““Strive first for the kingdom of God Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”and his righteousness.”

~ Matthew 6:33, NRSV~ Matthew 6:33, NRSV

““The Kingdom of God is basically the The Kingdom of God is basically the rule of God. It is God’s reign, the rule of God. It is God’s reign, the

divine sovereignty in action.”divine sovereignty in action.”

~ George Eldon Ladd~ George Eldon Ladd

““The incarnation is the one absolute The incarnation is the one absolute expression of what God is like and expression of what God is like and also of what true humanity is like.”also of what true humanity is like.”

~ Myron S. Augsburger~ Myron S. Augsburger

““The Christian ideal has not been tried The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found and found wanting. It has been found

difficult, and left untried.”difficult, and left untried.”

~ G.K. Chesterton~ G.K. Chesterton

““The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow him call to discipleship, a call to follow him

in submissive obedience, not just a in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a plea to make a decision or pray a

prayer.”prayer.”

~ John F. MacArthur, Jr.~ John F. MacArthur, Jr.

““Jesus is not asking people to add Jesus is not asking people to add him to the milieu of their lives. He him to the milieu of their lives. He wants disciples willing to forsake wants disciples willing to forsake

everything.everything.””

~ John F. MacArthur, Jr.~ John F. MacArthur, Jr.

““We understand who we are because We understand who we are because we have grasped Whose we are.”we have grasped Whose we are.”

~ Tricia McCary Rhodes~ Tricia McCary Rhodes

““The life of faith is far more than a The life of faith is far more than a doctrinal concept. It is relationship at doctrinal concept. It is relationship at

the highest level.”the highest level.”

~ Myron S. Augsubger~ Myron S. Augsubger

““No one may truly know Christ unless No one may truly know Christ unless one follows him in life, and no one may one follows him in life, and no one may follow him without first knowing him.”follow him without first knowing him.”

~ Hans Denck, 16~ Hans Denck, 16thth Century Anabaptist Century Anabaptist

““Only he who obeys truly believes, … Only he who obeys truly believes, … and only he who believes truly obeys.”and only he who believes truly obeys.”

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

““But drops of grief can ne’er repayBut drops of grief can ne’er repay

The debt of love I owe:The debt of love I owe:

Here, Lord, I give my self away – Here, Lord, I give my self away –

‘‘Tis all that I can do.”Tis all that I can do.”

~ Isaac Watts~ Isaac Watts

““He is no fool who loses what he He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot cannot keep to gain what he cannot

lose.”lose.”

~ Jim Elliot, Martyred Missionary~ Jim Elliot, Martyred Missionary

““The best way to avoid The best way to avoid followingfollowing Jesus Jesus is to is to talktalk about him!” about him!”

~ Richard Rohr~ Richard Rohr

““Thy kingdom come.Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.”On earth as it is in heaven.”

~ Matthew 6:10, NASB~ Matthew 6:10, NASB

““Jesus went through all the towns and Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, villages, teaching in their synagogues,

preaching the good news of the preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease kingdom and healing every disease

and sickness.”and sickness.”

~ Matthew 9:35, NIV~ Matthew 9:35, NIV

““He appeared to them over a period of He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the forty days and spoke about the

kingdom of God.”kingdom of God.”

~ Acts 1:3, NIV~ Acts 1:3, NIV

““He has rescued us from the power of He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the darkness and transferred us into the

kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the whom we have redemption, the

forgiveness of sins.”forgiveness of sins.”

~ Colossians 1:13-14, NRSV~ Colossians 1:13-14, NRSV

"The kingdom is full of surprises. Again and again in "The kingdom is full of surprises. Again and again in parable, sermon, and act Jesus startles us. Things in the parable, sermon, and act Jesus startles us. Things in the

Gospels are often literally upside down. Good Guys turn out Gospels are often literally upside down. Good Guys turn out to be Bad Guys. Those we expect to receive the reward get a to be Bad Guys. Those we expect to receive the reward get a

spanking instead. Those who think they are headed for spanking instead. Those who think they are headed for heaven land in hell. Things are reversed. Paradox, irony, and heaven land in hell. Things are reversed. Paradox, irony, and

surprises permeate the teachings of Jesus. They flip our surprises permeate the teachings of Jesus. They flip our expectations upside down. The least are the greatest. The expectations upside down. The least are the greatest. The

immoral receive forgiveness and the blessing. Adults immoral receive forgiveness and the blessing. Adults become like children. The religious miss the heavenly become like children. The religious miss the heavenly

banquet. The pious receive curses. Things aren’t like we banquet. The pious receive curses. Things aren’t like we think they should be. We’re baffled and perplexed. Amazed think they should be. We’re baffled and perplexed. Amazed

we step back. Should we laugh or should we cry? Again and we step back. Should we laugh or should we cry? Again and again, turning our world upside down, the kingdom surprises again, turning our world upside down, the kingdom surprises

us.”us.”

~ Dr. Donald Kraybill, Sociologist~ Dr. Donald Kraybill, Sociologist

““I die every day!”I die every day!”

~ 1 Corinthians 15:31, NRSV~ 1 Corinthians 15:31, NRSV

““For if you live according to the sinful For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the you put to death the misdeeds of the

body, you will live.”body, you will live.”

~ Romans 8:13, NIV~ Romans 8:13, NIV

““Put to death, therefore, whatever Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires

and greed, which is idolatry.”and greed, which is idolatry.”

~ Colossians 3:5, NIV~ Colossians 3:5, NIV

““I have come to call sinners to turn I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already with those who think they are already

good enough.”good enough.”

~ Luke 5:32, NLT~ Luke 5:32, NLT

Obedience Without ExceptionObedience Without Exception

““Strive first for the kingdom of God Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”and his righteousness.”

~ Matthew 6:33, NRSV~ Matthew 6:33, NRSV

““Thy kingdom come.Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.”On earth as it is in heaven.”

~ Matthew 6:10, NASB~ Matthew 6:10, NASB

As of today, I commit to do my part in letting As of today, I commit to do my part in letting go of this sin, this baggage, this weight in go of this sin, this baggage, this weight in my life. I want to give my all, my choices, my life. I want to give my all, my choices,

my life as a “my life as a “living sacrificeliving sacrifice” of worship to ” of worship to God. I chose God. I chose OBEDIENCE WITHOUT OBEDIENCE WITHOUT

EXCEPTIONEXCEPTION, and refuse to hide any secret , and refuse to hide any secret sins. More than anything else, sins. More than anything else, I want to I want to

please Jesusplease Jesus and today I pledge to live my and today I pledge to live my life for this purpose.life for this purpose.