Last weekend was the first time in about a year that I was home alone. I obviously live with my wife, but we also live with three other roommates in our 1,100 sq. ft house. My wife and brother in law went to S.C. for their grandma's 80th bday and Tim and Karen went to Orlando to celebrate her Dad's birthday which left me with the house to myself for an unprecedented 4 days.
I really tried to take advantage of this time and have somewhat of a solitude retreat where I spent most of my time at home alone with the Lord. No TV, no movies, no mindless internet surfing... I shut off every other input. I did leave to go to prayer on Friday and church Sunday, but other than that, not much activity. The result: a life changing weekend of hearing God's voice and being transformed in His presence. Best Memorial day weekend of my life.
During this time, it really hit me how little we listen to the Lord and really let His presence change us. It is not because we don't want to hear His voice. It isn't even because there are other things that we think are more important. The critical culprit is not a lack of desire, but the many other voices we are absently listening to and letting fill us up. We give the voice of facebook sometimes hours a day. We give talking heads or characters on our favorite TV shows hours a week. We read blogs (oh the irony) and surf twitter in our spare minutes during the day... and that adds up!
So put it all together - even if we spend an hour with the Lord a day, we are still spending an average of 2-3 hours listening to these other voices. That proportion worries me if outside inputs are doubling the time we spend getting input from and spending time with the Lord.
If we want to be disciples that make disciples, we need to prioritize the Lord over everything else, which means cutting out excess inputs. Now this isn't a call to cut yourself off from any and every media input and to say the devil running facebook or something ridiculous like that, but a call to constantly ask yourself a simple question: what is my ratio of time listening to the Lord and time listening to "outside voices"? If we really want to hear His voice, we have to make sure He is getting the majority of our attention.
Matt
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Consistency is Key
The Large Group, the small group, and the few. I really like this strategy. This is actually the current strategy for First A/G to have some "green" disciples. We gather in the large group on Sundays to worship, encourage one another and get trained through scripture to go change the world. We meet in Small Groups throughout the week to have a dialogue format with people we do life and mission with. And then we have THE FEW. The 1-3 people in our life that we have chosen to make a significant impact in. Over the course of the first few months of this strategy of B1M1, here are a few lessons that I have learned:
1 - Consistency is key. A day, time and place that you will meet every week is a must. To schedule it weekly around schedules is too much to ask. For me, 3 students come after school on Thursday to the church. Most of the time I have to pick some of them up or take some of them home. But we all know Thursdays are the day. Because it has become a regular part of our schedules, they now text me about it.
2 - Flow with the Holy Spirit. Be open to what God is doing in the hearts of your disciples. Be in the spirit and ready to respond when the opportunity for wisdom and guidance presents itself.
3 - Go through a book together. SWEAT is going through "The Purple Book" with our disciples. My wife is in a group that just went through Crazy Love by Francis Chan and is now tackling True Discipleship.
4 - From the beginning, cast the vision that after 6 months they will need to have a group of a FEW on their own. When you know you have to reproduce something, you listen more intently.
5 - Pray your guts out!
Being One, Making One,
RJ
1 - Consistency is key. A day, time and place that you will meet every week is a must. To schedule it weekly around schedules is too much to ask. For me, 3 students come after school on Thursday to the church. Most of the time I have to pick some of them up or take some of them home. But we all know Thursdays are the day. Because it has become a regular part of our schedules, they now text me about it.
2 - Flow with the Holy Spirit. Be open to what God is doing in the hearts of your disciples. Be in the spirit and ready to respond when the opportunity for wisdom and guidance presents itself.
3 - Go through a book together. SWEAT is going through "The Purple Book" with our disciples. My wife is in a group that just went through Crazy Love by Francis Chan and is now tackling True Discipleship.
4 - From the beginning, cast the vision that after 6 months they will need to have a group of a FEW on their own. When you know you have to reproduce something, you listen more intently.
5 - Pray your guts out!
