Kingdom Focused Ministries

04/05/2026

Earlier this year I was reflecting on the experience Mary Magdalene had in the Garden of Tombs that morning of Christ's Resurrection.

I also did a great deal of research on the timing of Christs death and learned that some scholars believe that his death occurred during Passover 26 AD. That would mean that today it is 2,000 years from the day that Mary discovered Him arisen in the Garden. She, like many of us, was not aware of His presence until He spoke her name... And then, she knew Her Lord had returned. He had kept His promise.

What Joy She Felt in that moment of revelation.

What Peace.

Our assignment is still the same... Go and tell the others... But, now, we may cling to Him! We sit with Him in His Heavenly Place at the right hand of the Father carrying His legacy in a lost and broken world until He returns.

I'm always comforted by His words in John 16:33, "In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart I've always overcome the world."

He defeated the devil. Death. Sin. The Grave. And, He imparts to us a covenant rooted in love and grace that He cut with His Father on our behalf. How glorious His sacrifice, and How powerful His resurrection.

For our Christ was dead, but He is now alive. His cross made the way, paid the price, and it forever changed my life.

Happy Resurrection Day!! He is risen indeed.

He Rose Glorified

His body lain
Cold in death
Son of God slain
All the earth held its breath

Stone heavy
Sealing their grief
Angels attending
Our Savior’s death sleep

The earth sighed
Quaking its relief
As His body rose
Death knew His defeat

Sun rising
She ran to His tomb
Finding it open
Her grief now consumed

He appeared
She didn’t know
Her Savior was standing
Her heart in her throat

Running to Him
Where Is He?
She begged
Please tell me

Searching His face
For Answers Needed
His Voice Calmed Her Race
Who are you seeking?

He said her name
Familiar and True
All of a sudden
She Just Knew.

Her heart swelled with joy
Her eyes opened to see
Her Messiah arisen
Tell the others it’s Me!

Prophecies fulfilled
A Tomb testified
Three days promised
He Rose glorified

The grave now defeated
Sinners set free
Sin’s power depleted
Captives released

All things are possible
We Must Believe
Every Morning Breaks Different
When Sin And Death Lose Their Sting.

Original Spoken Word
(c) 2026. Michelle Bentham All Rights Reserved.

11/26/2025

I have been praying and asking the Lord about "the special anointing" idea lately.

I've heard people say, "Not just anyone can do this..." or "Not just anyone can do that..."

As I talked to the Lord, I felt He asked me, "What do you believe I'm anointed to do?"

I said... E. V. E. R. Y. T. H. I. N. G.

I sensed Him ask, "How does one receive My anointing?"

I said, Isaiah 61 says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me, and You instructed Your disciples to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them before they went out to preach and do the works You've prepared for us to do. So, Your Holy Spirit anoints. And, it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that breaks the yoke.

He said, "What does that mean to you?"

That Your presence within all believers and the Holy Spirit's anointing empowers all your disciples to do ALL THE WORKS YOU DID AND MORE (the greater works).

I sensed the Lord's delight in my answer.

Why do we believe we have to depend on people rather than God for the works He wants to do in and through us.

I believe the "anointed minister" theology had a season just as Old Testament prophets served their season until Jesus came and introduced a new season in Him.

If we apply old wineskin theology to New Wineskin seasons we end with busted wineskins that will not hold.

The New Season will require fresh revelation and fresh understanding as we move according to His Spirit. Stand ready!!! - Michelle Bentham

10/01/2025

We began our study of Paul's Thessalonian Letters last week reading Chapter 1 and reviewing the back story for how Paul landed in Macedonia:

In Galatians 2, Paul confronted Peter publicly when his actions threatened to divide the body of Christ and disrupt the unity of the Gospel’s truth. You see, Peter had been fellowshipping freely with Gentile believers—until the Judaizers showed up. Then he withdrew, sending a devastating message to the Antioch Church: “I, a Jewish Believer, can't be seen fellowshipping with you whil these Jews are present.”

