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A Kingdom Called Desire: Confronted by the Love of a Risen King
Including practical theology of why living out of a place of authentic desire is central to living in the Kingdom of God, Rick McKinley will help you understand how your innermost desires shape your experience of following Jesus. A Kingdom Called Desire will help * Uncover your core desires * Discover the freedom of living honestly before God * Allow God's desires to shape your life * See how your own unique personality, gifts, and experiences can be used by Jesus in his Kingdom The results of McKinley's life-changing message can be seen in people from his own community at Imago Dei. While A Kingdom Called Desire will inspire you to see the practical display of Kingdom theology, it will also be deeply formational, allowing you to engage in your own personal journey and find healing and redemption in your unmet desires. A Kingdom Called Desire will unleash you from stale religious duty, as well as cynical social activism, bringing you into a dynamic love relationship with Jesus, motivated by the fulfillment of authentic desire.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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July 7, 20221. What are your top three cheaper desires that you find yourself wanting?
- settling for whoever just so I could have and be with 'someone'
- being lazy (spending time on social media & unnecessary things), even though I know I can do so much more and better
- validation from other people when it should be validation from Him
What do I really desire? What do I really want?
I am what He desires, is He what I desire?
1. Love Moves Us from Duty to Desire
1. Is it easier for you to be wanted or needed? Why?
This is not the first time I've heard of this question, but it's my first time to think about it and really answer it. I think at this point
, it's easier for me to be needed because I feel like I have a sense of purpose when people seek my help, comfort, and presence. Although I think it's a different case with God, He wants me and He loves me so much. He doesn't need me, what He wants is for me to have a deep relationship with Him so that I could fully experience His love and grace, and for me to be able to bring other people closer to Him too. Truly, His love transcends human understanding. And His love for me has a different definition compared to what love is in the human vocabulary.
2. How does it feel knowing God called you to love you, not to use you?
Honestly, I feel small and shy. His love for me is fully open and He loves me so much He even gave His only Son to save me. Yet sometimes I tend to forget that pa. Because I get to experience His love, I'm scared to disappoint Him. Now I get why people get the impression na 'there are many rules if Christian ka'. It doesn't work that way. It's not a law, nor a handbook we have to follow. When you truly understand what God wants and His will, you would definitely want to follow Him and do things that please Him.
Jesus called you to love you, not to use you. He wants you to desire Him, not the duties you can do for Him.
God's love is one of those deep truths that takes a lifetime to apply.
Duty as a response to love is powerful. Duty as an attempt to earn God's love is destructive.
Duty is at its best is a response to love.
You love what you're doing because you love serving people. You don't serve people because you want them to love you.
I'm so glad I finished this book! I was close to not finihing it just because. It was nice and I got some insights naman but the main message siguro would be I should desire nothing but Jesus/God himself because He desires us so much. It is only in desiring Him that we get to experience His love and His grace. We respond to His love and His will whenever we realize that we desire Him. This book was okay naman, but You Can You Will pa rin is still the best! The messages in this book was kind of redundant in chapters, but it's okay! I'll give this book a 3.8 stars.
- settling for whoever just so I could have and be with 'someone'
- being lazy (spending time on social media & unnecessary things), even though I know I can do so much more and better
- validation from other people when it should be validation from Him
What do I really desire? What do I really want?
I am what He desires, is He what I desire?
1. Love Moves Us from Duty to Desire
1. Is it easier for you to be wanted or needed? Why?
This is not the first time I've heard of this question, but it's my first time to think about it and really answer it. I think at this point
, it's easier for me to be needed because I feel like I have a sense of purpose when people seek my help, comfort, and presence. Although I think it's a different case with God, He wants me and He loves me so much. He doesn't need me, what He wants is for me to have a deep relationship with Him so that I could fully experience His love and grace, and for me to be able to bring other people closer to Him too. Truly, His love transcends human understanding. And His love for me has a different definition compared to what love is in the human vocabulary.
2. How does it feel knowing God called you to love you, not to use you?
Honestly, I feel small and shy. His love for me is fully open and He loves me so much He even gave His only Son to save me. Yet sometimes I tend to forget that pa. Because I get to experience His love, I'm scared to disappoint Him. Now I get why people get the impression na 'there are many rules if Christian ka'. It doesn't work that way. It's not a law, nor a handbook we have to follow. When you truly understand what God wants and His will, you would definitely want to follow Him and do things that please Him.
Jesus called you to love you, not to use you. He wants you to desire Him, not the duties you can do for Him.
God's love is one of those deep truths that takes a lifetime to apply.
Duty as a response to love is powerful. Duty as an attempt to earn God's love is destructive.
Duty is at its best is a response to love.
You love what you're doing because you love serving people. You don't serve people because you want them to love you.
I'm so glad I finished this book! I was close to not finihing it just because. It was nice and I got some insights naman but the main message siguro would be I should desire nothing but Jesus/God himself because He desires us so much. It is only in desiring Him that we get to experience His love and His grace. We respond to His love and His will whenever we realize that we desire Him. This book was okay naman, but You Can You Will pa rin is still the best! The messages in this book was kind of redundant in chapters, but it's okay! I'll give this book a 3.8 stars.
