The Time Has Come
Mark 1:15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
Intro: We’ve been talking about the benefits of the Kingdom. And even about how the Kingdom is present among us now—but today we want to talk about those who do not have the Kingdom yet.
I. Jesus announced that the time had come—and at the same time announced that the repenting and believing the Gospel was necessary for obtaining the Kingdom.
A. There are many today for whom the Kingdom has not come—and the reason is the same—they have not repented and believed the Good News.
B. But the announcement of Jesus this morning to these people is “The time has come!”
II. The Kingdom of God came to the earth through Jesus Christ—but the Kingdom is spreading throughout the earth by the Church of Jesus Christ.
A. Jesus let his confused disciple know that the Kingdom was not just going to be thrown at them for their benefit, but was going to be spread throughout the whole world through them.
Acts 1:6-8 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
They asked about the Kingdom—when Jesus was going to institute it—and he answered with “You will receive power to be witnesses!”
B. The expansion of the Kingdom comes through people repenting and believing the Gospel. However, as Romans says:
Romans 10:14-15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
The time has come! The kingdom is near! Only when we go! Only when the Church of Jesus Christ brings the Kingdom through the Word of God.
C. For the Kingdom to come—someone must preach the Kingdom. There are billions today for whom the Time has not yet come! Not because the message of Jesus isn’t true. Not because Jesus is not ready to welcome them into his Kingdom—but because many of them have not yet heard the message.
D. For someone to preach the Kingdom—someone must be sent to preach! It’s a very simple equation. And as Christians we are all called to participate. Whether it be in going or in sending!
Even here in Worcester, MA we have the opportunity and the responsibility to announce all over the world that the Time has come—to people we’ve never met by simply sending people to preach to them!
E. Of course we know that the way we send is two-fold: through prayer and through giving. And both of these are necessary.
III. I want to share with you some of the ways we have been bringing the Kingdom to the world!
[Share examples of your own missionaries here]
They are announcing all over the world. Repent and believe the Good News!
The missionaries will continue to announce the Good News to people all over the world—and we are a part of it.
IV. There are still many more for whom the Kingdom has not yet come.
A. They are waiting for someone to come and tell them.
B. Would you be willing to tell them?
C. Would you also be willing to send someone else to tell them?
Conclusion: It is the responsibility of the Church as a whole—but each of us as part of the body has a personal responsibility to do something. We all need to seek God and ask him what he wants us to do.
Our time has come as a Church to bring the Kingdom to others.
Your time has come as an individual to bring the Kingdom to others.
