“Kingdom Vision” January 11, 2026

This Sunday begins a new sermon series titled Gospel Portraits: The Bible & The Mission of God. This series focuses on how we read the Bible (interpretation) to live as a church that participates in God’s mission in a manner that is both faithful to Jesus Christ and culturally relevant.

Some of you know that the material for this topic sprang from my Doctor of Ministry at Northern Seminary, which I then turned into a book: Gospel Portraits: Reading Scripture as Participants in the Mission of God, Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2022. I cannot cover everything in the book in a sermon series, and may also include some material not in the book, but if this is a subject that really interests you, then buy the book (https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Portraits-Reading-Scripture-Participants/dp/166673716X). (And yes, that’s a shameless plug.)

Many years ago, before Laura and I had children, we nearly collided head-on with a semi-truck in the middle of the night in rural Arkansas. Had we actually crashed, we probably would not be here today. Thankfully, God spared us. But it was that experience that got me thinking more about the good news of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. Now, perhaps you’re wondering how someone goes from nearly getting killed to thinking about Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. Well, that’s how a preacher’s mind works, but it also illustrates the challenge that every follower of Jesus faces, and on Sunday, I’ll tell you more about that.