In contrast to the message of today’s preachers, Jesus’ focus from beginning to end was the Kingdom! What other message did he promote? What other program did he push? He had no other.

From the Start

Look at how Jesus started his ministry:

Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom 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; NKJV).

What does at hand mean? It means near or close by. The Kingdom had drawn near to the people who heard Jesus. They could feel its power. The evidence of its closeness was the power of the Spirit that was working through Jesus. For example, when Jesus cast out demons, he said that those exorcisms evidenced the presence of the Kingdom of God.

… if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you (Luke 11:20; NASB).

During the Middle

We just saw what Jesus said at the beginning of his ministry; now notice Jesus’ focus during his ministry. All through it his focus was the Gospel of the Kingdom. His focus never changed.

The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the Good News of the Kingdom of God is being preached (Luke 16:16).

At the End

Now, let’s look at how Jesus finished his ministry. You guessed it: He wrapped it up with a strong emphasis on the Kingdom! The expectation he gave the apostles on the last night he spoke with them, at the Lord’s Supper, was that they would drink with him in the Kingdom.

I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom (Matthew 26:29).

The Good News of the Kingdom

We have just proven from these passages that the Kingdom is the fundamental message of our Lord Jesus—he preached it from the beginning to the end of his ministry. Does this affect us? Yes, directly, since the Kingdom of God is our message too. Paul calls it the one Hope (Ephesians 4:3). The Church must not have any other goal higher than the Kingdom—nothing should even come close. For example, the goal of forming a big congregation is a popular goal among pastors, but Jesus had crowds of 30,000 people who gathered together during the multiplication of bread and he wasn't content with that.

What if you attain a large congregation but none of the people in your congregation are fit to enter the Kingdom? Your labors will be lost. But Jesus called us to bear fruit that will last.

I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last (John 15:16).

The Good News of a coming Kingdom is our message. We are not sent to preach “the Church will grow.” We are sent to preach “the Kingdom will come.” Jesus did not challenge anyone to enter a church. He challenged them to enter the Kingdom. Do you speak with the unconverted that way?

Do you call unbelievers to the Kingdom? If you don’t, you’re not truly serving Christ’s Church. You’re building a mere social group, not the Church. The Church of Jesus is that particular group of people in this World destined for the Kingdom.