Embracing the Kingdom Agenda for Societal Transformation

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the concept of the "Kingdom Agenda," a worldview rooted in the Bible that emphasizes God's comprehensive rule over every aspect of life. This agenda is divided into four key spheres: personal accountability, family, church, and civil government. Each sphere plays a crucial role in shaping a society that reflects God's values and order.

Personal accountability is the foundation, as it involves an individual's reconciliation with God and themselves. Without this, relationships with others, especially those different from us, become strained. The family is the next sphere, serving as society's cornerstone. When families break down, chaos ensues, as the family is meant to instill values and character in the next generation. The church, described as God's embassy, is tasked with representing heaven on earth. However, it has often become too cultural, neglecting its biblical mandate to address issues like racism with the same fervor as other sins.

The final sphere is civil government, which, according to Romans 13, is ordained by God. When God is removed from government, chaos follows. The current societal strife is a result of God's absence in culture, a failing church, broken families, and confused individuals. We must recognize racism as a sin and address it with the same passion as other issues. The church should model kingdom unity, reflecting God's values in how we relate to each other and the world.

To achieve reconciliation, we must acknowledge the pain of others and not dismiss it based on our innocence or lack of direct involvement. The story of my journey in radio and education highlights the systemic barriers that have existed, and the need for change. We must weep with those who weep and work towards a society that truly reflects God's kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

1. Personal Accountability: Our journey begins with personal reconciliation with God and ourselves. Without this foundation, our relationships with others, especially those different from us, will suffer. Personal accountability is crucial for living a life that reflects God's kingdom values. [09:37]

2. The Role of Family: The family is the bedrock of society, and its breakdown leads to societal chaos. Parents are responsible for instilling values in their children, teaching them to judge others by character rather than race. A strong family unit is essential for a stable and thriving society. [10:08]

3. Church as God's Embassy: The church is meant to represent heaven on earth, applying biblical truths to societal issues. However, it has often become too cultural, failing to address issues like racism with the same passion as other sins. The church must return to its biblical mandate to effect real change. [10:46]

4. Civil Government's Role: Government is ordained by God, and its distance from Him leads to societal chaos. When God is removed from government, disorder follows. A society that aligns its government with God's principles will experience greater order and peace. [11:54]

5. Addressing Racism: Racism is a sin that must be addressed with the same fervor as other issues. The church should model kingdom unity, reflecting God's values in how we relate to each other and the world. Acknowledging and addressing the pain of others is essential for true reconciliation. [12:45]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [08:14] - Introduction to Five Core Needs
- [08:53] - Defining the Kingdom Agenda
- [09:21] - Personal Accountability
- [09:50] - The Role of Family
- [10:33] - Church as God's Embassy
- [11:25] - Civil Government's Role
- [12:21] - Addressing Racism
- [13:17] - Cultural vs. Biblical Christianity
- [13:46] - Kingdom Unity
- [14:11] - Relating to Each Other
- [14:47] - Personal Story of Overcoming Barriers
- [15:33] - Systemic Barriers in Education
- [15:46] - Call to Action and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Kingdom Agenda

Bible Reading:
- Romans 13:1-7
- Matthew 6:33
- Ephesians 4:1-6

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 13, what is the role of civil government, and how is it connected to God's authority? [11:40]

2. How does the sermon describe the church's role as "God's Embassy" on earth, and what issues has it failed to address with biblical fervor? [10:33]

3. What are the four spheres of the Kingdom Agenda as outlined in the sermon, and how do they interact with each other? [09:21]

4. How does the sermon suggest personal accountability affects our relationships with others, especially those different from us? [09:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the breakdown of the family contributes to societal chaos, and how does this align with biblical teachings on family? [09:50]

2. How does the sermon interpret the church's failure to address racism as a sin, and what biblical principles are being neglected according to the speaker? [12:21]

3. What does the sermon imply about the consequences of removing God from civil government, and how does this relate to the current societal strife? [11:54]

4. How does the sermon use the speaker's personal story to illustrate systemic barriers, and what biblical response is suggested for addressing these issues? [15:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your personal accountability with God. Are there areas in your life where reconciliation is needed to improve your relationships with others? How can you begin this process this week? [09:37]

2. Consider the role of your family in instilling values and character. What specific steps can you take to strengthen your family unit and ensure it reflects God's kingdom values? [10:08]

3. How can your church better represent "God's Embassy" by addressing societal issues like racism with biblical truth? What role can you play in this transformation? [10:46]

4. In what ways can you engage with civil government to ensure it aligns more closely with God's principles? Are there specific actions you can take to advocate for this change? [11:54]

5. How can you personally acknowledge and address the pain of others, particularly in the context of racial reconciliation? What practical steps can you take to "weep with those who weep"? [14:47]

6. Reflect on a time when you may have dismissed someone's pain due to your perceived innocence. How can you change your approach to be more empathetic and understanding? [14:22]

7. Identify one systemic barrier you have observed in your community. What actions can you take to help dismantle this barrier and promote a society that reflects God's kingdom? [15:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Personal Reconciliation as the Foundation
Personal accountability is the cornerstone of a life aligned with God's kingdom values. It begins with an individual's reconciliation with God and themselves, forming the basis for healthy relationships with others. Without this foundation, interactions with those who are different from us can become strained and challenging. Personal accountability involves a deep, introspective journey where one acknowledges their own shortcomings and seeks God's guidance to overcome them. This process is essential for living a life that truly reflects the values of God's kingdom. [09:37]

"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." (James 1:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a recent situation where you struggled to connect with someone different from you. How can you seek God's guidance to improve this relationship today?


