Connecting People to God: Our Kingdom Mission

When Paul preached the good news of Jesus the Messiah, he wasn't offering a spiritual path to an otherworldly heaven. He was proclaiming Jesus as Lord of heaven and earth, announcing that in Jesus, God's kingdom was breaking in upon the whole world in fresh and very unexpected ways. [00:45:45] (25 seconds)  #JesusKingdomBreakingIn

So the gospel, the good news that Paul proclaimed and which has been entrusted to us here today is the message that Jesus the Messiah is Lord of lords and King of kings. The good news challenges the thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities that claim that they alone are the ones in charge, that they are what hold all things together. [00:50:31] (28 seconds)  #JesusLordOfLords

God's kingdom cannot be imposed. It can only be received through faith and allegiance to Jesus the King. Jesus alone is Lord and King and that means no one else is. No political or religious leader or party. No country or form of government. Jesus is Lord. And whatever thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities there may be, their authority is derived from Jesus. And they are fully accountable before him about how they use what has been entrusted to them. And one of our jobs is to remind them regularly and repeatedly of this accountability. [00:51:33] (52 seconds)  #KingdomReceivedByFaith

What kind of life becomes possible when we are wisely governed by the king who is patient, kind, good, compassionate, just. A king who, instead of punishing his enemies, instead of seeking revenge and retribution, willingly gives his life for them in order to transform his enemies into his friends? What is it like to be ruled all the way up, all the way down, and all the way through by the God who is love? [00:54:39] (41 seconds)  #LifeUnderKingdomRule

``The goal is not to build a larger and larger and grander embassy. It is to penetrate the whole world with the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord, that his kingdom is already here and now actively at work all around, and that they are invited by King Jesus, personally and by name, to be released from the dominion of darkness and welcomed into the kingdom of God's beloved Son, the kingdom of light. [00:56:06] (33 seconds)  #GoodNewsPenetratesWorld

Be thankful. What a refreshing change from 21st century American life. But even more, be thankful. Stay grateful. Stay grateful. Remain grounded in who God is. All that God has done for you and the world in Jesus Christ and for the immense privilege and high calling of representing him. [00:58:35] (25 seconds)  #GratefulKingdomService

Paul wrote, be wise, make the most of every opportunity. Look for ways to move toward people in your world as opposed to waiting for them to move towards you. Meet them on their turf. Don't insist they meet on ours. A door opened, even a crack is better than one tightly shut. Make the most of every opportunity. [00:59:50] (27 seconds)  #SeizeEveryOpportunity

Let your conversation be full of grace, seasoned with salt. You don't have to dump the whole load. That's like over-salting the food. Be patient, kind. Be open to people's stories and questions. Sometimes it's really good to listen more and tell less. Show more, which oftentimes opens the doors to being able to tell more so that you can answer everyone. [01:00:17] (34 seconds)  #GraceFilledConversations

Ask God to give you the wisdom and courage you need to walk through whatever doors he opens, even doors that don't look like doors or in places where you're not expecting a door to be. [01:02:42] (15 seconds)  #CourageToWalkThroughDoors