Kingdom Connections in Isolating Times
As part of the C3 Church Global team and C3 SYD Executive, Mark Kelsey is passionate about helping inspire the movement towards the C3 Vision of seeing a million worshippers in C3 congregations across the globe. Focused on discipling future leaders, Mark and his wife Bernie run the C3 Xpress Course throughout our global regions. Mark also teaches at C3 College, lecturing in Advanced Leadership and Church Culture & Planting.
These are certainly not normal days. I would imagine that 2020 will go down in history as one of the most unusual and challenging years ever. In Australia, it began with some of the nation’s most devastating bushfires. Then a global pandemic struck the world, infected millions and has seen the loss of many lives. Add in the very real issues of racial inequality and the immense political and ideological tension around the world, and it all adds up to a very intense year!
There is one very important reality we need to be reminded of though…God is unsurprised. Even though we are unable to see most of the curve balls that life throws at us, the Lord sees it all and more importantly, He sees it coming.
God has prepared things in advance that will help us navigate our way through every challenge. He has prepared us with his greatest gift - the Gospel. The Gospel is all we need for a new life of connection with God, for Christ-centred relationships and for Kingdom purpose and fulfilment.
In this season where the way we relate to one another is being tested more than ever before, The Gospel holds the answers to all of life’s current relational challenges and opportunities.
If this season is anything, it is an opportunity to shift from busy lives to reconnected lives
5 principles from the Gospel to help us to shape relationships with Kingdom purpose:
Reconciled to Others
The work of the cross starts with our reconnection to God through Christ. His righteousness now becomes ours. The second part of the work of the cross is the breaking down of the wall of hostility between us and others. Jesus, through the cross, has created one new humanity!
No longer does there need to be hatred and conflict between previously opposing groups in society. The polarising of cultures, genders and classes now have a solution in Christ. The cross dealt with division, hostility and unforgiveness. That is a wonderful reminder when it often seems that the whole world is polarised.
2. Regarding Others
There were 613 Old Testament laws, most of which were too difficult or complex to follow. Jesus simplifies it to two simple commands: essentially, ‘love God and love others’. The Gospel doesn’t complicate life with untenable laws and regulations. Jesus came to fulfil the law so we can now live a life with others from the heart with two simple commands. It’s through these commands that we regard others.
3. Relating to Others
There is a core Kingdom culture that undergirds all relationships and sets us up to build healthy relational connections. The way to achieve this is through humility; valuing others above ourselves.
Of course, Jesus was the prime example of this, exercising servant-hearted leadership, humbling himself even to the point of death. He wasn’t grasping onto his divinity as a way of making himself superior to others (even though he is God and even though he is far superior).
4. Releasing Others
One of the key aspects of the Gospel is its empowerment of people. Once we are saved by grace, we are then released into our calling. Our role with others is to see people and begin to disciple them into their own calling.
In Luke 4, we see Jesus declares his mission and message and, in many ways, starts the work of public ministry. Then straight away in Luke 5, Jesus begins seeing and including others in the mission.
It’s this seeing and including of others that is often a key element missing in our relating to others.
5. Reaching Others
The future ‘others’ that we reach are outside of our current experience. Often, we build safety and security around our Christian practices and boundaries. Sometimes God helps us to break down these walls because he wants more ‘others’ to be reached.
This current season has forced us to rediscover community outside of our physical gatherings. It has re-opened our eyes to our community and God’s heart for people
The future ‘others’ are over the wall of our current experience