Many of us at our church have our roots in the Vineyard, who have their roots in George Ladd’s Gospel of the Kingdom.

John Wimber discovered Ladd and caught on to his idea of the already and not yet of the rule and reign of God on earth as it is in heaven.

To Wimber, that meant mostly that the work of the Holy Spirit would be present whenever the Kingdom of God was breaking through into the now. The future Kingdom where there was no evil influence of sin, sickness, or death was, for the moment, a present reality and a reminder in this fallen world that one day the Kingdom would fully come when Jesus returned.

I affirm all of this. If you pray for someone and they get healed, the Kingdom is in your midst. It has come among you.

If you hear God speak and you prophesy an encouraging prophetic word, the Kingdom has come.

But also, if the poor are fed, the Kingdom has come.

If the sick are visited, the Kingdom has come.

But there are other less spiritual-looking outcomes of the Kingdom come, and they all spring from surrender.

If you surrender to Jesus, the King, then the Kingdom has come. And if you do anything from that place for the glory of God and the love of humanity, then the Kingdom is in operation.

So, then, if you clean your house, the Kingdom has come.

If you make a sale, the Kingdom has come.

If you produce something good, the Kingdom has come.

If you show love and connection to your spouse, child, or friend, the Kingdom is among you.

A Kingdom life is a life surrendered to the King in everything from the most mundane activity of survival to raising the dead in the name of Jesus.

What are your thoughts, church?

A friend of mine posted the following on FB today and it reminded me of our sermon and discussion yesterday at church.

"We may ignore but not evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with him. The real labor is to remember to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake."

-CS Lewis

For Christians, the Holy Spirit is the air we breathe and the water we swim in, but the trick is to remember and enjoy it (and obey Him.)

As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:18, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This filling isn't a one-time event but a continual awareness and surrender to His presence in our daily lives.

Upcoming Events:

Bible Study Wednesdays (7-8:30): This week in June's study of the Triune God, Seth will discuss God the Father.

Next week: I will discuss God the Son, followed by God the Spirit in the next week.

July 6: Potluck and Lord's Supper

May you be filled with the Holy Spirit, led by the Holy Spirit, and walk by the Holy Spirit today and every day.

Jeff

Youth Group Launching

Starting this month, we're excited to announce our youth group!

• Schedule: 2nd and 4th Sunday nights

• Time: 6:00-7:30 PM

• Format: A mix of games and Bible discussion, similar to our small groups

Believers Worship

• When: 1st Sunday night of each month

• Time: 6:00-7:30 PM

• April Highlight: Building dedication with worship and prayer time

Good Friday Service

• Date: April 18th

• Time: 7:00-8:00 PM

• Focus: Scripture readings about the Good Friday story, interspersed with worship

Community Cookout

• Host: Network Bible Fellowship

• Date: TBD

• Time: 5:00 PM

• Location: Kevin and Shelly Kennedy's home

  • 2702 Arrowhead Drive

  • Bloomington, IL 61704

Raising Kingdom Disciples: A Family Integrated Approach

At Godspeed Church, we are in a unique phase. We have kids around, but not enough personnel to start a comprehensive children's program. What is the bright side of that? We get to be a family integrated church in this season.

The Sobering Reality

The statistics are stark and deeply concerning. Research shows that approximately 60-70% of young people raised in Christian homes walk away from their faith after high school. This exodus represents more than just a generational trend—it's a spiritual crisis that demands our immediate attention and intentional response.

The Biblical Blueprint: Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Scripture provides us with a powerful model of discipleship that begins in the home. Moses instructs the Israelites:

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

This passage reveals God's design for spiritual formation: parents as primary disciplers, integrating faith into every aspect of daily life.

Hope in Family Discipleship

Compelling research offers a ray of hope. When parents actively disciple their children—not just teaching about Jesus, but modeling a living, vibrant faith—the retention rates dramatically change. Studies indicate that children who are consistently discipled by their parents are:

• 4-6 times more likely to maintain their faith into adulthood

• More resilient against cultural pressures

• More likely to develop a personal, authentic relationship with Christ

Embracing Our Current Season

Our current lack of a formal children's program is not a limitation—it's an opportunity. By worshiping together as a family, our children:

• Observe authentic worship

• Learn to engage with Scripture

• See faith lived out in real-time

• Feel integral to the body of Christ, not segregated

Practical Steps for Parents

1. Integrate Faith Conversations: Make spiritual discussions as natural as talking about school or daily activities.

2. Model Vulnerability: Share your own spiritual journeys, including struggles and victories.

3. Worship Together: Allow children to participate fully in corporate worship.

4. Disciple Intentionally: Create rhythms of family devotion and prayer.

A Call to Action

Parents, you are your children's first and most important spiritual mentors. Our church season is a divine invitation to reimagine discipleship—not as a program, but as a lifestyle. Let's keep conversations going about this and support one another on the most important journey God has called us to.

May God grant us wisdom, courage, and grace as we raise the next generation of Christ-followers.

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