Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 10
Dean says the church should function like an “embassy” of the kingdom—“show the whole world what the whole world should look like if it would follow the king”—what would need to change in your congregation’s daily life (money, time, enemies, nationalism, media habits) for that to become visible and believable?
Another way to ask: If the church should be like an “embassy” that shows what God’s kingdom looks like, what would need to change in your church’s daily life to make that real and believable?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s teaching, a congregation would need to shift from national-centered living to kingdom-centered living: investing time and resources in active reconciliation, justice, and global mission, while resisting political captivity. The church would become a visible “outpost” of Jesus’ rule rather than a religious version of partisan culture.
- Dean’s embassy picture comes from his military experience in Germany: Americans lived there with a clear identity—“In our mind… we were Americans.” He says, “This is the way it should be… in the kingdom of God.”
- He compares churches to embassies: “We should be like embassies… a little… flavor,” but for God’s kingdom.
- He quotes John D. Martin: the church should “show the whole world what the whole world should look like if it would follow the king.”
- He calls for global perspective: “not seeing just this border of the United States as being our little world… get a global perspective.”
- He emphasizes active ministry: restorative justice, human trafficking work, and going “to the place of conflict.”
- He warns that political obsession “make[s] a mockery of ourselves to the whole earth,” implying media/political habits must change.