Citizens of the Kingdom Pray for & dismiss children to Sunday School Take 30 seconds and greet someone next to you. Who are we? Where are we going?

Connect Who are we? Where are we going? Who are we? Our identity is not something that we choose, but rather something that we receive. It’s vital that we understand where we receive it from. We are new creations: Resurrection Power & Victorious Power We are justified: No longer guilty; But righteous Those with a certain hope: Life after death. What we do in this life matters. We are a resurrection people! Where are we going? Our Purpose flows out of our identity. New Commissions: Renewal of all things Overcoming corruption, decay and death Filling the whole cosmos with Jesus’ love, grace, power and glory. It means? Going straight from worshipping in the sanctuary to… Our schools, so there will no longer be child hunger & bullying. Our hospitals, so that there will no longer be sick people. Our prisons, so that there will no longer be any prisoners. Our homes, so that broken families will no longer exist. Our governments, so that laws are made to protect the weak and vulnerable Our businesses, so that people are a greater priority than profit.

On what foundation, are you building? This series, let’s continue to build on a resurrection foundation. We’re going to look to the book of Ephesians for answers to these questions.

Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Who are we? In relation to each member of the Trinity. Visual: Three- Dimensional Cube.

Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Family Members Body of Christ Bride of Christ Temple of the Holy Spirit Soldiers of the Spirit Our identity in relation to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Family Members Body of Christ Bride of Christ Temple of the Holy Spirit Soldiers of the Spirit Inclusive Relational Incarnational Eschatological Charismatic Missional Each aspect of our identity expresses itself in a fundamental attribute of who we are! Inclusive- people who wouldn’t fit together, joined in functional unity Relational- belong to a family. Contributor not consumer. Incarnational- here and now expression of Jesus and His authority. Eschatological- pointing to the future while representing it. Charismatic- filled with the Spirit because His presence, power and glory fill His temple. Missional- “Apostolic”- a sent people into a spiritual battle. Mission is who we are, not a project that we do (e.g. God is love, God is good).

Who are we? Father Son Holy Spirit Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Family Members Body of Christ Bride of Christ Temple of the Holy Spirit Soldiers of the Spirit Inclusive Relational Incarnational Eschatological Charismatic Missional Belonging Serving Now Not Yet Filling Sending Each attribute leads us also to an emphasis for FICF. A healthy FICF, should be expressing all these attributes and emphases in Eagan, Dakota County and Beyond.

Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Who are we? Father Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom Inclusive Belonging This morning, we will focus on the fact that we are “fellow citizens of God’s Kingdom”.

Ephesians 2:11-22 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  2:1-3= Dead in our sins and trespasses 2:4-10= Personal Salvation in Christ through God’s mercy and grace. We’re now going to pick it up in verse 11 and see the marvelous mystery that God is building.

Ephesians 2:11-22 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 

Ephesians 2:11-22 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Who are we? Who are we? Fellow Citizens of God’s Kingdom.

How do we know if we’re living in our identity How do we know if we’re living in our identity? By evaluating where we’re going. [Purpose flows out of our identity] [Matthew 7. Our authenticity will be revealed by our fruit]

Where are we going? 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world (2:11-12). Where are we going? On a journey that creates a church family that is fundamentally inclusive and fosters a sense of belonging. Why? Because the gospel brings radical inclusion to the excluded: Abrahamic covenantal oath sign= circumcision. The uncircumcised were: Separated Alienated Strangers Hopeless

Where are we going? “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ…who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two…thereby killing the hostility” (2:13-16) No longer the historical distinction between Jew and Gentile. All believers, regardless of their ethnic group or national background, are fellow citizens with God’s people.

How do we achieve this? Equal Access Equal Status For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father (2:18) Equal Status that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two (2:15) Primary Allegiance to Christ How do we achieve this? Equal access God doesn’t show some of His sons or daughters favoritism. Do you believe that you have direct access to your heavenly Father or do you rely on others to draw you close to Him? Equal status The world tries to divide people into groups. Hierarchy. The CEO is just as valuable as the toilet cleaner. Mother Teresa: “Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are”. Matthew 25:35-36. But not equal role- our roles are nor interchangeable or equivalent. Does our church family look like the community of Eagan? Primary Allegiance to Christ We’re no longer defined by belonging to a particular country or even supporting a football team!

How do we achieve this? Equal Access Equal Status For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father (2:18) Equal Status that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two (2:15) Primary Allegiance to Christ Our priority switches from a “patriotic agenda” to a “kingdom agenda” that aims to see the name of Jesus Christ affirmed as great by every heart, by every lip, by every knee in all of creation. Are our priorities or aspirations the same or different from those who are not citizens of the Kingdom of God?