THE RESTORERS

“There is a new movement of Christians rising (you may be among them). Gabe Lyons refers to these as “restorers” in his recent book: “How a New Generation is Restoring the Faith.” This growing group of believers has taken their impetus from their rediscovery of the gospel of the kingdom. Rather than withdrawing from the world waiting for evacuation, they take seriously Jesus’ command to occupy until he returns. They understand the extraordinary implications of God’s redemptive kingdom come into the world and so they work to infuse the world with God’s love, beauty, grace, and justice. They live, act, and speak as if they are for people and the world because Christ is. Where others take offense and withdraw, they are provoked to engage and remedy. Where others are prone to judge and condemn, they offer grace and mercy. Where others only see the profane, they choose to find the beauty that expresses the creative image of God. As Christians, we should look for common ground rather than focus on differences; we should build bridges that bring us together rather than walls that keep us apart!” writes S. Michael Craven.

Twice in Matthew’s gospel he records, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom,” This is the gospel of Jesus: the gospel of the Kingdom. It must be restored.

Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Jesus