Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

136 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

4. The Season of the Church Year : Epiphany, the Manifestation of Christ. Epiphany commemorates the coming of the Magi, who followed the star in search of the Christ child. The season emphasizes Christ’s mission to and for the world. The light of God’s salvation is revealed to all peoples in the person of Jesus, the Son of God.

5. As to Spiritual Formation : In Jesus, the divine Son of Man, the glory and salvation of God is revealed to the nations.

D. Lent: the Suffering Servant

1. Biblical framework : As Inaugurator of the Kingdom of God, Jesus demonstrates God’s Reign as his Suffering Servant, showing the life of the Kingdom in his words, wonders, and works.

2. Exemplar Scripture references

a. Matt. 12.25-30 – Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” b. Mark 1.14-15 – Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” c. Luke 17.20-21 – Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”