KINGDOM OF GOD OR KINGDOM OF MINE?!

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:14-15

In both of these verses, Matthew and Mark share details about Jesus' vibrant activities in the Galilee region. Galilee is the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee, where you can find several towns and villages along the lake's shores, like Capernaum, Magdala, and Bethsaida. Alongside stories of numerous miracles, healings, and deliverances, Matthew and Mark together share the essence of Jesus' preaching:

"Turn away from your old ways and embrace a new path, have faith in the Gospel, because the Kingdom of God is at hand."

Jesus wasn't out there promoting his ministry or any specific rabbinical teaching; he was simply proclaiming the Kingdom of God. The key difference between sharing your own insights and proclaiming the arrival of God's kingdom lies in the subject! In grammar, the subject is the part of the sentence that shows who is doing the action: who acts, who speaks, and who arrives. In philosophy, a subject refers to a being that interacts with the external world, which is seen as an object of understanding. It embodies consciousness (or is consciousness itself) and serves as the origin of knowledge, acting as the holder of cognition.

In Jesus' announcement of the Kingdom of God, God is the one who acts, speaks, and reveals Himself through Jesus and later through other disciples who shared the same message. Jesus presented the Kingdom of God as the essential truth that everyone needs to accept if they wish to enter God's eternal kingdom.

Preaching might come off as pointless or even dull to some people, especially when the topic being discussed feels dead, missing, or just not impactful. In Jesus' teachings and actions, God was the central focus and subject, and the Kingdom of God served as the ultimate meaning of existence, which resonated deeply. Miracles and signs, prophetic messages and insights, authority and revelations in preaching to the people were all clear evidence that God was truly present in Jesus' life.

They were amazed at his teaching because he spoke with authority, unlike the scribes. Mark 1:22

For us, living two thousand years later, this doesn’t feel so "new" because most Christians, no matter their denomination, believe in Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

The tales of Jesus are familiar, shared, and preached, and a lot of us have been hearing them since we were little kids. This is completely NORMAL for us!

I have to say that the preaching of the Gospel in some churches today looks quite different from what Jesus preached and what we see in the book of Acts. Nowadays, when we go to church, we hear all sorts of messages—like tips on living better, lists of dos and don’ts, and even political messages pop up now and then. It seems like there’s this expectation that preaching should tackle every possible life issue and challenge. Jesus definitely brought up all those topics now and then, but he usually used them to guide his listeners toward God and the Kingdom of God since the main focus of his sermon was always "vertical."

You might come across a bunch of messages filled with biblical quotes and human wisdom, but to really consider them authentic, they have to pass the "Jesus test." The preacher's authenticity is confirmed by their orientation toward God as the main subject. Is God the central focus that everything should revolve around, or is God just a means to enhance our lives?

You can definitely talk about morality, health, progress, and the supernatural without bringing God into the picture. If the focus is more on specific prayer techniques, worship styles, body postures, or even highlighting a particular preacher to ensure that “people will receive blessings from God,” rather than centering the message on God and His redemptive work through Jesus Christ, then you have to wonder about the authenticity of that sermon.

I really believe that the intentions behind those sermons are good, but if they focus more on what God can do for people rather than guiding them towards God Himself, I see that as a failure!

At the heart of the Gospel is Jesus Christ: His life, His ministry, His work of redemption, and His invitation for people to follow Him!

Preaching the Gospel isn't just someone's opinion about Jesus; it's a personal testimony about Him. A witness has gone through something with God that transformed their life, and they share that experience, essentially testifying, which in turn impacts the lives of those who hear them.

The Gospel isn't just a random take on Jesus' words or fitting them into a context that works for someone.

The Gospel isn't just a soothing song that tells us God loves everyone and that anyone can follow Him however they choose.

Jesus told his disciples what to do:

So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.] [ A nd they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.  Mark 16:19-20

Preaching is more of a task than just a job! If someone wants to be a preacher, they should share their experiences as a witness to the Word of God. When someone feels called to preach, their role is to interpret, explain, and apply the Gospel to real people in real-life situations, all while ensuring they don’t add or take away anything that might keep people from truly knowing Jesus Christ. Preaching should really be about bringing the written Word to life through the spoken word!

The preacher is the messenger! He doesn’t own the message. He’s been given the message to share, and it’s his duty to deliver it honestly and accurately, without changing a thing!

The preaching of the Gospel comes with signs: deliverance, healing, speaking in new tongues, and God's special protection for those sharing the Gospel.

In today's churches, it's common to see a separation between different aspects. We have churches that focus on specific charismatic expressions, like prophetic churches, those that emphasize deliverance or healing, and others that concentrate on teching…

I believe Jesus covered everything, not just a single aspect!

I think God wants each of us to genuinely represent Him and His Kingdom in our own circles, with the same passion, authority, and power that Jesus and the early apostles had.

To achieve this, I think we need to break free from our own desires and ambitions for success and popularity. We should always keep Jesus at the heart of our preaching and show through our lives that the Kingdom of God is our true purpose and goal in our quest for meaning.

Petar Fabijanić