When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He was not calling them to passive contemplation but to active participation in the purposes of God.
Indeed, the Lord’s Prayer was never meant to end in words alone, but to move us beyond rhetoric to results for the glory of God. At the heart of the prayer stands this petition: “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
The prayer, then, is not simply about private devotion, but about something more public-facing: the expected and visible manifestation of heaven on earth. Petitioners ask that the character, culture, and community of heaven would be expressed in the present age by the people of God, both individually and collectively, through the local church.
But what is heaven actually like?
What Heaven is Like (John’s Vision)
The clearest biblical answer comes in Revelation.
- In Revelation 5:9, the redeemed worship the Lamb, declaring that He has purchased people “from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
- Then in Revelation 7:9, John describes the fulfillment: “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
In both eschatological passages, heaven is not monochromatic. It is multiethnic, culturally diverse, and unified beyond earthly distinctions that so often divide. Around the throne are people “from every nation, tribe, people, and language” worshiping as one, while the nations walk by the light of God’s glory and bring their splendor into the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:24–26). It is one body comprised of many parts (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).
In heaven, diversity is not an obstacle to overcome. It is an intended reality, preserved, sanctified, and reconciled in the presence of God through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross (Ephesians 2:13–16).
Since we are taught to pray, “…on earth as it is in heaven,” we are expected to pursue and embody that reality now, together as one in the local church. The multiethnic church, therefore, should not be understood as a sociological trend, passing fad, or growth strategy rooted in demographic shifts. As Dr. David Anderson has long said, the multiethnic church is not just nice but necessary; not optional but biblical. It provides a credible and compelling witness of God’s love for all people, not just some, which is the heart of the Gospel.
What the Kingdom is Like (Jesus’ Parables)
The Kingdom of heaven becomes even clearer when we consider 10 parables of Jesus that begin, “The Kingdom of heaven is like…” Jesus describes a Kingdom that expands, gathers, includes, reconciles, and creates a new people of God. With this in mind, these parables not only point toward the multiethnic church, but call pastoral leaders to plant, grow, and multiply such churches on earth as it is in heaven for the sake of the gospel.
1. The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32)
Jesus emphasizes growth that is not merely about size, but about expanding welcome and widening influence. In time, the small seed becomes a tree large enough for birds of all kinds to nest in its branches, a picture of many people finding shelter in one shared space. So too, a healthy multiethnic church becomes a safe and welcoming place where people from many backgrounds walk, work, and worship God together as one.
In the 21st century, assuming structural health, the greater a church’s ethnic, cultural, and economic diversity, the broader its reach and the deeper its influence will be in a city. Building a healthy multiethnic church, however, requires passion, prayer, patience, and persistence rooted in biblical conviction. When pastors play the long game, a simple vision embraced by a few committed people often bears fruit far greater than first imagined.
2. The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like Yeast (Matthew 13:33)
Jesus emphasizes transformation that begins from within and spreads outward over time. A small measure of yeast works silently through the whole batch of dough, changing its nature from the inside. Likewise, Kingdom influence often starts in unseen places, rooted first in the hearts of pastors and congregants before it becomes visible in the world. So too, a healthy multiethnic church is established through biblical conviction.
When pastors and congregants are clear on mission, refuse to quit, and stay the course, that steady resolve strengthens both the foundation and future of the church. Over time, such faithfulness does more than shape life within the congregation. It begins to influence neighborhoods, cities, and institutions beyond its walls.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a Field with Wheat and Weeds (Matthew 13:24–30)
Jesus emphasizes growth that takes place amid tension, complexity, and imperfection. The Kingdom does not wait for ideal conditions before advancing, but grows in the real world where differences, misunderstandings, and challenges remain present. So too, a healthy multiethnic church is not formed by avoiding tension, but by leaning into it.
Building such a church requires maturity enough to navigate complexities. Diversity is not always easy, but neither is discipleship. Jesus died with His arms outstretched to the right and to the left, not forsaking one side for the other, but extending love and opportunity to all. In much the same way, the unity of the church is found in the tension, not apart from it. When pastors and congregants alike surrender personal preferences for the greater good, the church reflects the sacrificial love of Christ, so that others may come to know Him as we do.
4. The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a Net (Matthew 13:47)
Jesus explains that the Kingdom gathers all kinds of people and reaches farther than many expect. As a fisherman’s net draws in a varied catch, this parable reminds us that God’s purposes are broader than human preference or limited expectation. Kingdom ministry is not narrow, selective, or centered on one type of person. It reaches across boundaries and touches people from every walk of life.
A healthy multiethnic church embodies this principle when it serves not only its members but effectively engages its community. Beyond good intentions, it advances works of justice, compassion, and mercy to glorify God (Matthew 5:16). While some come to faith, others do not, even as they benefit from the church’s investment. Either way, pastors are called to cast the net wide and trust God for results beyond what they can see.
5. The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a Banquet (Matthew 22:1–10; Luke 14:15–24)
Jesus emphasizes welcome, celebration, and a table with room to spare. The invitation extends beyond the expected guests to outsiders, the marginalized, and those otherwise forgotten by a society too often ordered by personal privilege or financial status. The Kingdom is not reserved for such as these. Rather, it is equitable. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
A healthy multiethnic church extends this invitation to people from different backgrounds and mirrors this banquet when they gather as one in Christ. When people of different color, class, and culture willingly choose to become one in the church, they provide credible evidence that the gospel has power to reconcile what society too often keeps divided. Pastors in pursuit of heaven on earth must structure churches that empower diverse leaders, pursue cross-cultural intelligence, and promote a spirit of inclusion.
When Jesus taught us to pray, “on earth as it is in heaven,” He invited us to do more than contemplate the Kingdom of God. He invited us to participate in bringing it about here and now. And it is no secret: I believe healthy multiethnic churches were envisioned by Christ, described by Luke, and prescribed by the Apostle Paul as one of the most credible and compelling ways of doing so.
In this first of a two-part article, we considered the first five parables. Next month, I’ll look at parables six through 10 to help you more fully discover what Jesus teaches about the coming Kingdom of God, how to build churches that reflect heaven on earth, and why that matters.
