Our series during Ordinary time will explore the revelation of God’s Kingdom through his Son. We will look specifically how the incarnation—the ministry, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ—reveals the long-promised Kingdom of God breaking into human history demonstrating God’s love, destroying the powers that ravaged creation, and displaying the Messiah’s promise (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
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YOUR KINGDOM COME
Pastoral Resources | 2025-26 Themes At-A-Glance
The Inbreaking Kingdom’s Restoration, Jer. 31:7-14
God’s restoration of his people displays the character of his inbreaking Kingdom: his sovereign plan is to intervene on behalf of his own, gathering those who were scattered by his judgment and returning them by his love and power. This ingathering is for all, as God refuses to leave behind the vulnerable, the weak, or those whom the world deems unworthy and burdensome, instead making them full participants in his redemptive work. God’s rule proves that his Kingdom values differ radically from the way we calculate human worth and importance. The restoration journey reveals God’s nature as both Father and Shepherd—One who leads with tender emotional care through our weeping while simultaneously providing practical guidance and provision. God’s Kingdom refreshes us; he will never abandon us, even in the most difficult passages of life. The transformation of his rule will result in a superabundant overflowing of joy that reverses our deepest sorrows, satisfies our profoundest longings, and establishes us as his living testimonies to the nations that he rules faithfully over all who trust in him.
Our Focus Today
The Transformation from Mourning to Abundant Joy, Jer. 31:12-14
God’s inbreaking kingdom brings true deliverance and blessing, changing grief into superabundant celebration and provision that satisfies both priests and people alike.
Invocation
Eternal Father, you are Lord of the super-abundant blessing, you turn mourning into dancing and transform languishing gardens into perpetually flourishing life! I have known both sorrow and withering in my life; I acknowledge my need for the radical reversal that only you can provide. Pour out your goodness upon me like streams of water on a garden, that I might cease my languishing and begin to flourish in every dimension of my life, for Christ’s sake. Grant me the faith to believe that you specialize in life change; replace my grief with gladness and satisfy my deepest longings with your inexhaustible abundance. 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: Exodus 32-34
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Saturday: Psalm 10, 40, 70, 100, 130 and Proverbs 10
The Transformation from Mourning to Abundant Joy, Jer. 31:12-14
God’s inbreaking kingdom brings true deliverance and blessing, changing grief into superabundant celebration and provision that satisfies both priests and people alike.
Reflection
God’s Kingdom is wholistic and transformative, changing our disposition and condition entirely. It turns mourning into joy and replaces languishing with deep soul and perpetual flourishing. His inbreaking kingdom liberates from demonic oppression and brings super-abundant blessings far exceeding what was lost in exile. It affects every dimension of our lives—material provision (grain, wine, oil, flocks, herds), emotional wellbeing (gladness replacing sorrow), our relationships (generations celebrating together), and spiritual satisfaction (both priests and people feasting on God’s goodness). Authentic kingdom restoration’s scope is comprehensive, refreshing, and lasting. Grasping this vision of complete transformation can affect our entire lives, we experience the Kingdom’s radical reversals that turn grief into dancing and satisfying our souls with abundance we could never produce for ourselves.
Engaging God’s Word Today
Where in your life would you say that you are “languishing”—experiencing a slow withering rather than vibrant flourishing? How might trusting God’s promise to transform your mourning into joy and to satisfy you with his goodness change your capacity to hope for more during this season of your own discipleship?
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, Lord Jesus, that you are the Master who turns mourning into joy transforming every sorrow in life to praise of your name! Replace my grief with gladness and my languishing with unending joy. Provide for me abundantly as I wait on you—materially, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually—making my life like a well-watered garden that never withers but continually blooms under the streams of your goodness. Give me a spirit to celebrate your kindness, and draw attention to your unfailing provision and love. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV): The Call of Abraham: God’s Kingdom Promise to the Families of the Earth
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
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.
Books We Are Reading this Church Year, and When
• The Most Amazing Story Ever Told, Dr. Don Davis (during season of Advent)
• Get Your Pretense On, Dr. Don Davis (during season of Christmas)
• Destined for the Throne, Paul Billheimer (during seasons of Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, and Resurrection)
• The Presence of the Future, George Eldon Ladd (during seasons of Ascension and Coming of Holy Spirit)
• Kingdom, Church and World, Howard Snyder (during seasons of Headship and Harvest)
• The Gospel of the Kingdom, George Eldon Ladd (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 season of Christmas)
The Already/Not Yet Kingdom has come!
His death represents the sacrifice for sin and cosmic deliverance of the Kingdom’s victory over death and the curse (Col. 2.15; Heb. 10.10-14). His resurrection both verifies his messiahship, and guarantees the victory of his redemptive work (Rom. 1.1-4). His Great Commission is his exalted call for his people to proclaim his kingdom victory to all the world (Matt. 28.18-20), and his ascension represents his coronation as King and Lord over all (Eph. 1.15-23; Heb. 1.2-4). The coming of his Holy Spirit at Pentecost was the pledge and “down payment” (arrabon) of the full promise of the Kingdom (2 Cor. 1.20), and the formation of the church there represents the community and foretaste of the Kingdom’s life in this world (2 Cor. 5.18-21). His session in heaven as risen Lord represents his generalship of God’s church in the earth (1 Cor. 15.24-28), and his Second Coming will be the final consummation of the Kingdom (Rev. 19-22).
What do all these theological claims mean for you and me? These biblical affirmations prove that God almighty has determined from eternity past to reverse the effects of the curse (death, disease, war, alienation, despair, and bondage) in this world. God is on the move. Put simply: God’s rule is in effect. God can do anything with anyone in any place to fulfill his purpose and establish his Kingdom. Even though it appears that the devil, evil, sin, and death are winning, they cannot prevail. Even though the “check engine” light has been on in the universe for millennia, with the coming of Christ in the world God almighty is reversing the impact of Satan and the curse, and restoring all things under his rule again. He is disarming the powers of evil and abolishing death in our midst today through his Son, Jesus Christ.
~ 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 561-567.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
Holy Name of Jesus, Phil. 2:5-11
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