And yet, even in the mess, signs of the kingdom emerge in the struggle to love, on street corners, in the rain. (religion-online.org)
(The description of the church as sign of the kingdom, although not as instrument, was adopted by the World Council of Churches in 1968.) (firstthings.com)
Similarly, Jesus» petition that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, though it «has a clear future, eschatological reference,... does not conflict with a desire to see signs of the kingdom now.» (firstthings.com)