Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. This week, as we continue in our Luke series, we will be using Luke 8:1-3 as inspiration. If you find these devotionals helpful, do pass them on to others.
‘After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.’ (Luke 8:1-3)
Lesson: The good news of the Kingdom that we share is an invitation to know the King and enter His Kingdom
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I’m sure we’ve all had the experience of meeting someone in whatever setting and they talk constantly about themselves and their own interests. I’m sure that most of us can fall into this and like to talk about ourselves and our passions. In fact, one of the ways to know what’s in our hearts is to pay attention to what we speak about. In our text today, we see that, ‘Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.’ Jesus set an example to those who were with Him as He showed them what was of greatest interest to Him. Earlier, in Luke 4, we also read about Jesus' devotion to the Kingdom and the message about it:
‘But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.’ (Luke 4:43-44)
Jesus was so zealous for the kingdom of God that it affected where He lived, who He spent time with, and what He spoke about! He was prepared to be inconvenienced and even persecuted for the kingdom of God.
What is the Kingdom of God?
Firstly, what is the Kingdom of God? If we are to share Jesus’ passion for it, we must be clear as to what it is.
To put it very simply, The Kingdom of God is God’s rule. Whenever people come under God’s rule by becoming Christians, they enter the kingdom of God. The biblical concept of ‘Kingdom’ (basileia, occurring over 160 times in the NT) might be better translated ‘kingship’ - it’s God’s reign; it’s His authority, power and right to reign.
What is the good news of the Kingdom of God?
This the message that you can receive Jesus as king and so enter and experience the kingdom for God now; added to this is the hope of the fullness of the Kingdom when He returns to restore all things. All of the miracles - the signs - that we’ve been seeing in Luke so far, are all ‘object lessons’ and foreshadowing as they reveal that the coming kingdom will be free from all of the effects of sin and Satan.
In summary, this message is about three things:
i. It’s good news about a king - An invitation to come to Jesus the King.
ii. It’s good news about entering the kingdom - An invitation to enter God’s kingdom and come under His rule and care.
iii. It’s good news about the coming Kingdom - We will experience the fullness of His Kingdom restored in creation at His return.
To become a Christian is to become a citizen and subject of the King
This description, ‘The message of the Kingdom’ reminds us that in evangelism and sharing the gospel, we are inviting people not just to be forgiven, be healed and receive eternal life; we are inviting them to come under a new rule and live a new kind of life in God’s Kingdom. This is not salvation by our good works. This is salvation by faith in Jesus’ substitutionary death, however, this faith in Christ will not only show itself in faith in His death, it must also show itself in faith in His person and wisdom as we submit our lives to His rule.
Response
The good news of the Kingdom that we share is an invitation to know the King and enter His Kingdom. Can we say that Jesus is our Lord and king? Are we seeking to learn from Him and do His will? Do we seek to bring others to the King and Kingdom?
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Please ensure that the members of your group are aware and familiar with using the daily devotionals.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
This week, as we continue in our Luke series, we will be using Luke 8:1-3 as inspiration.
Please read Luke :8:1-3
What were you particularly struck by from Sunday’s message from Luke 8:1-3?
What would you say is the central teaching of this narrative?
We are told that ‘Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.’ How would you describe the Kingdom of God and what is the good news about it? (If you need help, you can find a in this devotional here: https://www.communitychurchputney.com/post/983-the-good-news-of-the-kingdom-of-god-5-2-24 )
Why do you think that Luke specifically mentions that women were included among in His disciples?
What does this teach about giving to the ongoing work of Jesus through His church? (Please ensure that you’ve shared the notice, from church news, about our aim to increase our giving.)
SIV - What does this text teach about our mission in life? (See also Luke 4:43-44, 5:10-11)
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
Let’s pray together that, this week, we will have opportunities to SIV; and pray for anything else that’s come out of our time in God’s Word.