Packer on Church & Kingdom

The theme of the kingdom of God runs through both Testaments, focusing God’s purpose for world history. In Old Testament times God declared that he would exercise his kingship (his sovereignty, Dan. 4:34-35) by setting up his kingdom (his rule or reign over people’s lives and circumstances) under his chosen king (the Davidic Messiah, Isa. 9:6-7) in a golden age of blessing. This kingdom came with Jesus the Messiah as a worldwide relational reality, existing wherever the lordship of Jesus is acknowledged in repentance, faith, and new obedience. Jesus, the Spirit-anointed, Spirit-filled ruler-designate (Luke 3:21-22; 4:1, 14, 18-21, 32-36, 41), died, rose, ascended, and is now enthroned in heaven as ruler over all things (Matt. 28:18; Col. 1:13), King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 17:14; 19:16). The golden age of blessing is an era of present spiritual benefit (salvation from sin and fellowship with God) leading to a future state of unmixed joy in a reconstructed universe. The kingdom is present in its beginnings though future in its fullness; in one sense it is here already, but in the richest sense it is still to come (Luke 11:20; 16:16; 17:21; 22:16, 18, 29-30).

The kingdom came as not only mercy but also judgment, just as John the Baptist, its forerunner, had said it would (Matt. 3:1-12). Those who obediently received Jesus’ Word and put their destiny in his hands found mercy, while the Jewish leadership, which would not do this, was judged. Strictly speaking, the Jewish leaders were self-judged, for they chose to live in darkness by retreating from the Savior (John 3:17-20).

The task of the church is to make the invisible kingdom visible through faithful Christian living and witness-bearing. The gospel of Christ is still the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23; 24:14; Acts 20:25; 28:23, 31), the good news of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit through entering a disciple’s relationship to the living Lord (Rom. 14:17). The church must make its message credible by manifesting the reality of kingdom life.

The coming of the kingdom meant a new stage in God’s redemptive-historical program. The Messiah arrived, redeemed, and withdrew to his throne with a promise that he would come again. All that was typical, temporary, and imperfect in the God-given arrangements for Israel’s communion with himself became a thing of the past. God’s Israel, Abraham’s seed, was redefined as the company of believers in Jesus (Gal. 3:16, 26-29). The Spirit was poured out, and a new way of life, namely life in Christ and with Christ, became a reality of this world. Thus the new internationalism of global church fellowship and global evangelism was born (Eph. 2:11-18; 3:6, 14-15; Rev. 5:9-10; 7:9; Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 1:28-29). Although these were great changes, none of them meant that a new set of moral standards emerged, as is sometimes supposed. The moral law for Christians, the law of God’s present kingdom, is the law found in the Ten Commandments and the prophets, now applied to the new situation. Jesus has not abolished that law but has merely filled out its meaning (Matt. 5:17-48).

Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)

is hosting a lunch for new students on August 21! Held at the home of campus minister Steve Lammers, 3200 NW 16th ave. Rides will be available for anyone who wants to come. Steve can be reached at 352-281-0973

Visit RUF @ UF

August 14  2 options, a class on 1st & 2nd Peter, a workshop on personal evangelism
August 21  2 options, a class on 1st & 2nd Peter, a workshop on personal evangelism

August 28 (Vision Awareness Weekend) Six different ministry groups give updates and share vision.  You’ll choose 2 0f 6 presentations offered around the building

September 4  One option: Folks from our church who did summer mission trips around the globe will tell their stories

September 11  5 classes kickoff (Next Step Seminar, College & Crossroads, Parenting, et al)

“This is the true foundation of the Church’s peace, blessedness, and glory forever. Until the rock was smitten, the stream was pent up and man could do nothing. What human hand could bring forth water from a flinty rock? And so, we may ask, what human righteousness could afford a warrant for opening the floodgates of Divine love? This is the true way in which to test a man’s competency. He could not, by his doings, his sayings, or his feelings, furnish a ground for the mission of the Holy Spirit. Let him be or do what he may, he could not do this. But, thank God, it is done; Christ has finished the work; the True Rock has been smitten, and the refreshing stream has issued forth, so that thirsty souls may drink. ‘The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life’, says Christ. “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink’…It was when the Rock of ages was cleft by the hand of God, that the floodgates of eternal love were thrown wide open and perishing sinners were invited to drink abundantly, drink deeply and drink freely”.

–C. Macintosh

This post will be a work in progress in the coming days, ultimately resulting (perhaps) in a section of the website.

1.) What is Communion/Lord’s Supper/Eucharist?
(Links to Catechisms and WSC, Packer Article, et al)

2.) How do I prepare my heart for communion?
(Links to various helps)

3.) When do we celebrate communion?
It is our current practice to participate in Holy Communion in our worship services on the  first Sunday of each month.

4.) How do we “do” communion at Christ Community?
A portion of this answer is who serves communion.  We make a distinction between administering communion and serving (or distributing) communion.  Administration of communion is reserved for those holding the office of Teaching Elder (i.e. ministers of the gospel).

Serving at Christ Community is done by the members of the church.

The elders maintain their clear leadership and oversight by training and overseeing the servers.

If you would like to be a part of the Communion Serving Team, come out to the training held August 20 at 8:30am.  We will meet in the sanctuary.