Our readings in this series are from the book, The Gospel of the Kingdom. We’re seeing that the salvation Jesus came to bring is bigger and more glorious than we may have known. A new era, a new Sovereign, and a new economy: this is just part of the Good News. Here’s an excerpt from pages 32 and 33:
“Fourth, the coming of the Kingdom of God indicates that a new agenda is in effect. The King has announced this new agenda as the principal means whereby He intends to support and advance the new economy He has inaugurated in this new era. Central to the new agenda of the Kingdom era is the work of building the Church, the Body of Christ. This is a work of God’s Spirit as He engages the members of the believing community in worship and in mutual acts of service and love to build unity and maturity in the community as a whole.
“The life of a church comes to expression principally in worship, koinonia sharing and giving, and every-member disciple-making, and then in service and witness to the surrounding community and the world. Through such efforts individual churches grow strong as expressions of the Body of Christ. And, as churches within particular communities find ways of worshiping and working together, they demonstrate the unity they have in Christ and realize an even richer and fuller manifestation of His Body.
“Churches which grow in this way become beacons of light and hope in their communities, showing the way to full and abundant life in Jesus Christ.”
For reflection or discussion
1. How would you describe the “agenda” which drives your church? That is, what is your church hoping to achieve?
2. According to Jesus in John 17.21, unity within and among churches is an important part of his agenda. Why do you suppose it’s not important to us?
When it comes to our church and our participation in it, we’re either on the same page as Jesus or we’re off doing our own thing. He is building His Church as a sign and outpost of the Kingdom of God. Are we? Order your copy of The Gospel of the Kingdom by going to the Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
