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Exploring the Message of Jesus
A ragtag bunch of hilly-billy fishermen were once under the heel of the mightiest military force in history, the all-conquering Roman Empire. Yet today, we call our sons Peter, James and John … and our dogs, Caesar, Brutus and Nero.
The Message of Jesus turned the early followers of Jesus into a collective flood of self-giving love and good deeds that transformed their world.
In contrast, despite well over two billion adherents, Christendom makes little impact in our world today. It may even be argued that what little impact we do have is negative.
This website explores the Message of Jesus attempting…
- to focus on the core aspects of Jesus’ revelation, cutting out the religious clutter in which it is so often enshrouded
- to probe areas largely assumed off limits by religion
My hopes? To encourage followers of Jesus to partner with Him in His restoration plan for our world.
We do so fuelled by the unblushing promises of God. For the God of the rainbow and the God of the cross is well able to perfect that which concerns us.
The Message of Jesus
The Message of Jesus is captured in the phrase, the Gospel of the Kingdom—an all-encompassing message that informs our view of God, shapes our identity and purpose, and governs our worldview.
It is the single most important “idea” to encounter and it catalyses a vibrant, joyful, lifelong pursuit of seeking, learning, probing and exploring.
This three-part article series covers the core aspects of the Message of Jesus and sets the groundwork for all that we discuss on this platform.
I highly recommend reading all three articles before exploring the other articles of this site.
God’s Character
Revealing God’s nature was central to the Message of Jesus. Jesus peeled back the curtain of heaven to re-reveal the Father-heart of God. In so doing, He restored humanity to God’s loving fatherhood.
Personal Identity
Reuniting humanity to the Father, the Message of Jesus heals our broken identity, restoring us as children of God. Loved by the Father, we are both secure and significant.
God’s Purpose
Restored to the Father as His children, the Message of Jesus restores humanity’s destiny as custodians of creation. We’re commissioned to partner with Jesus in His restoration plan for the earth.
Kingdom Perspectives
In this articles series, we consider how the Message of Jesus shapes and informs our perspective on a number of vital subjects.
Generous Orthodoxy
The Message of Jesus governs how we relate to other believers.
We have far more in common with other believers than what we don’t. And what we have in common has far greater substance than what doesn’t.
Unbounded Love
The Message of Jesus governs how we relate to all people.
Jesus smashed the bounds of family, communal and national love, modelling a boundless love that includes everyone: our neighbour, the stranger and our enemy.
Unto Caesar
The Message of Jesus governs how we relate to government.
As citizens of a higher domain, we remain grounded in this domain through humility and servanthood, living lives of unimpeachable integrity.
Hebrew Values
The Message of Jesus governs how we relate to reality.
The Western world is largely based on a Greek mindset. In contrast, the Bible resonates with Hebrew values: God created a people group embodying His worldview.
Heavenly Hope
The Message of Jesus governs how we relate to this present age.
Jesus’ message is pregnant with hope—a hope that informs how we live in this present age, as we anticipate His coming and the age to come.
Good Deeds
The Message of Jesus governs our witness to the nations.
Jesus taught that good works glorify the Father. Without good deeds in championing the marginalised of society, we have no witness to the nations and the Gospel appears barren.
Kingdom Challenges
Jesus rattled cages. He challenged underlying assumptions. He took a wrecking ball to misguided traditions and teachings. He often said, “You have heard it said, but I say to you” (Matthew 5:21, 27, 33, 38, 43).
What would He challenge in our thinking today? The below articles tackle some of these topics.
Religion Free
The Message of Jesus transcends Religion.
Jesus did not come to start a new religion (or revive an old one). In fact, He opposed religion in all its guises, confronting it directly and explicitly whenever and wherever it surfaced.
Empire Exposed
The Message of Jesus transcends Empire.
Jesus turned the Empire on its head because He transcended it. Too often, however, our approach remains framed by the Empire. Solutions to the system cannot come from the system itself.
Hopeful Eschatology
The Message of Jesus offers hope.
Jesus’ Message focuses on the advancing Kingdom of God as the pivotal factor in a hopeful eschatology. Thus, it imparts faith, not fear—stirring catalytic hope, not fatalistic despair.
Literal Literature
The Message of Jesus is an incarnational message.
Jesus is the living word, and the God-breathed Scriptures resonate with the Story of God. A rational, literal approach misses the literary beauty of the Scriptures and its animating power.
New articles will be added to this series in time. Subscribe to stay in the loop.
Kingdom Ecclesiology
Church as we know it today is very different from church as it was in the first century. Is this just an inevitable response to keeping up with the times or have we lost some of the dynamics that made the early church such a transformative force in society?
In these articles, we look at the dynamics that appear to be missing in our modern version of church.
Kingdom Communities
The Message of Jesus envisions life-giving community.
In this article, we look at the concept of the ekklesia and explore what it means to be a Kingdom community (aka “church in the house”, simple church, organic church, micro church, missional church, small groups)—a community that’s alive in the Spirit, in love with one another and on mission in their world.
Kingdom Alignment
The Message of Jesus envisions a Kingdom-advancing ekklesia.
