The Upside Down Kingdom

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The Upside Down Kingdom
The Paradox Of Becoming Human
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Are We Moving Too Fast For You?
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Strive first for the kingdom of God and his
righteousness. Matthew 633, NRSV
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The Kingdom of God is basically the rule of
God. It is Gods reign, the divine sovereignty
in action. George Eldon Ladd
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The incarnation is the one absolute expression
of what God is like and also of what true
humanity is like. Myron S. Augsburger
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The Christian ideal has not been tried and
found wanting. It has been found difficult, and
left untried. G.K. Chesterton
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The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to
discipleship, a call to follow him in submissive
obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or
pray a prayer. John F. MacArthur, Jr.
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Jesus is not asking people to add him to the
milieu of their lives. He wants disciples
willing to forsake everything. John F.
MacArthur, Jr.
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We understand who we are because we have
grasped Whose we are. Tricia McCary Rhodes
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The life of faith is far more than a doctrinal
concept. It is relationship at the highest
level. Myron S. Augsubger
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No one may truly know Christ unless one follows
him in life, and no one may follow him without
first knowing him. Hans Denck, 16th Century
Anabaptist
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Only he who obeys truly believes, and only
he who believes truly obeys. Dietrich
Bonhoeffer
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But drops of grief can neer repay The debt of
love I owe Here, Lord, I give my self away
Tis all that I can do. Isaac Watts
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He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep to
gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot,
Martyred Missionary
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The best way to avoid following Jesus is to
talk about him! Richard Rohr
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Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth
as it is in heaven. Matthew 610, NASB
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Jesus went through all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good
news of the kingdom and healing every disease and
sickness. Matthew 935, NIV
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He appeared to them over a period of forty
days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts
13, NIV
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He has rescued us from the power of darkness
and transferred us into the kingdom of his
beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins. Colossians 113-14,
NRSV
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"The kingdom is full of surprises. Again and
again in parable, sermon, and act Jesus startles
us. Things in the Gospels are often literally
upside down. Good Guys turn out to be Bad Guys.
Those we expect to receive the reward get a
spanking instead. Those who think they are
headed for heaven land in hell. Things are
reversed. Paradox, irony, and surprises permeate
the teachings of Jesus. They flip our
expectations upside down. The least are the
greatest. The immoral receive forgiveness and
the blessing. Adults become like children. The
religious miss the heavenly banquet. The pious
receive curses. Things arent like we think they
should be. Were baffled and perplexed. Amazed
we step back. Should we laugh or should we cry?
Again and again, turning our world upside down,
the kingdom surprises us. Dr. Donald Kraybill,
Sociologist
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I die every day! 1 Corinthians 1531,
NRSV
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For if you live according to the sinful nature,
you will die but if by the Spirit you put to
death the misdeeds of the body, you will
live. Romans 813, NIV
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Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to
your earthly nature sexual immorality, impurity,
lust, evil desires and greed, which is
idolatry. Colossians 35, NIV
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I have come to call sinners to turn from their
sins, not to spend my time with those who think
they are already good enough. Luke 532, NLT
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Obedience Without Exception
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Strive first for the kingdom of God and his
righteousness. Matthew 633, NRSV
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Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth
as it is in heaven. Matthew 610, NASB
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As of today, I commit to do my part in letting
go of this sin, this baggage, this weight in my
life. I want to give my all, my choices, my life
as a living sacrifice of worship to God. I
chose OBEDIENCE WITHOUT EXCEPTION, and refuse to
hide any secret sins. More than anything else, I
want to please Jesus and today I pledge to live
my life for this purpose.
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The Upside Down Kingdom
The Paradox Of Becoming Human
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