Conference preacher envisions Christ-like world

               Photo by Geoff Anderson  

LAKELAND — “Where ever someone sees a steeple, inside they should find a loving people,” said Bishop James R. King Jr., bishop of the Kentucky Area of the United Methodist Church. “We shouldn’t need someone telling people in the church to be kind.”

King was the guest preacher at the Dare to Share Jesus 2001 Florida Annual Conference Event May 29-June 1 here. He challenged delegates to take an active part in making the world more Christ-like.

“We are the builders of the road that leads to joy, peace, the kingdom of God…to a Christ-like world,” he said. “Let’s work together for a Christ-like world by receiving him and daring to share him with the world.”

King told delegates about a church he served when he was pastor. He said he was hesitant to go into the neighborhood and invite people to the church because he was afraid they would come. “I was afraid they would come where the ushers were mean and where people were protecting pews and couldn’t worship,” he said.

Christians need to receive and understand Jesus before they can share him, he said. Churches should be the place where people are nurtured as disciples.

King said churches must examine everything they do, determine what it has to do with making disciples of Jesus Christ and “be willing, by God’s grace, to have a funeral” for any activity that does not make disciples.

King also said that churches must make the Bible the foundation of what they teach. “Are they [disciples] being formed not by what their brother or sister or aunt or cousin said, but by what God said?” he said.

King also encouraged Christians to love themselves. “Take care of yourself,” he said. “There’s too much work to do for you to be tired or angry.”

Top of this page

© 2001 Florida United Methodist Review Online