07-06-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 6, 2023 
As most of you know, Cypress Creek Christian Church is a member church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I am quick to remind people that we were the first denomination created on U.S. soil and the only tradition to have a minister who was also the President of the United States (James Garfield).

For the next few Sundays, as we prepare for the General Assembly of the denomination (being held in Louisville, KY), I am preaching some sermons connected to both the theme of the General Assembly and a little bit of information about our tradition. The theme is: The Kindom of God Within Us/Among Us. And yes, the word is Kindom, not Kingdom. It’s trying to expand our understanding of the word, especially since none of us know a whole lot about Kingdom, at least firsthand.

In Matthew 3, John the Baptist makes a dramatic proclamation when he says, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." A quick reminder about the Kingdom of Heaven vs. the Kingdom of God--Matthew is the most Jewish of the Gospels, and it used Heaven as a way of respectfully avoiding pronouncing the sacred word God. It basically means the same thing, so it is to be understood, not as a location, but as a way of existing. It is the reign of God, or the fullness of God, and the question for us is simple: How are we to live our lives (how are we to exist) so as to align ourselves with the values and priorities of God’s reign?

Of course, for John, it begins with repentance. Yes, it is the same word the guy on the corner was yelling as the only option for avoiding hell, but it’s really not about that. Instead, it’s about participating in what God is doing in the world. It’s asking the question, So how do I align my life with the life of Jesus that I find in scripture? What were the values and priorities his life exuded, and then how do I begin to make them my own?

As we talk about the Kingdom or Kindom of God/Heaven in the weeks ahead, continue to keep in mind the idea of aligning yourself with the values and priorities of the Jesus life.

​Most Gracious God, guide us into a way of living that honors you and blesses others. In Jesus, you have provided us with an excellent starting place, and though there might be some places of challenge, it is quite difficult to ignore the love, mercy, and compassion made real in him. With each morning, help me to discern how I can better align myself with these high ideals. Amen.