kingdom of god

• Kingdom of God


  The idea of a place where God reigns as king. Any person, place or community where the people live with God as king can be referred to as parts of the kingdom of God.
• Establishment of the kingdom of God

  1. Starts with the birth of Jesus the Prince of Peace sent by God to establish peace and justice

  2. Confirmed by Jesus's death and resurrection and the arrival of the Holy Spirit to Pentecost

  3. Grows in the lives of Christians who today try to spread God's kingdom on earth by working for peace and justice

  4. Completed in heaven at the end of time when God will reign for eternity
• Marks of the kingdom of God

  • Justice
  • Peace
  • Reconciliation
• Justice


  Ensuring people are treated fairly. All humans have dignity because they are made in the image of God, which means all people must be treated with respect. There should be no discrimination based on sex, gender or ethnicity. Everyone should have certain basic human rights.
• Peace


  There cannot be peace unless there is also justice. Wars and conflicts tend to exist in places where there is injustice. Peace requires everyone to respect the rights of others in order to create harmony among people from different nations, races and religions.
• Reconciliation


  The restoration of relationships that have previously broken down. Where injustice and conflict currently exists, it will be necessary for there to be reconciliation before peace and justice can reign. It requires humility and empathy for people who have previously been in conflict to work together and settle their differences. It may also require repentance and forgiveness for people to move on from the wrongs of the past.
• Catholic social teaching (CST)


  A set of principles and beliefs that seek to ensure all people are treated with dignity and respect, and encourages Catholics to support governments and policies that promote peace and justice. It is critical of economic systems that allow the powerful and wealthy to exploit the poor, and teaches that Catholics should take a preferential option for the poor.
• How Catholic social teaching can be promoted

  1. Supporting church charities based on CST that work at local, national and international levels

  2. Individuals supporting initiatives that put the needs of the poor first and challenge those who do not acknowledge the needs of the poor

  3. Educating people on the need to promote development overseas

  4. Lobbying national governments to promote policies that support long-term development and challenge laws that do not promote fair trade
• Our Father: 'The Lord's Prayer, which shows that all humans are children of God made in His image and so all people deserve dignity.'
• When a person obeys the will of God in their own life


  They are establishing the kingdom of God within themselves
• The kingdom of God is any place where God reigns