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After Christmas what next? Luke 14:25-33
January 2006
There is no doubt that after Christmas, Christmas items are for sales. The drum beat that you buy two and get one free draws people to the shopping Centre. What about in the church? For Christians, after Christmas, its
Discipleship!
What is a disciple? The simplest meaning of a disciple is that he/she is a "learner" or "follower." Socrates had disciples, John the Baptist had disciples, and Gandhi had disciples. But to be a disciple of Jesus Christ involves much more than following any human leader.
Investing in good Listening
This short story illustrates the need to distinguish the purpose of our Christian mission from the church and its various functions:
A new fire Chief arrived at the Fire Station. He called a meeting with the crew and told them, "Firemen, our mission is to put out fires and save lives. These are your responsibilities:
Robert, Cook our food. Martha, Drive the truck. James, Repair the hoses.
Frank, Develop the entertainment program. Now we are going to review. What is it that I want you to do?"
Robert: "Cook." Martha: "Drive." James: "Repair" Frank: "Develop."
Fire Chief: "I have just told you. What you have just said are your responsibilities. Above all things, your mission is and always will be to put out fires and save lives."
The mission of everyone in the church is to make disciples. This means that we must join God in the work of transforming people. Each church member, regardless of his specific place of responsibility: Cook, Drive, Repair, or Develop, must never forget his mission - "Discipleship."
For a long time we have structured our churches with different ministries that are not related to each other. The evangelists do not coordinate their work with the teachers, or the teachers with the servants, or the servants with the musicians, or the musicians with the fellowship coordinator, or these with the missionaries, and the like.
Investing in His Word
Each group is doing its own thing, and sometimes the groups even compete with one another! Instead, we must overcome that error - we must pursue strategies that integrate all the ministries of the church.
This was the goal of our Lord Jesus Christ and still must be ours today.
When we look at the scriptures, we discover two critical truths about the way Jesus relates to us: He always does what is in our best interest eternally (Romans 8:28), and he wants us to know that our relationship with him is absolutely secure. It will never be broken (John 10:28-29, Romans 8:37-39).
Investing in his Call.
Jesus wants us to experience trust and security with him, and he invites us to draw near. Hebrews 10:19-20 says, 'Therefore, brothers and sisters....we have confidence to enter the Most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way'. As the level of intimacy in our relationship with him grows, our trust deepens as well. The closer we come, the more our relationship will stand the weight of truth that Jesus wants to speak into our lives.
The same dynamic occurs in every discipling relationship. As Jesus has done with us, we have to demonstrate to our disciples that we're acting with their best interests in mind and that we're safe. Still, it takes time for people to trust us enough to give access into their lives.
Investing in His Relationship
In the early stages of a discipling relationship, we need to focus on getting to know the person instead of immediately assigning them a spiritual to do list. When I begin meeting with someone, I ask myself three questions:
- What does this person want to do?
- What does he trust me to do?
- How can I help him know he's safe with me?
Modicum
Quote
"We live in a culture where the beliefs and differences of the individual are given final authority. Paul's firm commitment to the churches as 'the Pillar and Foundation of the truth' stand against the current."
© John Stott - Fighting The Good Fight, 1998
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