Bishop Noel Jones - Wednesday Bible Study - September 9, 2026

Main message: The kingdom of God is not a better version of any earthly political system but a distinct, nonviolent, servant-centered reality; Christians should evaluate politics and leaders by kingdom values—especially care for the vulnerable—rather than by power, popularity, or money.

Key points:

• Jesus’ kingdom “is not of this world” (John 18:36): earthly systems (democracy, autocracy, technocracy, etc.) rely on power, coercion or manipulation, whereas the kingdom embodies servant leadership and nonviolence.
• God’s allowing of human rulers is permissive, not always his ideal; believers still bear responsibility when voting and engaging politically and should seek God’s priorities rather than mere partisan gain.
• The Matthew 25 sheep-and-goats standard (feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, visiting the sick and imprisoned) is presented as the primary criterion for judging political alignments and policies.
• Money and power corrupt institutions and people (capitalism, campaign finance, influence over courts) — Christians must beware manipulation and let kingdom ethics guide decisions.
• Biblical relational ethics extend to home life: husbands and wives are to relate “according to knowledge,” and genuine kingdom character (freely loving enemies, humility) should shape public as well as private behavior.

Scriptures mentioned: John 18:36, Matthew 25:31-46