Jesus describes the kingdom of God this way: "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough" (Luke 13:20-21).

This prophetic picture of the organic and dynamic nature of the kingdom was the foundational scripture for the theme in 2004: A Year of Increasing Influence.

Influence is a somewhat intangible, yet very substantive, kingdom reality. It has been defined as "an emanation of spiritual or moral force" and also as "the act or power of producing an effect." These definitions are seen in Jesus’ picture of yeast, a seemingly insignificant substance that permeates the entire dough into which it has been placed and becomes a powerful catalyst for producing transformation. Such is the effect of the kingdom of God on the kingdom of this earth. The question for us individually and corporately is this: are we having that kind of influence on the world around us?

In his book The Church of Irresistible Influence, Robert Lewis asks a very provocative question: "If your church were to leave your community tomorrow, would the community a) notice, b) cheer, or c) grieve?" This is a question we might also personalize. If you were to move out of your dwelling tomorrow, would your neighbors a) notice, b) cheer, or c) grieve? Are we permeating our culture around us and, by the help of the Holy Spirit, producing kingdom transformation in our sphere of influence? These are challenging questions!

On New Year's Eve, December 31, 2003, I received an e-mail entitled "What's In and What's Not in 2004" from Steve Loopstra, the executive director or Prayer Transformation Ministries. I shared this list at the beginning of my 2004 theme message, as it speaks powerfully to the kind of mindset shift we need to embrace if we are to answer these questions and become a people of Increasing Influence. As you read over and prayerfully consider the list, I would suggest that they are as relevant now in 2009 as they were in 2004. Here is the list:

Over the last several years, we have certainly discovered the last of these shifts to be true. We genuinely do need the vision of others, both individuals and other churches and ministries, to complete our vision for seeing kingdom transformation in the Twin Cities and beyond. One of the most exciting developments in our body over the past several years has been the development of strategic partnerships. As Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work."

During these last years, as we have discovered the joy of implementing partnerships, we have continued to ask the Lord to both connect us with other life-giving ministries that reach out beyond the walls of BCF and to also create teams within BCF to develop life-giving ministries to the BCF body. Have you caught this vision yet?

Let me encourage you during this Year of Opportunity to look for opportunities for the Lord to partner you with others both within and beyond BCF for the purpose of seeing His kingdom influence increase through you and our church body. This was not simply a vision for 2004, but a vision God has for His House of Prayer for All Nations for all times in all places. Like the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47), we are to be a people of Increasing Influence.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

--Pastor Jim