When an evangelical Christian is asked to summarise the message of the Bible they often turn to John’s Gospel: ‘For God so loved the world…’. It is a compelling verse because it expresses the need for a personal response to Christ as our Saviour.
But this is not the only crystalline expression of God’s saving purpose in human history. In the prayer He taught us, Jesus gives us another: ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ Jesus is not only our Saviour; He also is our king. His purpose is to establish God’s rule and reign on earth. Following Jesus means that you are part of this movement.
But how are the followers of Jesus to bring about God’s rule and reign on earth?
Finding a counsellor: Do they have to be a Christian?
As a pastor, when I feel that someone is a bit stuck, I often refer people to a friend who …