kingdom & spirit

The Kingdom and Spirit Network is an association of churches with a shared philosophy of ministry. This philosophy is rooted in the kingdom of God and a belief that the Holy Spirit is the agent of His kingdom.

Repetition alone makes a compelling case that the Kingdom of heaven was the centerpiece of Jesus’ life and ministry. It seems clear that he understood himself and his call in the context of the coming kingdom (Luke 4: 43), referencing the kingdom over 100 times in the gospels. He begins (Mt. 4: 17) and ends (Acts 1: 3) his physical ministry with the proclamation and instruction about the kingdom. Teaching his disciples to both proclaim and demonstrate (Luke 9: 2) the Kingdom, all while praying for its ever-increasing measure upon the earth: “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’” Mat. 6: 9-10

Jesus modeled a life lived out in the presence (Luke 1: 35) and power (Luke 3:33; 14) of the Spirit. Jesus’ life and ministry flowed in and from the anointing of the Spirit “… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10: 38 (see also Luke 4: 18). And a central aspect of his plan to redeem the world was to empower his disciples with the Spirit (Luke 24:49) for that mission. We are meant to cooperate with Spirit as he guides and directs (John 14:26) and advances (Matthew 12:28; 13:31-33) the kingdom of God.

Jesus modeled all 5-Fold ministries to us, he was an Apostle, a Prophet, an Evangelist, a Shepherd and a Teacher.  Paul articulates that all these ministries are now gifts to the church, and he raises up leaders to equip the body in these ministries today:Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. - Ephesians 4:11-12

Rev. Eric Carpenter
Colorado Springs CO
eric@springsco.church
(719) 287-7912