Wednesday, April 26, 2006

The Kingdom, It's Everywhere!

It seems that God has been working on me to develop a greater heart understanding of the kingdom and the gospel. These are both common religious words in Christianity, but I dare say we've had a very shallow understanding of their meaning.

Life as a citizen of the kingdom of God and truly understanding what the gospel entails (in word and deed) are my underlying thoughts during the day and when I am reading. I can tell from my reading, that He is stirring these ideas in others also.

Sunday the pastor preached a great message explaining the kingdom of God. I kept nudging my husband and inwardly cheering, "yes! go for it!"

He went so far as to say that the kingdom is a radically alternative lifestyle. I would have loved for him to delve into and expand on that idea.

Now, with Brian McClaren's new book out, it seems that talk of the kingdom is everywhere, and I'm loving it. I've not read his other books, but I may have to add it to my wish list.

More about this later. My reading and writing will be a little light until after company.

3 comments:

Pam Hogeweide said...

great teaser post, grace, leaving me wanting more!

I'm still doing my read through Mark, paying attention to how Jesus treated people (love) and restrained his power (meekness). The ways of God's kingdom are not the ways of our kingdom, now are they? I look forward to the insights you will share here.

Anonymous said...

Just read the BEST chapter I've EVER READ on the Church and the Kingdom...it's in "Missional Church" edited by Darrell Guder. I'm planning to blog on it soon. This whole discussion has been fascinating to me (I just finished Chalke's book - the lost message of Jesus - great read and says much about this topic as well).

Linda said...

Thanks Pam, the things I'm seeing now are so different than the ideas of kingdom dominion (dominance) that I've heard before.

fr'nklin,
I look forward to hearing what you have to say about this also. I hope your nose is healing well.