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
Week 24: Ascension — The Man of God’s Own Choosing, Acts 17:22-31
The God who made and sustains all things is the same God who has established a way for the nations to be saved and receive life through his appointed Man of his own choosing. The Creator God is neither distant nor unknowable, for he has revealed himself decisively through the select Messiah whom he chose and raised from the dead. Idolatry is neither prudent nor justified; the God of heaven and earth has made a way for all peoples to know him by yielding to his lordship and receiving salvation through his chosen means. All people are now therefore summoned to abandon every idol—whether religious, intellectual, or material—and turn to God in repentance to the appointed Judge and Savior, the Man of God’s own choosing, Jesus of Nazareth.
Our Focus Today
The Creator and Lord Who Needs Nothing, Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and everything in it is Lord of heaven and earth, and requires no temple built by human hands and needs no service from human hands, since he himself gives to all humankind life and breath and everything.
Invocation
Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, you dwell in no temple made by human hands, yet you draw near to us in provision and grace. I come before you now as your humble creature, not as one whose supply has some supposed lack in you but rather as one of those sustained by your breath. Receive my worship, O self-sufficient Lord, and open my heart to recognize and to receive your boundless generosity in my life. 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.
Tuesday: 1 Kings 22.10-40, 51-53; 2 Chron. 18.9-20.37
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Tuesday: Psalm 12, 42, 72, 102, 132 and Proverbs 12
The Creator and Lord Who Needs Nothing, Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and everything in it is Lord of heaven and earth, and requires no temple built by human hands and needs no service from human hands, since he himself gives to all humankind life and breath and everything.
Reflection
God’s existence and self-sufficiency is the foundation of all true worship. Those who worship him truly come to him as his created beings, not as suppliers but as recipients of his life and grace, receiving his goodness and life from his fullness. Every breath we draw is a gift from the One who needs nothing yet gives everything to his creation and to humankind. Our truest devotion begins with this acknowledgment and humble gratitude, never in the presumption that God either needs us or is indebted to us.
Engaging God’s Word Today
In what ways have you approached God as though he needed or required your service, talents, or offerings? How can you learn to come to him in wonder and thanksgiving as the self-sufficient Giver upon whom your every breath depends?
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 being our Creator and Sustainer, the one who offers life to your creation, providing for us, guiding us, and watching over our lives. I acknowledge now your care, for you are the God who made all things and sustains our every breath. You need nothing from us, yet you lavish everything upon us. Teach me to walk in grateful wonder before you, our self-sufficient Lord, freed from the burden of trying to earn your favor, and increasingly learning to rest wholly in your generosity. You alone are the One who gives life to all. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
1 Cor. 11:23-26 (ESV): The Last Supper: The Kingdom’s New Covenant
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
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 season of Epiphany)
• The Presence of the Future, George Eldon Ladd (during seasons of Lent, Holy Week, Easter and Ascension)
• Kingdom, Church and World, Howard Snyder (during seasons of the Coming of the Holy Spirit, and Headship)
• Thy Kingdom Come, Rev. Terry Cornett and Dr. Don Davis (during season of Harvest)
• The Gospel of the Kingdom, George Eldon Ladd (during the seasons of Hope and Remembering the Saints, Exalting the King)
Book Reading Reflection: Destined for the Throne
(Reading “The Presence of the Future,” during season of Lent, Holy Week, and Resurrection)
In Jesus’ proclamation of the Gospel, God’s promise of the Kingdom has been fulfilled!
“This saying in Luke brings us to another evidence for the present dynamic working of the Kingdom of God. It was present and active in the word and authority of Jesus. This is seen particularly in the words “gospel” (euaggelion), “to preach the gospel” (euaggelizesthai), and “to preach” (keryssein). Jesus’ message about the Kingdom of God was not merely instruction or prophecy or promise; it was the proclamation of good news. It was gospel. The prophets had promised a time when the good news would be proclaimed that God was visiting his people. “Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him” (Isa. 40:9–10). A herald would appear upon the mountains publishing peace, announcing good tidings of salvation, saying to Zion, “Your God reigns.… The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” (Isa. 52:7, 10; cf. Isa. 41:27; 60:6; Nah. 1:15). This promised day will be heralded by one anointed by the Spirit of the Lord “to bring good tidings to the afflicted, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn” (Isa. 61:1–2). These good tidings are nothing less than the visitation of God to bring to his people the messianic salvation.
In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus claimed that this gospel was no longer hope but event (Luke 4:18). The time of fulfillment had come. Jesus had been anointed to preach good news (euaggelisasthai) to the poor, to proclaim (keryxai) release to the captives, to proclaim (keryxai) the acceptable year of the Lord. In the proclamation of the gospel, promise had become fulfillment.”
~ Ladd, George. The Presence of the Future: The Eschatology of Biblical Realism. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids: MI, 1974. Electronic Edition. Location 163-65.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
The Messiah Ascends to Heaven, Luke 24:44-53
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