Speaking About The Kingdom Of God (Acts 1:1-3)

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Here’s a summary of this week’s sermon:

• If you knew you only had 40 days left to live, what would you do?

• Anne, a woman with cancer, chose to write letters and record videos for her children in wooden boxes.

• Jesus also spent his final days on Earth wisely, appearing to hundreds of people and proving he was alive through physical means.

• He talked repeatedly about the Kingdom of God during this time.

• Philip preached about the kingdom of God and Jesus to the crowds, who then believed and were baptized.

• The kingdom of God is a huge topic that Jesus talks a lot about even in the gospels, emphasizing its inclusion of the poor and children.

• To be part of God's kingdom means accepting that he is your king, which can be difficult to do in a culture that values independence.

• However, it becomes easier when we realize that Jesus is for us and wants what is best for us. The Kingdom of God is open for anyone who wants to be part of it.

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💬 CONVERSATION STREET --

Dan + Anna talk about:

• What would you do if you knew you only had 40 days left to live? How does this question challenge us?

• How did the risen Jesus prove to his disciples that he was real and not just a figment of their imagination?

• The disciples did not realize that it was the risen Jesus talking to them and walking with them. How can we miss Jesus in our daily lives?

• Is Jesus trustworthy? How can I be a part of God’s kingdom and entrust my whole life to this Jesus?

• What does it mean that God’s kingdom is radically inclusive?

• How can God be good when there is suffering in the world?

• Responding to God’s call is a matter of obedience and not of qualification. How?

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• Complete Transcript

  Matt Edmundson: What would you do if you knew that you would leave this world in about 40 days from now, how would that change your life? Assuming that it would, it's not something we like to think about. Is it because as humans, uh, in our current culture and society, we kind of do everything that we can to put that day.

  Back, right? We take medicines. We apparently eat healthier. Uh, we take vitamin supplements, medicines, all the stuff that we can to put back that inevitable day. We don't like to think about it. But what if you knew? What if you knew that 40 days from now you would leave this world, what would that change for you?

  There's a beautiful lady called Anne who has a husband and two kids. When she was in her mid thirties, she was told that she had cancer and that it was so aggressive that she only had a few weeks to live. And it's a horrible thing to be told. It is a horrible thing to be. It's heartbreaking when you know the story, and there's lots of questions that we could ask around this, but there's one thing that I want to focus on in this story.

  Before Anne passed away, what did she do with her remaining time on Earth? Now Anne did what you would expect her to do, but she also got two large wooden boxes, uh, boxes that would last one for each of her kids. And in those boxes, she would write letters and put the letters for each of her kids. And she had a device where she would record videos and put those in there as well for each of her kids when she sort of felt well enough to to record the videos and she sort of told stories.

  That only a mum could tell their kids. You see, for Anne, her final words were important. What she said to those she lived in those last few weeks would be remembered by them. And so they had to count. And if I think about it, if I knew that in 40 days I would depart this earth, I think I would also do what Anne did.

  I would write letters and record videos. I would say the things that I would want people to remember, I would let those around me know that I'm on their side, that I love them, that I care for them, that I'm for them, that I'm proud of them, but that's me. What about Jesus? What did Jesus do? What did he do before he left this earth?

  You see, he had risen from the dead, but he knew that he was gonna go soon and he had about 40 days. So during that time, what did he say to those around him? What did he do with them? Did Jesus let them know that he was on their side? Did he let them know he was for them? Well, that's what we're gonna find out.

  Now we're right here at the beginning uh, at the Book of Acts. Last week, John Harding gave us a great overview of the book and how it bridges the life of Jesus on earth to the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church. So this week, as we start our deep dive into the Book of Acts, uh, in much more detail, we're gonna begin with the first three verses.

  So Acts chapter one, verses one to three. and it reads in the first book, Theopolis, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit, the, the apostles whom he had chosen, he presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

  Wow, there's a lot in these verses. And like I say, John last week gave us an own overview and in there he talked about Theopolis, he explained who he was and why Luke was actually writing this letter. Uh, and if you've not heard it, definitely check it out. And before we start looking next week, uh, with Sharon at the coming of the holy

  spirit, this week, I want to look at those 40 days that Luke kind of introduces us to. The gap between the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and then when Jesus, uh, departs this earth. It's those 40 days that I'm interested in. I really wanna know, what happened, what did Jesus do? How did he make the most of that time?

