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Radical Reformation History  /  Lecture 2: The Early Church  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 1
Dean Taylor argues that “there was nothing [Jesus] talked about more than the Kingdom”—more than “faith and heaven and hell all combined”; if that is true, what does it reveal about what God is most intent on doing in the world right now, and how does that re-order what many Christians treat as “the main message” of Christianity?
Another way to ask: If Jesus talked most about God’s Kingdom, what does that say God is mainly doing in the world right now? How should that change what many Christians think the “main message” of Christianity is?

Direct Answer Based on Dean Taylor’s teaching, God is most intent on bringing His Kingdom reality to earth in a way that glorifies His name through a people who obey Jesus. That re-orders “the main message” from mainly getting individuals to heaven to living now as citizens of Christ’s Kingdom in an obedient relationship with Him.

Support from Transcript:

  • Dean says Jesus spoke of the Kingdom more than “faith and heaven and hell all combined,” making it central to what God is doing.
  • He frames the Kingdom as “God wanting to bring about a Kingdom that glorifies his name here on earth.”
  • He urges rereading Matthew 13 where the Kingdom starts “very small” (mustard seed, leaven) but “grows,” implying a present, expanding reality.
  • He quotes David Raso: Kingdom Christians “focus on the lifestyle teachings of Jesus,” and the Kingdom is “a present reality… the essence of Christianity is an obedient, love, faith relationship with Jesus Christ.”
  • He contrasts a “accept the Lord type of salvation” with “a grace-filled living life salvation,” warning that losing the Kingdom “frame” changes how we read Scripture.
Discussion Follow-ups What parts of Christianity do we emphasize that can be true, but still end up sidelining Jesus’ main emphasis? How would church life look different if “Kingdom first” was our default frame?

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