Being One, Making One,
RJ
Never Eat Alone
I don't know about you, but I really don't like eating alone. You physically have to eat and most of us do so three times a day at pretty consistent times. If you work, you take your lunch break at almost the same time everyday. If you are a college student, you do so between classes. The time may be a little different but this universal truth is this: if you want to survive, you have to eat!
There are things like eating that happen every single day of your life. Why not redeem these times for discipleship? Leverage your everyday schedule to make disciples. Ask yourself this: What is it that you do every day or every week that you could bring someone along with you and make it a discipleship moment? Take eating for example: I go out to eat with small group leaders at least 3 times a week and discuss their small groups and how they are making disciples. I go out to lunch with people I am discipling 1-2 times a week and am very intentional with the questions I ask and try to challenge them spiritually every time we meet. Sometimes I go out to breakfast with disciples once a week and do the same thing. Add that up and that is 5-8 hours a week that I am leveraging to make disciples that I otherwise would have wasted on simply eating.
Pray over your schedule and ask God, "Where can I make disciples with the things that I am already doing?"
- Do you work out? Bring someone with you and talk about Jesus!
- Do you need to study? Invite someone and take discipleship breaks from studying
- Do you love reading? Start a book club and make it a discipleship group
- Are you helping the poor? Bring someone along next time instead of doing it by yourself!
Don't even tell me you don't have time to make disciples. I don't believe you. You just need to find out where God has already given you opportunities and turn them into moments where you can Be One and Make One!!
P. Matt
There are things like eating that happen every single day of your life. Why not redeem these times for discipleship? Leverage your everyday schedule to make disciples. Ask yourself this: What is it that you do every day or every week that you could bring someone along with you and make it a discipleship moment? Take eating for example: I go out to eat with small group leaders at least 3 times a week and discuss their small groups and how they are making disciples. I go out to lunch with people I am discipling 1-2 times a week and am very intentional with the questions I ask and try to challenge them spiritually every time we meet. Sometimes I go out to breakfast with disciples once a week and do the same thing. Add that up and that is 5-8 hours a week that I am leveraging to make disciples that I otherwise would have wasted on simply eating.
Pray over your schedule and ask God, "Where can I make disciples with the things that I am already doing?"
- Do you work out? Bring someone with you and talk about Jesus!
- Do you need to study? Invite someone and take discipleship breaks from studying
- Do you love reading? Start a book club and make it a discipleship group
- Are you helping the poor? Bring someone along next time instead of doing it by yourself!
Don't even tell me you don't have time to make disciples. I don't believe you. You just need to find out where God has already given you opportunities and turn them into moments where you can Be One and Make One!!
P. Matt
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Your life is your mission
One of the reasons that I love being a soccer coach is that I actually get a chance to rub shoulders with people that do not go to our church. Being on staff here, my "circle" of people is narrow and pretty much confined to the church. But the parents know about my job, so they are watching how I treat their children all the time, and judging not only my walk with Christ, but Christians as a whole.
Recently, a family came to our Welcome tent after having visited the church a couple of times. Upon inquiring how they came to visit our church, we found out that the person who had helped to take care of a family member in the hospital attends our church and invited them. The family is wanting to get plugged in and discipled.
Both of these things are reminders that we really are making disciples everywhere we go in everything we do. Our Making One isn't just happening in private meetings we have with people we are in relationship with. It is happening on your job, no matter where you work or what you do. Do you invite people into your life or exclude them? Are you available or too busy? Are you displaying the fruit of the spirit all the time, or only at church?
Be a disciple. Then you will be making disciples, whether you are trying or not.
Recently, a family came to our Welcome tent after having visited the church a couple of times. Upon inquiring how they came to visit our church, we found out that the person who had helped to take care of a family member in the hospital attends our church and invited them. The family is wanting to get plugged in and discipled.
