We thank Pastor James Bahn for the good news this week. Concluding Pastor James' series of Living to Love, we are exposed to a third component of the lifelong journey of discipleship: Living to Build. With the foundation of love, supported by the scaffolding of growth, we build in order to establish in the world a "Kingdom of God". What we build is not just physical things. As it is written in Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them".

One of the truths in life is that God has made each and every one of us unique. More amazingly, each moment, each second of our lives is unique. No other of God's children is the same as us. Even more so, at no second in our lives are we the same as we are at any other second. However, building a kingdom of God requires all sorts of builders and God wants us to be builders. Choosing to build, in whatever capacity or skill level gives us purpose, gives us a path to the city on the hill. Along the way, each of us contributes to ourselves, to others and ultimately to God.

What we are able to build right at this moment may seem as insignificant as a nail in some furniture or sand that is mixed into mortar for a wall, but the furniture or wall crumbles without each part working well. As we grow, there are other things we can build, other parts we can play. Pastor James uses a wolf pack to show how different roles work together to protect the pack and how these roles are filled by different individuals at different times in their lives and their journeys. 1 Corinthians 12:12 tells us "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ".

As Thrive Ministries becomes a reality Pastor James calls upon us to help build a kingdom:

1. What is your passion? – Is God giving you a sign about which part you can play in our church?
2. Just try it! – As unlikely as it might seem, trying it out will answer your question!
3. Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone! – God has asked many of our ancestors to leave their comfort zone to build His kingdom. By doing so and growing, the Bible has shown us what broken people can do for Him.