The Kingdom

Dear brothers and sisters, What would it look like for us as a church to be strongly engaged in our local community? When all church members provided their feedback on future desires last year, one of the key things we wanted to see in 2025 was community engagement, with an emphasis on reaching out to the community. During his earthly ministry Jesus most common area of recorded teaching is on the topic of the kingdom of God.Thinking about his teaching on the kingdom, several images spring instantly to mind. The first is that the kingdom starts small, but grows and spreads; we see this in the parable of the mustard seed, a tiny seed that grows into a large plant, and ultimately a tree so large the birds can perch in its branches. The kingdom is of inestimable value, it is worth giving up everything for; Jesus shows us this as a man sells all he owns to buy a pearl of great price. The kingdom has an outward focus; the shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go and find the 1 that is lost, and again, the prodigal son who is wasteful, wayward and lost is celebrated and welcomed back on his return, and treated like family again. The images go on and on, but let’s reflect on these three for a moment. If we consider Jesus’ teaching, then perhaps it helps us see that to be a church that focuses on community en-gagement requires us to step out of our comfort zones. Not praised is the son who stays home and grumbles “what about me?” to his generous and loving father. The parable doesn’t focus on the 99 sheep say “well we only lost 1%”. The mustard seed does grow large. The kingdom is outward focussed, and part of that growth is due to Jesus love for the lost - which we all once were. But in his mercy he redeems us, and entrusts us with his precious message to take to the world, specifically for us, to the communities in which we live. Baulkham Hills and surrounds.Let us be thoughtful of those around us, and prayerful. Choose a person, pray for them that they might come to know Jesus, that you might have a chance to share the good news of God’s love, and that you might be brave to invite them to church this year. In Christ’s Love, Craig Olliffe Senior minister