Hope in a Mad World

What if the gospel is much much bigger than simply how we get to heaven?And why did it take a king to bring heaven to earth?In Episode 1 of this series on the Kingdom of Heaven, we looked at how God ordered creation in Genesis, and how his image and dominion became distorted in us. In Episode 2, Ian and Raoul trace how God goes about the work of reconciliation and restoring His creation.We follow the King from Bethlehem to Palm Sunday and the cross, ask what kind of king rides in on a donkey, and introduce the idea of "empire" as a spirit that still shapes how we live. Raoul makes the case that Jesus overcame empire through weakness and emptying himself, not force. We also look ahead to what happened when Christians made peace with empire, and why it matters in a world as mad as ours.In this episode:• If Eden left us with a corrupted image and a broken dominion, what does the fix look like?• Is the gospel only about personal salvation, or is Jesus doing something much bigger?• Why does the King avoid conflict for most of his ministry, then walk straight into it on Palm Sunday?• What is "empire", and why was the cross a collision between empire and kingdom?• Can the means of empire ever bring about the ends of the kingdom?Scripture touched on: Genesis 1, Judges, Psalm 2, Daniel, Matthew 4, the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer and Sermon on the Mount, John 1, Matthew 28:18, Revelation.CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome and recap: how God set it up and how we messed it up00:50 The solution: reset the image and the dominion01:35 Enter the King: the wise men, the house of David and the gospel of the kingdom02:35 Heaven to earth, not earth to heaven: the Lord's Prayer04:00 The Word became flesh: kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God?05:15 Teaching with authority: seek first the kingdom06:50 The King who avoids conflict, until Palm Sunday07:45 Restoring Adam's reign, not David's throne09:05 Why Israel wanted a king, and why the Bible ends with a marriage11:00 A different kind of king: the stable, the donkey and "King of Kings"13:40 Palm Sunday: straight to the temple15:45 Confronting religious and political power16:25 What is empire?17:35 How the cross took empire down19:40 Empire is a spirit, and we live like it without realising20:35 Washing feet: even for those who betray you22:55 All authority: Matthew 28 and the partnership of the kingdom24:20 The Crusades, the Reformation and the birth of Christendom27:25 Kingdom means for kingdom ends: do we believe the cross is enough?29:40 The temptation to reach for power, and why the kingdom is guaranteed32:30 Coming up in Episode 3: Christendom, and what Jesus taught about living in the worldPart 2 of 10 in our series The Kingdom of Heaven.Has this helped, or do you think we missed something? Let's have a dialogue. Find us on Instagram and Facebook and tell us what you think. If you enjoy the show, please follow or subscribe, and leave a rating or review. It's the best way to help others find us.Watch the video version: [YouTube link]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeinamadworldFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C7z2WpSTh/

Why is the world getting madder, and where did it start?In the first episode of our new ten-part series, Ian and Raoul trace the madness back to the Garden of Eden and begin exploring the Kingdom of Heaven to find out how a biblical worldview cuts through the noise with the hope our world needs.IN THIS EPISODE• What does it mean to be made in the image of God?• Biblical dominion vs domination: how does the difference change the way we live like Jesus today?• How was the image corrupted in Eden, and what followed: separation, fear and shame?• Can there be a kingdom without the King? We work systematically through the first chapter of Genesis to lay the foundations of the Gospel of the Kingdom.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction: Finding Hope in a Mad World01:00 What is the Gospel of the Kingdom?02:45 Genesis1:26 and the Image of God04:00 God is Community vs Modern Individualism05:30 The Fruit of the Spirit and Restoring His Image07:50 What Does Biblical Dominion Actually Look Like?10:00 Ruling Through Respect, Trust and Blessing12:15 The Paradigm of Life: Mercy Over Judgment14:45 The Temptation in Eden: How the Image Was Corrupted17:40 The Results of Separation: Fear and Shame19:50 The Life and Death Story Through Scripture22:00 Domination vs True Kingdom Governance24:00 Accountability vs Mutual Submission in Culture27:50 A Kingdom Without the King?31:45 Coming Up in Episode 2Welcome to Hope in a Mad World, where we explore what it looks like to follow Jesus in our ever-changing culture. If you enjoy the show, please follow or subscribe, and leave a rating or review. It's the best way to help others find us.Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/B6Vw6OvxODYInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeinamadworldFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C7z2WpSTh/

In this episode Ian and Raoul explore the scriptures around Jesus resurrection to see if they can glean some insight into recognising Jesus in a ‘new’ move or era.

In this episode Raoul and Ian dig into some verses in 1Thessalonians 5 to give some more ‘tools’ to us as individuals and for our communities as we navigate this mad chaotic world we live in.

In this episode Ian and Raoul explore the rhythm of the ancient song of lament as part of Gods grace for us to process the difficulties, hardships and the disappointments of life.

In these next 2 episodes Raoul and Ian interview special guest Jessica Rowlands discussing the affect that the practice of nurturing joy in our lives has on us. They also look at some practical rhythms and practices that help to build a foundation to comeback to joy more quickly.

In these next 2 episodes Raoul and Ian interview special guest Jessica Rowlands discussing the affect that the practice of nurturing joy in our lives has on us. They also look at some practical rhythms and practices that help to build a foundation to comeback to joy more quickly..

In this episode Ian and Raoul look at how do we have good expectations that promote resilience especially around the areas of prayer and the prophetic.Click the link to find out more and support Ian's mission: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/equipping-a-generation-for-a-new-era-of-church

In John 10:10 Jesus said ‘…He has come to give us life in all its abundance…’ so in an unstable and chaotic world where our circumstances can change in a moment how can we hold on to the abundance of life Jesus has given us now in this world.Click the link to find out more and support Ian's mission: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/equipping-a-generation-for-a-new-era-of-church

In this episode Raoul and Ian start to explore the theme for Season 4- staying stable and nurturing resilience in the midst of a chaotic world - by looking at what it means to be rooted through community, the Word and the Spirit Link to find out more and support Ian's mission: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/equipping-a-generation-for-a-new-era-of-church