Church or Kingdom Building?

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the 

Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Acts 28:31

In many cases, the modern Church has lost the emphasis of building and extending the Kingdom of God. We want to see our church grow in membership size but, sadly, are not concerned with discipleship or son-ship of our members?  We build great churches, beautiful buildings, and large denominations. We emphasize the building of homes for the aged, schools, and hospitals and while these things are good and a needed, legitimate part of the ministry of the Church, they are not to be the central focus. Fund raising and construction are not our commission. The products of such can result in the building of personal kingdoms rather than the worldwide extension of the Kingdom of God.

Apostle Paul warned of this when he said...  

For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.  Philippians 2:21

Each ministry project considered should be judged by this question: 

How will this help fulfill the commission to extend God's Kingdom? 

We preach and teach on many subjects. . . marriage, family, prophecy, etc.  These are good subjects and much needed in our world today. We train great orators to fill our Church pulpits. But each message should be judged by this question: 

How does this message communicate the principles of the Kingdom of God?

Think about it . . .

¨   How long has it been since I heard a message on the Kingdom of God?

¨   How is my Church fulfilling the commission to extend God's Kingdom?
¨   How am I personally fulfilling my role as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God?

Jesus taught that we are to focus our prayers on the Kingdom.  As part of our prayers, we pray:  

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.    Matthew 6:10

We are to seek the Kingdom as our highest priority in life:
  
But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.   Matthew 6:33

But rather seek ye the Kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Luke 12:31

The Church [body of Christ], not the building,  was raised up by God as an instrument through which the Kingdom is to be extended to the nations of the world. Many church congregations have lost the vision of this calling. They have emphasized building their membership and denomination instead of building the Kingdom.  

God is looking for quality over quantity.  

While it is crucial to have a place where believers can gather together 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  Hebrews 10:25

for fellowship, strength, and spiritual support, we are to go out to bring others in.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  Luke 14:23

Competition between pastors, churches, and denominations has broken the unity of the Body of Christ. We have lost the vision of one united Kingdom of God of which each local Church is only a part. Instead of helping one another in the mission to extend the Kingdom, we compete for greater buildings, larger membership rolls, and increased finances to build our own kingdoms.

Apostle Paul, a great ambassador of the Kingdom during the period of the early Church, said:  

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.   1 Corinthians 2:4-5

The first Church fulfilled the commission of extending the Kingdom of God not only by teaching and preaching; another element was involved. It was not extended by educated theologians, parties, programs, fundraisers, church membership drives or building great buildings. 

The commission was accomplished by combining the message of the Kingdom with the demonstration of the power of God; King of kings.

The extension of the Kingdom, not the church building, became the central purpose of the early Church. Despite persecution, believers continued to fulfill their commission as ambassadors of the Kingdom:

. . . And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions . . .

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.  Acts 8:1,4

Part of the follow-up plan for establishing churches was instruction regarding the Kingdom of God:  

. . .They returned again  . . .confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God.   Acts 14:21-22

The Kingdom of God was the message delivered to those in Samaria:  

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.   Acts 8:12

The Kingdom of God was the focus of Apostle Paul's teaching in Ephesus:

And he [Paul] went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the Kingdom of God.  Acts 19:8

The Kingdom of God was the central focus of Apostle Paul's ministry. Towards the end of his ministry he told believers:

. . . And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.   Acts 20:25

In the final Biblical record of Apostle Paul he is continuing the extension of the Kingdom even though captive in Rome:  

Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.  Acts 28:31

The plan of God is that the Church not only preach the Kingdom but that it should be a living example of the Kingdom. 

Are we meeting that challenge?

The Church needs to lose itself in a greater cause than its membership rolls. It needs to dedicate its efforts to more than building programs and membership drives. 

The Church needs to seek first the Kingdom of God which transcends denominational, cultural, and national boundaries.

If the Church will seek first the Kingdom of God, then all "these others things" will be added.

(Biblical Studies)



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