The Kingdom of God is not just a distant promise, but something we can experience here and now. It’s a place where love, justice, and peace reign. We build this kingdom through our actions, our relationships, and our commitment to living out Christ’s teachings. The Kingdom is a place of belonging, where everyone is valued and loved. When we work together, we can create a glimpse of heaven on earth, a place where God’s love shines through in all we do
The Kingdom of God is inside you, and all around you.
Day 1 – Start with scripture
We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.
Read this Gospel passage.
A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to John
R. Glory to You O Lord
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered. “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18: 33, 36-37
The Gospel of the Lord
R. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
Spend some time in pairs or threes and talk about the questions below. When you’re finished, share them with the whole form and see where the dialogue takes you.
Discussion Questions:
What is the Kingdom of God?
Where is it?
Click below to “Add Comment” and capture some of what has been said in your form for others to see.
Heavenly Father,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. May your reign of justice, peace and love be made real in our world. Help us to build up your kingdom through lives of service, compassion and mercy.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son.
Amen.
St Peter and St Paul…
Pray for us.
Amen
Day 2 – The servant king
We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.
Every kingdom needs one thing; a king. Without it, it’s just a place. The king has many jobs to do. One of which, and most importantly, to protect the people. True kingship is about leading, through the service of others. It’s about sacrifice and spending your reign in the service of others. Let’s watch this short clip.
O Lord our God,
You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations. We pray to You, Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things. Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our birth. Guard us we pray Most Faithful One.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son. Amen
St Peter and St Paul…
Pray for us.
Amen
Day 3 – Leading by example
We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.
Think about the kings you see in movies or history books. They often rule over a kingdom with power and might, sometimes even through fear. But Jesus, our King, is different. His kingdom isn’t made of land or wealth. It’s a kingdom of love, peace, and justice.
Here’s why:
- Love: Jesus showed us what true love looks like. He loved everyone, even his enemies. He taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to forgive those who wrong us.
- Peace: Jesus came to bring peace to the world. He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” He wants us to work towards peace in our own lives and in our communities.
- Justice: Jesus stood up for the poor, the sick, and the oppressed. He taught us to treat everyone with fairness and respect, and to stand up for what is right.
So, what does it mean for Jesus to be our King? It means that we follow his example. We strive to love, bring peace, and seek justice in our own lives. We recognise that he is the ultimate authority in our lives, and we trust in his guidance.
Advent is a perfect opportunity to acknowledge that, unlike our kings, who are born and are crowned, our King, the King of the universe, was a king that became child.
In the silence of our hearts spend a minute or so inviting Jesus into your life, and the lives of everyone we encounter. (Recommend 1 minute of silence)
Almighty Sovereign,
Your son Jesus is King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Look down on us, and hear us, as we lay ourselves and our prayers before you. We are your people, and we wish to be more closely united in what we do and say.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son.
Amen.
St Peter and St Paul…
Pray for us
Amen.
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