  Because after all, this is the risen, glorified Christ. He knew that he would soon depart. So what did he say and what did he do? Well, Luke gives a summary of what Jesus did by saying that he presented himself alive by many proofs. And Luke also, uh, lets us know what Jesus said by giving us a summary of what he talked about, which was the Kingdom of God.

  So let's look at these two things. Firstly, Jesus presented himself alive by many proofs. This is really, really important if the Christian faith is gonna succeed, right? As the Christian faith centers around this idea of the resurrection. If there is no resurrection, there is no Christianity. Right? Even the Apostle Paul a few years ago, a few years ago, it was definitely a few years ago, but a few years after Jesus ascended, he wrote about this to the Corinthians Church in one Corinthians 15, verse 17.

  He said this, if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. In other words, the resurrection is the critical part of all of this. So Jesus presents himself and proves who he is to many, many people. And it's critical for this movement, for this Christianity, this, uh, early church if it's gonna get any kind of traction.

  For this to happen, especially as we're gonna see that the early church has to deal with a lot of persecution. And let me tell you, you don't endure that kind of persecution if there's no reason not to endure it. No reason that is bigger than the persecution that you are facing. So at the time of Christ, there were all kinds of weird and wonderful theories and examples about gods and deities and ghosts and goblins and all that sort of stuff.

  And there were all kinds of stories about epiphanies, um, that people would have, you know, for divine guidance. And a second century Greek philosopher called Celsus, who was an opponent of Christianity compared the resurrection appearances of Jesus to the Hellenistic epiphanies at the time in seeking to undermine Christian claims.

  In other words, Jesus didn't appear in physical form. These were just epiphanies. These were dreams. These were ghost like things appearing. And that's how, how he talked about it. But whilst epiphanies were commonly, commonly, that's not an easy word, , uh, were commonly reported in ancient times. Well, these aren't resurrection appearances are they.

  See, Jesus physically appears to, to, uh, to people to prove who he is. He talks to people. He eats with people. This is not a ghost. This is not a dream-like appearance. Uh, as, as the Greek philosopher reported it was. No, this was genuine. People had to believe. Jesus had to prove who he was. And if we back up a few verses in the Corinthian letter that Paul wrote about Christ, he said this in one Corinthians 15, verse four.

  He said, uh, he Jesus was buried. He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the 12, then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. That doesn't sound like a ghost, is it? This is not a personal dream when he appears to 500 people at once. Yeah. You, that's not a straightforward trick to pull off, uh, even in modern day standards. So Jesus appears to hundreds and hundreds of people during these 40 days.

  Right. And there's one story in the midst of all of this that really, really intrigues me. And it's, it's where the disciples are hanging out with Jesus, but they don't, they don't, they don't kind of realize that it's the risen Jesus. It's really, really intriguing. In Luke chapter 24, it says this, when he, Jesus was at the table with them, his disciples, he took the bread and blessed it, and broke it and gave it to them, and it was at this point, their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

  Wow. I mean, they sit down with Jesus. They ate with Jesus, but they still didn't realize who he was. That's insane, isn't it? And I say I see this today. Um, uh, for many of us, uh, you know, there are many proofs out there, I think to the Christian faith, to the resurrected Christ. But we might not see it. We might be like these disciples.

  And I know for me, I didn't necessarily see it at first, but it's as I hang out with Jesus, as I started to eat with him, as I started to experience, um, him in my everyday, it's then I start to understand the many proofs and I experience the many proofs that he is alive, that he is in fact the risen Christ.

  It's only when we spend time with him that we start to see him for who he really is. And it was important for Luke and actually for Paul to highlight that Jesus was no mere ghost, that he was more than this epiphany that he was more than a ghost. And it was also important for Luke to make clear that Jesus was actually dead so that he wasn't a phantom.

  This is all part of the reason for writing the stuff that he wrote. Jesus really died. Jesus really rose from the dead. And it talks about the, uh, disciples. So you've got this, uh, this sort of, they're eaten around the table. They have this revelation of who Jesus, they recognized him. And a few verses later it says, but they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit, a ghost.

  And he said to them, why are you troubled? And why do doubts are rising your hearts? See my hands and my feet that it is. I myself. Touch me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling and he said to them, have you anything here to eat

  They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate before them. I mean, the reason I laugh right? Imagine, right. You are there. You are eating fish with the risen Christ and you start to realize who he is and you are scared because of the implications of this, and you think, well, this must be a ghost.

