Kingdom Tension

Welcome to Kingdom Tension, a course that explores the dynamic role of the Church in God’s unfolding Kingdom story from the book of Acts through the closing chapters of Revelation. This section of the biblical narrative captures the lived reality of God’s people in the age between Christ’s resurrection and His promised return—a time marked by the tension of the “now and not yet.” The Kingdom of God has been inaugurated through Jesus, but it has not yet been fully realized. In this in-between time, the Church is called to be the living instrument of the Kingdom on earth.

In Kingdom Tension, we will trace the early Church’s formation and expansion in Acts, the theological depth of its identity and mission in the epistles, and the ultimate hope revealed in Revelation. Through this journey, we will see how the Church is not a building or institution, but a people—a community shaped by deep, transforming relationships. The Church exists in relationship with God through worship and devotion, in relationship with fellow believers through fellowship and discipleship, and in relationship with the lost through mission and witness. These relationships are not isolated; they are all lived out in the overlapping realities of a world broken by sin and a Kingdom breaking in with grace and power.

This course will help you understand your place within this Kingdom tension. You’ll learn how to recognize the signs of the Kingdom around you, engage more deeply with the Church’s mission, and grow in love for both God and neighbor. As we examine the spread of the gospel, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and the perseverance of the saints, you will be challenged to live faithfully and fruitfully in a world that is groaning for redemption while already being renewed by the Spirit.

About Instructor

Pastor Steve Lawes has been influenced over the course of his learning by the teaching of the following: John Wimber, George Eldon Ladd, Rick Warren, John Piper, Tim Keller, NT Wright, Putty Putman, Michael Heiser, Bob Goff, Tim Mackie, and many others. All of these influences are woven throughout the messages presented in these courses. Please assume that anything really good comes from one of the people listed above.

In this time between the ascension and the second coming, we do not simply wait—we worship, we serve, and we invite others into the life of the Kingdom. Join us as we study what it means to be the Church in this in-between time, living out the tension of the now and the not yet.

Available in July 2025