Kingdom of God on earth

1. Kingdom of Godon earth What have you done so far? What do you plan to do? Young Adult FellowshipBukit Batok Presbyterian ChurchSaturday 4 November 2006 All pictures used in this presentation are taken from various sources, mainly from the NGO’s websites.No specific permission is asked beforehand. However, the fact that these pictures are displayed in public websites meant that the pictures should be okay to be used for non-commercial purpose like this...

2. Definition • Kingdom of God • A Kingdom where God is the king • God reigns • An “Ideal State”: • No tears, No deaths, No sorrow, No pain, etc • Explained via many parables by Jesus • There will be judgment (Parable of Weeds) • Day and hours unknown (Parable of Ten Virgins), etc • Many other definitions… • Often the views are different • What is your own definition??

3. Definition (Enhanced) • Kingdom of God on Earth… • Is there a Kingdom of God on Earth now?? • Or is it only after 2nd coming of Jesus/End of Age • In Lord’s Prayer, we say: • Your kingdom come, • Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven… • NIV Bible Commentary: • Kingdom of God is already here (e.g. Matthew 3:2), • But it is on progress to come more and more completely until its full and final perfection… • If it is on progress, should we stand still/do nothing??

4. The Problematic World…Doesn’t fit the image of Kingdom of God Poverty Oppression Corruption Poor Education War Injustice Disasters Malnutrition Famine Global Warming Disease Man Don’t Fear God Many Others…

5. Can We Do Something?? Outline for today’s fellowship: • What the Bible said about “these issues”?? • The past/current works for actualizingKingdom of God on earth… • Discussion about our possible roles… • Mostly on humanitarian acts which emerge as our act of love • The call for mission is embedded inside these acts • PS: we will discuss mission in the next quarter (Jan-Mar 2007). • Wrap-ups and intercessory prayers

6. Kingdom of God on earth The Biblical Basis (not exhaustive)

7. The Lord’s Prayer(Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

8. So There will be Equality(2 Corinthians 8:13-15, Exodus 16:18) • Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. • At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, • So that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. • Then there will be equality, • As it is written: • He who gathered much did not have too much, • and he who gathered little did not have too little”

9. The Parable of the Good Samaritan(Luke 10:30-37) A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,…when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?“ The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him.“ Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise.”

10. True Fasting(Isaiah 58:6-10) • Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: • to loose the chains of injustice • and untie the cords of the yoke, • to set the oppressed free • and break every yoke? • Is it not to share your food with the hungry • and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— • when you see the naked, to clothe him, • and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? • Then your light will break forth like the dawn, • and your healing will quickly appear; • then your righteousness will go before you, • and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. • Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; • you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. • "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, • with the pointing finger and malicious talk, • and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry • and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, • then your light will rise in the darkness, • and your night will become like the noonday.

11. Work so that we have something to share(Ephesians 4:28) • …He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need…

12. Love with Actions(1 John 3:17-18) • …if anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? • Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth…

13. You did it for Me(Matthew 25: 35,36,40) • I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, • I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, • I was a stranger and you invited me in, • I needed clothes and you clothed me, • I was sick and you looked after me, • I was in prison and you came to visit me • … • Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.

14. Kingdom of Godon earth The Past and Current Works PS: These examples are not exhaustive!! It is quite likely that many of you haven’t heard of these ministries… Please do Google search if you are interested to find out more…

15. Red Cross/Crescent • Initiator • Jean Henry Dunant • After seeing the war, he wrote: • “Memory of Solferino” • A life-changing book… • He then initiate the Red Cross Movement • Mission • To protect human life and health, • To ensure respect for the human being, • To prevent and alleviate human suffering, • Without any discrimination based on nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

16. Mother Teresa • Missionary of Charity, Calcutta, India • Quotes: • I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. • The world is not hungry for bread,but for love. • I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. • In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.

