Abstract
The kingdom of God was central to the proclamation of Jesus. However, in recent discussion of spiritual formation the kingdom theme remains sidelined as a mere cipher for the end of the formation process or the overall domain in which formation takes place. In three parts this essay argues that the kingdom of God is indeed the end of the believer’s formation, but also, in the person of the Holy Spirit, the means to the goal of spiritual formation as well. Part I establishes the kingdom story of Scripture, noting features of the kingdom life particularly germane to human spirituality. Part II takes up Jesus’ person and practice of the kingdom in the Spirit as the paradigm for all true, human, spiritual formation. Part III concludes with a sketch of kingdom priorities in the spirituality of the Holy Spirit, the power of the kingdom in the present age.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.