Picking up from last week’s episode on “the problem sin created”, this week we focus on how God’s Kingdom is the answer to that problem. Looking through broad moments of Jesus’ ministry and what followed, we explore how Jesus picked up the pieces of a broken world, then in and of himself began to forge them into something new. I hope this conversation can help us contemplate how God’s Kingdom is good news.

• Jesus begins to restore humankind’s privileged relationship with God by being God’s servant-shepherd-king and doing the righteous work of God’s king.
• Jesus begins to restore the sacred sense of place by establishing God’s kingly authority over all the heavens and earth.
• Jesus begins to restore people's relationship with each other by creating a kingdom community.
• Jesus begins to restore humankind’s special purpose by empowering and mobilizing God’s kingdom people for priestly mission.

Why is the Kingdom of God good news? Because it is the answer to a problem. What problem does God’s Kingdom resolve? Sin? Okay, but What problem did sin create?

I invite you to explore this question with me on today’s episode of Kingdom in the Coulee.

These four relationships governing existence are:

(1) a relationship between God and creation that is considered sacred place,

(2) a relationship between God and humankind we regard as a special privilege,

(3), a relationship between humans engaged in through the community of people,

(4) a relationship between humankind and creation that is entrusted to us as good purpose.

The “kingdom” Jesus introduced has a history. In today’s conversation, I will rapidly review the history of God’s rule, how that history lays the groundwork for Jesus’s kingdom, and how that groundwork helps give our faith grounding. For clarity, I've included Scripture references in the description.

Retracing the Reality of God’s Rule

• Genesis 1:1-2–The reality of God’s rule over all existence is revealed

• Genesis 1:3-2:3–God’s rule gives formation and function to creation

• Genesis 1:26-28–God gives humankind capacity to be stewards of the rule of creation

• Genesis 2:16-17–God rules a statute for the health of the creation

• Genesis 3–Humankind rebels against God’s rule, stewarding creation into corruption

• Genesis 4-6–Humankind unleashes corruption across creation and history

• Genesis 12:1-3–The reality of God’s rule is reestablished via relationship with Abram

• Genesis 13-50–God’s rule is displayed in the thriving of Abram’s descendants, Israel

• Exodus 1-15–The rule of God is proved through Israel’s deliverance from Egypt’s rule

• Exodus 19:5-6–God purposes Israel to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”

• Exodus-Deuteronomy–God gives the Law to help accomplish Israel’s purpose

• Judges–Israel routinely rebels against God’s rule, refusing to be a “kingdom of priests”

• 1 Samuel 8:4-5–Israel desires to be like the nations by demanding an earthly king

• 1 Samuel 8:7-9–God acquiesces to Israel’s rejection of His direct rule

• 1 Samuel 8:10-18–God warns Israel of how an earthly king will further corrupt them

• 1 Samuel 9-16–God installs a kingship in Israel still subject to His rule and relationship

• 2 Samuel 7–God promises that David’s kingdom shall forever endure under His rule

• 2 Samuel-2 Chronicles–Israel’s kings repeatedly defy God’s rule, inviting God’s judgment

• 2 Chronicles 36:15-21–God’s rule used other nations to judge Israel in exile for 70 years

• Jeremiah 31:31-33–God foretells a future renewed relationship with Israel

• Jeremiah 33:14-26–God foretells the rising of a Davidic king to restore rightness in Israel

• Isaiah 9:1-7–God will invade the darkness with the light of His future righteous king

• Isaiah 53–God’s chosen servant will endure a suffering that brings restoration

• Ezekiel 34:11-31–God foretells the appointing of a Davidic shepherd-ruler over Israel

• Daniel 2:44-45–God intends to set up a kingdom that shall stand forever

• Daniel 7–God will raise up a “son of man” whose kingdom and rule will be forever

• Matthew 1–Jesus’s genealogy testifies to the historical culmination of God’s rule

We begin our Kingdom conversations by simply sitting with the word itself. While kingdom is not a word we frequently use in our daily vocabulary, its meanings are constantly active in much of our lives. Clarifying this might help move us to understand what lies at the heart of every Kingdom conversation. I invite you to join me in the conversation on this episode of Kingdom in the Coulee.

The "Kingdom of heaven" can sound like a "far-out" phrase, but as Jesus teaches us to localize it in our prayers, it can become something that both relieves and challenges our faith and followership. Join me for a quick chat today as I explore and apply this to our nearby neighborhoods.

Last year, not having the vision to sustain it, I abandoned this podcast. Since then, new exciting and scary ideas have emerged. I have both reframed and refocused the podcast's purpose, and now introduce it to you today, and invite you to prayerfully support The Kingdom in the Coulee. After all, it's about so much more than a podcast.

As Pharaoh and the Egyptians race towards the sea, the Israelite's panic takes hold and they begin casting questions at Moses. Moses' response provides a counter to the deeply ingrained fear oppressing the hearts and minds of the Israelites. I invite you to join me in this episode as we explore their fear and how Moses counters it.

Soon after the Israelites depart Egypt, they are led down a road that boxes them in against the sea. Pharaoh's wounded pride perceives this as an opportunity to repossess the people for his service. I invite you to join me in this final conversation on Pharaoh, his choices, his nature, and his relatability.