Both of these things are reminders that we really are making disciples everywhere we go in everything we do. Our Making One isn't just happening in private meetings we have with people we are in relationship with. It is happening on your job, no matter where you work or what you do. Do you invite people into your life or exclude them? Are you available or too busy? Are you displaying the fruit of the spirit all the time, or only at church?
Be a disciple. Then you will be making disciples, whether you are trying or not.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
BE a Regular
One aspect of evangelism that is constantly overlooked is the concept of being "a regular". My mom taught me this principle in regards to good business when I was younger... and she was anazing at it. She went to the same banks, same post offices, and same stores for her business and got to know the people that worked there and built relationships with them on a personal level. It seemed like she was on a name-to-name basis with everyone in Vero Beach! It made her small business much easier when everyone knew her personally everywhere she went.
In the same way, as disciples we need to be strategic with where we go, whether that is to shop for groceries, eat after church on Sundays, or even where we pump gas. Go to the same Publix every time you get groceries and start to get to know the cashiers and bag boys. Go to the same Starbucks and take 5 minutes to listen to the baristas stories. I am reaching out to a guy at a gas station that I stop at every Sunday while driving to the East campus. I asked and he works every Sunday morning, so I make it a point to grab something small to drink or eat there every Sunday morning as well! Kingdom doors are opening simply because I have been a regular there the last 5 weeks and am being strategic with 5-10 minutes every Sunday morning.
One key to BEING a disciple is to be strategic. Someone will be much more receptive to the Gospel if it is coming from someone who over the past few days, weeks, or months, have proven themselves to be someone they know and can trust. So next time you go out to eat for example, get to know your waitress (tip her well) and then come back and pick the conversation back up next week at the same restaurant instead of going somewhere completely different. You will be amazed at what just a little more intentionality can do in regards to loving and winning the lost!
P. Matt
In the same way, as disciples we need to be strategic with where we go, whether that is to shop for groceries, eat after church on Sundays, or even where we pump gas. Go to the same Publix every time you get groceries and start to get to know the cashiers and bag boys. Go to the same Starbucks and take 5 minutes to listen to the baristas stories. I am reaching out to a guy at a gas station that I stop at every Sunday while driving to the East campus. I asked and he works every Sunday morning, so I make it a point to grab something small to drink or eat there every Sunday morning as well! Kingdom doors are opening simply because I have been a regular there the last 5 weeks and am being strategic with 5-10 minutes every Sunday morning.
One key to BEING a disciple is to be strategic. Someone will be much more receptive to the Gospel if it is coming from someone who over the past few days, weeks, or months, have proven themselves to be someone they know and can trust. So next time you go out to eat for example, get to know your waitress (tip her well) and then come back and pick the conversation back up next week at the same restaurant instead of going somewhere completely different. You will be amazed at what just a little more intentionality can do in regards to loving and winning the lost!
P. Matt
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Always making one (or more)
At a small group this week, one of the single moms brings her boys since, as a working mother, they have so little time together. Being only 8, the group figures that most of what they talk about goes right over his head. But this week, with the wisdom of a child, he declares "When we are here, its just like we are in church, so you have to be respectful of each other and the Lord. This is a house church." And he is right, small group IS church at its most primal level.
You see, you are making disciples all the time, but what are you discipling them in? Are you showing love and respect for others? Are you having grace and mercy? Self control? Or do you only display these things on Sunday morning?
Intentional disciple- making is living out our daily life in a way that honors God and displays our love for Him and for others. Will we blow it sometimes? Of course we will, but when we do, we stand back up and keep going, honoring God and loving people. Thats how we BE one, and thats how we MAKE one.
You see, you are making disciples all the time, but what are you discipling them in? Are you showing love and respect for others? Are you having grace and mercy? Self control? Or do you only display these things on Sunday morning?
Intentional disciple- making is living out our daily life in a way that honors God and displays our love for Him and for others. Will we blow it sometimes? Of course we will, but when we do, we stand back up and keep going, honoring God and loving people. Thats how we BE one, and thats how we MAKE one.
