In the In-Between He Restores My Soul, Pt. 4: Vision
Sermon recap
This is the final week in the series, In the In-Between He Restores My Soul. In Week 1, we explored the idea of the in-between (or liminal space), and the opportunity it can provide for transformation or restoration.
In Week 2, we discussed Spiritual Health and Formation. We may be on the right track toward spiritual health if we are growing in “love of God and neighbor” and/or experiencing life with God as our “shepherd.” Spiritual formation has to do with the practices and habits we take on which help us “keep company with Jesus.”
In Week 3, we were reminded that the church is a family, called by God, to share one another’s burdens and lives in the present. Like the early church, we are invited to let our care and support of one another spill over into our shared mission as well—seeing Jesus in the eye of the poor and outcast.
This week, we reflect on the future hope of a capital “R” Restoration. Jesus, in Revelation 21, says, “See, I am making all things new.” This is where the whole story of everything is headed. As much as the news, war, the state of our city, or our own lives often seem to paint a different picture, it is all just a line in the sand—an in-between time between the resurrection of Jesus and his final return.
Our vision is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray: “Your kingdom come” (Matt 6:10). We long to see glimpses of that final Restoration—glimpses of the Kingdom of God—in our lives, homes, church, and city. And so what do we do? Where do we start? We start by asking for it: “Your kingdom come.”
Practice for Tonight
Let’s work through the following questions together:
What stuck out to you from Sunday’s teaching? Has anything from another point in the series been staying with you that you’d like to share?
Where do you see (or have you seen) glimpses of the Kingdom of God around you (in your personal life, family, workplace, small group, church, etc.)?
Is there a certain area of your life where you are longing to see God’s Kingdom come? What do you think that would look like? What would be different?
We are going to close in prayer. Tonight, we will turn our answers from our discussion into our prayers. Our answers to the second question (about where we have seen God’s Kingdom) will become a prayer of gratitude. Our answers to the third question (about longing to see God’s Kingdom come) will become prayers of petition.
(Leaders: If the group needs a refresher, you can offer to go around the circle and have each person put their answers into 2-3 word phrases before going into your time of prayer.)
Let’s take a few minutes to pray these prayers of gratitude and petition.
Practice for the Week
This week, set aside some time to reflect, pray, and discern what it would look like for you to include the prayer “Your Kingdom Come” into your daily routine. As you sense direction or an invitation from the Spirit, make a decision (that aligns with your personality, lifestyle, etc.) and share your decision with someone in our small group.
Below are a few options that were included in the teaching from Sunday. Of course, feel free to adapt, modify, or choose another form of prayer.
Pray the simple three word prayer “Your Kingdom Come” a few times a day, as you head to work, sit down for a meal, or just when it comes to mind. You may find it helpful to do this as a “breath prayer”—taking a deep breath in when you do this, then praying “Your Kingdom Come” as you exhale.
Memorize and pray the entire Lord’s Prayer once a day:
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Set aside 2-3 longer periods of time throughout the week to use the Lord’s prayer as a template, or set of categories, for an extended prayer time. (Example: Pray for a few minutes around the phrase “Our Father in heaven.” Then shift and pray around the category, “Hallowed by your name.” Next, pray around “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Continue section by section through the Lord’s Prayer.)
