From Discipleship Weekly

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A Word from Our Sponsor The kingdom of God does not come with observation: nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. -- Luke 17:20-21 The Heidelberg Catechism: Part 3 - Thankfulness Week 48: Our Lord's Prayer 123. Q. What is the second petition? A. "Thy kingdom come." That is: so govern us by thy Word and Spirit that we may more and more submit ourselves unto thee. Uphold and increase thy church. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that raises itself against thee, and all wicked schemes thought up against thy holy Word, until the full coming of thy kingdom in which thou shalt be all in all. [Ps. 51:18; 119:5,105; 122:6-9; 143:10; Matt. 6:33; 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; Rom. 8:22-23; 16:20; I Cor. 15:28; I John 3:8; Rev. 22:17,20] Suggestions for discussion and review: 1. Check off any of the following that describes what we mean when we pray "Thy kingdom come". The kingdom of God: ____ is here today ____ will come when Jesus returns ____ is coming gradually ____ will come suddenly ____ is now known to a few ____ will be known to all people someday 2. According to Q&A 123, is the kingdom we pray for militant or peaceable? Circle or highlight the words or phrases that support your answer. Is this the image you had before? 3. As Christians, is it more important that we submit to the rule of God and reflect it in everything we do, or help establish the kingdom so that it does, in fact, come? * * * * * * * * * * When we have the feeling that on some occasion we have disobeyed God, it simply means that for a time we have ceased to desire obedience. -- Simone Weil