building the rainbow nation kingdom

Building the Rainbow Kingdom

Concern for what is happening in SA Xenophobia Statue debates Racism Many different voices

What does God say?

>> God loves diversity - Nature Incredible variety in creation 8.7 million species that inhabit our planet. Nearly ten thousand different kinds of birds, nearly eight thousand different reptiles, nearly five thousand different mammals , over twenty three thousand different kinds of fish, four hundred thousand different flowers , one hundred thousand species of tree. The diversity in creation is extravagant. Why so much diversity? Giraffe - thoroughbred horse / proboscis monkey - duck-billed platypus Why 400 000 different flowers, 40 000 would have been more than enough?

Creation reveals the glory of God

Building the Rainbow Kingdom notes summary1

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>> God loves diversity - HeavenRevelation 7:9-12

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their

hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

This prophetic picture of the church calls us to become more like it. It challenges the church on earth to become more like the church in heaven, a church that

is united by its diversity rather than divided by it.

>> God loves diversity - on EarthWhy should we embrace diversity?Scripture instructs us to:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

Picture of Paul entering a church and wondering why the divisions“For Jesus himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility….His purpose

was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross” Ephesians 2:14-16

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Building the Rainbow Kingdom notes summary

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13:34-35&version=NIV

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Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20

Story of the Good Samaritan: Luke 10: 25-37 Who is my neighbour? Man travelling down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Got mugged by a band of thieves. Left half dead. Several travellers- Priest & Levite (religious ruler) passed by but ignored him. A Samaritan (foreign national) stopped, bandaged him up, took him to the nearest inn. Paid for his care. Jesus used the story where the foreign national is the hero, to explain what it means to be a good neighbour. Diversity enriches our lives. We learn from each other

We have different gifts, ways of looking at things that enable us to fulfill our life & Christian missionThe reality of the new South Africa

What practical things should we do? Be actively establishing God’s Kingdom on earth Go out of our way to build relationships with people who are different from you Get to know people’s stories Forgive & ask for forgiveness Help those in need Pray

Building the Rainbow Kingdom notes summary

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+4:20&version=NIV

Xenophobia

Statue debate

Racism

Cultural Diversity

God loves diversity

Nature


8.7 million species

10 000 different birds

8 000 different reptiles

5 000 mammals

23 000 fish mammals

400 000 flowers

100 000 trees

Why 400 000 flowers?

Cultural Diversity

God loves diversity

Heaven


Revelation 7:9-129 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:“Salvation belongs to our God,who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”


Cultural Diversity

God loves diversity

On Earth


Cultural DiversityWhy we should embrace Diversity Scripture instructs us to


Cultural DiversityWhy we should embrace Diversity Scripture instructs us to“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28


Cultural DiversityWhy we should embrace Diversity Scripture instructs us to“For Jesus himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility….His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross”

EPHESIANS 2:14-16



“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35



“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20



Story of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10: 25-37 Who is my neighbour?


Why we should embrace Diversity• Scripture instructs us to• Diversity enriches our lives


Why we should embrace Diversity• Scripture instructs us to• Diversity enriches our lives• We learn from each other


Why we should embrace Diversity• Scripture instructs us to• Diversity enriches our lives• We learn from each other• We have different gifts, ways of looking at things that enable us to fulfill our life & Christian mission


Why we should embrace Diversity• Scripture instructs us to•Diversity enriches our lives•We learn from each other•We have different gifts, ways of looking at things that enable us to fulfill our life & Christian mission•The reality of the new South Africa


What practical things should we do?• Be actively establishing God’s

Kingdom on earth



Kingdom on earth• Go out of our way to build

relationships with people who are different from you





• Get to know people’s stories





• Get to know people’s stories• Forgive & ask for forgiveness





• Get to know people’s stories• Forgive & ask for forgiveness• Help those in need


What practical things should we do?• Be actively establishing God’s Kingdom

on earth• Go out of our way to build relationships

with people who are different from you• Get to know people’s stories• Forgive & ask for forgiveness• Help those in need• Learn other cultures languages, styles

of worship, etc.


What practical things should we do?• Be actively establishing God’s Kingdom

on earth• Go out of our way to build relationships

with people who are different from you• Get to know people’s stories• Forgive & ask for forgiveness• Help those in need• Learn other cultures languages, styles

of worship etc• Pray



Kingdom Christians

“Blessed are the peacemakers” Jesus

building the rainbow nation kingdom

Spiritual