HERE AND NOW RESOURCES

Here and Now - Jesus’ Kingdom Parables

Jesus came to bring renewal to this lost and broken world, which He called "The Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus introduced it through miracles and He taught about it through parables – short stories that reveal spiritual truths. In our teaching series Here & Now we will learn from the parables of Jesus how to become people who bring the renewal of Jesus to the world around us. Every person in the world needs this renewal and every person in the church has a part in bringing it to the people close to us.

We hope you join us and use the discipleship resources below to get the most out of this teaching series.

Sunday Teachings

Join us on Sundays for all six weeks of this series, either in person or online. If you miss a message, catch up on the message from our website our YouTube channel.

Time Scripture & PRayer

Spending time in Scripture and prayer is an essential part of growing as a disciple of Jesus. During this teaching series, we encourage you to do three things:

  1. Read through the book of Matthew, five to six chapters a week, about a chapter a day.

  2. Commit to praying through the Lord’s Prayer each day, specifically asking God to use you to bring His kingdom.

    Jesus, please bring your Kingdom to earth and use me to do it.

  3. Memorize the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.
    Start with one verse and add an additional verse each week.

    This, then, is how you should pray:

    “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.

    And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

    And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.”

Recommended Reading

Eternity is Now in Session by John Ortberg.

Something in us is waiting―for what, we don’t know. Something different? Something better?

For Christians, perhaps the deepest expression of what we’re waiting for is found in the phrase “eternal life.” But what is eternal life? Why do we want it? And how do we know if we have it?

In Eternity Is Now in Session, bestselling author John Ortberg dispels the myth that eternal life is something way out in outer space that we can only hope to experience after we die―and that being saved is merely about meeting the minimal entrance requirements for getting into heaven. Instead, John unpacks the reality that the moment we trust Christ, we are initiated into “eternal living” with God as a here and now reality, one that will continue beyond our life on this earth.

Read more and purchase…

Heaven & Earth

What is the Scriptural view of heaven and how does it relate to Earth? Click on the image below to watch a helpful Bible Project video that gives some insight to the two realms.

Gospel of Matthew

5 week Reading Plan

S.O.A.P. Bible Study Method
Use a journal and put the S.O.A.P. method to work through any passage of Scripture. If Scripture reading isn’t a regular rhythm we encourage you to reorder your daily routine to make it a priority.

Silence
Take a moment to be silent, pray and listen to the Spirit before you start.

Observation
Read the text and ask the following questions:
• What sticks out to you? (main point, repeated words, key concepts, etc.)
• What can I learn about God and or about people?
• What can I learn about how we relate to God and or how we relate to others?

Application
Write down how the passage applies to your life
• How should this change the way that I think?
• What does this challenge me to do?

 

Week 1
Read Matthew chapters 1-5

Week 2
Read Matthew chapters 6-11

Week 3
Read Matthew chapters 12-17

Week 4
Read Matthew chapters 18-22

Week 5
Read Matthew chapters 24-28