  And he's like, no, I'm not a ghost. Touch me. But they're all having this sort of same vision at the same time, which no one ever has, right? Like I say, it would be the ultimate trick, even in modern day standards. And in the midst of all of this, Jesus' like, no, touch me. Feel me. Oh, by the way, guys, have you got anything to eat?

  It just tickles me. It just tickles me. You see, it's only when we start to live our everyday life engaging with Jesus that we start to see who he really is. We see that the king is on our side, so we have to ask ourselves, am I on his? So what did Jesus talk about around the many dinner tables he seems to share with people eating fish?

  I mean, Luke told us that he talked about the kingdom of God, right? In the first three chapters of Acts. That's how he summarized it. It was that Jesus talked about the kingdom of God. So what is the kingdom of God? Why would you talk about that? I mean, imagine your final words, the 40 days. They've gotta count.

  Jesus chose to talk about the kingdom of God. And it's important to understand this because the Kingdom of God frames the Book of Acts, and it's a topic that we are gonna see come up time and time again. We will see all through acts that not only did Jesus talk about it, but that his disciples, his followers also talk about the Kingdom of God.

  There's an example, uh, just a few chapters along that no doubt we will cover again in a few weeks, but there's a guy called Philip preaching. Right. And it says that they believe the crowds believed, uh, as Philip preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus. They were baptized, both men and women.

  It's pretty impressive, right? See, Philip was talking about the kingdom of God. He was talking about this king Jesus, a different kingdom in which they were living. and so he told them that the king is on their side and they, it seems decide to be on his, they follow Christ. They choose to live in a new kingdom.

  The kingdom of God is a huge topic and that is a massive understatement. Uh, Jesus talks about it a lot, right? Basically filling all of the gospels with the principles of the kingdom of God, like promising it to the poor and to children, and to the radically obedient, which is in direct contrast to what people thought at the time.

  See, Jesus talked about how it would be difficult for the rich man to enter the kingdom of God. You may have heard there, it's easier to get a camel through the either needle story, for example, and this is not because of the money or because of the riches, but because they would learn to trust in that.

  Much more than they could trust in Jesus. You see, to be in God's kingdom means accepting that he is in fact your king. You see, I live in the uk, the United Kingdom. We now have a new king, king Charles. He is my king. I cannot accept, uh, accept. I cannot escape that fact, and I live under the rule of the United Kingdom.

  But to be in God's kingdom. Well, I now have a different king, and that means accepting his rule and understanding that the king is on my side and asking am I on his? I mean, and this is really, really, really hard to do in a culture that loves to affirm its own truth and its own rules, truth and rules.

  They're whatever I feel like, not what somebody tells me. You cannot tell me how to live, how to be and how to act. I don't want that. So how can we accept the Lordship of Christ? Because let me tell you one thing is for sure you will not always like his rule. It's why a lot of people deconstruct their faith.

  It's because they don't like what they think Jesus is telling them to do. And it's the hardest thing I have to do to decide daily that Jesus is my king and that I am subject to his rule. The king is on my side, but am I on his? You see, subjecting myself to the rule of Christ might seem countercultural, but let me tell you, it becomes an awful lot easier to do when we realize this simple fact Jesus is for us.

  Paul talked about this in a letter to the church in Roman. He said, what shall we say then to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? , the king is on my side. That's what makes all of this possible.

  That's what makes it so much easier in a lot of ways when we understand that he is for us, that he is not against us, that he loves us, and dare I say it, likes us, that Jesus is not a dictator king and that he is our friend and our brother, and that we are part of this family. That he is therefore good and he is worthy of our worship,

  and it's easier to listen to Jesus, to accept his rule, to accept his kingship when you know that he is for you and that whatever he says, whatever he commands, whatever the truth is, is ultimately for your good. The king is on my side. Am I on his? The Kingdom of God is open for anyone that wants to be a part of it.

  And the Bible tells us that it is radically inclusive even to those, uh, in society that may be deemed as outcasts. Like for example, the poor and the children as they were at the time of Christ. One of the heroes, uh, of the people at the time of Jesus was a chap called John the Baptist. And Jesus tells us, uh, that we can be part of the kingdom and find a role and a purpose and a meaning that is in fact greater than John's, their hero at the time.

  He wrote this, uh, he wrote this, uh, Luke wrote this, uh, in chapter seven, verse 28. He said, I tell you, among those born of women, none is greater than John. Yet, the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Imagine the listeners listening to Jesus as he speaks out these words, how radical that statement is.

