How Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Peter Obeyed the Gospel of the Kingdom (Part 2)

What does it mean to truly gain Christ and live in the Kingdom of God? In this message, Christian author and teacher Gene Edwards explores the radical call to know Jesus Christ—not merely to know about Him, but to experience His presence and follow Him as Simon Peter did.

Peter left his former life and followed Jesus. For three years, he lived in the presence of Christ, walked with Him, listened to Him, failed before Him, and continued following Him. Gene Edwards uses Peter’s journey to explore a deeper understanding of Christian discipleship and the Kingdom of God.

The central message is simple but challenging: the purpose of surrender is not surrender itself. It is to gain Jesus Christ.

Gene describes the Kingdom of God as gaining Christ—knowing Him personally and experiencing His presence. After Pentecost, the early believers did not merely receive a new set of teachings. Their lives became centered upon Jesus Christ. They wanted to hear about Him, know Him, and experience Him.

This message also explores the relationship between Christ and His church. Jesus gave Himself completely, and the church was born as His bride. Gene presents the Christian life as a great love story: Christ desires His people, and His people are invited into an ever-deepening knowledge and experience of Him.

Rather than allowing everyday concerns to consume our attention, Gene challenges believers to pursue what matters most: knowing the Lord Himself.

Jesus Christ is not distant. He is present in the ordinary places of life—in the room, in the car, in our work, and wherever the day takes us. The invitation of the Christian life is to become increasingly conscious of His presence and discover how much of Christ we can experience today.