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Pursuit
Yesterday I went on an adventure with one of my fellow SWEAT Leaders. We had a special invite night in place of the Wednesday night service this week. This faithful leader made personalized posters and goodiebags for every visitor who came to service on Wednesday. Then, we made a plan to deliver them to each visitor's house Thursday morning. First house, no one was home so we left it on the porch. Second house, we heard a piano playing so we knew someone was home. As soon as we rang the doorbell, the piano player stopped playing. No footsteps. They didn't answer the door :-). That's ok...we left it on the porch. I was a little discouraged but little did I know the real pursuit was just getting started...
We were literally in the middle of nowhere in Archer looking for the third house. We had mapquest directions and a GPS that couldn't save us out of brown paper bag. We kept making u-turns on these skinny dirt roads looking for signs we couldn't even read. We stopped and enjoyed the country view...the hay, the cows and the horses. Then finally decided to call the visitor. The conversation went something like this...
"Hi, this is Sara from SWEAT youth and me and another youth leader are trying to deliver a goodie bag to your house to say thank you for visiting. Is there any chance you live in the middle of the woods. We're lost."
Her response: "Actually, yes we do live in the middle of the woods. Where are you?"
Me: "Not sure, we were on this road that turned into another road. Our directions told us to make a left on train tracks...all we know is we're lost."
Her response: "Ok, well I'm not good with directions, let me get you my mom....(pause)....Oh we have goats that have been giving us some trouble so we're selling them and the people who want to buy them are here now, can my mom call you back?"
Me: "GOATS?? Are you serious?? Yes she can call me back"
So me and the other SWEAT leader tried to go back to where we started to see if we can try to find her house again. Since we knew she was home, we wanted to make sure we delivered the treats. We were on a pursuit and we weren't going to give up. Her mom called me back a few minutes later and of course had no clue where we were. We didn't either! We finally talked to her dad that pointed us into the right direction. If anybody has ever driven with me they know I'm horrible at following verbal directions if I'm lost. I just said ok to everything he said hoping it would make sense when we saw the landmarks he mentioned. He told us at one point we would reach a gate that we would have to open and that would tell us we were really close to the house. Ok a gate, no problem. Sike. BIG PROBLEM! We reached the gate and it wasn't a "push these 3 buttons and the gate will slowly open" kind of gate. It was an old, rusty gate with a pad lock on a chain. Me and my faithful youth leader friend tried all the pushing, pulling, and yanking we could and could not get this gate open. We called the family several times, but kept getting their voicemail. So, sadly we decided to leave the posters and gifts by the gate for them to pick up. As soon as we were about to turn around, the dad called us back and directed us how to open the gate. It was crazy! There was a padlock wrapped around a chain that had a combination scroll on the bottom of the lock (like the ones you use to open old briefcases). He gave us the code, we yanked the lock, grabbed the gifts, drove through the gate, got out of the car, and locked the gate and on we went to our destination.
We found the house...and laughed with the family. What an adventure...that was well worth it. The girl who visited came with her brother and said something along the lines of...I really enjoyed the service. It was great! My brother and I are definitely coming to that retreat you guys are having in a couple of weeks. We're really excited! And that's when me and the other youth leader looked at each other and we knew...The pursuit was well worth it!
In this B1M1 campaign, you may have some difficulty in finding that "1"you are supposed to disciple. Maybe schedules conflict, maybe phone calls or texts are never returned, maybe you feel like just giving up, but something inside of you tells you this is the One. I would encourage you if you really believe God has led you to disciple this person, PURSUE them!! You may even get really close to forming a discipleship agreement and then run into an obstacle, something like a gate that you have no idea how to open! Just know, when you finally start discipling this person, you'll look back and remember- The pursuit was definitely worth it. I can't wait for that girl and her brother to come to our spring retreat and get discipled!!
We were literally in the middle of nowhere in Archer looking for the third house. We had mapquest directions and a GPS that couldn't save us out of brown paper bag. We kept making u-turns on these skinny dirt roads looking for signs we couldn't even read. We stopped and enjoyed the country view...the hay, the cows and the horses. Then finally decided to call the visitor. The conversation went something like this...