  I mean, it's. It is pretty intense, and God's kingdom is radically inclusive, and I just like the word radical. It is radically inclusive and it has purpose, and it has meaning for those who are part of it. See, we can start to see, I think, why Jesus spent his last 40 days on Earth talking about the kingdom of God.

  We can see why when Philip talked about it, people believed and the world was changed. And as we spend time with Jesus, we start to see him for who he really is. He is the king of a kingdom, A kingdom that is radically different from the one in which we live right now. We start to live a life where we see Jesus as king.

  We live according to his rules and in accordance with the culture of his kingdom. Scripture talks about the kingdom of God in a present tense. We are now part of the Kingdom of God and in a future tense, and it's a tension that we live in. It's both now and in the future, and it's in this future reign of the coming king that gives us hope, especially those who are going to be persecuted as the church would soon be.

  See, I've heard many people who use suffering as an argument that there is no God. Because a God of love surely would not allow suffering. Yet we learn about a God of love who gives us the ability to choose, the ability to have free will, and that despite the suffering there is in fact still hope that justice will win.

  It's because there is suffering and evil that God has to exist. If you are oppressed, you can nurture the hope that God's justice will ultimately triumph. Otherwise, it all is a bit meaningless. The Kingdom of God has a king, and this king is Jesus. This is not a king who is passive, who, uh, forces you to do things.

  Yes, his rule is strong and he is, let's be real God. One who is not to be trifled with. He is Lord. He does provide a law to live by, but he is for us. This kingdom has its own distinct people, which is the church, it's amazing, and I'm part of that. So the king is on my side. am I on his? And it's this message that Jesus shared with people around the tables doing life together for those 40 days.

  It is this message that we can live life with Christ that he proves to us that he is who he says he is, that he is king, and that he is Lord, and that anyone who chooses can be part of that kingdom to choose to live a life differently, to receive a mission from the risen Christ, to live a life of purpose and meaning, and one that gives us ultimate hope in the face of the worst that the world can throw at us.

  It's not easy, but it is beautiful. And you can see why that was the important message. This is the message that people took to heart and they believed and it transformed the world. And I think it can do the same again today. And as we go through acts. You see, we're gonna see what happens when ordinary people spend time with Jesus and live as part of his kingdom.

  How that transforms history, how the church movement is born, and more importantly, how those same truths apply to us today. To live life of purpose and meaning. I think then we have to take to heart these two ideas and ask ourselves, how can I live my every day with Jesus and what is the kingdom of God and what is my role in it?

  And as we grapple with these questions, just as the early church did, as we become willing to live according to his rule, under the knowledge that he is utterly for us, then the outcome becomes miraculous. We become kingdom builders. We become part of something bigger. We become part of a story that can last for thousands and thousands of years.

  Coming up. We have Conversation. Street, but before we get into that, here's a clip from our podcast. What's the story which you can subscribe to on all your favorite podcast apps?

  Caesar Kalinowski: They had nothing, Matt, like, no things, you know, they were nothing. No things like literally the clothes on their backs. If they had clothes. And I'm not joking to people, we were, you know, working with in Sudan during the war, Sierra Leonne, during the Civil War there. Um, the church was beautiful and they were so full of joy, man, and they were like being persecuted and they were star, their babies were starving.

  No joke, I'm not, you know, and yet they were so full of joy and I, and as I would go there and I'd come home and I'd go there and I'd come home. I remember praying. Dear God, you know, I want to have what they have. I'd give anything for their joy and relationship with you.

  Dan Orange: Cool. Welcome back. Well, that was really good and also the um, podcast looks good as well. I need to get that. Subscribe to that and stream in so I could just get through. Yeah.

  Anna Kettle: Yeah. There's a, there's an especially good episode, um, quite early on that I feature on. I'm joking, but like I, I, I do listen to it. I think it's a great podcast.

  I think, yeah. I, I dunno, I just love. Um, real people's stories. I like can't get enough of it. I could listen to podcasts all day where it's just like conversational and it's, yeah, people's real stories about their real lives and their real faith and their struggles, and that's what, that's what it's all about.

  Um, what's your story? Just does the title kind of suggests and I love that. I love that. That's, um, that's kind of what it does. And yeah, I just find it inspiring to hear ordinary people talk about their lives.

  Dan Orange: Yeah. Yeah. I agree. Mm-hmm. and, um, segue. Definitely. Yeah. Yeah. Segueing into acts and Matt's talk. Yeah.

