The Power of Interruptions in Witnessing Christ's Kingdom

The Mission of Interruption Revelation 11:1-12 Luke 10:25-37

The root of the discord lies in the fact that many Christians have embraced the worst aspects of our culture and our politics. When the Christian faith is politicized, churches become repositories not of grace but of grievances, places where tribal

identities are reinforced, where fears are nurtured, and where aggression and nastiness are sacralized. The result is not only wounding the nation; it s having a devastating impact on the Christian faith. - Peter Wehner

Other Moments in Recent Church History: - The Confessing Church (Germany, 1933) - Rwandan Genocide (Rawnda, 1994)

In the face of these different levels of betrayal, we begin to see the extent to which the blood of tribalism in its many forms runs deeper than the waters of baptism. That is what the Rwanda genocide exposes and puts before us as a mirror. - Emmanuel Katongole (pg. 45)

The Hopeful Power of Interruptions Interruptions Defined: - a stoppage or hindering of an activity for a time (Merriam-Webster) - We are called to interrupt the world s narratives through our witness to Christ and his Kingdom.

Our mission is to be a new community that bears witness to the fact that in Christ there is a new identity. - Emmanuel Katongole (p. 25)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. - 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV)

The Church Interrupts the kingdoms of this world through its collective prophetic voice. - Revelation 11:1-12

Revelation 11 is symbolic of the prophetic and missional witness of the Church: 1. two witnesses = Godly witness is built on two or more (Deut. 19:15); disciples sent out in twos (Mark 6:7) 2. two olive trees = empowered by the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4)

3. lampstands = the Churches (see Rev. 1:20) 4. prophesy; fire from their mouths = fulfilling the standard Christian mission of testifying to Christ (cf. C. Keener)

The Church imitates Christ in life and in death. 1. Death v.7 ( attack, overpower, kill them ) 2. Resurrection v.11 ( after three and a half days, breath of life from God ) 3. Ascension v.12 ( went up to heaven in a cloud ; cf. Acts 1:9)

The example of Love Walks (David Augsburger, Dissident Discipleship, pp. 125-126)

The Church Interrupts the kingdoms of this world through the Kingdom-focused living of Christ s disciples. - Luke 10:25-37

The Samaritans compassion is costly: 1. He sees the wounded man and has compassion on him (contra. The priest and Levite) 2. He goes to him and bandages his wounds 3. Cleansing the wounds with oil and wine

4. He puts the man on his own donkey 5. He takes him to an inn where he continues to take care of the man overnight 6. He gives two-days wages to provide further care

7. He makes plans to return 8. He plans ahead for further financial needs that he may incur

Both Revelation 11 and Luke 10 point us to a similar principle Following Jesus on mission for his Kingdom is costly.

Speaking Gods truth to the powers and kingdoms of this world has a cost. - Martyrdom, laying down one s life Living a life of missional compassion toward others has a cost. - Resources, reputation

Our Brethren in Christ history and core values are powerful missional tools that we have to offer both the church and the world.

Let us show our neighbors lives focused on living missionally for the sake of Christ and his Kingdom.

The example of Sister Felicitee (Emmanual Katongole, Mirror to the Church, pgs. 117-118)