Michael lecture: continued

Kingdom of God: How
Growth
Mathew 13:31-32, it's like a mustard seed
Unlike other kingdoms and movements which advance by violence and force, God's kingdom grows through the willingnes of people's hearts. Or at least it should :)
Lead like the shepherd leads. Gently from the front. Don't be like the butcher chasing the sheep.
How?
Growth
From the inside out! This is to the degree that I obey the will of God, his Kingdom comes in my life. To the extent that God's will is done in my life of my family and church, His Kingdom comes to my family and church. To the extent that God's will is done in my community and nation, His Kingdom will come there, and my community and nation will be healed. WHen we see this, it's motivating and contageous.
One of the people on our team cleans up other's plates and dirty dishes and takes them to the kitche. This causes a response of gratitude. This makes someone else's desire to do something out of the spirit of 'just because'.

Kingdom of God: Misconceptions
"The earth is hopeless and evil. LIfe here is meaningless. We just work to make a living and get ready for heaven."
We dishonour God by not stewarding creating, and by not enjoying relaitonships or His good gifts to us. We do not bring solutions to those lacking reources by 'taking dominion' over creation.
"All that matters is getting as many people saved as possible!" Turn or burn, right? Wrong.
Victory over sin is not realized.
Christian converts withdrew from society, or see no connection between their religion and the rest of life.
Converts vs Disciples...which are we developing?

"The only meaningful career is ministry."
One man Jesus asked to sell everything and follow Him. But not to another man. Why is that? God approaches all of us differently. He asks different things and life courses for all of his unique creations. Isn't that cool?
Christian converst withdraw from society, or see no connection between their religion and the rest of life. Christians stay awawy from politics, business, arts, and academics. Some, at least. Those areas are the most influencial in society!!!

The Sacred/Secular Split
The most dangerous ideas you never knew you had.
GOD is the source of ALL things. So everything you do is spiritual. You're a spiritual being. The chair you sit on is spiritual. You benefit though from both.
Secular is referring to wordly things as disconnected fromt he spiritual realm. Well, What in this world is dosconnected from the spiritual realm we ask. NOTHING! ALL things have been made through Jesus and for Him; he holds things together. (Colossians 1 15-20).
What the Bible says:
Distinction between spiritual and physical realm
No mention of anything being secular.
Wordly: putting things in teh world in the place of God: acquiring value from things in the world.

Kingdom of God: How to live?
1 Cor. 10:31 whatever you do....do it for the glory of God.
Col. 3:17 whatever you do..do everything in the name of the Lord.
Michael told us this story he heard from a student who was a man of God. He did all the right things he was to do as a christian like go to church, Bible studies, etc. Now the church he was attending, told him during his finals at university, that instead of studying that Sunday night before exams, and these exams meant getting into med school or not, that he MUST attend Bible study instead. The leadership of the church made the student feel guilty that school wasn't as important and getting together and studying and reading about the Bible. Now ask, Which one serves God?
We must serve God in all things, in areas of your life. We CAN worship the Lord in studying and learning together. Growing in knowledge. Going to study to move on in life to progress in something. To brush your teeth, to dance, to hike are all ways of living a life of worshipping the Lord.
Allow him to bring your desires, gifts and talents to life. "The glory of God is man fully alive." St. Iraneus.