"Hi, this is Sara from SWEAT youth and me and another youth leader are trying to deliver a goodie bag to your house to say thank you for visiting. Is there any chance you live in the middle of the woods. We're lost."
Her response: "Actually, yes we do live in the middle of the woods. Where are you?"
Me: "Not sure, we were on this road that turned into another road. Our directions told us to make a left on train tracks...all we know is we're lost."
Her response: "Ok, well I'm not good with directions, let me get you my mom....(pause)....Oh we have goats that have been giving us some trouble so we're selling them and the people who want to buy them are here now, can my mom call you back?"
Me: "GOATS?? Are you serious?? Yes she can call me back"
So me and the other SWEAT leader tried to go back to where we started to see if we can try to find her house again. Since we knew she was home, we wanted to make sure we delivered the treats. We were on a pursuit and we weren't going to give up. Her mom called me back a few minutes later and of course had no clue where we were. We didn't either! We finally talked to her dad that pointed us into the right direction. If anybody has ever driven with me they know I'm horrible at following verbal directions if I'm lost. I just said ok to everything he said hoping it would make sense when we saw the landmarks he mentioned. He told us at one point we would reach a gate that we would have to open and that would tell us we were really close to the house. Ok a gate, no problem. Sike. BIG PROBLEM! We reached the gate and it wasn't a "push these 3 buttons and the gate will slowly open" kind of gate. It was an old, rusty gate with a pad lock on a chain. Me and my faithful youth leader friend tried all the pushing, pulling, and yanking we could and could not get this gate open. We called the family several times, but kept getting their voicemail. So, sadly we decided to leave the posters and gifts by the gate for them to pick up. As soon as we were about to turn around, the dad called us back and directed us how to open the gate. It was crazy! There was a padlock wrapped around a chain that had a combination scroll on the bottom of the lock (like the ones you use to open old briefcases). He gave us the code, we yanked the lock, grabbed the gifts, drove through the gate, got out of the car, and locked the gate and on we went to our destination.
We found the house...and laughed with the family. What an adventure...that was well worth it. The girl who visited came with her brother and said something along the lines of...I really enjoyed the service. It was great! My brother and I are definitely coming to that retreat you guys are having in a couple of weeks. We're really excited! And that's when me and the other youth leader looked at each other and we knew...The pursuit was well worth it!
In this B1M1 campaign, you may have some difficulty in finding that "1"you are supposed to disciple. Maybe schedules conflict, maybe phone calls or texts are never returned, maybe you feel like just giving up, but something inside of you tells you this is the One. I would encourage you if you really believe God has led you to disciple this person, PURSUE them!! You may even get really close to forming a discipleship agreement and then run into an obstacle, something like a gate that you have no idea how to open! Just know, when you finally start discipling this person, you'll look back and remember- The pursuit was definitely worth it. I can't wait for that girl and her brother to come to our spring retreat and get discipled!!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
JESUS IS RAW!
It's the truth! Jesus really is raw! For those who may be confused, I am not comparing Jesus to sushi! It means that Jesus is awesome!! He's just ridiculously amazing at saving people and transforming their lives. As we move deeper into our "Be One Make One" initiative, I want to simply remind you all of God's unfailing love and His REALLY good memory!
