Language of the Kingdom

As some of you know, Sarah and I had the privilege of living abroad for 3 years. We were based in the southern part of England, but lived two months in Poland and two months in China as well. One thing we learned in living abroad is that you have to approach a new culture as a learner, not a teacher. This approach helps keep you open-minded so that you can experience the lifestyle of an entirely different group of people. 

One of my favorite parts of being in a new culture is trying new foods, hearing new music, and experiencing how other’s live. However, culture shock is a very real and terrifying thing. When you are living outside of your comfort zone, you realize how desperate you become for something familiar. When you’re craving familiarity, even the brilliant red and yellow glow of the “golden arches” can help you feel a little more at peace inside. 

Another reality to living in another culture is that you have to learn their many cultural nuances. Taking the time to understand language, etiquette, and values all play a part in learning how to love people well. For instance, most Americans are very comfortable with small talk and find it easy to start a conversation with a complete stranger. However, to make small talk in England is not a common practice and can make a Brit feel quite uncomfortable. As you learn your new culture, you learn to value what they value and see the world as they see it. 

The Kingdom of God is no different. When we become followers of Jesus, we become citizens of heaven. Yet, much like living in a new culture, finding our way around our new  kingdom community can be confusing and even scary at times. However, there is a request the followers of Jesus made to Him that I am forever grateful is in the Bible: 

“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’” - Luke 11:1 (ESV)

Teach us to pray. What a request. There are few things as intimate as prayer. What Jesus gave to his disciples in the following passages became known as The Lord’s Prayer. And just like with a new culture, we are to be learners. The prayer Jesus was teaching His disciples, and by extension us, was a way for us to orient our hearts around what is important to Him. What we meditate on and what we deeply focus on become the very rhythm we live our lives by. 

As we come together to learn more about this over the weekend, I hope you will be praying that God would open your eyes and heart to everything He has for you. 

We will be singing We Won’t Stay Silent to start our worship set with to proclaim that we won’t be silent in our prayer life, nor in the lives of those around us about the love of Christ. We will then sing Great I Am to enthrone God in his rightful place in our hearts. We will end the worship set with This I Believe to remind ourselves of who we are in Christ.