WEEK 2
DAY 11- KINGDOM THROUGH CHURCH PLANTING
Scripture- Luke 17:20-21
My wife always says, “You notice everything.” Sometimes it is said with a sprinkle of admiration, and other times it is said with splash of annoyance. I am observant, and if I wasn’t called to vocational ministry, I like to think I would be a gritty detective who brings justice to the streets. I like to charac- terize and categorize my surroundings. This personality has benefits, but most of the time, it has to do with control. I observe and categorize so I can have control over my environment.
The Pharisees approach Jesus with predictable interference when they ask Him in Luke 17 when the Kingdom of God would come. What they were asking for was control. Jesus has a magnifying glass on the meditations of their heart, as He often does in these exchanges, and answers, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20-21).
In other words, The Kingdom of God will not be observable through culture, creed, or power structure. It won’t be formulaic or able to be controlled. The Kingdom of God will be observable through the presence of the King.
I believe cities can be changed through church planting. However, church planting that seeks to garner their own kingdom or control a city will fail. Church planting that seeks for and chases the presence of the King will prevail.
REFLECTION PRAYER
Dear King,
We long for You to be the center and in our midst. We repent for where we are off-center.
We ask for Your presence to be the tip of the spear. We repent for where we have led with our own name. We ask for You to control and have Your way.
We repent for our need to control and have our own way. We call on Your presence.
We call for Your leadership.
We call for You, our Shepherd.
Be in our midst; be in our midst. Amen.
By Justin Thorton