A New Kingdom People

[Juanita]

The Kingdom Way

God is raising up a new people of God.

He is calling them to live a new way, The Kingdom Way.

What does this look like?

In order to understand the Kingdom, we need a good understanding of Jesus and his role in history and our lives. He is the King. His central message was the coming of the Kingdom. Try this: ask 10 Christians to describe and explain the Kingdom of God. You may get eleven different answers! Well, it might not be that bad, but you never know until you try it!

The word Kingdom is really not a familiar word or concept in our modern age. We understand government and, generally, we tend to think that a one man ‘show’ is not the way to go. We’d call that a dictatorship these days – one person ruling is just out of vogue. Well, except in the Kingdom. Jesus is the ruler, the King, the Kingdom is his domain. Get it, King’s domain = Kingdom. This is what Jesus proclaimed, the coming of his domain. He said that the Kingdom would be within us and among us. Don’t we wish! Well, we don’t need to just wish – we can experience it. To do so might take a bit of courage, though. We may have to take a long hard look and ask ourselves. Are we experiencing the Kingdom of God among us? For most of us, the answer would be NO!

Well, God is not content with this – and so he is calling forth a New People. This new people will experience the Kingdom among themselves. They will learn to walk in The Kingdom Way.

We are going to look at the Kingdom Way from a number of vantage points. We are going to look at what it means for individuals, couples, families and then on to larger groups of people. When Jesus told us to extend the Kingdom, he kept it simple. He said that we should go make disciplined followers who would do the things he said we should do. So, that will be our focus, what it means to be a disciplined follower of Christ, what it means for ourselves and how it impacts the way we relate to others.

Let’s do a quick overview of what it means to be disciplined followers of Christ.

For individuals, we will learn to focus on these things:

One God.

God. Do we really understand who God is? Do we understand how he has revealed himself in scripture? Why is there an Old Testament? Why is there a New Testament? How do these relate to each other and how does Jesus ‘fit in’? All of these concepts are fundamental to our understanding of God and how we relate to him. Yet, many Christians would be hard pressed to accurately describe these things.

Two Mandates.
We have two mandates that encompass our service to God. First is how we live and relate to God, to other believers and those outside of the Kingdom. Love God and love our neighbor as ourselves, the Great Commandment. Easy to say, but what does this mean in our everyday lives. Is it something we actually keep as a moment to moment awareness? Uhm. Do we even know our neighbor, much less love them? And, loving God should have a real impact on how we live our lives. Undoubtedly, you have heard the frightening statistics of pornography, divorce and all types of problems in the lives of Christians. Something is not quite right with how believers are living; too often their lives are not reflecting love and devotion to God.

So.. these thoughts are not new. We have heard and heard things like this. What is new is this: It doesn’t have to be this way. God is raising a new people who will live differently.

The call is going out. Are you stirred to learn about becoming a new people of God?

[Rev. Michael Duncan]

I'm preaching through a series called "Rebuilding a Biblical Culture."  I agree, God is raising up His people.  Ephesians 5:14 comes to mind, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."  The church has slept too long and God is rousing her.  It's time for us to wake up and be the people of God.  Peter says that God has given us His very great and precious promises so that we can participate in His divine nature.  Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."  We go in the name and the nature of Christ.  I pray that all God's people will wake up, rise up and live up to the calling we have received.

 

Rev. Michael Duncan

[Juanita]

Rev. Michael!

 

Well said~!    I am thinking of creating a focus for this on KingdomInsight.   When the enemy comes in like a flood, God raises a standard. 

 

I believe that he is doing that today!

Rev. Michael Duncan said:

I'm preaching through a series called "Rebuilding a Biblical Culture."  I agree, God is raising up His people.  Ephesians 5:14 comes to mind, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."  The church has slept too long and God is rousing her.  It's time for us to wake up and be the people of God.  Peter says that God has given us His very great and precious promises so that we can participate in His divine nature.  Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."  We go in the name and the nature of Christ.  I pray that all God's people will wake up, rise up and live up to the calling we have received.

 

Rev. Michael Duncan

[Mark Edward Kroger]

Juanita [and Rev. Michael],

Amen! I have such a loooong way to go, but it when it is all said and done, it will be the only thing[s] that has eternal value. I work in a Catholic University and I love Catholics as I love people or at least I am working on it and praying for it. I think Catholics are a very ripe mission field. They already know about God and Jesus and I think some do know Jesus, but I often wonder what can I do?

I am learning to pray over and for the  environment of souls where I am planted, I am trying to live by example, I don't alway live up to it, but that is my goal. Sometimes on an elevator, with a student or Professor, I visualize that someday we were standing in two lines, the one I was in was going up and the one they were in was going down and they looked at me with tears in their eyes and said, "Why didn't you tell me? or at least pray for me? and then I will blurt out something stupid like, "I'm praying for spring, how about you?" I look for ways to plant a seed and still have them feel comfortable in my presence.

In my day to day work, the tech work is important, trying to bring value to a position they are paying me to fill. But it has no eternal value. Heaven won't need hvac or have building controls that malfunction. The position that I can bring eternal value to is as a trusted steward in God's field of souls. And i know I can only do that through Christ. Without Him, they would be better off not to have me.

I guess it was a winded way to say it, but I so agree, Kingdom building will be the only thing that has value, when everything else has been shaken away.

 

 

 

 

 

[MostlyBruce Eilenberger]

I'm reminded of the Scripture instructing us to "go out into the highways and bi-ways" and bring in the lost. So encouraged by your words, Juanita.

