Read:
A key concept for understanding the Bible (and reality itself) is sometimes called the “already/not yet” Kingdom of God. We live between the advents, the first and second coming of Christ. During these “last days,” as the Bible calls them, the Kingdom of God is advancing heart by heart through the Spirit-empowered ministry of the Church. At the “final day” when Christ returns the Kingdom of God will be seen in fullness and every knee shall bow before Jesus.
Practically, what makes this concept helpful is that it makes sense out of what we read in the Bible and see in our world and lives. The Bible talks about the power of the gospel to change lives. It also talks about how people still walk in darkness and Satan is still at large in the world. We can see how both of these things are true as we look around us. We can also look into our own hearts and see how we live with this “already/not yet” tension. We are changing, but we are not yet fully changed. There is increasing good in our lives as we follow Jesus, but the remnant of the old unredeemed self still causes us problems.
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:1-15
As you read look for ways it speaks the “already/not yet” reality of the Kingdom of God on earth. There are many different ways this principle is stated in this passage so read and think carefully.
Q1: What did you hear regarding the “Already/Not yet” kingdom?
Q2: How does this biblical reality help you make sense of what you see and experience in your own life?
Read: John 13:18-38
As you read, put yourself in the room and at the meal. Lot for “plot” clues that John is giving as writes this story.
Q3: What stands out to you from this story? Don’t worry about sounding “spiritual” or “smart” or about even “missing the point.” Just mention things that were interesting or that seemed to stand out to you. EVERYONE pitch in on this!
Q4: This command (v. 34) isn’t new in terms of content, it was given in the law of Moses. What is it that makes it new and why is this important? (What has Jesus just modeled for them?)
*The command to love is new because it is based on a new standard of love – Jesus’ selfless love for his disciples. Jesus is not asking them to do anything he had not already done. Love is to be the distinguishing mark of Jesus’ followers.
Look at these two images below. They describe the growth maturity process of a Christian over time.
- The more we see the depth of our own sin, the more we see how great the love of Jesus.
- The more we see the great love of Jesus, the more we see how high his standard of love is.
- The more we see how high his standard of love is, the more we see how selfish we are.
The image on the right shows this is a cycle. The image on the left shows this as an upward growth process.
Q5: Talk about this process in your own life. Be specific and tell it as a story if you can. (A short story). How have you seen this growth process in specific relationships or circumstances of your life?