  That's what it isn't. It is real people. And it, well, it starts off with Jesus and the fact that he was a real person. Um, a bit of the start of the, the talk there was that. Well, do you wanna, do you wanna say first if there's any, any any parts that really you wanted to bring out and then Yeah. I Questions that you want?

  Anna Kettle: Yeah, I mean, there's just, there's so, so much content in that, wasn't it? It's such a lot of ground that Matt covered and quite a short talk. Um, but I mean, I, I just thought it was really inspiring right from the start. Like, uh, even just that first question, like it didn't pull any punches, did it? Like if, if you knew you only had 40, 40 days left or thereabouts or like, what would you do?

  I mean, yeah. I'm just instantly challenged by that because it's, you know, I agree and he talked about his friend Anne and how she'd written. You know, and filmed stuff for her children. And of course you'd, you'd wanna see and spend time and invest into family and friends, wouldn't you? But I also think my natural human nature would be like, well, I just like spend all my money and do all the things and have some fun and do things I never got around to.

  And you know, just like enjoy myself and. You know, the first thing that doesn't come to mind if I'm totally honest, is well, I would, you know, it would all be about the Kingdom of God and serving others. And you know what? I'm investing into that. And you know, that's challenging, isn't it? But that was, Jesus was still about the kingdom of God.

  That that was his first instinct, you know, that's what he did. He, he invested into the Kingdom of God wholeheartedly.

  Dan Orange: Yeah. It almost, it was, his challenge wasn't, it was 40 days. I've got for you to, to realize that yes, I've had, you know, years with you talking, bringing this message, but I'm passing it over to you now. Here's 40 days.

  Let's get, get with the program ,you know, let's really get into this kingdom of God, what, what your place is in it. Yeah, yeah, definitely. And I do like that he talks about eating and seeing, like Matt said, it's not, um, you know, there were lots of things from that time about epiphanies and dreams and um, visions.

  But this is, this is reality. This is life. This is eating. You know, I love it. The disciples go, ah, it's Jesus. He says, yeah, could I have something to eat? ?

  Anna Kettle: Yeah. It's so real and so human, isn't it? It's like it, it's like the point, that Matt made, that he's really intentional about showing that he's not like some ghost or some.

  Figment of their imagination or like some Greek hallucination or, you know, other things people suggest, but he's fully there. He's fully human. He's real, you know, he's, yeah. It's like you can touch and feel him and see him. It's like as real as, , he was before his death and, and like, it's interesting isn't he?

  Like he goes to real pains to show that and you know, so things like eating and drinking and just sitting with them around the table and stuff. The ordinary sort of substance of life is what he's also fixed on as, even as he's teaching them about kind of the kingdom of God and things are much bigger than that, he's like also in the, those ordinary moments as well.

  Dan Orange: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. . And even if, even in those ordinary moments, we can, we can see God and we can listen to him and we can do what he wants us to do or we can miss him. And I think it's, it's critical in that, that the disciples missed him. He was right next to them. Yeah. And they missed that. It was, he was there.

  You can just do life, can't you? I do find that, especially if, if life is busy or hectic or you got, um, worries or Yeah. Targets or events coming up, we, we can do them and get through them. We can miss, I think we can miss Jesus in, in our lives. Yeah. Um, perhaps we need to slow down. Perhaps we need. . Yeah. Just pause, listen, um, take him with us rather than compartmentalizing him and putting into different slots.

  Anna Kettle: Yeah, I think that's such a good point, Dan, that I was really challenged by that bit too, that like Jesus was right there and they missed and they almost didn't see him for being in front of him. Mm-hmm. , I just some, sometimes. When God's right in our midst. And yet we're so oblivious cuz as you say, we're caught up in the moment or in what we are doing or our own agenda.

  Like, you know, I'm very, I'm a very task focused person by nature. Like, if there's something to be done, I'm just gonna get on and do it, you know, and find the quickest route to get it done. And you know, I. I know there's times when like, I don't give my child my full attention cause I'm doing something like, just wait a minute.

  I'm doing something. I don't wanna be interrupted or, or inconvenienced. And, you know, it's, it's really easy to be like that with other people as well, isn't it like, You know, oh, I'm in the middle of doing something. I don't want to be interrupted by that person who needs something or that phone call or that.

  Yeah. You know, like we can be like that in so many different ways. Or that neighbor who needs a little bit of help, you know? But I don't wanna be inconvenienced cuz I'll be five minutes late to whatever important thing I'm doing and like, and if we can be like that with human people here in front of us, like you know, how often are we like that with God as well?

