I had a quick lunch with Jonathan Pennington last week. Jonathan is a Professor at Southern Seminary in Louisville and one of our CCC IBS teachers. He’s just publishing his dissertation on the Kingdom in the Gospel of Matthew. He sent me to several of his lectures (here) and I’ve enjoyed listening to him.
His lecture on the Proclamation and the Kingdom particularly addresses our journey to balance proclamation and demonstration of the gospel. It’s one of the best summaries I’ve heard. Take some time to listen to it.
Jonathan suggests the following applications (let him clarify them). I list them only to suggest we think thru how we can incorporate these applications:
- We should adopt a Kingdom-focused theology and world-view.
- We must think about and proclaim the gospel broader than just our personal forgiveness of sins.
- We should be involved in and support social works and policy that reflect the realities of the coming Kingdom.
- We must realize that the Kingdom story is our story and we have a part to play.
- We must live, preach and act with the forward-looking hope of the Kingdom.
Also, many of you will be in CSU. Take advantage of the many seminars dealing with our good news/good deeds within Campus Crusade for Christ. The Good News Good Deeds Initiative (the team behind this website) is sponsoring two of the seminars:
Friday, 7/24
1:30-3:30
Building Movements Characterized by Passionate Proclamation and Compassionate Demonstration of the Gospel – Chip Scivicque, Ron Sanders, Jay Lorenzen, Charles Gilmer
Clark A103
CCC increasingly confronts the tensions of fulfilling our organizational mission alongside the Scripture’s call to engage in justice, advocacy, and compassion initiatives as expressions of the gospel. In a discussion format, we’ll explore these tensions and suggest practical ways of serving the God of justification and of justice.
and
Wed, 7/29
1:30-2:30
International Justice Mission – Larry Martin
Lory Student Center North Ballroom
Come hear about God’s heart for justice, and what the IJM is doing around the world to secure justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.
Lots of other great seminars available, many on similar topics.
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