Steve Bannister, author of The Alongsider’s Bicycle, unpacks how entering, living in and extending God's Kingdom can shape our everyday lives and relationships. 

Peter had been walking with Jesus for over a year when it happened. He’d seen miracles. Heard the teaching. Said all the right things. 

But then Jesus stopped him in his tracks: ‘You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s’ (Matthew 16:23 NLT). 

It’s a bit uncomfortable, isn’t it?  

Because if Peter could miss it, there’s a good chance we do too. So often, we look at things through a human lens: what’s urgent, what’s visible, what affects us right now.  

But Jesus keeps inviting us into something more – something bigger. A Kingdom perspective.  

What does it really mean to see the Kingdom? 

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, the Kingdom wasn’t a side theme – it was central: ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done’ (Matthew 6:9-10 NLT).  

From the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus told people, ‘Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near’ (Matthew 4:17 NLT). And right at the very end, after his resurrection, ‘He talked to them about the Kingdom of God’ (Acts 1:3 NLT). 

The Kingdom wasn’t just something Jesus mentioned. It was the way he saw everything.  

The Kingdom of God isn’t a place – it’s a rule, a reign, a reality where Jesus is Lord.  

So, when we say ‘yes’ to Jesus, we’re not just receiving forgiveness. We’re stepping into a whole new way of living.

1. Entering the Kingdom: It starts with surrender

Jesus was very clear: ‘No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit… Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life” (John 3:5-6 NLT ). 

There’s a moment where everything changes – where we turn, repent and receive new life. 

This is where discipleship begins – not with effort, but with surrender. 
Not with striving, but with being made new.

2. Living in the Kingdom: It shows up in everyday life 

Paul doesn’t leave much room for ambiguity either: ‘Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven’ (Philippians 1:27 NLT, italics added). In other words: live like you belong to the Kingdom. Because you do. 

And not just on a Sunday, but at home, at work, with friends – even behind the wheel of your car.  

Discipleship isn’t about saying the right things. It’s about becoming the kind of person whose life tells the story of Jesus. 

Paul tells Timothy to use his whole life to teach others: his words, his demeanour, his love, his faith, his integrity (1 Timothy 4:12).  

It’s simple, but not always easy. Because Kingdom living isn’t just about beliefs but alignment.

3. Extending the Kingdom: You’re part of the plan 

Here’s where it gets exciting – and a little stretching. 

We’re living in what Jesus called ‘this age’ (Matthew 28:20) – the period between his first coming and his return. Jesus left us with a clear commission: ‘Go and make disciples… Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.’ (Matthew 28:19-20 NLT). 

This wasn’t just for the original twelve. It’s for all of us. 

As Peter writes, ‘The Lord isn’t really being slow… He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent’ (2 Peter 3:9 NLT, italics added). 

God's heart is for people to be reconciled to him and welcomed into his Kingdom. That’s why making disciples who make disciples matters so much. This age won’t last forever, and every day is an opportunity for someone to find new life in Jesus. 

Which means your life – your everyday conversations, your relationships, your courage to share faith – matters more than you might think. As The Alongsider’s Bicycle illustrates, Kingdom perspective is one of the vital priorities of a disciple-maker, helping us keep God’s bigger purpose in view as we journey alongside others.  

God’s heart is wide open. And he invites us to join him in reaching others. Not out of pressure, but out of purpose. Not out of duty, but out of love.

So, what are you seeing?

It’s easy to drift into a purely human perspective. To focus on what’s immediate rather than what’s eternal. 

But Jesus keeps inviting us to see people differently, to live intentionally, to play our part in something much bigger than ourselves. 

The question isn’t whether God is at work. He is. 

The question is: Will we see it – and step into it?