17. Samaritan’s Purse • Parable of the Good Samaritan • Luke 10:30-37 • Jesus told us to: “Go and do likewise” • Mission: • Meeting critical needs of victims ofwar, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster while sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

18. Habitat for Humanity • Christian housing organization • Mission: • Providing simple, decent, affordable housingespecially for the poor. • Facts: • Some 2b people worldwide live in poverty housing. • More than 1b live in urban slums, and • These figures are expected to double by 2030. • Many of these people earn less than US$2 per day.

19. UNICEF • United Nations Children’s Fund • UNICEF work for children's rights, their survival, development and protection(Health, Education, Equality, Protection, etc)

20. UNHCR • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees • Mission: • To ensure the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge... • To protect refugees and to promote solutions

21. Handicap International • Handicap International existsto support the needs of disabled peoplein countries affected by poverty and conflict. • Handicap International provide both emergency relief and long term development support.

22. Many Others • World Vision • UN World Food Programme • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_aid

23. Ministries in Indonesia • SETIA (Sekolah Tinggi Injili Arastamar) • Ministry to the unreached, (mainly) poor • Video is available upon request. • PESAT (Pelayanan Desa Terpadu) • The Ministry of Mr Daniel Alexander+Team @ Nabire, Papua • Video is available upon request. • Many others…

24. The Threats • These works have many threats • Examples: • Pressure from other beliefs: • Christian relief workers for Tsunami/Earthquake victims in Nias/Aceh/Jogjakarta is classified as Christianization. • The motive is misunderstood by others • Running out of funding • Conflict within internal organization • Many others…

25. Our Unique Role • We see many things going on badly on Earth  • God’s Word in the Bible asked us to do something!! • But • We are just one person, what can we do?? • We may/may not have the capability like those who have set examples in the previous slides… • When we want to do something ‘big’ to solve those things,we will need to sacrifice, have to dedicate our life, encounter many threats, etc etc etc… • However • The least that we can do is to prevent the bad things for expanding… • We should: • Realize that each of us has different capabilities/opportunities/calling. • Think about /find our unique role… • Do it…

26. Group Discussion

27. Group Discussion • Now divide your group into two. • Each sub-group play a role • One sub-group become the good side, • The other bad side. • Discuss the following items (20 minutes): • Assuming your role: • What are the practical things that we can do? • Preventive? • Active? • To realize Kingdom of God on Earth… • What are the possible threats? • Present your discussion to the audience (2-3 minutes) • Followed by Q&A from the floor.

28. Brief Summary • Without neglecting the fact that God can use them too, those in bad side usually have difficulties in realizing Kingdom of God on earth. • Those in good side have many capabilities, opportunities, potential, etc to be a channel of blessing to those in need, e.g. • Those who are not poor can set up schools for needy children. • Those who are safe from natural disaster can donate to help rebuild the place. • Many others… • Ask yourself, in what side are we on? • Most of us are (currently) on the good side… • Ask yourself, what should we do knowing that there are so many bad things happening on earth? • Do you want to actualize Kingdom of God on earth? • Stop and ponder…

29. BagaimanaDenganMerekaOne Way Oh betapa indahnya, hidup kita jalaniTiada waktu terlewat, tanpa bahagia ...Mari lihat keluar, terkadang kita lupaKita tak sendiri, menikmati indahnyaHidup yang diberikan oleh sang penciptaBagaimana dengan mereka yang menjerit karena laparDan hidup dari belas kasihan orang s'perti kitaBagaimana dengan mereka yang tak punya apa-apaApa yang t'lah kita buat (2x) Karena kita diciptakanUntuk berbagi hidup dengan mereka PS: Another songs that are related: Avalon – “In not of”: http://www.lyricsdownload.com/avalon-in-not-of-lyrics.html Avalon – “Don’t save it all for Christmas Day” http://www.lyricsdownload.com/avalon-don-t-save-it-all-for-christmas-day-lyrics.html

30. Prayer Points • For others in need: • Poor • War • Disaster • Other Social Issues • For our selves: • Make us Your channel of blessings according to our unique role. • If you hear His voice today, don’t harden your heart.