But Paul, he loved Peter enough to risk public scrutiny and his own fellowship with Peter. He publicly confronted Peter's double-minded hypocrisy.

He loved the Gentile believers enough to defend their full inclusion in the body without the requirmenta of the law.

He loved Jesus enough to fight for His Gospel truth to be realized in every life it touched.

In Acts 16, we see Paul, Barnabas, AND Peter speaking before the Jerusalem Council advocating for the Gentile believers admonishing Jewish believers for burdening the Gentiles with the requirements of the Law, particularly circumcison, before welcoming them into the body of Christ.

Paul's actions were those of a peacemaker, contending for truth and loving Peter enough to speak the hard truths - even if they might not be accepted.

What price are you willing to pay to make peace as you contend for truth?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Check out the comments for more details!

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07/23/2025

Why is it so easy for professing Christians to cast doubt, believe the worst, and label others unredeemed?

I believe the answer is because we are married to our own beliefs about what is true, and not actually united in Christ who is Truth.

Did you know that the thief on the cross never prayed a "sinner's" prayer or officially confessed his sins?

Think that over. But, his words spoken on the cross about Jesus, a simple confession of belief brought him into Heaven's Kingdom.

Where does that fit in our altar call religion?

Did you know that when Peter preached in the temple courts at Pentecost not one person prayed a "sinner's" prayer?

His message wasn't crafty branding, full of kitchy catch phrases or anecdotes that play on getting people to recognize they are sinners. His message was the story of Jesus - the history of the Messiah - the true Gospel. And the scriptures reveal that it cut people to the heart and thousands believed and were added to that number.

Peter didn't even lead them in a prayer.

But, here's the other thing... Whether you simply believe in your heart the Gospel truth about Jesus and confess with your mouth that He is your Lord, or call upon His Name, "Lord, I'm a sinner..." in sincere faith and belief confessing your sins and repenting of them in a prayer... It is the belief and confession of lordship that saves you not the manner of repentance that brings about that confession. Furthermore, that belief and confession would not be possible without the imparted faith of the Holy Spirit which convicts the world of sin, believers of the righteousness of Christ, and the devil of his ever-impending judgment before God.

And now... What about water baptism?

Jesus' disciples did not measure their success in evangelism by the number who walked an aisle and prayed a prayer and then were water baptized. Instead they counted those who believed and were added to their number daily. Saved.

When they asked Peter what to do to be saved, Peter presented the full Gospel...

"Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:38 NLT

But, here's the thing... That idea of repenting in Acts 2:38 of repenting of your sins, it reads differently in more literal translations: "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." NKJV

And while some translations say remission others say forgiveness. I believe remission is a much better translation… Jesus already paid the price for your sins at the Christ, and you are just bringing in the paid receipt that remits the payment due on your account and applies that forgiveness to your account.

But, what does the word repent mean? Metanoia means to "Change Your Mind or The Way You Think."

The specific context is to change the way you think about belief, religion, the Messiah, Jesus... and be baptized, (John's water baptism was demonstrating submission to God and the renewing of the mind... Repentance.) And as you repent and believe in Jesus your sins have been (past tense) atoned for (remitted and forgiven) so you receive that reality in that moment, and this is salvation. Then, receive the Holy Spirit who empowers you to live out this changed life... A baptism of power.
And yet we don't see a lot of people talking about changing your mind or receiving the Holy Spirit when they preach the Gospel.

We need to measure why we believe what we believe and whether or not it lines up with the Truth of Jesus and the revelation of Scripture and Holy Spirit.

The call to repent for the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand was not a call to just confess and repent of sins, though recognizing and repenting of sins is a part of the conviction of the Holy Spirit that leads us to Jesus.

The call to repent also called those religious among the nation of Israel to forsake their religious traditions and preferences and follow their true Messiah, Jesus in faith, believing and confessing the truth about Him.

