The Bible records a story where the Apostle Paul is teaching at a house during the evening. He talks so long that a boy that was sitting in the window falls asleep, tips out of the window and falls to his death. (Don't worry, the boy is brought back to life at the end of the story). After looking at the clock near the end of each service, I realized that I had done the same thing (minus actually killing anybody). As we talked and read and laughed together this morning, the time flew by way too quickly...it was my fault...sorry!
I enjoy being with you guys each Sunday morning at CATG. I enjoy talking about all that God is teaching each of us. I enjoy hearing your stories and telling you mine. I enjoy "sharpening" each other in our walks with Christ.
You know, the Disciples spent about three years following Christ together. They invested morning, noon, and night to following Jesus and I'll bet they had some pretty interesting experiences and conversations with each other along the way. They started out by following this Rabbi around and they became "disciples" in the process. What an incredible journey they had together.
Thanks for being in this process with me. It's great to become "disciples" with you, as we journey through life.
Showing posts with label MAKE DISCIPLES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MAKE DISCIPLES. Show all posts
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Make Disciples???
"One of the two men who followed Jesus after they heard John speak about him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, 'We have found the Messiah.' ('Messiah' means 'Christ')" John 1:40-41 NCV
Two men spent a day with Jesus and they wanted to follow him. There was something about this man (rabbi, teacher, prophet, wanderer) that intrigued them. Something in what he said, how he lived, or just the way he spoke caused them to wonder who this man really was. When they identified him as the Messiah (savior, deliverer, rescuer, promised one)... they were hooked. This was the one that God promised all throughout the Old Testament... it would have been foolish not to follow him.
But, they didn't stop with that. It wasn't enough for them to have a relationship with God... it wasn't enough for them to meet the Savior and be rescued by him... they wanted others to know. They wanted others to follow him, too. They weren't content with "being" followers... they wanted to help "make" other followers.
And God used these two men (along with another ten) to change the world. Because they wanted to "make disciples," we now have the opportunity "be disciples." But now the responsibility falls on us. If we - as individuals or as a church - decide that it is enough just to "be disciples" then we kill off any hope for future generations to "follow Christ." Let's continue to have a heart for others to know the God that we follow. Let's continue to make disciples.
Two men spent a day with Jesus and they wanted to follow him. There was something about this man (rabbi, teacher, prophet, wanderer) that intrigued them. Something in what he said, how he lived, or just the way he spoke caused them to wonder who this man really was. When they identified him as the Messiah (savior, deliverer, rescuer, promised one)... they were hooked. This was the one that God promised all throughout the Old Testament... it would have been foolish not to follow him.
But, they didn't stop with that. It wasn't enough for them to have a relationship with God... it wasn't enough for them to meet the Savior and be rescued by him... they wanted others to know. They wanted others to follow him, too. They weren't content with "being" followers... they wanted to help "make" other followers.
And God used these two men (along with another ten) to change the world. Because they wanted to "make disciples," we now have the opportunity "be disciples." But now the responsibility falls on us. If we - as individuals or as a church - decide that it is enough just to "be disciples" then we kill off any hope for future generations to "follow Christ." Let's continue to have a heart for others to know the God that we follow. Let's continue to make disciples.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
How Ducks Learn To Be Ducks
Our house sits on a lake... well, it's not really a lake - more of a pond... alright, with the current drought, it's really more of a puddle... and, if you've seen it recently, it would probably best be described as a natural aquarium. But it does have fish and turtles and ducks, so I call it a lake.
Anyway, about six weeks ago, 10 eggs hatched from the flower bed behind our house and out waddled 10 of the cutest little baby ducks you've ever seen. Since then, two have died, but we've been watching the remaining eight and have seen the harshness of nature up close and personal. When you think of ducks, you probably think of calm, peaceful animals that learn how to be calm and peaceful from their calm and peaceful mamas. But that's not always the case. For some reason, the mama duck at our house has rejected one of the surviving eight ducklings and he now basically lives on his (or her) own. Anytime he gets too close to the mama duck or the other seven ducklings, he gets attacked by his own mom. She warns him with loud quacking first and then proceeds to chase him away and even bite him if she can get close enough.
Now I don't know what this particular baby duck ever did to the mama to make her turn her back on him... but it's pretty sad to watch. Here he is having to learn how to swim (and eventually how to fly) all on his own. He is learning where to find food all on his own. He is learning how to stay away from danger all on his own. He is even having to learn how to protect himself from his own family... all on his own. And, the worst part of it all, is that he and his brothers/sisters are learning how to be ducks from a mama duck that hates one of her own ducklings.
Church At The Grove develops people to follow Jesus and make disciples. We want people to live their lives in such a way that they honor God more and more every day. During this first year, we've come across some people that have been rejected by others in some pretty harsh ways. We've built friendships with people that have a hard time trusting others (especially when it comes to spiritual matters) because they've been pushed aside before or even attacked by people that were close to them. I've talked with people over these last twelve months whose own families turned away from them years ago because they weren't "spiritual people" or because they weren't "walking with Christ." Unfortunately, that's pretty normal behavior in our church culture... we tell people to grow as followers of Jesus, but we tell them they have to do that by separating themselves from the people around them that don't follow Christ. We tell people to love God... but give them permission to hate people that don't love God. We basically set up a war between Christ followers and those that don't follow Christ... those of us that love God are the "good guys" and those that don't love God are the "enemies." We reject people and tell them to figure life out on their own.
My kids asked me why the mama duck is so mean to this one baby... I don't have a good answer for them. I ask myself, why are Christians sometimes so mean to the "rejected" people around us that don't follow Christ or mean to Christ-followers that may be slightly different on non-essential beliefs... I don't have a good answer for myself. God has called us to reflect his love to the world around us. It's tough to do that if we are always attacking someone for something.