Two Sundays ago, during the 11:00 service, Pastor Robbie came up at the end of worship and invited people to come share words they felt they had from the Lord. If any of you know me well at all, at the end of worship, I am usually caught up in the Spirit and completely undone for Jesus, if you know what I mean! When Robbie made the call and cued for people to come forward, my eyes were too blurry with tears to see who walked up. As soon as I heard her voice, it hit me... Wait a minute... This voice sounds really familiar... NO WAY!! YOU?!??!?!? It was a classmate from high school that I had been praying for since Fall 1999!! Though she had been to our church, accepted Christ and got baptized, seeing her up there giving a word that edified the entire body months later reminded me that God doesn't just barely save, He saves to the uttermost! (Hebrews 7:25)
Two Sundays ago, during the 11:00 service, Pastor Robbie came up at the end of worship and invited people to come share words they felt they had from the Lord. If any of you know me well at all, at the end of worship, I am usually caught up in the Spirit and completely undone for Jesus, if you know what I mean! When Robbie made the call and cued for people to come forward, my eyes were too blurry with tears to see who walked up. As soon as I heard her voice, it hit me... Wait a minute... This voice sounds really familiar... NO WAY!! YOU?!??!?!? It was a classmate from high school that I had been praying for since Fall 1999!! Though she had been to our church, accepted Christ and got baptized, seeing her up there giving a word that edified the entire body months later reminded me that God doesn't just barely save, He saves to the uttermost! (Hebrews 7:25)
After the service ended, we started catching up in the lobby and talking about all the amazing things God had been doing in her life. Honestly, though I had faithfully prayed many years for her, I had completely forgotten about it all at that point. Thank God He is faithful to complete everything He starts in us and in the people we pray for! Disciples are followers of Jesus who never forget that!
Your Disciple-Makin' Homeboy!! ;-)
George Dumaine
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Relationships
Every youth ministry has a flavor to it. A worship style, an atmosphere, a certain kind of people, and a certain message. If I had to guess the strength of SWEAT Youth Ministy, I would have to say it is the adult volunteers who have committed hours each week to mentor these amazing students. All of us are focusing on the B1M1 emphasis our church is doing. Each leader in SWEAT is discipling 1, 2 or sometimes 3 or 4 students through weekly 1-on-1's and reading through a discipleship book together. Before the service tonight, I walked up on 4 different leaders around the campus meeting with, praying with, and talking with students. It was awesome!
We really do believe: Relationships are the highway the Holy Spirit most travels on to change a heart.
Before each SWEAT service, all these amazing leaders gather to pray and find the plan for night. Tonight was cool. Many of the leaders were sharing the HIGHS and LOWS of trying to make a disciple. So good. No one said it would be easy and predictable, but there is no better journey. I am so thankful tonight for passionate followers of Jesus who are inviting others along!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Missional Communities
I have been leading a small group for over 2 years now. People come and go due to the transient nature of Gainesville, and sometimes building real, authentic, Biblical community can be tough. It wasn't really until the last two months that I really feel that everyone in my small group is now truly bonded together by a common missional pursuit.
About five months ago, a couple in my small group ended up foster parenting a newborn baby. She is absolutely beautiful and they really fell in love with her. The long story short is that she was taken away about three weeks ago due to an injury that did not happen under their care. The situation seemed completely unjust and they were left helpless to do anything about it. All the people they were consulting about the case said to give up and basically kiss your chances of getting her back goodbye... but they refused to give up.
Our small group got together and brainstormed for hours about what to do and really came up with nothing. After a fruitless effort of trying to figure out what to do, we prayed and cried out (literally) to God for Him to intercede. For two weeks and slowly but surely, hearts started to change. People who were completely against them getting the baby back started to have their hearts changed. CEOs and people who are "untouchable" because they are said to be so busy started taking personal interest in the case. Doors were opening, God was moving... the next court date is March 18th so more to come but it is looking good! This mission to get her back has opened up our hearts and passion to pursue orphan care as our small group's missional focus. Getting her back is just the beginning of this Kingdom story...
If you want to BE a disciple, you need two things: to get in a Biblical community (i.e. small groups at First Assembly) and GET ON A MISSION. Nothing brings disciples together like being on a common mission. Don't try to just "do ministry", get in touch with the mission of God (seek and save the lost, love the least, make disciples) and how He is calling YOU and your community to act that out. That might be evangelizing together, serving the least, discipling your unchurched friends, or finding something like orphan care (which is my small group's mission) to pursue.
