Understanding Concepts of Family, Church, Kingdom

In the passion of evangelism and church planting, I assume I know about the kingdom.

About fourteen years ago, the Lord Jesus nudged me into the need to deeper understand the church and the kingdom.

There was a sentence that popped into my mind early one morning, before 6 am, in November 2006. I was barely waking up.

This sentence floated through my mind like a typewritten note. I was not consciously thinking of the subject.

It says:

“The church is God’s movement for the kingdom of heaven on earth”.

This sentence had me preoccupied in my thinking about the purpose of the church and the kingdom since. I knew God was saying something very powerful to me.

I grew in excitement about the idea of the church as a movement. The idea of a movement is apostolic in essence, like the early church.

The idea of the kingdom is God’s system of rule and government. And it is of the highest authority in the universe.

I am applying this to our faith in the face of evil under the satanic influence that is anti-Christ in this world.

This faith that manifests in God’s presence of authority and power is also in God’s nature of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

HEAVEN ON EARTH

The prospect of heaven on earth is divine.

It is the realm of the supernatural.

I am applying this to family life, church life and ministry life.

In a kingdom family, there is that exception of God’s healing power, divine provision and manifest presence with protection for us.

Our faith for it increases when we know we are serving God and His kingdom will on earth.

Our life is in His hand.

The more I nudge on the subject, the more passionate I pursue the kingdom for a kingdom church.

God further taught me that the church is powerful only when families and the church family are in His heavenly power.

Therefore, the natural family and the church as a family must be aligned with God in His will and His nature.

This is the beginning of a fresh hope of the kingdom of heaven on earth.

In the original classic “The Kingdom” by George Bana Boardman, he gives the following description of kingdom and the church:

The word ‘basileia’ or ‘kingdom’ is characteristic of the gospels; occuring 109 times out of 140.” … ‘Basileia’ is divine, ‘Ecclesia’ is human.

In ‘Basileia’ or ‘Kingdom’ the divine or Kingly element prevails – it is the reign of God;

in ‘Ecclesia’ or ‘Church’ the human or social element prevails”

… Kingdom is God’s end – the goal of Christianity;

Church is God’s means – the method of Christianity.

Thus the Kingdom descends in order that the Church may ascend.”

Boardman 1899 compiled by Mumford and Taylor 2008, 20

But human nature is capable of being self-focused. This contributes to a dysfunctional family.

And this is not what we want.

KINGDOM FAMILY

I learn that a healthy family is a model for church discipleship.

The higher aim for the church is kingdom life where individuals and families are able to form God’s movement to impact society.

The natural family that is saved and planted in the church is God’s agent for His kingdom purpose in our world.

The church is as strong as the families that are in it.

When we have spiritually strong families, we have a strong church that impact society positively and strongly.