The American church today suffers from a self-inflicted problem: preaching a “divided” gospel that emphasizes individualistic salvation in Christ over against the larger overall message of the Kingdom of God. The primary theme of the entire New Testament is the Kingdom of God with all its societal and cultural implications, a theme clearly seen in the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostle Paul.The pre-Civil War American church generally had a similar Kingdom focus with its emphasis on individual as well as societal transformation. This emphasis changed after the war, however, to the great and lasting detriment of both the church and American society. Rather than engaging the world, the church shifted its focus inward to escaping the world by placing its primary emphases on individual sanctification and the Rapture, thus largely surrendering its influence in American culture and social institutions to the secular humanists. America continues to suffer the bitter fruit of the church’s surrender.In The Divided Gospel, Joseph Mattera addresses this disastrous problem head-on, identifying fourteen negative consequences of dividing the gospel and explaining the dangerous implications of each. A final chapter contrasts the Kingdom mindset from the religious church mindset and offers insightful guidance to the church for returning to a full Kingdom focus.

The Divided Gospel: The Consequences of Separating the Gospel from the Kingdom

Religion & Spirituality

Mattera, Dr. Joseph

Christian Books & Bibles

Micro65

As the Kingdom of God continues to be taught and preached across the world, there is a piece to the overall theology that remains unfinished. In order to bring the Kingdom of God to the earth, we must have agreement and understanding of what that looks like.Societal transformation is necessary to achieving this task. However, this in its own right is still a misunderstood concept that carries objectives which need to be aligned in a biblical perspective in order to attain our mandates as sons of God. How do we do this? By looking at and understanding God's law in relation to the law of the world, by analyzing the true difference between the current state of our world and biblical instruction, and by looking at history to show us where this all began. It is not simply fixed by more revival, but by an ambitious undertaking of unification amongst all the spheres of culture, beginning with the gatekeepers in each realm and by affecting change through them with the proper biblical viewpoint. In the end, we must look to Jesus for the accomplishment of this ambitious attempt at societal transformation. Truly, it is through Him and only Him, that we must empower ourselves to experience the shift that will achieve the end goal of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth, as it is in Heaven.

Understanding The Wineskin of The Kingdom

Many Christ-followers and churches today have a vision problem. They are so focused on the individualistic salvation aspect of the gospel that they miss the bigger message: the Kingdom of God. While individual salvation through faith in Christ is the starting point for every believer, it is still just that—the starting point. In order for churches and Christ-followers to be effective in cultural and societal transformation, they must widen their focus from the individual perspective and embrace the corporate perspective: the Kingdom focus that was the heart of Jesus’ message and the message of the apostles and the early church—and is still the heart of message of Christ’s church today.This short, easy-to-read book outlines 25 simple but profound truths about the Kingdom of God that you may have never heard, but when understood and embraced, will transform the way you look at your own faith, the way you read and understand the Bible, and the way you view society and culture. The church as a whole must embrace the Kingdom message in order to successfully engage the culture and become the catalyst for societal transformation.

25 Truths You Never Heard in Church: Becoming a Kingdom-Focused Believer

Covenant Fatherhood (Dynamic Covenant Series)

Everett, Dr. Stephen

Covenant Transformation (Dynamic Covenant Series)

Suffering is so universally staggering in its magnitude, the world so unjust, so unsatisfying, life so short and time so fleeting, it seems as if this earthly life was never intended by God to be a place where human happiness could find its full fruition; but a place where Christ-imparted character can, by suffering and trial, be matured and sweetened and so prepared for the unending expansion of the heavenly life. Hence there must be a divine purpose and necessity for pain and trial.The Bible teaches that trials are a part of God’s plan for the Christian, “That no man should be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that we are appointed thereto.” 1 Thess. 3:3. “For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps.”In this book, Mrs. Elliot shares the wisdom gained through over 40 years’ experience in writing about the value of trials, that instead of seeking to escape them, we should embrace them. Shifting the blame to others is an easy way out, and accusing the devil has no benefit. Instead, our biggest imperative is to learn to discern the Father’s hand in our lives. In Mrs. Elliott’s words, “We cannot impart what we have not received.”

The Value of Trials

Elliott, Mrs. Judson A.

eGenCo

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