When Will God's Kingdom Come? It's Already Here

Hey, carpool crew, whether you're on your way to school, running errands with your parents, or chilling at home. I'm Pastor Justin. I'm so glad you're here. All month we've been walking through real questions people ask Jesus. And today's question, it might sound like something from a superhero movie or a Bible quiz: when will the Kingdom of God come? That's from Luke chapter 17, verse 20. Now, let's talk about kingdoms for a second. When people back then, back in Bible times, thought about a kingdom, they imagined trumpets blasting, huge armies marching, a king on a throne with a crown covered in gold and jewels, maybe even giant palaces with golden doors. They expected God's kingdom to be something big and impossible to miss. But Jesus, like always, surprised them. He said, the Kingdom of God is not something you can see because the kingdom of God is in your midst. That means it's already here, right where you are. Now, here's the one thing I want you to remember on this ride. God's kingdom begins with love in our hearts. Jesus was saying, don't just sit around waiting for something huge to happen. Don't keep walking around looking for the kingdom. God's kingdom starts right now, in you. See, Jesus was teaching them that it's not about castles or soldiers. It's about kindness, forgiveness toward one another, putting others first, being a servant. Let me tell you about Kurt. At recess, he noticed a kid sitting alone. He could have stayed with his friends, but instead Kurt walked over, smiled, and said, wanna play with us? He invited someone. That's amazing. That might not seem like a big deal, but right then, Kurt was showing what God's kingdom looks like. It looks like kindness. It looks like a smile and an invitation. It looks like welcoming someone who feels left out. You don't need a crown or a throne to be part of God's kingdom. You just need a heart that loves Jesus. Back in Jesus' time, even the religious leaders thought God's kingdom would be like a powerful empire that would defeat the Romans, that would replace the Roman empire. That's why they were shocked when Jesus said it was already happening, through love and healing and forgiveness and serving one another. They were looking for swords and crowns, but Jesus offered serving and kindness. God's kingdom begins with love in our hearts. We're not just waiting for heaven someday. We are building God's kingdom right now, one loving choice at a time, with every person we meet. So at school today, do one little thing to help build God's kingdom just a little bit more. When you are at home with your family, think of something you can do there that will bring God's kingdom a little more to life where you are. Remember, it's not a kingdom we're looking for. We are building God's kingdom right now. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Parents, if you liked today's podcast, snap a photo, share it on Instagram and tag us at carpooling with Jesus. Before you go, answer this question together: what's one way I can live out God's kingdom today with kindness, forgiveness, and serving others? I'll see you tomorrow on carpooling with Jesus.