Summary and felt need
Summary - Jesus gives us the kingdom worldview. When we adopt it, He establishes us in kingdom relationships that fulfill our deepest longings to be useful and productive in the noble things of eternal importance in our day-to-day lives.
This God-help book is written to inspire and encourage believers by showing how we live as working parts of the body of Christ in the kingdom in day-to-day life. We can all get to know God better, grow up, and follow Christ Jesus as our Lord and King as citizen priests in the kingdom. Rather than “getting saved” and just hanging on until we die, we come to “God’s throne of grace to get mercy and find love to help us when we need it” (Hebrews 4:14-16) — today. We look to the future when God and the Lamb upon the Throne will dwell with us on His renewed earth in the kingdom to come (Revelation 21). God brings us into His kingdom by rescuing us from the tyranny of darkness and making us new creatures, created in Christ Jesus to be to His glory. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus as Savior and King, opens our hearts to the Word, pours God’s love into our hearts and helps us see, walk and work in the kingdom Jesus inaugurated while on earth and rules over from the Jerusalem above. Kingdom relationships fulfill us. They are exemplified in family relationships and motivate us to love one another. God in Christ shares His life with us so we can share it with God, one another, the hurting, and God’s creation. By His power, He will help us do every good thing we decide to do and every work of faith.
Felt need – Believers are aware of the kingdom of God, but don’t know much about it. The average believer on the street has very little knowledge of the Bible and even less about the kingdom. The inspiration and instruction they find at Church on Sunday just doesn’t seem to carry over to the rest of the week. Many are unmotivated and unfulfilled, so they settle for a drab spiritual future and seek fulfillment elsewhere. Until about 30 years ago, the kingdom of God was seldom mentioned in Christian Churches, except in the Lord’s Prayer. In fact, kingdom had a negative connotation because the Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormons atrociously distort the Bible and present a very warped view of the kingdom. Today, believers talk and write about the kingdom with little stigma. Because “kingdom” is a new power word, many use it to prop up themselves and their ministries and promote their causes. Not many proclaim more than bits and pieces of the gospel of the kingdom. Ray Ashmore says, “It’s amazing to me that so many believers spill over with talk about the kingdom, but few know much of what the scriptures really teach about the kingdom – and its radical implications for our personal and corporate lives.” In response to a request for critique of my manuscript, Wolfgang Simson responded: “I like the Kingdom emphasis in your good book, Bill. I am sure this will help move many housechurch folks more and more into a kingdom first, housechurch second mindset, as this is the other way around with far too many.” Traditional and organic church believers are seeking inspiration, insight, encouragement and meaning. They will find it in solid teaching and clear presentation of the kingdom worldview. As the kingdom works like yeast in dough, vast numbers of people are discovering something more than church as usual.
BUILD A HIGHWAY © Bill Bremer, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
This book may be quoted or printed for personal or group study. It may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. Unless otherwise identified, Bible quotations are taken from The Holy Bible An American Translation, by William F. Beck, © 1976, Mrs. William F. Beck. Used by permission.
About Bill Bremer Table of Contents with links
Kingdom Relationships: Now and Forever is ready to be published. If you would like me to email you a copy of the finished manuscript, just email me and request KR. bill@housechurchconnections.com
Date: December 22, 2009