In this article, we look at the subject of Biblical authority and how it works within Jesus’ vision of an advancing Kingdom-shaped ekklesia. We also explore the concept of apostolic alignment, the problems of hierarchical leadership, the role of the apostle and the elder, and how apostolic teams function.
Kingdom Mission
The Message of Jesus envisions a transformed world.
In this article, we look at the importance of a missional DNA for Kingdom communities and explore various subjects related to becoming a mature Kingdom-advancing ekklesia such as training for reigning, the priesthood of all believers, financial giving and incarnational mission.
Messy Dogma
Words often get lost in translation as the translation process is fraught with many challenges. Grateful for the many translations that make the Scriptures accessible to us in contemporary English, we should also acknowledge the limitations of the translation process and point out where translation choices muddy the Biblical text.
What Does Dikaiosune Mean?
THE WORDS WE’VE FUDGED: RIGHTEOUSNESS
In this article, we look at the Greek word dikaiosune and explore how we’ve halved its meaning and cut the heart out of the word.
What Does Ekklesia Mean?
THE WORDS WE’VE FUDGED: CHURCH
In this article, we look at the Greek word ekklesia and explore why this word was translated “church” and the implications of such a translation.
What Does Aionios Mean?
THE WORDS WE’VE FUDGED: ETERNAL
In this article, we look at the Greek word aionios and explore the implications of incorrectly translating this word “eternal”.
What Does Gehenna Mean?
THE WORDS WE’VE FUDGED: HELL
In this article, we look at the word Gehenna, how the pagan words, Hell and Hades became associated with it, and explore the implications to our views on post-mortem judgement.
Paul Vs. Jesus
CHRISTENDOM’S IDOLISATION OF PAUL
In this article, we discuss the Paul vs. Jesus tension, consider how the tension arose, why it’s so unnecessary, and suggest a better way forward.
Topical Articles
It’s my conviction that a church-focused gospel has kept Christendom largely focused on matters of religion. In contrast, the Gospel of the Kingdom compels us to partner with Jesus in upgrading our world.
In these articles, we focus on topics that might be construed as ‘secular matters’ to a religious mind. In doing so, we seek to discover where God is at work in humanity today and partner with Him in restoring all creation.
These are either past or present subjects that Christendom has rejected or neglected (when it should have led the way) … or present and future subjects that followers of Jesus ought to now address proactively.
Women in Ministry & Leadership
WOMEN & MEN: GOD’S ORIGINAL INTENT
In this article, we look at God’s intent for men and women, both His original design and what the New Testament teaches us about the equality of the sexes.
We also tackle how Christendom has by and large handled the issue and consider our response today.
Human Hierarchy & Human Rights
PATRIARCHY, FEMINISM & GENDER EQUALITY
In this article, we discuss patriarchy and feminism in the broader context of human hierarchies and human rights.
God created human beings with dignity and self-sovereignty and justice is one of the core themes of the Scriptures. Jesus confronted systemic injustice and advocated for every individual.
Gender: Social Construct or Biological Fact?
MOVING THROUGH CONFLICT TO BUILD A HUMANE SOCIETY
In this article, we discuss the word ‘gender’ and how it has evolved over time to become both a helpful and divisive term.
We appeal to each camp and offer suggestions towards proactive conversations and humane solutions.
Gender: Biology, Society or Identity?
WITH TAYLOR & JAMIE
Join two siblings, 17-year-old Taylor and 23-year-old Jamie, as they discuss what gender means. Does it refer to biological sex, a social construct or an innate sense of personal identity?
New articles will be added to this series in time. Subscribe to stay in the loop.
Encounters with Jesus
[BLOG ARTICLES]
Explore topics that arise in encounters with Jesus through the Gospels.
The Time Jesus Launched a New Morality
Remember the time Jesus called out self-serving religion and inaugurated a new way of living based on a new love-defined morality?
The Time Jesus Dodged the Culture Wars
Remember the time Jesus dodged the culture wars of His day? How He ingeniously served the marginalised and oppressed without becoming co-opted by any one faction?
The Time Jesus Spoke about Birds and the Tree
Remember the time Jesus spoke about the birds and the tree? When Jesus planted the idea of the inclusive nature of the Kingdom of God?
The Time Jesus Saw a Man Blind from Birth
Remember the time Jesus saw the man blind from birth? Yes, the time get an inside peep into the prevailing religious perspective of the day.
The Time Jesus Poked the Belly of the Beast
Remember the time Jesus spoke in a synagogue, and poked the belly of the beast that often lurks under polite niceties and religious smiles?
The Time Jesus Thrilled an All-Around Bad Guy
Remember the time Jesus hung out with that dirty rotten scoundrel and flipped the world upside down?
The Time Jesus Offended an All-Around Good Guy
Remember the time Jesus offended a man with a glowing CV and a sterling track record for good behaviour?
The Time Jesus Confronted Legalistic Religion
Remember the time Jesus confronted religion? “Which time?” you ask. And you’re right. There were so many times.
The Time Jesus Didn’t Talk About Heaven
Remember the time Jesus didn’t talk about heaven? He didn’t talk much about the subject directly, but I’m referring to the time we all assume He did.
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