a better future now
Exploring the Message of Jesus
Learning to Think Kingdomly in a religious and secular world littered with false finish lines and dead ends.
A ragtag bunch of hillbilly fishermen once lived under the heel of the mightiest military force in history—the all-conquering Roman Empire. Yet today, we name our sons Peter, James and John … and our dogs Caesar, Brutus and Nero.
The Message of Jesus turned those early followers into a flood of self-giving love and extravagant good deeds that transformed their world.
By contrast, despite well over two billion adherents, Christendom today has little real impact. Some might even argue that what influence we do have is more harmful than helpful.
Serving as a pastor, missionary, church planter and missional consultant for three decades across six countries, I have agonised over this dilemma.
For all the many good congregations and sincere believers, something is amiss. Same old, same old will not impact our generation.
I’m convinced we’ve obscured the Message of Jesus and settled for a gospel centred on salvation and the church, rather than the Kingdom. Through this website, I explore the vital themes needed to rediscover the Father’s heart and to reconnect with the Gospel of the Kingdom. In a phrase, to think Kingdomly.
My hopes? To encourage followers of Jesus to partner with Him in His restoration plan for our world.
And we do so, fuelled by the unblushing promises of God—for the God of the rainbow and the God of the cross is more than able to perfect all that concerns us.
Over the next few months, the content on this website will be moved over to CraigKirkby.com.
The Message of Jesus
Thinking Kingdomly
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 how to Think Kingdomly and 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 article 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
imparts divine 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
incarnates God’s revelation
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.
All-things Restoration
The Message of Jesus
contends for change
Jesus challenged the status quo of His day, contending for change, and His early followers did the same. In contrast, Christendom largely seeks to preserve the status quo due to its hankering for power and its fear of change.
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 define the word ekklesia and explore what it means to be a Kingdom community (aka “church in the house”, simple church, organic church, micro church, missional church)—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 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 Ptochos Mean?
THE WORDS WE’VE FUDGED:
POOR
In this article, we look at the Greek word ptochos and explore how we’ve overly spiritualised it, fudging the social implications of the Gospel.
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.
Unveiled Musings
In this series, we take a deep dive into the Hebrew Scriptures, exploring the worldview that shapes our understanding of God’s nature and His purpose for creation, and even how we read the New Testament.
Yahweh Unveiled:
Origin & Revelation
Ever wonder what Yahweh means? Where it came from? Was it just an ordinary Hebrew name of the time—like the ancient equivalent of Fred or Bob—or something far more profound?
Jesus Prefigured:
Transcendent & Immanent
God has a problem—a transcendence problem. The invisible God is utterly distinct from the created world. So, how does an unlimited God make Himself known to a limited humanity?
Genesis Unearthed:
Order & Image
To the modern mind, creation means making something out of nothing. To the ancient mind, creation meant bringing order out of chaos. Herein lies the tension in reading Genesis.
Powers Animated:
Stars & Monsters
What do rebel stars and terrifying monsters have to do with the Bible? Quite a lot, actually. They appear throughout the Scriptures as symbols of chaos in opposition to God’s good order.
Angels Exposed:
Messengers & Adversaries
When I say “angel”, you think … “wings,” right? To the modern mind, angels are winged human-like beings. But in the Bible, angels don’t have wings. Wait—what?
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 Equality in a
World of Hierarchy
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?
Encounters with Jesus
[BLOG ARTICLES]
Explore topics that arise in encounters with Jesus through the Gospels.
The Time Jesus Re‑revealed Yahweh
Remember the time Jesus used a Davidic psalm to reveal the Messiah’s identity and the relational heart of Yahweh.
The Time Jesus Self-Identified
Remember the time Jesus self-identified—not with spectacle or dominance, but in a way that brought rest to those crushed by religion?
The Time Jesus Asked For Help
Remember the time Jesus asked for help, restoring a broken and shunned woman who then brought transformation to the very city that broke and shunned her?
The Time Jesus Made It All About Himself
Remember the time Jesus made it all about Himself: how He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, inaugurating a New Covenant?
The Time Jesus Put His Body on the Line
Remember the time Jesus stepped between a guilty woman and a murderous mob with rocks in their hands, refusing to let her be turned into a prop for their theological stunt?
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? How He ingeniously served the marginalised without becoming co-opted by any one faction?
The Time Jesus Turned ‘Sinner’ into Invitation
Remember the time Jesus used the word “sinner” to describe recipients of grace rather than labels of condemnation?
The Time Jesus Spoke about Birds and the Tree
Remember the time Jesus spoke about the birds and the tree? When Jesus planted the seed of the inclusive nature of the Kingdom of God?
Leadership & Mentoring
[BLOG ARTICLES]
Explore subjects around church leadership and mentoring.
What is a Kingdom-shaped Church?
Our Gospel mandate is nothing less than the present (and increasing) Kingdom of God manifest on earth. Too often we’ve settled for false finish-lines captured […]
What is Wrong with Hierarchical Leadership?
What’s the problem with hierarchical leadership? Can I shoot from the hip? We’re not built for it. We’re not designed to handle positional power or […]
What is the Priesthood of all Believers?
A penny for your thoughts: Why did God take Israel out of Egypt? God heard the cry of His people and sent Moses to bring […]
What is an Elder?
What is the crying need of our age? When Jesus looked out at the masses, He was moved with compassion for them, “because they were […]
Where are the Fathers?
As recipients of the grace of God, our greatest pleasure lies in being a child of God. This is both an issue of identity and […]
Where are the Sons?
I am fully persuaded that this is one of the most profound questions of our day. “Where are the sons?” It seems that in almost […]
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