After reading up on it, the formalization of a sinner's prayer began in the mid-late 1800s (19th Century) and became popular among evangelical Christian leaders in the 20th Century.

Prior to this era, the call to repentance was preached by the First Great Awakening leaders suggesting the pastors in the pulpits were not saved which led to repentance and tearing down of high lofty pulpits that glorified men, and the preaching of the Gospel and its freedom. This revival brought revolution that birthed a nation.
Repent... For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. What is Holy Spirit saying to you?



X-Posted: Michelle Newsom Bentham

07/10/2025

I don't like kitchy church phrases like "No Perfect People Allowed" anymore...

Yep! I said it. I used to wear the t-shirt...

I understand the sentimentent is meant to welcome people who are living in the struggle.

But, hear me out!

If no perfect people are allowed, there's no room for Jesus. He exists as perfect completion. He is the "that which is perfect" the Bible tells us will be the end of spiritual gifts. (See 1 Corinthians 12)

We may not be perfect, but if we are in Christ we should have t-shirts that say... "Being perfected!"

Here's where I became convicted.

If we aren't careful, a slogan meant to say "Come as you are..." will be read as Stay That Way!

It is a subtle twist. That is how the lies of the enemy work. And that subtle twist is the first brick in a stronghold that with each reinforcement leaves us spinning in cycles of sin and defeat based on a lie that will take a wrecking ball of truth to break free from.

In the book of Romans, Paul lays out the case for busting out of the subtle lies of the enemy by remembering who you are in Christ.

He begins by declaring in chapter 1, verse 4 that Jesus IS the Son of God in POWER. (There's your wrecking ball!)

Then he goes on to say one chapter later that it is the loving-kindness of God that brings us to repent. (Not our catch-phrases.)

Then in chapter 3 he makes the case for our need of redemption. In verse 23, he says that we all have sinned and as a result fall short of God's glory.

Chapter 4 makes the case for faith expressed through belief being the key to receiving not only salvation but righteousness. He says, in verse 17, that by faith Abraham declared things that were not yet as though they already were. (Let that sink in...) Notice this was an act of faith, not wishful thinking. God honored this because it was faith credited as righteousness.

In chapter 5, he reveals the truth about Jesus and His salvation declaring that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us in verse 8.

In chapter 6, Paul writes the profound truth that being saved is to be alive in Christ, and this means we are no longer under the law but under grace. He actualy says we are dead to sin. Freed from its power over us. We are no longer sinners once we are in Christ.

So why do we go on living like we are?

Because we haven't realized that when we repent, confess Christ as Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead to redeem us from our sins (see Romans 10), that we were set free from sin and the old sinful nature dies at that moment, and the nature of Christ (righteousness) is our new nature. Paul says to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ.

Chapter 7 covers the complexities of cognitive dissonace that occurs when our core beliefs are aligned with the twisted lie we remain sinners after salvation. We live inconsistently ascenting to the truth of scripture while living below the standard of truth we say we believe.

But, chapter 8 brings it home declaring we are no longer condemned as sinners but rather are known as sons when we are in Christ. And nothing can separate us from the love of God for us. That in Christ, no matter what we face it will work for our good and declare God's glory as we more than conquer the obstacles we face in life.

So why do we teach people that after salvation they are still sinners and will never be able to stop sinning?

After salvation, we still have the capacity to choose sin (our will), but we are empowered by God to choose not to sin when we surrender to His truth and nature at work in is.

So much so, the Apostle John declares in I John 5:18:

"We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them." (NLT)

Let's live according to this truth and account our old nature dead as we entrust ourselves to the Righteousness of Christ living in us.

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

But doesn't the Holy Spirit continue to convict us of sin?

Before salvation we are convicted by the Holy Spirit of sin because we do not know Jesus, and after salvation we are convicted of the righteousness of Christ in us because we do know Him, and the enemy of our souls is convicted that he is judged each time we walk in the newness of life Jesus died to give us. (See John 16:8-11)

We will overcome evil with good. God is good!

