Kingdom in the Classroom
Eleanor Roselt • September 13, 2018
We recently had the chance to get together with our good friend Ella to talk about Kingdom. As a high school teacher, she gets the opportunity to influence the lives of young children every day. Hear her explain why pursuing personal wholeness is important in order to bring Kingdom to those you interact with.
– TRANSCRIPT
Hi, my name is Ella. I’m from Cape Town. And at the moment, I’m working as a high school teacher, which is an incredible privilege because you have these young people coming from very different homes, very different worldviews, very different backgrounds, and you get to spend hours of your day with them. As a Christian and as someone who believes that the Kingdom needs to impact every area of our lives, I find that both exciting and challenging because there is only a set amount of time and there is a curriculum and there are things that have to be done in the classroom.
But there are also these young hearts that are waiting for input and waiting to find out who they are, and are kind of formulating these massive ideas about life and themselves. The beauty of being able to remember that it’s not just about classroom time with them, that there is space outside of the classroom and there’s small moments within the classroom to make these connections that go beyond just normal teaching time.
So investing in their hearts, investing in them as people beyond the curriculum, which is, again, both exciting and challenging. One of the things that I find the most helpful in doing that in a really small, simple, practical way is that I find that the more whole I’m becoming myself and the more rounded out and more full I am in my own identity in Christ… The image I have is of myself becoming full and with my borders fully extended. Each child that comes into my class gets to push up against those borders and my, sort of, parameters.
In so doing, they’re testing boundaries, but they’re also beginning to discover who they are. Their pushing against me doesn’t change who I am, but it does begin to change who they are and begins to resonate something of the Kingdom in very small, simple, practical ways in their lives that they may not even be understanding yet, but that I know is affecting their hearts. So the more whole each of us is becoming in our spheres of influence, the more whole the people around us have permission to become, too.
If you want to grow in the prophetic, it doesn’t begin with what you say. It begins with what you see. The prophetic is rooted in perception. Not just natural insight, but spiritual awareness—what Scripture calls “the eyes of your heart.” Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus would have their hearts enlightened so they could truly see what God was doing. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you…” (Ephesians 1:18) God isn’t distant or withholding. But if we’re going to hear Him clearly, we have to see differently. We need Heaven’s perspective. And that means learning to quiet the noise, tune into His voice, and let Him train our inner vision. You don’t need to wait for a dramatic vision or audible voice. Often, God speaks through a nudge. A mental picture. A scripture that lingers. A sense of burden or joy that feels holy. These are the first signs that your spiritual eyesight is awakening. But it takes time. It takes attention. It takes trust. Just like physical muscles grow with use, your spiritual senses grow as you spend time with Him—not just talking, but listening. Not just asking for answers, but asking for His perspective. You were never meant to live according to what the world says is true. You were meant to live by every word that flows from the mouth of God. A Prayer for This Week: “Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Teach me to see what You see—not just in others, but in myself, in my circumstances, in the world around me. Give me clarity and confidence to trust Your perspective more than my own. Amen.” This week, pay attention to what you notice. The way you see is often the way He speaks.
In this live session, Sean Smith and Julian Adams share their prophetic perspectives on 2025, offering honest reflections on what they sense God is doing across the earth. With hope and expectancy, they discuss the spiritual landscape ahead and how we can prepare for what’s to come.
We are living in a world of dramatic change. The relentless pace of development often leaves us breathless and exhausted. The demand for innovative ways of communicating, inventing, and staying ahead of cultural trends can feel daunting and demoralizing. It can push us into a space where we find ourselves trying to copy rather than be authentic, to imitate rather than create. This pressure can lead us to believe that we need to be more creative, and that our individual stories do not matter. But nothing could be further from the truth. Your story, no matter how small, matters and is powerful. One of the remarkable aspects of ancient manuscripts, like the Bible, is that they tell the stories of individuals whose lives may seem small and insignificant. Yet, God chose to make their lives a memorial of what He could do with a life that the world deems insignificant. The incredible power of the gospel is that it changes lives one at a time. God is as interested in the individual story as He is in redeeming the cosmos. The aim of the gospel is not just dealing with personal sin; it is about restoring individuals to a relationship with a kind Father. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis beautifully said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." Justification addresses our standing before God, but our adoption invites us into a relationship with the Father. It allows us to partake of who He is and to live in a place of deep joy from who He is. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Many of us forget that the work of salvation has turned this verse around. Through Jesus, we have been restored to the glory of God. One description of the word "glory" refers to the divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, and splendor. It is the revelation of God's intrinsic worth and beauty. Do you see that? We have been restored to His divine quality, splendor, and beauty. In a world where it can be easy to feel like just another face in the crowd, remember that your story is significant. Your experiences, your journey, and your voice matter. Embrace the unique narrative God has given you and let it shine. You are not just a spectator; you are a vital participant in God's grand story. Your authenticity, creativity, and individuality are valuable. As you navigate the rapid changes of our world, hold on to the truth that your story has power and purpose. God sees you, knows you, and has a plan for your life that is uniquely yours. Let us celebrate the beauty and significance of each individual story, knowing that together, we contribute to a tapestry of divine splendor and glory.