Summarizing the Life Gauges

Imagine we are simultaneously enrolled in five discipleship ‘colleges’. The ultimate objective of our education is fluency in the culture of God’s kingdom.

HUMILITY | WORSHIP GOD
God is great. God is good. God is near.
We grow in our knowledge of God and our humble dependence on him.
(Mark 12:29-30, Acts 24:14-16, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 John 5:21)

RESPONSIBILITY | ATTACH TO JESUS | CO-REQUISITE: HUMILITY
Good stewards of God’s grace*.
We grow in our readiness to receive and take hold of the God-given position, authority, responsibilities, and resources available to us only in Christ.
(Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 13:24, John 10:27, John 15, Romans 11:16-22, 2 Corinthians 9:8-11, 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Timothy 1:3-4, 1 Peter 4:10)

ACCLIMATION | LIVE FROM GOD’S KINGDOM | CO-REQUISITE: RESPONSIBILITY
People like us do things like this.
We grow into our God-given identity and we adapt to God’s ways.
(John 15:19, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 4:4-7, Galatians 5:16-26, Colossians 1:13-14)

IMITATION | LOVE THE WORLD | CO-REQUISITE: ACCLIMATION
We so love the world that we give.
We grow in our expression of self-denying, others-oriented love.
(Matthew 5:43-45, Matthew 22:37-40, John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 13)

MISSION | PERSUADE OTHERS | CO-REQUISITE: IMITATION
Our story for God’s glory.
We grow in our discipleship influence on people and on every sphere of culture.
(Matthew 5:13-14, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 18:4, Acts 19:8, 2 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 5:20)

ALL BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Not by might, nor by our power.
We participate in God’s government by his power and appointment.
(Romans 8:13-14, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Galatians 3:3, Galatians 5:16-25, Ephesians 2:22, Ephesians 3:5, Philippians 3:3)

*The word 'grace' used here to mean: the unmerited God-given desire, ability, and resources to participate in God's economy (purpose, plan, activity) as His beloved.

A Thousand Little Things

This summer our church has been emphasizing ‘A Thousand Little Things’. It’s been a chance to dwell on the many ways Christians can engage the world, offering Kingdom life drip-by-drip. A series of nine videos was used to illustrate. Scripts from those videos can be found here.

The work of faith

Suppose the Apostle Paul and Jesus’ brother, James, co-wrote a statement on Kingdom living in the world? It might read like this:

“Faith without works [of love] is dead faith.”

— James 2:14-26, I Corinthians 13

Love is a work of faith. Love is the work of faith.