Beyond the Weekend

April 28 | Agents of Restoration

April 28, 2021

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

Read: Revelation 21:1-5
Listen: 
Revelation 21

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Jesus says God’s kingdom is here and provides a walking, talking preview of what God and his kingdom are like. He brings restoration through healings, welcomes outsiders and provides a path for a relationship with our heavenly Father. Jesus invites us to pray that God’s kingdom would continue to come here on earth.

Yet, heavy burdens and brokenness still fill our world. We wonder how God’s kingdom can be here when our hurts run so deep. Scripture shows how the kingdom has already come through Jesus and yet will be fully realized one future day when he returns. We long for final relational restoration as people from every tribe, tongue and nation worship before God’s throne in unity (Revelation 7:9). We hold hope for final physical and spiritual restoration when God wipes away every tear and death, mourning, crying and pain are no more (Revelation 21:4).

Jesus invites us to be his agents of restoration and share in his kingdom mission here and now. His kingdom comes through us as we care for friends and family battling illness, provide comforting meals in a crisis or do our work in healthcare with excellence. We bring his restoration as we work to repair a marriage, lean in and love our friends from different races and share our lives in a small group. His kingdom comes as we invite our neighbors to join us for a weekend service, mentor a small group of high schoolers or share the story of Jesus in children’s ministry.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

As you pray “your kingdom come” today, pray for God’s restoration now and also in the future. Ask God to show you who you can be his agent of restoration to this week. Write their name in your journal or mobile device and ask God to provide an opportunity to connect with them this week.

40 DAYS OF PRAYER

Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.


NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN

Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.

Today’s reading is John 15.

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