The Kingdom of God and Missions

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Missions have always revolved around Christians reaching out to others and living out their lives to glorify God. Jesus displayed this evangelical mission throughout his ministry in the early church when he was living with the disciples. Through reading different articles I have discovered that the new emerging church in the postmodern context has a kingdom view of missions. The kingdom of God is the key to missions which is portrayed in the early church and in Jesus ministry; it is also an evident necessity in recent emerging churches in postmodern context, and reveals itself through ministries that serve to help the needy.
According to Mark Beach, the kingdom of God (or heaven) consists of Jesus’ preaching. During Jesus’ ministry it is evident that preaching and the many miracles that take place reveal his plan for humanity . The kingdom of God included Jesus ministry which he healed the poor and sick, and gave to the needy. This mission to help others in need, to heal the poor and sick, and provide for those who need it gives a description of how God has plans for humanity. He sums this up in Matthew 11: 4-6 where it describes how Jesus came to heal the blind, help the needy, raise the dead and preach the good news to the poor. In this ministry the kingdom of God was being displayed and active in the life of Jesus. If Jesus could implement this kingdom view when he was living life with the disciples, I believe that this should be the view of the church and missions. Christians need to believe that our God is more powerful and can still provide miracles for those in need in our present culture and context.
As Jesus told the Pharisees, He will drive out the demons and that the kingdom of God would be near. For instance, Mark...

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...heir own problems. Therefore I think that integrating this kingdom view into our churches helps creates a new community that reaches out to others who are in need which in return helps fight the apathy that can be found in Christianity in America.

Works Cited

Beach, Mark The Kingdom of God: A Brief exposition and its meanings, Mid-America Journal of Theology:23 2012, p 53-76

Shane Claiborne, Scott Bessenecker, Jonathon Hargrove, Living Mission: The vision and Voices of New Friar, Intervarsity Press, IL: Downers Grove, 2010

Cray, Graham Fresh Expressions of Church and the Kingdom of God, Cantebury Press, UK: Norwich, 2012

Bunkowske, Eugene How does God build His Kingdom? A case study approach
Missio Apostolica 20 no 1 My 2012: p 30-50

Bosch, David Transforming Missions: Paradigm shifts in Theology of Missions, Orbis Books, NY: Maryknoll, 2012

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