Author: Elizabeth Mullins

Citizens of God’s kingdom look to Jesus’ teaching to understand kingdom living. What did Jesus say about entering the kingdom?

We invite you to read the following excerpt from a 3-part series, “What Did Jesus Teach.” Read the full article here.

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“The tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you,” Jesus told the priests and elders (Matthew 21:31). How were they going in? By believing Jesus’ words about righteousness and repentance (verse 32) and by doing what God wants (verses 28-31). People enter the kingdom by repenting and believing the gospel.

We must “receive the kingdom,” Jesus said (Luke 18:17). He talked about how hard it was for rich people to “enter the kingdom” (verse 24). The disciples then asked, “Then who can be saved?” (verse 26). Here, we see several phrases used to indicate the same thing: receive the kingdom, enter the kingdom, be saved. These are different ways of talking about the same thing.

Jesus did not preach much about the details of the future kingdom. Rather, he preached about the way citizens of his kingdom can live and think in this age. He told us how our sins are forgiven. He told us to repent and believe the gospel. His disciples preached the same (Luke 9:6; Mark 6:12).

The kingdom of God is here, Jesus said. It begins right now. In the future the kingdom will have great glory — God will see to that. There will be fabulous future rewards, but the question that Jesus brings is, are we willing to be in the kingdom right now?

Right now, the kingdom is small (Matthew 13:31-33). Currently, the kingdom has both good and bad in it (verses 24-30). The kingdom is waiting for growth (Mark 4:26-29). Eventually, the kingdom will come in power, but now, it is small. The good news is that we can enter it.

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom would come (Luke 17:20). He replied that the kingdom already existed in their midst (verse 21). But they could not yet see it. The kingdom will eventually be seen by everyone, but the King had to suffer and die first (verses 22-25).

Jesus also told the Pharisees, “If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Matthew 12:28, Luke 11:20). The kingdom is here, he said, and the proof is in the power. The kingdom of God is demonstrating its authority over Satan’s rule — and this proof continues in the church today. Just as the kingdom could be seen in the ministry of Jesus, it is seen in the ministry of his church, too. Jesus predicted that his followers would do even greater works than he did (John 14:12). The kingdom is growing.

The kingdom of God is here, Jesus said. People did not need to wait for a conquering Messiah. God is already ruling, and we turn our hearts toward him now. The kingdom announcement demands a decision. It is a call to action. We do not need to wait — there are things to be done right now.

The good news about the kingdom is not just that it is near — it is that we can be part of it. Nearness is not good news if we miss out! Our sins would disqualify us, but in Jesus our sins are forgiven. We can believe in Jesus and turn toward God. We can be in the kingdom of God forever, and that is wonderfully good news!

Michael Morrison, GCS President
Glendora, CA, US

In February, a three-day transformative leadership gathering was held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Pastor Mauricio Diaz Burdett, our leadership team, and I hosted the gathering, titled “The Relational God and His Mission.” Pastor Marco Mejia, of the San Pedro Sula Honduras congregation, attended with 11 ministry leaders. One of our leaders from the fellowship group in El Salvador also joined us. We all came together in an atmosphere of deep reflection and spiritual growth, guided by the inspiring presentations of President Greg Williams and Pastor Heber Ticas, Superintendent for Latin America.

During the sessions, Greg Williams introduced the concept of the 5 D’s (Disruption, Discovery, Death, Design, Deploy) as experienced by the early church in the book of Acts, highlighting the transformative process within the first Christian community. He encouraged attendees to join the harmonious flow of the triune God. He reflected on Jesus’ movement towards us and through us by Jesus’ ministry of faith, hope, and love.

Additionally, he presented GCI’s vision and the path forward, reminding everyone of the building blocks toward Healthy Church and that the church’s fundamental mission is to be the healthiest expression of the Church of Jesus Christ that we can be.

Pastor Heber Ticas provided a valuable perspective on building a church MAP around the concept of the 5 D’s and how it relates to our local church’s movement toward Healthy Church. He also delivered profound teachings on faith, hope, and love, and their biblical and theological foundation that informs the practice of our ministry Avenues. He focused on building bridges between our current environments into a missional participation environment by identifying our focus group and developing a missional heart.

His presentation challenged all of us to activate our missional movements in a strategic manner. The Avenue champions from the Tegucigalpa congregation and their teams had the opportunity to reflect and map out a better path forward for each Avenue based on the teachings we received and the customized consulting that was provided by Greg and Heber.

The gathering culminated in an inspiring Sunday worship service attended by 98 participants, where Greg reaffirmed GCI’s commitment to being a healthy, Christ-centered church. The fellowship among attendees and the shared passion for the gospel left a lasting impact, reinforcing the importance of continuing to grow in faith and in our missional calling.

This gathering not only strengthened GCI’s vision in Honduras and El Salvador but also renewed each congregation’s commitment to moving forward in God’s calling and purpose for our church.

Joel Aleman, Associate Pastor
Tegucigalpa, Honduras

In Jerusalem, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies
will spread a wonderful feast
for all the people of the world.

