The Magic Kingdom Podcast Notes

Today Jonathan and Jack invited Chad to join them to talk about bringing the kingdom into our lives now

We didn’t use all of these notes, but here you go.  Might be some good ideas to chew on in here.
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1.

Said at the beginning of his ministry. I am thinking of a book that I’m guessing at least half of you of had in your house.  Any guesses. Chad you had it recently. What to Expect When You’re Expecting. It is in many ways the pregnancy bible. We know what it’s like to live our lives in confidence of a future reality.But what does it mean to live our lives in light of heaven?

What does it mean to live for the kingdom now?

Here are the questions we talked about today

What is Jesus saying when he says “I am bringing a glimpse of the coming kingdom to you”

In that kingdom people will be restored

Truth will rule

People will value people.  Jesus valued every person from every walk

We will be the only glimpse of kingdom some people will see

Kingdom living means we don’t have to live under the curse in Genesis 1

Some suggestions on how to live aware of the kingdom that is coming

Difference between secular work and kingdom work

Two Ways to Bring the Kingdom into your life today

1) Schedule a glimpse of heaven

Last week we went on and on about what heaven is going to look like.  It’s going to look like earth, but earth put right.

“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.”  Isaiah 65:17

We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth 2 Peter 3:13

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth Revelation 21:1

Even though this world we live in has pollution and weeds and Fresno, there are still places where we can get a glimpse of God in his creation

the San Diego Zoo.  As I walked around I made a couple of observations.  First thing I realized is that I don’t know what to call most of these animals.  I walked up to one exhibit and there was a trainer in with the animals and I thought “That’s a cool deer.”  “No, that’s a gazelle, thats a gerenuk and that’s a kudu.”  Huh, it looks like a deer.

If you want to live a little heaven on earth schedule a trip to explore your purpose.

2) Don’t waste your energy on temporary worries

One of Jack’s worries as pointed out by Chad (again and again)- Aging
The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10

Two years ago my father in law came to speak and he used those verses to describe himself.  He’s right in that 70-80 year range.

What he actually said was “Life’s a bitch and then you die.”  My kids couldn’t believe Grandpa let those words fly

But he spoke those words without fear because he lives with a confidence in the certainty of a future reality that is so compelling that all of life is lived in light of that certain hope.

Possessions

A focus on heaven keeps us from being less focused on possessions.

Position

Try not to notice what other people are doing and how they are succeeding and who’s climbing above us

Kelly’s Story

A friend stood up with a top ten list she had compiled.   These are the top ten benefits of turning 50.  Let me read you a few of them.

10. At age FIFTY, you are now older and wiser than 203,000,000 Americans.

9. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

7. When people say nasty things to you like, “Learn to drive, old lady!” you won’t hear them.

6. Things you buy now won’t wear out.

3. Most people your age can’t touch their toes either.

2. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
My friend Kelly wrote that.  She worked for me for years at the church. She started out as a secretary, then we needed someone to do our finances.  I asked Kelly if she knew anyone and she said, “I did finances at NASA” So she became my finance person.

One staff retreat I asked my staff to go thrift store shopping so they would have something to dress for dinner.  Kelly wore some kind of crazy jump suit from the 70’s.  Then Kelly got a cough. That cough was diagnosed as whooping cough.  Then lung cancer.  We lost Kelly several years back.  But we didn’t really lose her.  She just graduated. She experienced some of the kingdom on earth while she was here, but she’s experiencing it in it’s fullness now.

Here are Chad’s notes from the podcast.  “Shorter, but smarter than mine!” (Jack)

Central message of Jesus was the Kingdom of God
“The Kingdom of God is the range of God’s effective will, where what he wants done is done” (Dallas Willard—The Divine Conspiracy)
Its both future and present or now and not yet
Pieces of Gods kingdom
What are you building? A castle or a moat? Kingdoms have bridges that let people in castles have moats that keep people out -Bob Goff

We are living in the middle. We are living in the tension of the now and not yet. NOW we see and experience small parts of Gods Kingdom, but it is also not yet. We have NOT YET experienced it fully. So for NOW, in the middle, we experience small parts of Gods kingdom but we also experience evil. So, how do we invite more of Gods kingdom into the world?