  Like Yeah. It's so easy isn't it, to kind of push spending time with God to the back of your like day, like, you know, I, you know, my constant to-do list. It's like it's so easy for me to let time with God slip lower and lower down that priority list because, I dunno. It's less pressing than other things.

  And yet deep down it's the most important thing. Yeah. Like I know it's so, yeah, it's, but I find it kind of reassuring that the disciples were a bit like that even when they were sat in front of Jesus. Like that's strangely reassuring, isn't it? It's like all like the rest of us. But we all need to be very careful to not miss Jesus in our midst and what he want to do.

  Yeah, absolutely. . Yeah. Yeah. That really jumps out, at me. Yeah. Yeah.

  Dan Orange: Um, I'll put a few things down and, and then Matt kept saying this. He said, you know, the king is on my side. Mm-hmm. am I on his? And Yeah. Um, yeah. In my head I'm like, so Jesus is on my side, is that, is that controversial? Is that amazing?

  Where, where do, what am I thinking? I'm just thinking that's amazing, isn't it? The king, the king. Like Matt said, about King Charles the king, he's on our side. Are we gonna be on his side? Are we gonna be with him? Mm-hmm. what we, what we as Christians doing about it? And if you don't know the king, you can know him.

  This is like, yeah, this is God. This is the king, the kingdom of God. You can come in and be part of that. Um, it's a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful thing.

  Anna Kettle: Yeah, I, I, I mean, I loved what, uh, Matt said about how the kingdom of God is like. Like radically inclusive. Mm-hmm. And I haven't really, I love that expression.

  I mean, I'm a bit of a wordy person anyway, but I, I, you know, I, I love the way he expressed that. Like, I hadn't really thought of it in those terms before. Like, the kingdom of God is radically inclusive, so like anyone's welcome. Um, you know, and Jesus really showed that, didn't he? And, um, yeah, it was like his interest in the poor, or the least the people that other people passed by because.

  they weren't important in his culture and his day. Like women or the poor or those that were less educated or, yeah, whoever they were. He, he, you know, I, I love that. I love that. , you know, this kingdom was for anyone and it's still for anyone today. It's anyone's welcome. And you know, you wouldn't always think that looking at, um, religious people and religious institutions, but it's absolutely true and it's the heartbeat of Jesus.

  And um, yeah, it's right there from the start of the church and yeah, it is. We'd do well to remember that sometimes as like the church today, wouldn't we?

  Dan Orange: Mm-hmm? Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Cause. We are people, aren't it? We, we get things wrong. The church gets things wrong. The how stuff gets bigger and more official or has to write stuff down and biers off to the left of the right.

  And um, that's, that's man's idea of things. Jesus says, come, come be in my kingdom, all you who are weary and, heavy laden come. There is no. , there's no, um, ruling anyone out. We could all be a part part of this kingdom.

  Anna Kettle: Yeah. Yeah. That's right. And I, I loved, um, the idea of what he said about, um, it's easy cuz he talked about how like, um, Jesus is for us and he loves us and he's on our side, like you said.

  But then he also says, once you know that, It's so much easier to accept his rule and his authority and his reign and logic of your life. Yeah. And that, I thought that was such a key point because actually sometimes it can be like, well, I don't know if I want anyone else to kind of have a say in my life or how I live, or you know, to kind of come under anyone or anything and yeah, you know.

  today, we're fiercely independent, aren't we? As a culture, I think probably more than ever. And, um, we live quite independent lives, really. A lot of us, even though we have friends and family, and you sort of think it's, it's very easy to be a bit of your own island, doesn't it? And, and, yeah. actually. It's not a scary thing to, to come under the reign of Jesus when you know that he's totally for you.

  He's totally good. Yeah, and he's totally on your side. Like that kind of blows my mind a bit and I think it takes a lifetime. because we don't, who else do we know who's completely good? Like, you know, like you and I are both married, aren't we, Dan? Mm-hmm. and we love our spouses, but they're, they're not perfect.

  So I, I know that I'm definitely not a perfect wife and you know, there's nobody else in our lives who like is a hundred percent trustable all of the time. A hundred percent, you know, kind of good all the time. Like, and so it's, it's, um, Yeah, it's just, it's quite a mind blowing thought, isn't it? There actually, the person that you're, that you're giving your life to is all of those things a hundred percent of the time.