Now don't get discouraged if your community is not on mission yet... start praying and seeking the Lord for what that mission is and let this be day 1 of that journey! There is a distinct difference between a community that meets just to meet and a community that meets because they are on a mission. I challenge you to be a part of the latter one! BE part of (or start!) a missional community!
About five months ago, a couple in my small group ended up foster parenting a newborn baby. She is absolutely beautiful and they really fell in love with her. The long story short is that she was taken away about three weeks ago due to an injury that did not happen under their care. The situation seemed completely unjust and they were left helpless to do anything about it. All the people they were consulting about the case said to give up and basically kiss your chances of getting her back goodbye... but they refused to give up.
Our small group got together and brainstormed for hours about what to do and really came up with nothing. After a fruitless effort of trying to figure out what to do, we prayed and cried out (literally) to God for Him to intercede. For two weeks and slowly but surely, hearts started to change. People who were completely against them getting the baby back started to have their hearts changed. CEOs and people who are "untouchable" because they are said to be so busy started taking personal interest in the case. Doors were opening, God was moving... the next court date is March 18th so more to come but it is looking good! This mission to get her back has opened up our hearts and passion to pursue orphan care as our small group's missional focus. Getting her back is just the beginning of this Kingdom story...
If you want to BE a disciple, you need two things: to get in a Biblical community (i.e. small groups at First Assembly) and GET ON A MISSION. Nothing brings disciples together like being on a common mission. Don't try to just "do ministry", get in touch with the mission of God (seek and save the lost, love the least, make disciples) and how He is calling YOU and your community to act that out. That might be evangelizing together, serving the least, discipling your unchurched friends, or finding something like orphan care (which is my small group's mission) to pursue.
Now don't get discouraged if your community is not on mission yet... start praying and seeking the Lord for what that mission is and let this be day 1 of that journey! There is a distinct difference between a community that meets just to meet and a community that meets because they are on a mission. I challenge you to be a part of the latter one! BE part of (or start!) a missional community!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Intentional About Discipleship
I have 3 sons, all of whom I love a lot. They are my disciples. I see this in the ways their behaviors mimic mine. I am a physically affectionate person: hugging, kissing, wrestling . . . my boys share this trait. My voice tends to get so loud in conversation that it will crowd out other conversations . . . my boys share this trait. I get very excited about Florida football and rarely miss a game . . . my four year old is able to articulately explain the play-by-play of a college football game and my two year old (whose vocabulary is limited to less that twenty words) loves to scream, with much excitement, TOUCHDOWN GATORS.
So I have noticed that I am discipling my boys all the time, whether I am aware of it or not. Whether we are sitting down to eat, driving to the store, getting ready for bed, or getting started in the morning, they are watching, listening to, and, ultimately, following my example.
This reminds me of how God instructs Israel in Deuteronomy 6 to be intentional in raising up their next generation:
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
There are two big things that stand out to me in this passage.
(1) Teaching our disciples (children) what it means to be a disciple of Jesus happens by intentionality taking advantage of everyday circumstances (v. 7 - when you sit . . . walk . . . lie down . . . rise). This is not so much about creating a designated "discipleship week" every week. Discipleship is going to happen when you eat together, drive together, work together, or play together, by remaining intentional in those moments to connect your life and your disciple's life to the realities of God and His Kingdom.
(2) Before we are disciple-makers we are disciples. This means that we must ourselves be intentional to live with the realities of God's character and Kingdom always before us (v.6 - these commands . . . shall be on your heart; v. 8 - you shall bind them . . . on your hand . . . between your eyes). A prerequisite to effectively leading someone to grow as a disciple of Jesus is that you yourself must be growing as a disciple of Jesus. You must commit to be one before you make one.
There are two big things that stand out to me in this passage.
