Kingdom Tension Part 3

At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Tension,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.

We are in a series called “Kingdom Tension” and looking at the Bible from Acts to somewhere in Revelation. In this series, we will look at the Now and Not Yet, the idea of Temple again, and our mission as a church of One More. This week, we will be talking about worship.

The early church thrived on deep, Spirit-filled relationships with God, with each other, and those still on their journey to salvation. These relationships were not random or merely social; they were rooted in a shared spiritual rhythm of worship, discipleship, fellowship, and mission. All of this happened in the unique tension of the “Now and Not Yet” reality of God’s Kingdom. That same tension remains for us today. We are citizens of a Kingdom that is already present but not yet fully revealed. So, how do we live faithfully in that in-between space?

It begins with worship.

Worship is more than singing on the weekend; it’s a way of life, anchoring us in God’s unshakable Kingdom. The writer of Hebrews offers a powerful reminder:

Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Worship acknowledges God’s rule and reign, even when our world feels uncertain or fragile.

This Kingdom we belong to is not some distant hope. As Hebrews 12:22–23 declares:

Hebrews 12:22–23 (NIV)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

We have already “come to Mount Zion… to the city of the living God… to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.” We are already participating in the heavenly Jerusalem by faith. We are not waiting to enter it; we live in it now.

In a world where everything seems temporary and unstable, worship is how we remember what’s permanent. Worship reorients our hearts, refocuses our minds, and recenters our lives on the presence and promises of God. It draws us into a greater awareness of who He is and who we are in Him.

So when life feels like it’s shaking, when circumstances are overwhelming, let your heart declare: I belong to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. That is your reality. That is your anchor. That is your hope.

Let worship be your response. Let it be your posture. In the tension of the now and not yet, let worship keep you grounded in the eternal.

This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.

Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.