It will be a delicious banquet
with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.

There he will remove the cloud of gloom,
the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.

He will swallow up death forever!
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears.

He will remove forever all insults and mockery
against his land and people.

The LORD has spoken! Isaiah 25:6-8 NLT

Throughout history, a king coming to town is momentous. From a villager’s point of view, a king and his army coming to town is bad news. Your family’s storehouses would be raided to feed his soldiers. They might butcher your livestock for meat or even consume next year’s seed corn. This could easily be a disaster for you and your village.

Isaiah dreams of a King who flips that script. Instead of taking your wealth and ruining your future, this King blesses us with plenty. He gives instead of taking. He fills our lives with the very best, out of his abundance, at no cost to us. Our King honors us with a royal banquet and spares no expense in enriching our lives. Our future with him is one of celebration, not sorrow.

We who are enlisted in his service and enlivened by his love look to his lead. When we “come to town,” we can be his agents in announcing and enacting a kingdom that is like this King.

Prayer:
Lord, may we find an end to our want and our loss in the abundance of your love. Meet us at your table of mercy. May we be quick to rejoice in your goodness and live out your good news for the sake of our communities!

Matt Royal, Church Plant Team Member
Durham, NC, US

Citizens of God’s kingdom believe that Scripture is sacred. They trust that when they read God’s word, they will have an encounter with the Word made flesh.

We invite you to participate in the practice of Lectio Divina. The exercise below has been adapted from an Equipper article and revised to include a psalm of repentance for this Easter Preparation season.

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So how can we, as Christians, slow down and connect with God on a more profound and intimate level?

I would like to introduce you to the spiritual practice of “Lectio Divina,” which translates as “divine or sacred reading.” Lectio Divina is an ancient approach to reading the scriptures while intentionally listening for the voice of God. While most of us are used to reading scripture for information, Lectio Divina invites us to encounter Jesus in the text for the purpose of relational transformation. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the “Word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). It’s a reference to Jesus as the living Word of God, and Lectio Divina assumes that God is inviting us into interaction and conversation as we read the written words of God.

There are four different movements associated with this practice:

1. 1. Lectio (reading/listening) Slowly read the text aloud.
   2. Meditatio (meditation/reflection) Meditate on the word or phrase that captures your attention.
   3. Oratio (prayer/response) Open your heart to God and pray.
   4. Contemplatio (contemplation/rest) Quietly sit in the presence of the Father and rest in his arms.

Lectio Divina can be done alone or in a group. For the purpose of this exercise, you will be guided through an actual Lectio Divina exercise as if you are by yourself.

Before you start, make sure you are sitting comfortably. Begin to breathe slowly in and out. With your eyes closed, let your body relax and allow yourself to become consciously aware of God’s presence with you. Quietly let go of any distractions and ask God to speak to you through the passage that you are about to read.

Lectio Divina exercise

Step One: Read

Read Psalm 51:6-17 slowly, out loud if possible. Read the passage a couple of times. Notice any words or phrases that seem to jump out at you. Don’t analyze the text, just let it sink in. Are you drawn to any images or characters in the story? Don’t feel rushed, linger in the story, and be open to any gentle nudges. Quietly listen for the still, small voice of God. What word or phrase is your attention being drawn to?

Step Two: Reflect

As you read the passage again, allow God’s word to become his personal word for you. The psalmist writes, “You desire truth in my inward being.” Consider how your response to God might intersect with your life right now. Here are a few reflection questions:

• • What is God showing you about yourself?
  • How does this relate to something in your life today?
  • What is God saying to you?
  • Are there any distractions that God is highlighting for you today?
  • What is the “one thing” that Jesus says is needed?

Step Three: Respond

Take a few minutes to respond to God in prayer. Prayer is simply a conversation with the God who loves you and likes you, no matter what. What do you want to say to God about this experience reading scripture? Talk to God about what bubbled up for you and how you sense he might be inviting you to act or respond to the word you have heard. You are free to allow your real, authentic self to be touched and changed by the word of God. Some find it beneficial to journal their response during this process.

Step Four: Rest

The last step offers space to rest and wait in the presence of the Lord. This is not about doing, this is abiding. Simply rest in the presence of God. Lay down all the insights, words, and images you’ve encountered and simply dwell in the presence of God. This is a time to absorb God’s gentle grace and allow God to do the life-changing work in you. Sense God’s love flowing effortlessly through you. You may close with a prayer thanking God for his willingness to open up the scripture for you, enabling you to better understand your life in Christ.

Participating in Lectio Divina during the season of Easter Prep gives us time to pause and commune with God. At the heart of Lectio Divina is a dynamic relationship between God and you, his beloved. The Father, Son, and Spirit invite you to participate in their dance and discover this deep spiritual practice within the daily rhythms of your life.

May God bless you with real rest as you make space to commune with him through scripture and come to know God more fully and more intimately.

By Davina Winn, Assistant Pastor
Hanover, VA, US