Last Sunday, Matt Walker spoke about what it looks like to pursue Jesus and His kingdom on earth, and how we can respond to His call to love others the way He modelled for us.

For us to pursue the things that Jesus pursued himself:

Everyone has a different approach to how they do things, and everyone has their own opinion as to which way is best. When we start to pursue Jesus, we can sometimes get caught up in what other people are doing, and what is acceptable for us to do in the eyes of others. We see what others are doing in the church, or we see how others serve in soup kitchens, or at youth group, or even how so many people in our church recently volunteered for Children’s Ministry, or the group of people who are helping with our refugee families, and we think that we should probably do something similar to pursue Jesus better. Or maybe we see these things and we just feel inadequate so we give up.

But, the pursuit of Jesus is not about rules, or what looks right, or what people think.

For us to be aware of His kingdom on earth right now:

“The gospel is less about how to get into the Kingdom of Heaven after you die, and more about how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven before you die.”

—Dallas Willard

I believe Jesus calls us to enjoy the journey of the race just as much as we focus on the finish line. The journey is the reward.

For us to let go of the things that prevent us from loving God and loving others:

 “The only kingdom that God has given us to defend is the kingdom of Christ, and we defend and advance this kingdom by confronting lies with truth and hate with love.”

—Bruxy Cavey “Reunion”

—Matt Walker

Associate Pastor of Community Care