02/10/2025

Discipling the Nations. Not just individuals, but nations - a global initiative requires a global response.

02/09/2025

I've been thinking about and praying for the state of church in America a lot today. Here's what I am seeing in the rapidly unraveling reality that seems like that thread on a sweater nobody wanted to pull...

But here's the thing, it will eventually come undone. Anything in my life that carries more value than God has to come undone.

The culture of celebrity Christianity where we value the leaders and the denominations, and the buildings, campuses, and opulence of our structures ... What happens when leader(s) fall?

I've lived through watching many leaders (male and female) who taught me what I thought I knew about God tumble like dominoes in recent years. Some I worked for and with.

They wrote the books on Bible study, and what it means to live in freedom, be blessed, have a godly marriage, and knowing God. And one-by-one they were exposed as compromising, manipulative, abusive, and/or deceptive.

Each blow challenged me to examine what I believed, to let go of them, and what I learned that wasn't them... To grieve and process the disbelief, anger, questions, despair, and finally come to hope and acceptancece with God recognizing they were merely human, but their failures do not change what my experience with Him, His Word, His Spirit, and those people I know on a heart-level has taught me.

Forgiving them became a visceral exercise as I recognize anyone can end up in a place where their power and influence opens the door to a path of destruction. I know because I lived it into my 40s while I was trying figure out what a relationship with God looked like. Mercy and justice walk hand in hand. Do justice in my own heart. Love mercy toward other people. Walk humbly with God... (Read More at kingdomfocused.online)

Kingdom Focused Online empowers believers to discover and fulfill their divine purpose through Christ-centered community, leadership development, and Spirit-led ministry training. Core Purposes: Advance God's Kingdom - "Proclaim the Gospel and foster Christian unity through collaborative ministry in...

12/23/2024

I saw a post that the Word for the Year adds extra pressure or stress - even Comparison... Then, I thought about my experience with the Word for the Year and realized maybe I am thinking about and approaching it differently...

For me, I experience no pressure to perform my "Word for the Year" but rather listen for what the Lord is saying about the coming year, and partner with Him intentionally in prayer over that word, relfecting on the word at different times, and allowing God to direct and influence my decisions, while seeking to uncover the mystery in the word throughout the year.

I have found that rather than stress and comparison, the Word for the Year gives me opportunity to be intentional in my relationship with God, the opportunities and plans I embrace, and to grow in my faith as I watch the plan of God unfold in real time.

Do I always end up in the place I thought I was headed at the beginning of the year, not always - but I always end up enriched, deeply blessed, and closer to God which has been my aim.

It is not up to me to fulfill God's Word for the Year but rather to seek my full created potential in the context of that word and praise God as He fulfills His word and promise to me.

xposted - Michelle Newsom Bentham
xposted - Michelle Bentham

08/17/2024

Welp... Welp... The Bible Study Book is live on Amazon as of 7:42 am. I've been so excited to start this study with my home group - and we are growing as a community with 17 women registered to attend.

Ya'll... God is so faithful. In the summer of 2003, I started out as a hungry young woman in my 30s, inviting my pastor's wife over to my house for Bible study. I started with 8 women in a classroom of the sanctuary, and by the time we left in 2007, there were 24 women attending weekly Bible study in the spring and fall. Those years challenged and grew me so much. I didn't know much, but I was hungry, and God used my hunger.

The year we left that church, I met with that same pastor's wife for lunch one day and told her I didn't think God wanted me to continue leading other people's Bible studies anymore. She acknowledged that it would be unlikely that the pastor and elders would let me write my own studies and lead them. I told her that I understood that... And by the end of the year, we transitioned to a new church home where I did write a Bible study - a grief recovery manual for mothers who had lost children based on the inner healing and deliverance ministry protocols there. That endeavor led to me working on staff for a few years.