Day 2: The Family as Society's Bedrock
The family is the fundamental building block of society, and its stability is crucial for societal order. Parents have the responsibility to instill values and character in their children, teaching them to judge others by their character rather than race. When families break down, chaos can ensue, as the family is meant to be a nurturing ground for the next generation. A strong family unit is essential for a stable and thriving society, reflecting God's order and values. [10:08]

"These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on the values you are instilling in your family. What is one practical way you can reinforce these values in your daily interactions with your family members?


Day 3: The Church as Heaven's Embassy
The church is called to represent heaven on earth, applying biblical truths to societal issues. However, it has often become too cultural, neglecting its biblical mandate to address issues like racism with the same fervor as other sins. The church must return to its biblical roots to effect real change, modeling kingdom unity and reflecting God's values in how we relate to each other and the world. [10:46]

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to your church's mission to address societal issues with biblical truth? What is one step you can take this week to support this mission?


Day 4: Government Aligned with God's Principles
Civil government is ordained by God, and its distance from Him leads to societal chaos. When God is removed from government, disorder follows. A society that aligns its government with God's principles will experience greater order and peace. It is crucial for individuals and communities to advocate for a government that reflects God's values, ensuring justice and righteousness prevail. [11:54]

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you engage with your local government to promote policies that align with God's principles? What is one action you can take this month to make your voice heard?


Day 5: Addressing Racism with Kingdom Unity
Racism is a sin that must be addressed with the same fervor as other issues. The church should model kingdom unity, reflecting God's values in how we relate to each other and the world. Acknowledging and addressing the pain of others is essential for true reconciliation. By weeping with those who weep and working towards a society that reflects God's kingdom, we can foster genuine unity and healing. [12:45]

"Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all." (Romans 12:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone who has experienced racial injustice. How can you stand in solidarity with them and support their journey towards healing and reconciliation today?

Quotes


First of all, let me define the kingdom agenda, which is really the worldview of the Bible. It is the visible manifestation of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of life. Because we do not have that kind of broad-based Kingdom view, we retreat to our tribes, to our denominations, into our race, and to other forms of division. [00:08:58]

The kingdom is God's comprehensive rule. This comprehensive rule has four spheres in Scripture and four spheres by which we are to live our lives. First of all is your personal accountability under God, that a person has a responsibility, and if you're not reconciled with God and properly reconciled with yourself, then that's going to open up the door for other kinds of problems when you try to relate to other people, especially people who are different than you. [00:09:19]

God established the family to be the foundation of society so that when the family gets divided and broken down and shifted from its original design, you've opened up the door for chaos in society. Whoever owns the family owns the future, and much of the breakdown we're seeing today is a breakdown of the family. [00:09:51]

The church is God's Embassy. It's supposed to represent heaven a long way from home. Embassies represent the homeland in a foreign land while we're in a foreign land, but our homeland is heaven. We're supposed to be applying the truth of heaven in the ground of history, but what has happened is the church has gotten too cultural. [00:10:33]

The Bible says in Romans 13 the government belongs to God, and those who serve in government are supposedly ministers of God. So the principle is simple: the closer God is to a society, to its government, the more order that society will be. The further God is from a society in its government, the more chaotic that society will be. [00:11:38]

The reason why we're having all this strife is God has been exited from his involvement in the culture. The church has failed, the family is broken, people are confused, so we have chaos in the street. [00:12:01]

When we get to the subject of racism, there's a freeze. I don't understand why that happens because those other issues fall in the category of sin, and I would bet we would find a universality of recognition that that is deemed to be sin in the Word of God. But why, when we get to the area of racism, do we fail to recognize that it's sin? [00:12:46]

Because we became cultural Christians rather than biblical Christians, we've accepted something that God rejects, which has led to a weak church in the world that is supposed to set the temperature for how the world should view the race issue through his one body and its various forms. [00:13:17]

God's not asking everybody to go to the same church. He's asking all Christians to be the church, and that means we're reflecting Kingdom values in how we relate to each other and how we relate to the world around us. We have not given the church a model of what kingdom unity looks like. [00:13:46]

We have to learn how to relate to each other. The stumbling blocks, and sometimes they're self-constructed, sometimes we allow the culture to do the thinking for us rather than to be guided and directed by the Word of God. [00:14:11]

We're supposed to weep with those who weep, and there really are a lot of legitimate tears being shed. You know, the only reason I'm on radio, the only reason I'm already, I was told by stations in 1986 that we can't let you on radio, and the reason why is because a black speaker would offend too many of our white listeners. [00:14:47]

There was a cultural acceptance by the leaders in this particular industry as well as in many other industries that did not open the door. If I would have applied to go to Dallas seminary a few years before I was let in, they would not have let me in because for a long time they did not accept black students. [00:15:33]

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Transcript
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