Kingdom Bible Fellowship

OPENING NIGHT! – November 4, 2004

I. OFFERINGS TO GOD

a. Worship Experience

b. Prayers offered for our country, our leaders, our soldiers, our homeless, our oppressed, our people suffering with HIV/AIDs, people afflicted with cancer and other serious illnesses, people addicted to drugs and alcohol, people who feel alone and lost, people who don’t know God. Prayers for our churches, and all ministries and organizations which execute the cause and mission of Jesus Christ in the world.

II. OFFERINGS TO THE PEOPLE

a. LHP, WRP, CB, RA and prayer warriors (NJ, Canada, OH, Arizona, Maryland, Jamaica, FL, Indiana, etc.)

b. The Ministry – Goals, Purpose, Values, Activities – Matt. 6:33

c. Kingdom of God -- Executing Jesus’ mission through people --Matt. 28:18-20

d. Questionnaire Completed – participants

e. Review of Liturgical Calendar

f. Review of Class Syllabus

III. TIME OF FELLOWSHIP

a. Encouragement to bring others on November 18

b. Refreshments

KINGDOM BIBLE FELLOWSHIP

GOALS – working toward the Kingdom of God!

a. Read the Bible! Read the Bible! Read the Bible! –

Come out from darkness – into the marvelous light!

b. Grapple with the difficult texts in the Bible

c. Create a hunger and thirst after righteousness—Jesus’ spirit and character

d. [Combat the 3 primary temptations of this world (a) lust of the eye-idols, (b) lust of the flesh – pleasure, and the pride of life – ego, position – James]

e. MOVE FROM CONVERSION-DISCIPLESHIP!

f. Develop Kingdom living attitudes in our everyday lives

g. Make the Kingdom of God reality through Godly living

h. Put feet on our newfound convictions and attitudes through service

i. Become a witness to all the gospel and it’s impact on our lives

Opposition will come!!!!

Inner thought life, daily behavior, community life – politics, economics, crime, the arts, etc.

Ephesians 6:12 We wrestle not against flesh and blood, nor against principalities, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual wickedness in high places/heavenly realms.

Kingdom of God – Luke 17:20-21

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, “Here it is” or “There it is”, because the kingdom of God is within you.

(See Mark 1:15, Matt. 5, Luke 6; Luke 12:32; 13:29-30; Luke 22:25-29;John 18:36-37*,

Note: The Sermon on the Mount is the “way to the kingdom!”

· God’s way of doing things; God’s economy for living

· God’s attitudes and values; It is how we become “Salt” and “Light”

· Life in Christ / with Christ – it is the message of Scripture—the Gospel

· The presence of the God through the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives

· God’s sovereignty (authority or supreme rule over)

· It involves mercy and judgment (Matt. 3:1-2)

· Christians make the kingdom visible through faithful Christian living and witness bearing. Righteousness and Holiness

· WE Must RESPOND! Repentance, Faith, Obedience, Sacrifice

· God’s reign and rule over our lives, behaviors, activities. . .over all!

· God’s activity in the world–God working through us-we, his instruments!!!

· The Kingdom is not a new legalism or universal religious or political code, but a new order of grace fueled by the energy of love. Pg. 151 Snyder