In the world but not of it

This is paraphrase of what we find in Jn. 17:14-18. We are left in this world for a time to represent the King and His Kingdom until He returns for us. While we wait, He has sent us to his enemies as ambassadors, proclaiming to them the terms of peace.
As such, we live in two cultures - the Kingdom culture and the culture of this present age. The Kingdom culture is the one that is outlined for us in the scriptures and its influence upon us grows as we embrace the scriptures and allow it to shape our life patterns. We are a sampling of the great Kingdom culture which will eventually be the dominate one.

We are to cultivate the Kingdom culture and redeem the current culture
Cultivating the Kingdom culture means that we at Harvest are cultivating an environment that encourages and stimulates the values that the Bible speaks of: holiness, goodness, wholeness, faithfulness, masculinity, femininity, hard work, selflessness, etc. at the same time as working for the good of the city around us so that Christ’s love is seen. We are not merely promoting a moralism but loving our neighbors and our city with Christ’s love – making this a better place to live rather than preaching at it or against it like Jonah while hating the city. It means learning as much as possible, staying in touch with the culture enough to understand its yearning so that we can show them how Jesus meets the deepest longings of their hearts.

Praying about your part?

One month ago, I gave a challenge to pray for three things at our church...to care about God's glory about our private pursuits...for revival in our church and city...to discover what part God would have us as individuals play in His great work.

If we are to have an impact in our city for Jesus' sake, consider involvement in one of the following opportunities:

• Prayer at the abortion mill this Tuesday, Mar. 10, for 6 -7 AM.
• ECFA Foster Care
• Safe Families for Children - a temporary (3 months max.) pre-foster care program
• STUFF - Mentoring parents of children in the foster care program
  
• Rockford Rescue Mission - leading Bible studies and mentoring guys, serving meals, childcare for women.
• Tutoring Club - providing meals, becoming a tutor of elementary kids
• Children's Hunger Fund - delivering food to needy families on weekly basis
• Summer Outreach to Chicago (June 22-26) - Still room for more on the team
• Foreign Exchange Students - open your home to one
• Spring Clean - Helping our church neighbors in cleaning up their yards - date TBA.

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jer. 29:7)