Pastor Ken Wagener

My Goal Today  To persuade you…  What Jesus “brings” is deeper higher wider richer than we can “ask or imagine”

Recognize This?  “devoted to academic excellence and, above all, to sharing and modeling the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all aspects of its ministry.”

Recognize This?  “devoted to…above all, sharing and modeling the Gospel of Jesus Christ…

St. Peter Mission Statement to glorify God by making and growing disciples of Jesus Christ who Worship God Know Him and learn His ways Live as Christians in our callings Witness in our places of influence

In everything God glorified through Jesus Christ. Vision Statement disciples and members, St. Peter

Mission Statement  “A powerful document or statement that expresses your personal sense of purpose and meaning in life;  It acts as a governing constitution by which you evaluate decisions and choose behaviors.”

Mission Statement Benefits  Encourages us to think deeply about our life  Helps us examine our innermost thoughts and feelings  Clarifies what is really important to us  Expands our perspective

 Provides direction and commitment to values  Enables us to make daily progress toward long-term goals  Provides the first or mental creation of our desired results… Mission Statement Benefits

Mission Statement  Every mission statement answers two basic questions: 1. What am I about? 2. Upon what principles do I operate my life?

Jesus’ Mission Statement What would Jesus have included in His Mission Statement?

Jesus’ Mission Statement ? save make new redeem liberate rescue other?

My passion…  To understand the fullness of Jesus’ mission

Language and Imagery

Past Kingdom Future Now

Old Testament Exodus 19 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt… 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'

Old Testament 2 Samuel 5  And the LORD said to David, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' “  12 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

Past Kingdom God’s

Gospels Mark 1  14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Gospels Matthew 4  23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Gospels Matthew 6  33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Now Kingdom God’s

Jesus: A King with a Kingdom  What is Jesus’ Kingdom?  And what does He do in His Kingdom?

LCMS Website  Q. What does Jesus mean by the kingdom of God? Example: Seek first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). Jesus often used parables to picture the kingdom of God. Did He mean heaven?

LCMS Website  A. The kingdom of God is His ruling as King over the whole universe (kingdom of power, Ps.103:19 ), the church on earth (kingdom of grace, John 3:5 ), and the church and angels in heaven (kingdom of glory, 2 Timothy 4:18 ).

PowerGlory

LCMS Website  The kingdom of God centers in the King, Jesus Christ, and in the powers of grace, might and glory that are found in and go out from Him. Where He is, there the kingdom is, because there He exercises grace and power.

PowerGlory FutureAlways Now Grace

LCMS Website  "To seek His kingdom" is to desire more and more participation in the rule of the Father's grace in Christ, enjoying more and more the blessings (5:3) of that rule of grace which eventually becomes a rule of glory in heaven.

Kingdom  Jesus’ Kingdom is  An “Always” Reality (power)  A “Now” Reality (grace)  A “Future” Reality (glory)

Kingdom  Jesus’ Kingdom is a Now Reality

A Mission Statement ?  “To bring in the Kingdom  and rule in and through My followers.” -- Jesus Christ

Now

Being a King

What’s in your circle?

PowerGlory FutureAlways Now Grace

The Now Reality  How does Jesus want me… call me…  to live now?

Titus 2 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

Titus 2 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self- controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Titus 2 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self- controlled, upright and godly lives NOW,

Titus 2 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Titus 2 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus: Three motifs in His Teaching  He described moral living in terms of God’s reigning as king and His people’s duty as citizens to obey/serve the commands and teachings of God’s kingdom.

Jesus: Three motifs in His Teaching  He described moral living in terms of the obligations, loyalties, and privileges of children in the family headed by God as loving Father.

Jesus: Three motifs in His Teaching  He taught in terms of disciples following, imitating, and obeying/serving Him as a beloved teacher, mentor, and role model. The ESV Study Bible: Biblical Ethics, page 2535

Three “pictures” God’s reign over us our living under God. Daily obligations, loyalties, and privileges as we live in God’s “family.” Seeing Jesus as teacher, mentor, and role model for all our life.

Christian Character  “Those stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual believer’s life which determine his or her response regardless of circumstances…  and a pleasing to the Lord—the King!”

The Now Reality But now… really matters to our King.

Through us…

Living the Wholly Christian Life  “Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to live wholly and in God’s presence. But we can work to make things open for the workings of the Spirit in our individual and churchly lives.”

My Personal Mission Statement Equip, Enrich, Encourage

Thanks for the time and the privilege!