CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM Christian Education Week 2019
Each school year Christian Schools International (CSI) designates a week to be Christian Education Week. Christian schools are established to glorify God, to recognize the lordship of Christ over every square inch of creation, and to nurture and equip students to become the next generation of those who answer the call to advance the kingdom of God across the globe. Christian Education Week is a time to remember the sacrifice of those who founded our schools and the continuous sacrifice of those who sustain them. It is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to advance God’s kingdom in the places we serve. Jesus’ ministry was singularly focused on the coming of the kingdom of God. Jesus said that the kingdom has ‘come near’, ‘is at hand’ or ‘is here’. The worldview of the schools that are part of CSI recognizes that the kingdom of God is here now. It is a present kingdom, not a kingdom that awaits us after we die. The kingdom advances when the people of God act like kingdom citizens and when God’s shalom bathes our schools, homes, and churches. Jesus empowered his disciples to open the door so all may enter. The kingdom of God is an unstoppable force. Jesus won. God’s kingdom is ever advancing. Our Christian schools are places where the good news is shared, where the next generation of disciples is being prepared for service, and where citizens of his kingdom are being equipped. Jesus teaches us to seek it: to put the kingdom first in our lives and in the lives of our children. That is the mission of the Christian school and the reason to celebrate God’s gift of Christian education today. The writer of Matthew focuses on the kingdom theme throughout the Gospel. Jesus tells and illustrates that Kingdom citizens love God above all. They seek to put obedience to God first. Kingdom citizens understand that kingdom living requires unmatched sacrifice and commitments that the world could never understa nd. They realize that kingdom living is a worthy calling along the difficult paths of life. Give thanks to God today that he has given us Christian schools as places to advance his kingdom and that he has given us the good news of his ever advancing kingdom to bring hope to the world. It is to glorify his name that we are called to kingdom citizenship. We have reason to remember and to celebrate God’s blessing of Christian Education. (Source: csionline.org/articles/christian-education-week-2019) Carol Verbeek, Principal