In 2017, I began leading local women's Bible studies and airing them on Facebook Live. God's been so faithful from that first group of ten women meeting at a local office building to gathering around the table of my home and then in the church I was attending. In the beginning, I read the passage and wrote the notes the morning we met for Bible study because God didn't want me to bring anything more than what the Spirit was leading me to that day to the table.

I never published those early books in the Gospels, but I plan to redo them at some point online. I still lead in the same way in our Epistles studies. It's just that God allows me to prepare the notes months ahead of time these days, and in 2023 prompted me to take a step of faith and stop PRINTING hundreds of pages in my office (like literally staying up all night to print and bind workbooks for Bible study), and publish my books on Amazon. I've never been so grateful in all my life... God is faithful, friends. SO VERY FAITHFUL. He will do more with your yes of obedience, even if you feel like you don't know what you are doing... than you could ever ask, think, or imagine... Jump in. (The link to the book is in the comments.)

08/15/2024

New Bible study releases next week - August 21, 2024!!!

Join me as we embark on a treasure hunt through Romans Chapters 1-8, discovering what it means to be saved by grace and marked by faith! This 17-week study will focus on what is considered to be Paul's most exquisite letter to the New Testament Church, full of practical insights and wisdom we can apply to our lives about how to live by faith, marked by grace, and fulfilling Christ's Gospel as we go.

Online and In-Person options are available and can be accessed by The Kingdom Focused Life Channel in the Mighty Networks App.

[Note: You will have to sign up through the FREE plan to Kingdom Focused Life to register for The Epistles: Verse-By-Verse - Romans Pt. One, The Pauline Letters: Saved by Faith, Marked by Grace]

In Person - Granbury, TX Wednesdays 10am-12pm - Meeting location provided through App registration. Includes book and online resources. Cost:$25

Online Course - Sessions release weekly on Wednesdays 12:00 AM CDT. Online content accessed through the app. Includes downloadable PDFs and online study resources. Worbook purchase through Amazon optional. Cost: $10.00

07/16/2024

In a few weeks, I'll begin teaching my tenth session of verse-by-verse Bible study for women. This session starts in August and will be live in Granbury and available online. The next study will be digging into the essential and profound epistle to the Romans. We'll examine the first eight chapters this fall and wrap up the study in the final eight chapters next spring.

I began teaching Bible study verse-by-verse, asking, "What would we believe if we only had the scriptures and Holy Spirit to inform our faith?"

Here are a few of the general objectives for every Bible study I lead:

In addition to these objectives focused on verse-by-verse study of scripture, Michelle also prioritizes the following goals in each Bible study she leads:

1. Equip Others through Scripture - Equip others with the necessary tools and resources to effectively study the Bible, including techniques for word study, cross-referencing, and applying the truth of the scriptures to their personal lives and leadership contexts.

2. Create a safe space for everyone - Embrace diverse backgrounds and understandings of other participants by encouraging others in the group to share their insights, questions, and perspectives on the study texts that foster a more profound sense of community and sisterhood in Christ.

3. Empower others to lead - Explore how scripture study encourages women in their leadership roles within their family, church, workplace, and community environments.

4. Make room for the Holy Spirit - Provide ample time for women to explore and share their own stories and experiences related to leadership and facilitate discussions about overcoming challenges, embracing strengths, and growing in faith as women who lead.

5. Personal testimony & experiences - Emphasis on embracing God’s perspective over our cultural or traditional perceptions and interpretations of scripture - especially as indicated by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

6. Taking on the Mind of Christ - Encourage others to develop a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-led mindset based on the principles and examples found in the scriptures. Examples: attitudes of humility, unity, and joy.

7. Application through Activation—Identify practical applications from the study to apply to their personal experiences and leadership roles, including decision-making, conflict resolution, and serving others. Provide support through activation planning and accountability in groups, live and online.

Look for registration to open for this study in a few weeks, and the workbook will be available on Amazon in early August!

"The Epistles | Verse By Verse - The Pauline Letters: Romans Part One - "Saved by Faith, Marked by Grace" begins August 21, 2024.