Just as there are different countries or kingdoms with different cultures and practices, what makes the Kingdom of God different than the rest of the world?

The kingdom of God is universal, spiritual, multi-national, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual. Everyone everywhere who is in a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ is in God’s kingdom. Those in the kingdom follow the King, Jesus. They live, not for themselves, but for God and his glory. They serve others in the name of Jesus (John 13:1-17). They lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). They live in the world but they do not partake of the evil in the world (John 17:13-16; 1 John 2:15-17). They “fix their eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2) and follow his model life of love and service to others (Matthew 20:25-28). They practice his teachings as found in the Sermon on the Mount and in other Scriptures (Matthew 5-7). They pray for God’s name to be respected and for his will to be done (6:9-11). They love their enemies (5:53-48) and pray for, bless and do good to those that despitefully use them (Luke 6:27-28). Jesus is so much their example and model in all things (Colossians 3:15-17) that he is called “their life” (3:4). They receive their life from Jesus and without him they can do nothing (John 15:4-5). They want to share the good news of Jesus with others and make “disciples among all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). They “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). Others “see their good works and give glory to God who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)

Here are some more words from God to consider in your discussions. These Scriptures emphasize helpful, peace-loving attitudes and unity. They show that all the members share in the same Lord and Spirit and mutually love and care for one another.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience,  bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. (Ephesians 4:1-7)

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Corinthians 12:18-26)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)