Summary: Jesus main point of teaching was to teach about the concept of the Kingdom. Staples points out that Kingdom is not referring to a territory of land, but rather what God rules. Staples splits the kingdom into three tenses or parts: past, present, and future. Past reality refers to God’s reign through Jesus. Everything God did in the beginning was to “set the stage” for Jesus and his deeds. The Holy Spirit represent the Kingdom’s present reality. The Kingdom’s future reality refers to the prayers that Jesus taught us to pray for the coming of the Lord’s Kingdom.
Staples point out that the Bible starts out not defining God, but stating his existence. God is not something that can be understood. Only in knowing that God will always be …show more content…
Growing up in a Christian household, like McKnight, I agree that it can be easy to judge other by their “good deeds.” Church’s preach about having good discipline, and about saving other. However, my view changed when I got older on what it meant to save others. When I around ten my mother helped start a bus ministry in my home church. This ministry consisted of going around to low-income neighborhoods on an old school bus, and picking up children and youth for Wednesday services. Soon this ministry began to bring in children by the hundreds. It was taught early to me that being a Christian means helping others even if you fail to see the big picture right away. It is not about the deeds I do, but rather the spirit I do the deeds in. The next point that McKnight makes is being consumed by dreams. He poses a question of are you a challenger or an explorer? I believe I realized I became a challenger the day my mom helped start that bus ministry. Why are no other Churches feeling obligated to reach these people? How can humanity, including myself, feel it is not our problem? These are the questions I challenged, and still challenge today. My mother, like most, believes that there is nothing I cannot do. While her encouragement helps fuel my dreams, it is not the core reason I have them. I agree with the author when he states that behind my dreams are the dreams of the kingdom of God. A dream to reach. A dream to unite. A dream that for me starts in the “now” and not the “later.” Jesus taught about the kingdom in parabolas because he wanted to relate to everyday life. He also taught them this way because he knew the kingdom of God happens in everyday life. McKnight shows that the kingdom Jesus was referring to was a kingdom on earth. I believe is not something we have to wait for, but it is something that is in the present. For me, it is not about waiting for the
Staples point out that the Bible starts out not defining God, but stating his existence. God is not something that can be understood. Only in knowing that God will always be …show more content…
Growing up in a Christian household, like McKnight, I agree that it can be easy to judge other by their “good deeds.” Church’s preach about having good discipline, and about saving other. However, my view changed when I got older on what it meant to save others. When I around ten my mother helped start a bus ministry in my home church. This ministry consisted of going around to low-income neighborhoods on an old school bus, and picking up children and youth for Wednesday services. Soon this ministry began to bring in children by the hundreds. It was taught early to me that being a Christian means helping others even if you fail to see the big picture right away. It is not about the deeds I do, but rather the spirit I do the deeds in. The next point that McKnight makes is being consumed by dreams. He poses a question of are you a challenger or an explorer? I believe I realized I became a challenger the day my mom helped start that bus ministry. Why are no other Churches feeling obligated to reach these people? How can humanity, including myself, feel it is not our problem? These are the questions I challenged, and still challenge today. My mother, like most, believes that there is nothing I cannot do. While her encouragement helps fuel my dreams, it is not the core reason I have them. I agree with the author when he states that behind my dreams are the dreams of the kingdom of God. A dream to reach. A dream to unite. A dream that for me starts in the “now” and not the “later.” Jesus taught about the kingdom in parabolas because he wanted to relate to everyday life. He also taught them this way because he knew the kingdom of God happens in everyday life. McKnight shows that the kingdom Jesus was referring to was a kingdom on earth. I believe is not something we have to wait for, but it is something that is in the present. For me, it is not about waiting for the