Pace in Discipleship

While viewing "Walking in the dust of the Rabbi", a video series that explores the depth of making disciples in the first century, a couple of us were awakened to what the pace of life must have been like when the "Rabbi" and His followers walked the byways of Israel and beyond.

We discussed the pace of life in those times and contrasted it with what we experience in our culture. I thought I'd look for a picture that portrays a life pace that many of us experience daily, if not a physical pace of coming and going, we can certainly conjure up a mental pace; the tyranny of the urgent. (see photo to the right)

It was obvious to us that we are in a battle. How can we slow down long enough to create a life pace that is conducive to making disciples? We see again that an upstream swim against the current is required for the Christ follower in a culture that has more and more distractions with each passing day. Living the LIFE requires age age old character quality modeled by the Savior; DISCIPLINE. Your thoughts?

Vulnerability and Submission

Our journey in following Jesus has been quite a ride. My wife, Monique, and I have frequently been asked, how did you get to the point when you let go and trusted God for everything, launching out into marriage ministry. We both believe the launching point was a Sunday morning at church when we were given the opportunity to share with the congregation what God had one in saving our marriage from the brink of destruction.

That morning, the Holy Spirit spoke through us to proclaim Jesus Christ and the victory He had in bringing us back together from a time of separation. We were vulnerable, open and transparent with the people who God brought to church that Sunday. We submitted to God's leading and shared our sin before God and His followers. We embraced His love, acceptance and forgiveness which results in a hope that surpasses all understanding; a living hope for all marriages.

Submission is a love word. Have you ever thought of submission in regards to being loving? Read the passage below in the language of love, submission and vulnerability, from Jesus to his Father and before others.

Matthew 26:36-44 Amplified Bible

36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, Sit down here while I go over yonder and pray.
37And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed.
38Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me.
39And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.
40And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, What! Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour?
41All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42Again a second time He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your will be done.
43And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were weighed down with sleep.
44So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, using the same word

As we enter into a life of discipleship, we must put on the character of Christ, Christ in us, rooted in humility, submission and vulnerability. God opens doors for us to begin the disciple-making process when we take this simple step of faith. He has not given us a spirit of timidity, join with Him and connect with another person today.

Accountablilty??

"Accountability is a principle of law and it will never ever, ever, ever, ever, assist you with sinning less. Accountability is a good thing when you measure tasks, it is never the right principle when you measure behavior, because it is a principle of law. Is it really possible for Christians to put so much confidence in the work of Jesus Christ (at Calvary) that we really do believe that He has already put in us a righteousness that can love, and instead of having to show you how good I am at anything, I humbly need to learn from you how to be loved? We get that right, and an early church changed the world."

What did he say? I'm listening to the TrueFaced Grace Series, a study through Romans 3-8, which is reaffirming what I believe to be true and it is being confirmed in relationships all around me. If you would be interested in purchasing this series on CD, and I highly recommend it, go to www.leadershipcatalyst.org

I have come to believe that by in large, "the church", doesn't understand GRACE; and for the most part lives under the law. Satan loves this by the way.

I do believe that discipleship cannot occur apart from environments of grace and relationships of trust. My experience is that these two essential ingredients in discipleship produce an "iron sharpening iron" relationship that is also healing and nurturing. What do you think?

Environments of Grace and Trust

I believe the main nutrients in the soil of discipleship are grace and trust. Without these two nutrients, a real relationship, one of following Christ together will not grow. Preceding these relationship nutrients is acceptance. Here are a couple of quotes to chew on from, Beyond Your Best - authors Thrall, McNichol and McElrath, "You and I cannot give acceptance unless we have been willing to receive acceptance. I cannot receive your acceptance, no matter how much acceptance you have to give, if I fear trusting you. When both come together, acceptance and trust, there is a tangible, life-giving freedom released that spreads faster than butter on a warm cinnamon roll. When we experience grace in spite of our failures, we gain the strength to face the truth without fear. "

These nutrients are all embodied in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they are available to us right now, in Him, He in us. Jesus encourages us, empowers us, strengthens us and uses us. The disciple journeys to know Him and give Him away. The disciple is living in His grace and trusting in his identity in Jesus.

Follow the Leader

This scene is not uncommon for us in the San Juan Islands at certain times of the year. Salmon swimming in formation, seemingly following a leader. One thing that strikes me is that as they follow there is order. I wish I could catch one, one of these years, but that is another story.

"Follow the Leader", was also a warm-up activity I used to do with kindergarten and first graders in my elementary physical education classes. I was always amazed at how much fun the kids had either following me around the gym, hopping, skipping, galloping and or following one of their classmates. Teachers and aides who observed us from time to time always got a chuckle out of watching as the class orderly followed the leader around the gym. The purpose of the activity went beyond just warm-up, as it involved listening, observing and imitating.

I think this is not unlike what I experience in following Jesus. As his disciple, obeying His call to "come follow me", the journey brings order to my life. Embracing His love for me leads me to discipline which is not birthed out of compliance, but out of love. His love, acceptance and forgiveness pushes me out into others lives who are waiting for the gift that He will give through me.

My heart is warmed up by the Spirit as I connect with another as Jesus did during His earthly ministry. Love, joy, peace that surpasses all understanding fills my heart as I walk, following Him, discipling another. How about you? Are you experiencing fulfillment in your life through guiding another in the life of following Jesus?

Nomadic Hospitality

In following Jesus in this journey to discover discipleship His way, a friend of mine mentioned that Jesus practiced "homeless" hospitality. I had never given that any thought. My view of hospitality always has my home as part of being hospitable. Inviting someone over to my house is the picture I get when I think of hospitality.

Yet Jesus did not have a home, so to speak, as he ministered his love throughout Judea and Samaria. He traveled on foot most of the time, staying with people wherever he was welcomed. Jesus lived out an attitude of hospitality as he was going along the highways and byways of the land.

He often experienced a lack of hospitality too. In Luke 9 we read, When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, the refused hospitality.

The apostle Paul taught hospitality as he learned from Jesus, "Share with the saints in their needs, pursue hospitality." Romans 12:13 "Don't forget to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it." Hebrews 12:12 He exhorted leaders of the church to put on a hospitable attitude, see 1 Timothy and Titus.

Hospitality is part of the heart of a disciple and it is an initial step in making connections with people. Putting on hospitality is enabled by our listening to the Spirit and risking; getting out of our comfort zone. Hospitality can happen as we travel the arteries of our communities, at the local coffee shop (Starbucks), during our lunch hours, or on the weekends and it is not confined to our homes. Practice hospitality and discern the path of discipleship. It may be right in front of you.

Antenna's Up

For you and I to connect with the life Christ calls us to in being a "disciple maker", we must have our antenna's up. I took this picture of my daughter Carly and her friend Faith just before they attended "The Bee Movie". The went to the show is costume.

The picture tells the story of something that is true about Faith and Carly. God has their attenna's up, for real! They are caring young ladies, who look to minister God's love and encouragement to their friends.

Jesus calls to us saying, "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." A lot has been made about "fishing" and linking it to evangelism. I think fishing is more about having our antenna's up in terms of relationships with people. The Holy Spirit will do the leading as we take the risk to connect with others. He lives in us. Yielding to the Spirit is a supernatural habit formed in us as we submit to Jesus and his leading.

Discipleship is birthed out of listening to God and the people He connects us with when our antenna's are up.