(1) Teaching our disciples (children) what it means to be a disciple of Jesus happens by intentionality taking advantage of everyday circumstances (v. 7 - when you sit . . . walk . . . lie down . . . rise). This is not so much about creating a designated "discipleship week" every week. Discipleship is going to happen when you eat together, drive together, work together, or play together, by remaining intentional in those moments to connect your life and your disciple's life to the realities of God and His Kingdom.
(2) Before we are disciple-makers we are disciples. This means that we must ourselves be intentional to live with the realities of God's character and Kingdom always before us (v.6 - these commands . . . shall be on your heart; v. 8 - you shall bind them . . . on your hand . . . between your eyes). A prerequisite to effectively leading someone to grow as a disciple of Jesus is that you yourself must be growing as a disciple of Jesus. You must commit to be one before you make one.
Friday, February 12, 2010
A One-on-One with Jesus
One of my favorite stories/miracles of Jesus is when he walked on water and Peter tried to follow. There is a lot to gain from this passage (Matthew 14:22-33).
Here a couple of thoughts from this passage about BEING ONE and MAKING ONE:
v.23 - Jesus went up on a mountainside to pray by himself. This should be the theme verse for the B1 part of B1M1. Go to the mountain top before you send someone else there. (There is a great chapter in Bill Hybel's Courageous Leadership on this topic)
v. 28 - "Tell me to come." - Peter
Trust. Only time can build it...and it is a MUST for making disciples. Peter had been with Jesus long enough that he knew if Jesus said come, he could.
v. 29 - "Come." - Jesus
A good disciple maker will regularly challenge their apprentice to go further than they think they can...because our God is stronger than we think He is.
vs. 31 - Immediately
I love this word. Jesus never let him sink. When he started to sink...Jesus IMMEDIATELY responded to support him. A great message as we encourage people we love to get out of their "boats" - we will be there with you when you begin to sink.
B1M1
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Justice and being a disciple in secret...
I have to share this story of a someone really being a disciple in my small group. Last weekend my small group and I met up at noon and went to do some work for a widow named Ruby that lives next door to me. We helped her out in the yard, cutting some limbs, planting some flowers, remulching, fixing her AC unit, etc. We had a good time knowing we were helping out a widow and loving my (literal) neighbor.
There is one guy in my small group, however, who really stuck out to me during this whole day. He got there at 11:30am before anyone else and started working on Ruby's home. He is extremely handy and had tools and supplies with him so did a few small projects outside. He then went inside (without telling anyone) and fixed Ruby's sink, put in a new drain (with new parts - cost out of his own pocket), unclogged a few pipes, and anything else she needed. He didn't tell anyone he was doing this... in fact, after a few hours he quietly left her house and told me he had to go. The only way I found out about it was because I heard it from Ruby afterwards. He didn't charge her a dime and didn't even tell the group what he was doing. In fact, he will probably be upset I am blogging about this since it points back to him!
He is a perfect model for what is means to BE a disciple according to Matthew 6:2-4. He also is rocking out the call in James 1:27 to take care of orphans and widows. Seeking and acting out Kingdom justice doesn't have to be thousands of miles away. The opportunity could literally be waiting for you right next door.
-P. Matt
There is one guy in my small group, however, who really stuck out to me during this whole day. He got there at 11:30am before anyone else and started working on Ruby's home. He is extremely handy and had tools and supplies with him so did a few small projects outside. He then went inside (without telling anyone) and fixed Ruby's sink, put in a new drain (with new parts - cost out of his own pocket), unclogged a few pipes, and anything else she needed. He didn't tell anyone he was doing this... in fact, after a few hours he quietly left her house and told me he had to go. The only way I found out about it was because I heard it from Ruby afterwards. He didn't charge her a dime and didn't even tell the group what he was doing. In fact, he will probably be upset I am blogging about this since it points back to him!
He is a perfect model for what is means to BE a disciple according to Matthew 6:2-4. He also is rocking out the call in James 1:27 to take care of orphans and widows. Seeking and acting out Kingdom justice doesn't have to be thousands of miles away. The opportunity could literally be waiting for you right next door.
-P. Matt
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