As followers of Jesus Christ, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God; however, we live in the kingdom of the world. In this sermon series, Greg uses the theme of "The Cross and the Sword" to address this dichotomy head on. First distinguishing the two kingdoms from each other (the first uses "power under" to influence; the latter uses "power over") then covering five dangers of fusing them. Powerful illustrations of how we are to be of the Kingdom of God but live in the kingdom of the world are used throughout, including examples of how to respond to controversial issues like abortion and homosexuality. (This series was the inspiration for Greg's book, "Myth of a Christian Nation".)
Taking America Back for God?04/18/04
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Speaker – Greg Boyd
- Topics – Controversial Issues, Kingdom of God, Politics, Power
- Greg questioned the slogan "Taking America Back for God" by discussing the differences between the kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of God. As Christians, we are to belong first and foremost to God's Kingdom, yet live under the governments of this world. How does that work?
The Difference Between the Two Kingdoms04/25/04
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Speaker – Greg Boyd
- Topics – Controversial Issues, Kingdom of God, Politics, Power
- The kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world are two very separate things. One uses the sword (power over) to influence people; the other uses love (power under). To understand this distinction is much easier than letting it affect the way we live. Greg continued to discuss the differences between these kingdoms and how we are to live within the distinction.
Abortion: A Kingdom of God Approach05/02/04
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Speaker – Greg Boyd
- Topics – Controversial Issues, Kingdom of God, Power
- The Cross and the Sword series continued with this sermon, which covered two more consequences of fusing the kingdom of God with the kingdom of the world. To illustrate the damage this can cause, Greg discussed using the Kingdom of God approach with abortion: don't limit ourselves to the options given by the kingdom of the world, but ascribe unsurpassable worth to others (mother and baby) at cost to ourselves. This is the unique mission of the Kingdom of God, and it's not easy.
Is the Church the Guardian of Social Morality?05/09/04
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Speaker – Greg Boyd
- Topics – Controversial Issues, Kingdom of God, Politics, Nationalism
- The Cross and the Sword series continued with this sermon, which covered the final effect of failing to distinguish between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world: we Christians begin to see ourselves as the “protectors” and “fixers” of social morality, as the moral standard bearers. But our only job as the body of Christ is to look like Jesus, the one sinless human, who stood in unity with others and met their needs. Greg also addressed the idea that America is a theocracy.
Be Thou My Vision05/23/04
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Speaker – Greg Boyd
- Topics – Controversial Issues, Kingdom of God, Power, Nationalism
- Human beings have deep and fallen passions that propel us into continual conflict with one another, the theme behind "Troy," the movie based on Homer's "Iliad." We are stuck in a pattern from which we can be freed ONLY by embracing the paradoxical kingdom of God. Christians are to imitate Christ, period; we are not called to create another version of the kingdom of the world.
In But Not of the World05/30/04
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Speaker – Greg Boyd
- Topics – Controversial Issues, Politics, Power, Nationalism
- In this sermon, Greg responded to the top five questions he received while preaching "The Cross and the Sword" series. Maybe you've been asking some of these questions: "What's the difference between turning the other cheek and letting yourself be abused?" and "Are you saying that the church is politically irrelevant?"