  Dan Orange: Yeah. And it like you, like you said, it's something we can rest in. That, that he's, he's made those decisions. He's, he's for us. I've just, I've just been watching, um, Jack Ryan, um, on Amazon Prime. Yeah. And it's all like, ah, but you know, he, he's a soldier and he has to, um, listen to orders, but it's, what are your orders?

  Is, you know, are the orders from some corrupt official or, um, I dunno, it's a whole story. I quite like those kind of things. We don't have to worry about that. Cuz as you said, he's his kingship and his love for us is, is overwhelming and great that we can come under that rule without any fear. Yeah, because we don't have to worry, we don't have to even, don't have to question it because we can rest in those decisions knowing that, um, he's got our best intention.

  Uh, no, that's not the right word. He's got how, um, he's got what's good for us. Always got what's good for us.

  Anna Kettle: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And um, and then he got a little bit onto the whole theme of suffering, which is, I know we've looked at before in Crowd Church, and it's a huge subject on its own, isn't it? So I don't wanna get

  too like down that track, but also there, there were some incredible points on that around, um, like, yeah, that whole thing of like, sometimes that argument around, oh, how can God be for me and love me you know, if, if there's still suffering in the world and how that can kind of, um, So suffering can be used as an argument, can't it?

  Sometimes, and I'm sure you've heard it as well, Dan, from people that like God be real or true or really love me if this is happening. And then like, what did you think about that bit? That, that was quite an interesting section, wasn't it?

  Dan Orange: Yeah, I think it's, um, it is the argument, isn't it? That we, that, well, if God created suffering, then what kind of God is that, that we want to serve? But he's, he's created the, um, free will and that choice, but even in, even in suffering, even when things are really hard, and I mean, they had it hard in the early church. They, they lived out, um, stuff that we, in the west especially, we often just read about, don't we?

  Um, they, they really did suffer and Jesus suffered, but ultimately, um, we've got that assurance that we can, we can be with him.

  Anna Kettle: Yeah. Yeah, that's right. It's um, It's that thing of, yeah, free choice, but it's a bit of, you know, if Jesus is as good as he says he is and he showed himself to be, it's a bit of a no-brainer, isn't it?

  Yeah. It's like, why wouldn't you follow that kind of king? Uh, you know, I, it's interesting cuz I've been watching, I dunno if probably half the world has on the other half the world is avoiding it, but they're like Meghan and Harry sort of debacle at the moment, but I think the thing that kind of I take, um, I mean, I'm not gonna get into it, but like, the thing that sort of strikes me about listening to this talk tonight is that even kings who are trying to be the best father as they can be, like the current king King Charles, and, you know, he's still fallen out with Harry, his son, which is, you know, whatever you think of them both, it's incredibly sad.

  That's been this breakdown of relationship and, um, you know, he's, he's always says like, uh, his dad says, my darling boy, and he clearly loves him and is for him. And wants to do good by him. And yet the accusation of Harry is that he hasn't done good by him. And actually quite often he's briefed the press against him and his, not necessarily him personally, but his team have briefed against him and in the media.

  And so it's like even kings, you know, the are the best kings that you. You know, the best, the best kind of even kings that are trying to do the best by their own families and, um, yeah trying to be the best that they can be get it so wrong, don't they? And, and yet this king that we're talking about really is.

  Perfect. Yeah, and that's mind blowing. And I, I was just thinking about it in line of, you know, even the best efforts of human kings just falls so far short, doesn't it? They just, yeah. Doesn't meet the mark. It's not the kind of king you can get behind a hundred percent. Yeah. Um, think I would give everything for that, but this king.

  And his kingdom is totally different and it is something you can get behind cuz it is wholly good and wholly perfect. Wholly worthwhile. Yeah. And um, yeah, I, I just, that was kind of in the back of my mind when I was like listening to Matt tonight. It's like, oh gosh. Yeah. It's so different to, in the best attempts in our, in our human world, this kingdom of God is a whole other thing.

  Dan Orange: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. . Mm. I think the, the last thing I've written down here is, um, what's my role? Where, Jesus says come be part of this kingdom. Um, and what's our role in that kingdom? And I've been talking to people today and also, um, just talking with my son Luke, and he, he's really good at puzzles.

  He's like, loves doing Rubik's Cube. He can do that in, in seconds. I, it's like, it's mind blowing.

  Anna Kettle: It's very amazing. I've seen one, I've seen one.