[Juanita]

Mark and Vicki!  

Thanks so much for weighing in!  

 

I am thinking of starting a group and  kicking off an effort for A New People of God on KingdomInsight.   Would this be of any interest to you?

 

MostlyBruce Eilenberger said:

I'm reminded of the Scripture instructing us to "go out into the highways and bi-ways" and bring in the lost. So encouraged by your words, Juanita.

[Lisa]

Hey Mark,

   Someone very special to me is a former Catholic who accepted Chirst because he saw something in the way  other beleivers related that he needed.  As I understand it, Catholicism retains a works based theology though they believe in Christ.  I think there are saved Catholics.   This is in no way intended to say Catholics are 100% wrong.  They may understand things I need to know.  I know far too little about the denomination to be attacking their beliefs. 

Juanita,

   I think we all need to be reminded of how the Old Testament points to the New Testament.   My current struggle appearing in a FB post is how does one remain loving while disagreeing.  They will know we are Christians by our love...but how does that look when we are not getting along?

[Juanita]

Lisa,

Working through conflict is touchy.   Our group helped a church work through some things last year.   It was a very big conflict.  It took a lot of energy; in the end all things were restored, to the glory of God.   If you want to talk about the issue; phone might be better than a public forum.   Feel free to call me  570-419-8573.

Lisa said:

Juanita,

   I think we all need to be reminded of how the Old Testament points to the New Testament.   My current struggle appearing in a FB post is how does one remain loving while disagreeing.  They will know we are Christians by our love...but how does that look when we are not getting along?

[Mark Edward Kroger]

Hi Lisa,

I understood what you meant and I agree. It's praying to work through it, huh? I love Mary and I think she is wonderful. I look forward to meetig her when we get home. But I am going to stay in Jesus' prayer line, it's just finding a way to get them to join us. But God is good and Jesus moves mountains. But I agree, a lot of Catholics know Jesus, love Him and desire to serve him. I so agree with you, it's one of those grounds, we have to pray and love our way through.

Thanks Lisa.

I would be interested, Juanita. I have so much to learn, but I desire a deeper walk with the Lord and how to do things that are now a mystery to me. As I look for ways to make my day to day existence have more meaning in the Kingdom.

Thanks Juanita,

Mark

[KD]

J M J . PRAY FOR PEACE . !

 

THANK YOU !

 

GB,

[James]

 Hello all,

 

 While reading the post in this thread I remembered a story that ran in the Denver post last year. I found it to be very interesting. It covers what people of different faiths and/or denomination  believe as to whom goes to heaven and more. I hope you all also enjoy it. 

I won't post the whole thing just a few lines from it I found extra cool. 

 

 70 percent, of the faithfulOnly Mormons (57 percent) and Jehovah's Witnesses (80 percent) have majorities who say that only their religion is the "one true faith leading to eternal life," the survey found.
About 57 percent of Evangelical Protestants and 56 percent of Muslims think many religions can lead to eternal salvation — a view also held by 89 percent of Hindus, 83 percent of mainline Protestants, 82 percent of Jews and 79 percent of Catholics.   And 68 percent think there is "more than one true way" to interpret the teachings of their religion.

 

Here is the whole story. It has more neat stuff.Ihope you all can find the time to check it out.

 

Thanks,James

 

 

[James]

 oops forgot the link to the rest.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_9678072

James said:

 Hello all,

 

 While reading the post in this thread I remembered a story that ran in the Denver post last year. I found it to be very interesting. It covers what people of different faiths and/or denomination  believe as to whom goes to heaven and more. I hope you all also enjoy it. 

I won't post the whole thing just a few lines from it I found extra cool. 

 

 70 percent, of the faithfulOnly Mormons (57 percent) and Jehovah's Witnesses (80 percent) have majorities who say that only their religion is the "one true faith leading to eternal life," the survey found.
About 57 percent of Evangelical Protestants and 56 percent of Muslims think many religions can lead to eternal salvation — a view also held by 89 percent of Hindus, 83 percent of mainline Protestants, 82 percent of Jews and 79 percent of Catholics.   And 68 percent think there is "more than one true way" to interpret the teachings of their religion.

 

Here is the whole story. It has more neat stuff.Ihope you all can find the time to check it out.

 

Thanks,James

 

 

[Mark Edward Kroger]

Hi James and KD;

I have myself in the corner and God has me in the woodshed. I am sorry Steve, for being a hypocrite and not living the agape spirit I profess and preach. What you said was in love, what I said wasn't. Sorry :-((

James, for me, just for me, if a person gets Jesus on the center of their circle, the Holy Spirit will work out the rest. Like we were talking about, gays don't need more straight talk and Democrats don't need a wake up call from a Republican; we all just need Jesus.

I tend to think of Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses as more like cults. I believe they have Books and Leaders they hold above Scripture and Christ. But I will be the first to admit that I know very little about either of them and I would never say there will be none of them in the Kingdom as Jesus is the reference-we either receive Him or we don't.

I have an uncle who believes in Replacement Theology, I remember, Father and Son Ted Armstrong. I believe my uncle loves Jesus, but I also think he is very confused. They attempt to trace the lost tribes to the English Throne. But it is one of those conversations, " I love you Uncle James and I know you love me. Let's pray God will teach both of us." Yes James, he's my uncle James. He really is a nice guy, just like you. I tease him and tell him he better get home.

Have a great day!

Mark