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 Messiah’s Casting Out Demons Liberation and Binding the Strong Man, Mark 1:23–27; Mark 3:22–27.
The Lord dramatizes God’s triumphal engagement of the dark powers through Jesus’ ministry over the devil and his minions in his earthly ministry in Mark chapter one. Jesus’ authority is portrayed powerful as the demons dread the Holy One, with his Word liberating captives, and seen in the crowd’s marveling at his kingly authority. Mark 3 then interprets that authority against those who sought to slander him and his work over the enemy — the scribes’ charge of Jesus accomplishing his work through the devil’s power — collapse under the force of Jesus’ truth of a house divided.
Truly, there exists only a single, credible explanation of his domination over demons — that a stronger One has entered the strong man’s house, bound him, and is carrying off his goods. Liberation and binding are therefore two sides of one reality every deliverance the Messiah performs as a public sign that the Kingdom of God has broken in, Satan has been bound, and his prisoners are being set free, just as prophesied of God’s Kingdom to come.
Invocation
Almighty God, our Deliverer, I affirm that you saved me to live beneath the authority of Christ, the Stronger One who bound the strong man and set the captives free. Silence every voice of darkness within me and speak your liberating word afresh. Draw us into your unshakable Kingdom, that we may worship you unhindered and walk this day in the freedom your Son has won. 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.
Sunday: Ezekiel 17-19
Lectionary Readings for Today
Our readings from the Psalms, the Old Testament, the Gospels and the Epistles are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary for this week.
Psalm: Psalm 86:11-17
Old Testament (or Acts [during Eastertide]): Isaiah 44:6-8
Gospel: Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43
New Testament: Romans 8:12-25
Click here for all of this week’s Scripture readings
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Sunday: Psalm 19, 49, 79, 109, 139 and Proverbs 19
The Messiah’s Casting Out Demons: Liberation and Binding the Strong Man, Mark 1:23–27; Mark 3:22–27.
In his exorcisms Jesus the Messiah invaded Satan’s domain to announce liberty to the captives and to free the oppressed, accomplishing that deliverance by first binding the strong man whose house he then plunders.
Reflection
Jesus’ ministry demonstrated his unique and sovereign place in asserting authority over the devil and his minions, seen throughout his time on earth. His exorcisms revealed his authority and glory, not as some isolated wonders but as signs of his identity as the Son of Man, a feature of his cosmic conquest over the powers of evil. By his word he liberates the oppressed, and by binding Satan he claims what the enemy once held captive. As disciples today we are charged to submit to a King who has already disarmed the strong man, walk in his victory, resist darkness and rest wholly in his authority.
Engaging God’s Word Today
Where in your life are you still living as though the strong man is holding you captive, when, according to biblical testimony, the Messiah has already bound him and claimed you as his own?
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 for the victory that you won for us through Jesus of Nazareth. I received that victory and thank you for its extensive and powerful blessing. I live today in the victory of my King, the Messiah, who has entered the strong man’s house and plundered his goods. May the God who liberates keep me free from every oppression, letting the Son who conquered guard me in his authority, with the Spirit who indwells me bearing witness that I belong to Christ and his Kingdom, that rule that shall never end. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
Eph. 1:20-23, The Ascension and the Day of Pentecost: The Kingdom’s Cosmic Authority
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
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)
• Who Gets to Narrate the World?, Robert E. Webber (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 “Who Gets to Narrate the World?” during season of Coming of the Holy Spirit and Headship)
“What Christians developed—following the Jewish precedent—was a process of initiation into the Christian life, known as the catechumenate (which means “instruction”). Catechism, which had as its aim becoming a follower of Jesus, included stages of conversion, discipleship and spiritual formation. The process culminated in baptism, and then as a follow-up the new Christians concentrated on the meaning of baptism and the Eucharist for Christian living.
Beyond basic Christian character, the catechism included a strong emphasis on caring for the poor, widows, orphans and others in distress. It formed Christians as a counterculture community and resulted in a radical break with the pagan way of life. New Christians were taught to live in moral purity, to be faithful in marriage, to esteem life in the womb and to preserve castaway children. They became servants to all regardless of race or creed. They narrated a life that imitated the life of Jesus.
Narrating faith in a world of philosophical relativism. The Christian faith is not a philosophy in the same way that we think of the philosophies of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. However, Christianity addresses the same issues—Is there a God? Where did we come from? Does life have meaning? How should we live? What is the destiny of the world and of humanity?
But Christianity approaches these questions in an entirely different manner from philosophy. Philosophy answers these questions from a human perspective. What do the wisest and smartest people think about life? And of course, all the philosophers differ—considerably.
From the very beginning Christians claimed that the answers to these questions are not derived from human speculation but from revelation. God initiates a relationship with humanity. Humans only interpret God’s actions and words—and that interpretation is not a philosophy but a narrative that discloses the truth about life.”
~ Webber, Robert E. Who Gets to Narrate the World?: Contending for the Christian Story in an Age of Rivals. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL: 2008. Electronic Edition. Location 598.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
The Messiah’s Miracles and Healings: The Kingdom’s Power Over Creation, Mark 4:35-41; 6:30-44
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