  Yeah. Very. Everyone talks about Luke if he gets a chance, he's like

  Dan Orange: brilliant, but sometimes he gets frustrated cause he can't do things. And um, I was talking to a friend of mine today and saying, it's not about what we can do, it's about who God's made us to be.

  if it's who we are in him, doesn't matter our skills or our lack of skills in certain things. Um, again, he, he's a king that's got a, uh, a role for us and he's a king that's got, um, a perfect plan for us and we can, again, we can rest in that, can't we? That in him is our identity and in this kingdom is our, in our identity as well.

  Anna Kettle: Mm-hmm. . . Yeah. I, I love, I love that. That's a really good point. It's like, , you know, our lack is like filled by him, isn't it? Yeah. If he's called you to do something, um, it's, you know, it's not a case of like, do I have what it takes? It's a case of obedience. Um, yeah. That he'll give you the tools that you need to do what he's asking of you.

  Yeah. So, , it is just a question of obedience, isn't it? And that everything else that you need to do, it will fall into place because I mean, how can it not when the king has all of the resources under heaven? Yeah. You know, in his hands and, um, yeah. Everything that you could need. So, yeah.

  Dan Orange: I mean, that would be a bad king, wouldn't it?

  If he said, come into my kingdom, but I've got nothing for you to do. You know? Yeah. You know, there's, there's no place for you. I'll come in. No. Yes. Yeah. No role, no. Um, purpose. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. That's an exciting thing to find. Um, find purpose and find, yeah. Um, hear his voice for what he's got for us as individuals.

  Anna Kettle: Do you think that's kind of, Something that slowly unravels. Do you think it's something that people find all in one go or like can be a bit a faith? Like how do you think people find that purpose? Yeah, that sense of, like they have a call?

  Dan Orange: I don't, I dunno, I mean, you can read books and hear people that have had a, you know, a word from God or something massive has transformed their life and they've gone and done that.

  And I think, wow, that was amazing. Um, but for me it hasn't been that, it's just been a, a steady. . Um, okay. What God, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to go here? Do you want to speak to that person? Um, mm-hmm. , which job should I take? Mm-hmm. you know, I, I'd give it to you. I'll take this job. Oh, that, that person that I can be good friends with them.

  I can tell them about you. Um, that's what it's been for me. It's just been a lot of series of, of questions and, answers,

  like

  Anna Kettle: small steps. Yeah, I think, I think my experience is fairly similar and you know, I do have friends who'v had major revelations from God very quickly or suddenly or you know, the whole, they've come, come to know God and their whole life has changed overnight.

  And you know, I know both you and I have grown up in Christian families, haven't we? So that's been more of a, I guess it figures, but I think a lot of people I speak to that that's the same thing that mm-hmm, it's been a slow discovering of who you are and what you're gifted at and what, how God's made you to work.

  Um, how your, your sort of mind and you know, how you tick as a person really, and what. , you know, what kind of, um, you're good at and how you can use the resources and maybe God getting your attention or giving your heart for a certain person or group of people or issue. And then just sort of following that and seeing where it takes you, I think.

  Yeah. . That's been very much my experience. Like, oh, you know, I feel really moved about this issue. And then God's saying, so what are you gonna do about it? It's like, oh, I don't know. Yeah. And then maybe it's like, well I guess I could stop by just doing this little thing. Like just find out a bit more online and then maybe I could, I dunno, give a few hours of my week to like you know.

  do something practical for this group of people or this individual or Yeah, it can be really big or it can be really small, can't it? Um, yeah, but that's always been my sort of experience too. That's, I think that's often how good works though not entirely as you say. Yeah.

  Dan Orange: Yeah, exactly. Um, I think we've almost come to our time.

  Yeah. So, um, next week, um, as in the comments have popped up, um, Sharon's gonna speak on the Holy Spirit, so that'll be really good. Looking forward to that.

  Anna Kettle: Yeah, that'll be a good one. I'm looking forward to as well.

  Dan Orange: Yeah, so I think we will say goodnight .

  Anna Kettle: Yeah, enjoyed tonight. It's been good chatting to you Dan. And, um, thanks everyone for, for turning up.

  Otherwise it'd just be the two of us talking to each other, wouldn't it?

  Dan Orange: Yes. In different houses. Yes. Thanks for listening, um, live and, and listening back at other times. And again, if you've got any questions, just fire them in. Please do.

  Anna Kettle: Yeah, definitely.

  Dan Orange: Thanks very much.

  Anna Kettle: See you soon everyone. Take care.

  Matt Edmundson: Thank you so much for joining us here on Crowd Church.

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