Kingdom Life is the name of our youth ministry at New Hope Windward.
Beyond that, it describes a certain belief about being a follower of Jesus Christ.
It's very common to believe that our goal as Christians is to be as happy and safe and comfortable as we possibly can, being kind to all people, sharing our testimony whenever a convenient opportunity presents itself, leaving a legacy, and getting to heaven at the end of life so we can be happy with Jesus forever (in heaven).
While none of these things are wrong or bad, it's not the end-goal for anyone who professes faith in Jesus. The fact is that heaven is not our final destination, it is the kingdom of God fully and perfectly realized on a newly created planet earth.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
(Revelation 21:1-3 ESV)
Before that time comes, our responsibility as Christians is not to pray for that day and just wait for it, being as "good" as we possibly can. We are to pray "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10 ESV). We are to live this life, proclaiming "the good news of the kingdom of God" (Luke 4:43). The gospel is not just about salvation from hell and sin. The good news, the gospel, has always been about the reign and rule of God (his Kingdom) having its place on earth.
(Matt.4:23; Matt.9:35; Matt.24:14; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43; Luke 8:1; Luke 9:2; Luke 9:11; Luke 9:60; Luke 16:6; Acts 1:3; Acts 8:12; Acts 19:8; Acts 28:23; Acts 28:31)
When Jesus returns, his Kingdom will be fully established. Until that time, the announcement of the coming of his Kingdom brings certain aspects of his Kingdom here on earth. We live in this reality: that Jesus is the official, current king of everything, and his followers take with them a portion of his kingdom wherever they go. We are to live this life in light of God's Kingdom.
We aren't just living life, we're living a kingdom life.
