The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
From Seedling to Tree: Become Like Christ, Eph. 4:9-16
The journey from a mere seedling to a fully grown tree—from spiritual infancy to Christlike maturity—is a community endeavor orchestrated by Christ himself through his people, the body of Christ, the Church. God has strategically placed gifted leaders among us to equip every believer as an active participant in ministry, cultivating an environment where we all grow together toward the fullness of Christ’s character. This growth requires both rootedness in truth that protects us from deceptive winds and the practice of speaking truth in love that strengthens our connections with one another, allowing the whole body to function as Christ designed. When each member discovers their unique calling and contribution, accepting and faithfully exercising it, the entire community matures together. Through each member’s character and conduct, the entire Church reflects more and more of Christ’s nature until his character becomes visible in how we live, love, and serve one another.
Our Focus Today
The Whole Body Growing Together in Love, Eph. 4:15-16
As we grow up into Christ the Head, the entire body is joined and held together with every part doing its work, causing the body to build itself up in love through the proper functioning of each member.
Invocation
Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Church, I worship you as the source of all life, growth, and unity within your people. Thank you for designing us with such intentionality that every member has a vital role to play in building up your people in love. Open my eyes to see the work you have assigned to me, and grant me the humility to connect properly with other members in ways that glorify you. Fill me with your love and instruct me how to function faithfully, knowing that my contribution, whatever it is, matters to the overall health and maturity of your church. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Saturday: Heb. 1.1-4.13
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Saturday: Psalm 15, 45, 75, 105, 135 and Proverbs 15
The Whole Body Growing Together in Love, Eph. 4:15-16
As we grow up into Christ the Head, the entire body is joined and held together with every part doing its work, causing the body to build itself up in love through the proper functioning of each member.
Reflection
The Church grows healthy and strong through the proper functioning of every member, each one contributing their unique work to build up the body in love under Christ’s headship. Like a human body where every cell, tissue, and organ has a specific function that contributes to overall health, the body of Christ thrives when each member discovers and faithfully performs their God-given role, properly connected to others through relationships that support and strengthen each other. Our participation matters far more than we may realize. When we fail to function as designed, the entire body suffers a loss that no one else can compensate for. Still, when we faithfully fulfill our calling, we enable growth not just in ourselves but throughout the whole community. Each one of us must affirm our calling to contribute to the body’s growth, rejecting any false humility that says “I’m not important” or the consumer mentality that asks “what can the church do for me?”
Engaging God’s Word Today
What specific “work” has Christ assigned to you to do to enhance and build up the body of Christ where you live and work? How do you think your faithful functioning will affect the health and growth of our whole community? xx
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
Thank you Father, for my role in your church. Help me to discover afresh the vital role Christ has assigned to us in his body, understanding that our proper functioning contributes to the growth and health of the whole community. May we remain properly connected to other members through supporting ligaments of love, both receiving from others and giving to them as Christ designed. And may the whole body to which we belong continue to grow and build itself up in love as each part—including mine—does its work faithfully, until we all together reflect the fullness of Christ our Head. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV):
5 “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shots of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading
• As A Man Thinketh, James Allen (during seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany)
• The Way of the Heart, Henri Nouwen (during seasons of Holy Week, Lent and Resurrection)
• Atomic Habits, James Clear (during seasons of Ascension and Coming of Holy Spirit)
• The Seven Laws of the Harvest, John Lawrence (during seasons of Headship and Harvest)
• Get Your Pretense On!, Dr. Don Davis (during the seasons of Hope and Remembering the Saints, Exalting the King)
Book Reading Reflection: Get Your Pretense On!
(Reading “Get Your Pretense On!” during seasons of Hope and Remembering the Saints, Exalting the King)
According to both Oscar Cullman (Christ and Time) and George Ladd (The Gospel of the Kingdom and The Presence of the Future) the Kingdom of God (God’s rule and reign restored in creation) occurs in two distinct displays or manifestations (advents), both associated with comings of the Son of God into the world. In the first advent of Jesus into the world, the rebellious prince was bound, his house looted, and the penalty for humankind was paid on the Cross, and vindicated through the resurrection and establishment of the Church. This is the “Already” side of the “Already/Not Yet” Kingdom.
In the second advent of Christ (which is yet to come) the rebellious prince will be finally destroyed, the effects of the curse and death will be finally overcome, and the beauty and grace of God’s kingdom rule will be manifested fully, when Jesus comes and restores all things under God’s rule in a new heaven and earth. This represents the “Not Yet” side of the “Already/Not Yet” Kingdom.
This understanding of the Kingdom helps us make sense of the life and mission of Jesus during his incarnation, as well as the consummation of his work at the Second Coming. In the incarnation, his mission was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3.8), and his birth represents the invasion of God into Satan’s dominion (Luke 1.31-33). Jesus’s message was the Kingdom’s proclamation and inauguration (Mark 1.14-15), and his teaching outlined the ethics of the Kingdom (Matt. 5-7). His miracles were demonstrations of his kingly authority and power (Mark 2.8-12), and his exorcisms revealed his defeat of the power of the devil and his angels (Luke 11.14-20). His life and deeds reveal the glory of the Father and the majesty of the Kingdom (John 1.14-18).
~ Davis, Don. Get Your Pretense On! Living as a Citizen and Ambassador of the Kingdom of God. TUMI Press, Wichita, KS, 2018. Electronic Edition, Location 547-557.
Seedling Focus for the Season: Those who Sow in Tears Will Reap with Joy
Description: The joy of harvest is the reward for labor, patience, and trust in God, Psalm 126:5-6.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
Harvest Joy: Celebrating God’s Blessings, Psalm 126:5-6.
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