July 14, 2016
(Disclosure: I received this book for free in return for an unbiased review. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions that follow are my own)
"What is it we most deeply want?"
"What do you want? What do you really want?"
These are easy questions to ask ourselves, but incredibly hard ones to answer honestly. These are the types of questions that Rick McKinley challenges the reader to consider in his book A Kingdom Called Desire. Although rather short (only 176 pages), it is packed full of insights into what it means to desire God and to live out this desire. McKinley has a way in using words to get at the heart of issues - namely, what is it that we really want in life and even in death? Are we really willing to give up everything like the man in Jesus's parable in Matt.13 in order to gain the kingdom of heaven?
Through each thought-provoking question and challenge, McKinley continually brings the focus back to Jesus. It is in Christ that we find - or should find - our deepest desires. We have been loved by the King! And this love is found smack dab in the center of the gospel of Christ. McKinley not only addresses individual Christians but also churches as a body. Through some rather convicting narrative, McKinley asks "What does the church desire? Do we desire Jesus? We cannot assume the answer is yes. Do we want to display the kingdom and live into the love and life of the King? We retreat from the world because we want some level of protection that we were never called to have."
I'm on my third reading of this book and each time I've been challenged in my Christian walk, to reevaluate what it is that I'm pursuing.
"What do I desire most? The question forces me to consider there is a distinct possibility that I don't desire God the most."
"What is it we most deeply want?"
"What do you want? What do you really want?"
These are easy questions to ask ourselves, but incredibly hard ones to answer honestly. These are the types of questions that Rick McKinley challenges the reader to consider in his book A Kingdom Called Desire. Although rather short (only 176 pages), it is packed full of insights into what it means to desire God and to live out this desire. McKinley has a way in using words to get at the heart of issues - namely, what is it that we really want in life and even in death? Are we really willing to give up everything like the man in Jesus's parable in Matt.13 in order to gain the kingdom of heaven?
Through each thought-provoking question and challenge, McKinley continually brings the focus back to Jesus. It is in Christ that we find - or should find - our deepest desires. We have been loved by the King! And this love is found smack dab in the center of the gospel of Christ. McKinley not only addresses individual Christians but also churches as a body. Through some rather convicting narrative, McKinley asks "What does the church desire? Do we desire Jesus? We cannot assume the answer is yes. Do we want to display the kingdom and live into the love and life of the King? We retreat from the world because we want some level of protection that we were never called to have."
I'm on my third reading of this book and each time I've been challenged in my Christian walk, to reevaluate what it is that I'm pursuing.
"What do I desire most? The question forces me to consider there is a distinct possibility that I don't desire God the most."
December 27, 2013
This one reminded me of "Desiring God" by John Piper or perhaps John Eldredge's "Journey of Desire". I asked the author if he was familiar with either of those books and I was shocked he answered in the negative. I thought authors would consult the books that are out there on a subject before writing a complete book about it. These are not the kind of authors I would like to read.
If I remember correctly he spends the majority of his time retelling Jesus' parables found in Matthew. I'd encourage you to start with Eldredge, or maybe better, Donald Miller's "A million miles in a thousand years".
If I remember correctly he spends the majority of his time retelling Jesus' parables found in Matthew. I'd encourage you to start with Eldredge, or maybe better, Donald Miller's "A million miles in a thousand years".
April 30, 2011
This short book had one powerful idea in it. Most Christians today are not falling short in their relationship with Christ because of 'How?' questions. Rather many have failed to answer the simple question of 'Why?' in a satisfactory way. Their heart is perpetually restless for sin because it has never found rest in truly desiring Christ. Some of the supporting material around this idea was a little formulaic and boring, but the first 50-60 pages were a fabulous read.
June 28, 2012
A really nice short read positing that Christians and Christian culture spend too much energy asking "how?" when the right questions to ask are about our desires-- "why?" and "what do you want?" We try to sate our deepest desires with religiosity or sin or achievement or family or whatever but ultimately fulfillment only comes through the redemptive love of Jesus. A fresh perspective on what the Christian life is, communicated with energy and nuance.
August 14, 2011
very basic and simple point...that is what I enjoyed about it. But the depth of undiscovered life bound up in looking at our desires is overwhelming. Solid book and I appreciated the non-Bell like writing that was straightforward and didn't try to pull any punches by tweaking orthodox vocabulary.
July 11, 2012
Another strong book from one of my favorite authors. Really good nuggets in here (especially the chapter on vocation) but not quite as strong as This Beautiful Mess. Would give it 4.5 if I could.
September 13, 2013
A great discussion of the dynamic, God-given role of desire in the personal and spiritual life. Striking were the thoughts on freedom and the ultimate good brought about by the existence of evil.
July 28, 2021
favorite small group in high school
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews