Pastor Brian Wilkie - Presenting The Kingdom Of Christ - September 27th, 2026 - Bible Study

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 5:17-20

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

[32:41]

Hosea 11:9

“I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.”

[49:58]

Acts 2:46-47

“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

[29:21]

Observation questions

1. In 2 Corinthians 5:17–20, what does Paul say God has done for people in Christ, and what responsibility does he then give them? [33:04]
2. What does Acts 2:46–47 show about how the early believers shared worship, meals, and daily life together? [29:21]
3. What qualities of a good ambassador were highlighted, and how do kindness, decency, and helpfulness affect the way a kingdom is represented? [39:02]
4. In Hosea 11:9, what contrast does God make between himself and human beings, and what does this reveal about his response to his wandering people? [50:15]

Interpretation questions

1. Paul connects being made new in Christ with receiving a ministry of reconciliation. Why does new life in Christ naturally lead believers to care about people being reconciled to God? [33:05]
2. If Christ’s ambassadors carry a message of peace rather than a message of war, how should they speak honestly about sin without making condemnation the final word? [46:32]
3. God’s mercy is visible when a failing ambassador confesses sin, receives forgiveness, and returns to faithful service. How can a church take sin seriously while also helping repentant people find restoration? [42:23]
4. God’s holiness in Hosea is shown in his refusal to abandon his unfaithful people. How does this reshape the common idea that holiness mainly means being harsh, distant, or quick to reject? [50:31]

Application questions

1. Where has your faith become mostly a Sunday-morning habit rather than a shared daily life with God’s people? What is one realistic way you could make more room for prayer, Scripture, fellowship, or a shared meal this week? [29:58]
2. Think about the places where people see your everyday life—your home, workplace, school, neighbourhood, or online. What would it look like to represent Christ there with greater kindness, decency, and helpfulness? [40:48]
3. Is there someone in your life who seems far from God because of their past, present struggles, or reputation? How could you offer them a genuine word or action of reconciliation rather than merely pointing out what is broken? [45:41]
4. When you fail or sin, do you tend to hide, excuse yourself, or assume you are no longer useful to God? What would it look like to confess honestly, receive Christ’s mercy, and take a faithful next step? [42:34]
5. Is there a repentant person whom it would be easy to keep at a distance because of what they have done? How can you show the mercy of Christ while still treating sin truthfully and wisely? [43:26]
6. In what ways does anxiety about earning Christ’s approval shape your pursuit of holiness? How would your growth look different if it began with confidence that Christ already loves and delights in his bride? [53:47]
7. What practice could help you spend more intentional time in Christ’s presence this week, and how might that reshape the way you treat others as his ambassador? [55:43]