Seek First the Kingdom - Bible Study Book with Video Access: God's Invitation to Life and Joy in the Book of Matthew By: Christine Hoover

In the confusion and sheer volume of ideas vying for our attention, we must constantly return to the words of Jesus to find our focus, our purpose, and the foundation for a flourishing life. Using parables and stories, Jesus spoke often of the kingdom of God as what matters. In other words, the kingdom of God defines who we are and what we do as Christians. Join Christine Hoover for an in-depth exploration of the book of Matthew. She'll help you understand the culture of the kingdom of God—what it is, how we enter it, and the life Jesus offers us within the kingdom. Learn how to find everlasting joy as a citizen of the kingdom.

Features: 

• Teaching videos, approximately 20–30 minutes per session, available via redemption code printed in the Bible study book.
• Personal study segments to complete between 8 weeks of group sessions. 
• Leader guide to help facilitate questions and discussions within small groups.

Benefits:   

• Explore the kingdom of God in-depth, learning what the kingdom of God is, and how to enter it.  
• Embrace the life Jesus offers you within the kingdom and the way to find joy as His child.  
• Understand how the ways, values, and cultivation of the kingdom of God define who you are.  
• Learn to confront your allegiances to idols and false kings, re-ordering your worship.  
• Identify your place in the kingdom of God and how you can join in the work that God is doing here and around the world. 

• Session 1: The King Has Come (27:12)—In the first teaching session, Christine sets the stage for the study by providing context and background information on author, audience, and themes and characteristics of the book of Matthew. She also walks you through a chart to help you see how kingdom is an overarching theme of Scripture.
• Session 2: Entering the Kingdom (20:39)—Session 2 video teaching centers on Jesus’ kingdom invitation to repent and follow Him. Christine will challenge us to consider this invitation by showing us the response of two different men to Jesus’ call. She will also point out what awaits us if we say yes to Jesus.
• Session 3: The Culture of the Kingdom (22:38)—Jesus has extended an invitation to all of us to come follow Him and enter His kingdom. But before we accept that invitation, shouldn’t we know what kind of King he is? Christine will spend this teaching session helping us see and understand the character of the King.
• Session 4: Living the Kingdom Life (19:52)—In Session 4, Christine helps answer what might be a nagging question for us: Is the kingdom of God mostly about my secure future in heaven without really affecting the everyday mess and muck of life? Does it speak to my worries, stresses and anxieties? She will unpack Matthew 6:25-34 to help us see that kingdom living is the answer to peaceful and purposeful daily living.
• Session 5: Expanding the Kingdom (22:40)—In this teaching session, Christine focuses our attention on a turning point in Jesus’ ministry found in Matthew 9 where He calls out His disciples to join Him in extending the invitation for others to join the kingdom. Christine makes it clear that as Jesus’ present-day followers, that calling now falls to us. We are to be investing our lives in reaching people for the kingdom.
• Session 6: Characteristics of the Kingdom (21:50)—Christine will remind us in this session that Jesus used parables as concrete, tangible examples from everyday life to help His listeners grasp the intangible, unseen realities of the kingdom of God. In this teaching, she will unpack some parables in Matthew 13 to show us the characteristics of the kingdom.
• Session 7: The Community of the Kingdom (22:36)—In Session 7, Christine points out that the kingdom of God is not filled with people who barely relate to each other. No, if you’re in the kingdom, you’re in a family. She will emphasize that what sets the family of God apart is love demonstrated through servanthood.
• Session 8: The Kingdom to Come (24:02)—Christine closes the study by emphasizing that the kingdom of God is not only past and present, but points toward a glorious future where we will be with God forever in our eternal home. She seeks to answer some questions surrounding Jesus’ return, and reminds us that our job until that day is to keep inviting people to be a part of this glorious kingdom.