: Jesus says, "My kingdom is not of this world"
Mark 4:30-32: Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed but grows into the largest plant in the garden
According to Jesus Himself, the Kingdom of God is the focus.
Matthew 6:33: Jesus tells his followers to "seek first the kingdom of God"
Although the word "church" appears in the Bible around 120 times in the New Testament and gospels, believe it or not, Jesus only used the word “church” twice.
On the first occasion, Jesus speaks prophetically to his disciple Peter in Matthew 16:18.
The Greek word ekklesia is translated as "church" in the original manuscripts, and it is a combination of the prefix ek (out) and the word kaleo (to call). In the New Testament, ekklesia is used to refer to a group of people who respond to God's call through Christ. It can also refer to the entire people of God or a local congregation.
The Greek word basileia, which translates to "kingdom" in the New Testament, appears 162 times.
Jesus spoke 126 times in the Gospels about the Kingdom of God.
In the four gospels, the word appears 109 times, with 53 instances in Matthew, 17 in Mark, and 41 in Luke. The term "kingdom" is used in different ways depending on the context, but for Jesus, it was a central theme and of great importance. In the Gospels, Jesus mentions the "kingdom of God" or equivalent phrases, such as "kingdom of heaven" or "his kingdom", about 80 times.
Someone once explained the relationship between kingdom and church like this. If you are on a speedboat on a lake, the direction your boat is pointing in and pursuing is the kingdom. What happens behind the boat, the wake, is the church. In other words, if we focus our "boats," our lives, on pursuing the kingdom of God, the church (the growth of it, salvation of people, etc.) will be built.
If we don't have this focus, here's the TOP 4 things I see happening:
1-Our Schedules and programs will concentrate more on fulfilling the needs of people inside the "church" than remaining steadfast on the one priority of the church.
2-Our budget will reflect the personal agendas and priorities of those inside the church than reaching those outside.
3-Our focus will be more on making people inside happy than making us holy.
4-Our hearts will be more concerned about what we want than understanding we are citizens of the kingdom and we should be concerned with what the King wants.
God, give us a heart for your Kingdom. Help us to live as citizens of your Kingdom and surrender to Your Kingship…so that we will see the growth of Your Church.