Wanted to share this with the KI members- maybe a revisit of the Core Unit Slide Presentation Juanita did a few months ago- it is generating an interesting thread in comments on juanitaberguson.com - so I thought I'd cut and paste what's there so far-
Juanita Berguson on Understanding the Kingdom- The Core Unit
Do you think to yourself – there just has to be MORE that God has for us?
There IS more! For you, for me, for all of us. Together.
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thanks Juanita, will be sharing this with my @paulcollier folliwers
I tweeted this out through @freedomist – there seems to be some sort of swirl going on here between a few folks- nice to see kingdom dna being discussed, debated, actually deliberately thought about
This is a brillliant slide show that will cause people to think about where they are in the Kingdom of God
i think i am not sure who i am in this- i serve others- i enjoy that- but not sure that is guiding even as i just like serving- like making meals and stuff- so which of the five equipping skills am i?
Wow- I have to really think about what I thought was a good Christian life- I am not sure how to take this message as it makes me feel like I am not measuring up to what I thought was a full Christian life
Jena, you don’t measure up- none of us do- this is not about feeling that you are inadequate or not doing it right, it is, I think, and Juanita can correct me if I am wrong, about the connections that need to made in the body of Christ to actually form a core Kingdom Unit, as the title suggests- I would call it a functioning ecclesia
i dont mean i am inadequate, i understand we are all inaqequate, i should have said, i thought my church life was the fullness of living the kingdom, but this slide show makes me think i, and others, are missing the fullness of the kingdom because we really dont have all these equippers equipping others that juanita berguson describes in this slide- or shows
You said, makes me think i, and others, are missing the fullness of the kingdom because we really dont have all these equippers equipping others
Actually these equippers ARE here. How do we know? Because Jesus puts them here. The point of the slide share is that we need to connect across communities to receive the benefit of being equipped by these people.
do we have themm working together like you describe in your kingdom core unit slide juanita?
Interesting that you ask – this is ‘in progress’ I would say. These equippers equip people to do the functions… planting, proclaiming, caring, etc. The next steps we will be taking is to do these specific things – extending the Kingdom in various ways. We will provide help to ensure people have all they need to succeed. Why can we provide the help ~ because, guided by the word/empowered by the Holy Spirit and with the gifts/skills present in the group, we have what is needed to help people do these things.
I am repying to this- but the thread wont let me- Interesting that you ask – this is ‘in progress’ I would say. These equippers equip people to do the functions… planting, proclaiming, caring, etc. The next steps we will be taking is to do these specific things – extending the Kingdom in various ways. We will provide help to ensure people have all they need to succeed. Why can we provide the help ~ because, guided by the word/empowered by the Holy Spirit and with the gifts/skills present in the group, we have what is needed to help people do these things. ——- who is we….and are you the only ‘we’ or ar there other ‘we’ people that can do this?
The ‘we’ is all of us. Each person is able to do various things ~ together ~with God’s help~ we can help each other do what we should be doing. And, as we do it, we will add others; increasing our collective capability. The key, IMO, is to ‘perceive’ what God is saying and what he wants us to do. That is why prayer is such an important devotion. And, loving God. The love for Him focuses us on ‘true north’. Then we step out ~ in doing so we begin to build that thing that helps us excel in our service, skill. In a way, we have a great group of people; yet, at the same time ~ EVERYWHERE are great groups of people. The key is to connect to each other and to God’s purposes ~ and do it.
I see the thread is fixed- you are leading- it seems- to the seven devotions- not sure who in this thread knows what you are talking about- pick me pick me—–seven devotions- 1. loving god 2. loving one another 3. making disciples 4. apostles teaching 5. fellowship 6. breaking bread 7. prayer oh I could go on about the seven devotions- they help me every day
We see through a glass darkly – only He sees clearly. He leads us – he just asks that we walk after him in faith…
so how does identifying the kingdom equipping skills and the level of community (5×7 model) follow that ‘walking after him in faith”?
Do we feel we can actually do these things ~ planting, proclaiming, guiding and caring. Probably not. And that is probably a good thing. Why? We have to look to him – he is the beginning and the end – of all He calls us to do. He starts it and he finishes it; He asks us if we are willing… then He does His work through us.
Juanita, i commented above that i DONT see we are doing things- not sure it is good i dont see it but i think i understand that if i dont see how it can be done, that i can have faith in God it CAN be done- but- weve had a few centuries and…well….it hasnt happpened..at least not that i know..but i am not a history expert
Actually, the fact that believers are everywhere ~ serving God and each other, shows that people are learning and they are extending His Kingdom. We will be able to do so much more when the artificial walls that separate believers come down. This is what I think God is doing. Right now.
i am responding to this- Actually, the fact that believers are everywhere ~ serving God and each other, shows that people are learning and they are extending His Kingdom. We will be able to do so much more when the artificial walls that separate believers come down. This is what I think God is doing. Right now. —- i dont see these walls coming down- i see them being buillt more and more- i knew someone who asked their pastor if they could help another church with their ice cream social this past august(one of their family members went to that church) and the pastor told them to not drink from a different well..meaning- dont serve other churches….this is not at all untypical
jena- the thread is fixed- so you should be able to respond at deeper levels now- no pun intended
The walls may or may not come down between ‘organizations’. Unfortunately. Why? Because when we organize, we create ‘wineskins’ – containers that grow old. Old containers cannot very well accomodate new beverages that expand in the container. That new drink could explode the container. However, thirty years ago the lines between denominations were much deeper. People have joined for many types of things ~ Billy Graham rallies were some of the early ‘wall breakers’. Then, Christian TV also helped to create more of a joint, shared identity. Thousands of unity prayer meetings have sprung up. What we need to go further, IMO, are common standards and common practices. I hope that collectively we are ‘there’ with these, outlined on this site: http://www.kingdomstandards.com. We shall see. We will plant. It is only by watching what grows that we can fully see the outcome of the seeds. I am very hopeful. I like what I am seeing so far! Once ‘breakthrough’ occurs ~ people will rapidly imitate success. There are MANY who long to see the Kingdom come and will work to that end!
Juanita, you should share a couple links on this thread- or maybe the link to the video you made on the body being united- the one with the line- paraphrasing here- it is easy to be united when I am alone
This is not difficult- you just have to give everything to Christ- that’s all
hahaha…yeah…..not asking much……but what a reward…..the slavery that makes you free
yes- I love that comment- ‘the slavery that makes you free’- non-believers have such a hard time understanding the slavery we submit ourselves to, a submission we can ONLY do through loving God
Ok- so is this an outline of kingdom living or a description of what you think it should be? Are you describing what ALL of us should be doing or just what you THINK we should be doing?
The presentation is a picture of the Kingdom and how we fit together in it.
of the complete kingdom or just the aspect of an equipping core unit?
Interesting- the whole kingdom? and how do i fit into it? as one of the five equippers?
You fit into it as both a ‘giver’ and ‘receiver’, as someone who should ‘serve’ God and others and be ‘served’ by God and others. Do you realize that Jesus serves you by providing salvation, the Holy Spirit serves you by interceding for you. This is how the body works. Each member gives and each member receives. And, when the body is healthy, it can serve those on the ‘outside’… helping them come into the Kingdom and building the body in breadth (numbers) and depth (skill).
when peter is getting his feet washed, well, before he is going to get his feet washed, he protests- and Christ says- paraphrasing here- if you don’t let me do this you cant share with me- letting others serve us is as important as serving others
Parker, this compares and contrasts the model of the kingdom as lived out with the church as the core compared to the model of the kingdom with a functioning, connected body at the core, one that has equippers who can impart their equipping skills to others- is that correct Juanita?