**The following notes & summary are from Tony Kummer at Ministry-To-Children.
In keeping with the Nashville theme, Ricky Skaggs opened the conference. He mixed performance with encouragement for ministry workers. This was much better than the Lifeway staff karaoke before the conference.
@davehuntmusic “I told my wife that Ricky Skaggs was opening for me!”
Ed Stetzer "Raising subversive citizens of another Kingdom."
The theme text is Matthew 4:17, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.”
Jesus liked to talk about "The Kingdom of God." Over 80 times, he refers to the Kingdom in one way or another. He points people to the reality of God’s Kingdom breaking into the world. He saw his own ministry as the fulfillment of the Old Testament’s kingdom theme.
To riase subversive citizens of another Kingdom, we need to keep the following four points in mind.
1. The Reign of God
This text talks about, “The Kingdom of Heaven.” We must remember that God has always ruled over everything. The world and our sinful hearts, have chosen to rebel against God’s good sovereignty. The world is not removed from the sovereignty of God, it just thinks it is. We are not teaching kids to be moralist followers of a philosophy of life. Despite the domain of darkness, God still rules.
2. The already and not yet.
The text says,“has come.” Christians have often wondered if the Kingdom has really come? The kingdom has started, but it has not fully arrived or finished it’s expansion. This is sometimes called “Inaugurated eschatology.”
Quote: "If you can learn to order Starbucks, you can learn theological language at church."
3. The present kingdom.
This text says the Kingdom is “near.” We are the rebellion against the rebellion. We live for the true King that is not acknowledged by this world. The world’s idols are calling to our children every single day, saying “Come join our rebellion.” We must raise them to resist and be fully devoted to Christ.
4. The rightful response.
The test says, “Repent.” This is what God uses to make us a part of his Kingdom. You will be tempted to simply teach children to be moralistic followers of a philosophy of life. It seems easier, but we must teach them to follow Christ as citizens of another Kingdom.
This is fantastic! I love “the rightful response.” In the end, being part of of the kingdom means that follow the King and put him at the center of everything in our lives. So much of what we give kids doesn’t help them draw closer to the King but just teaches them to be “moralistic followers of a philosophy of life.”