Galatians 5:15 (NLT) says "But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." Maybe our impact in this culture would be stronger if we were constantly demonstrating God's love through applying the truth in His word instead of constantly being on the attack. And, at the very least, those that are watching us will get a clearer picture of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.
Anyway, about six weeks ago, 10 eggs hatched from the flower bed behind our house and out waddled 10 of the cutest little baby ducks you've ever seen. Since then, two have died, but we've been watching the remaining eight and have seen the harshness of nature up close and personal. When you think of ducks, you probably think of calm, peaceful animals that learn how to be calm and peaceful from their calm and peaceful mamas. But that's not always the case. For some reason, the mama duck at our house has rejected one of the surviving eight ducklings and he now basically lives on his (or her) own. Anytime he gets too close to the mama duck or the other seven ducklings, he gets attacked by his own mom. She warns him with loud quacking first and then proceeds to chase him away and even bite him if she can get close enough.
Now I don't know what this particular baby duck ever did to the mama to make her turn her back on him... but it's pretty sad to watch. Here he is having to learn how to swim (and eventually how to fly) all on his own. He is learning where to find food all on his own. He is learning how to stay away from danger all on his own. He is even having to learn how to protect himself from his own family... all on his own. And, the worst part of it all, is that he and his brothers/sisters are learning how to be ducks from a mama duck that hates one of her own ducklings.
Church At The Grove develops people to follow Jesus and make disciples. We want people to live their lives in such a way that they honor God more and more every day. During this first year, we've come across some people that have been rejected by others in some pretty harsh ways. We've built friendships with people that have a hard time trusting others (especially when it comes to spiritual matters) because they've been pushed aside before or even attacked by people that were close to them. I've talked with people over these last twelve months whose own families turned away from them years ago because they weren't "spiritual people" or because they weren't "walking with Christ." Unfortunately, that's pretty normal behavior in our church culture... we tell people to grow as followers of Jesus, but we tell them they have to do that by separating themselves from the people around them that don't follow Christ. We tell people to love God... but give them permission to hate people that don't love God. We basically set up a war between Christ followers and those that don't follow Christ... those of us that love God are the "good guys" and those that don't love God are the "enemies." We reject people and tell them to figure life out on their own.
My kids asked me why the mama duck is so mean to this one baby... I don't have a good answer for them. I ask myself, why are Christians sometimes so mean to the "rejected" people around us that don't follow Christ or mean to Christ-followers that may be slightly different on non-essential beliefs... I don't have a good answer for myself. God has called us to reflect his love to the world around us. It's tough to do that if we are always attacking someone for something.
Galatians 5:15 (NLT) says "But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." Maybe our impact in this culture would be stronger if we were constantly demonstrating God's love through applying the truth in His word instead of constantly being on the attack. And, at the very least, those that are watching us will get a clearer picture of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Sorry... It's my fault!
For years, God has been misrepresented by Christians as one-sided and simplistic. As a result, there are people in this community that don't know who God is, don't recognize him when he's working around them , or believe things about him that aren't true. And if I've ever lived my life in any way that displayed only one characteristic of God, then I'm sorry.
Our God is a complex being that lives in the balance of righteousness (complete perfection) and mercy (complete forgiveness). Jesus showed us what God was like every day of his life on earth... he lived in that balance... judging those that should be condemned (usually self-righteous hypocrites) and showing mercy to those that needed it most (usually social or religious throw-aways). He taught us to live out our love for him in the same way. But sometimes we've failed... or at least I've failed. And, like the times I've successfully lived the Way of Christ, my failures have taught those around me how to follow God. I've created followers (or "disciples") of Christ that live out their relationship with God like I live out mine. As a result, I've screwed some people up over the course of my own spiritual journey.
For years, people have watched me and other Christians as we've misrepresented God (by focusing on the perfection of God without describing his forgiveness, or by focusing on his mercy without mentioning his righteousness). As a result, some don't know God, or don't recognize him, or they believe something about him that isn't true (like believing that he is one-sided and simplistic). Even worse, there are some that hate God because of the lives of some of God's followers. And, if my life has misrepresented the vast character of this incredible Creator, then I'm sorry. If you hate God because of the lives of some of his followers, then it's partly my fault (Romans 2:24). But now that we've blamed those that are responsible, I'd like you to look past the "followers" and look at the "one" we follow... look at the God that lives in the balance of perfection and forgiveness... see his son, Jesus, and know the mercy and righteousness of God.
That's what I want for you... that's what Russ Butcher (the other pastor of Church at the Grove) and I want for the people of this community... that's what the people of Church at the Grove want for our friends and neighbors and coworkers and strangers... we want you to know who God is, to recognize him when he's working around us, and to have a fully accurate picture of the complex God we serve. We want our lives to represent God so well that people can watch us and know what it means to truly follow him.
Our God is a complex being that lives in the balance of righteousness (complete perfection) and mercy (complete forgiveness). Jesus showed us what God was like every day of his life on earth... he lived in that balance... judging those that should be condemned (usually self-righteous hypocrites) and showing mercy to those that needed it most (usually social or religious throw-aways). He taught us to live out our love for him in the same way. But sometimes we've failed... or at least I've failed. And, like the times I've successfully lived the Way of Christ, my failures have taught those around me how to follow God. I've created followers (or "disciples") of Christ that live out their relationship with God like I live out mine. As a result, I've screwed some people up over the course of my own spiritual journey.
For years, people have watched me and other Christians as we've misrepresented God (by focusing on the perfection of God without describing his forgiveness, or by focusing on his mercy without mentioning his righteousness). As a result, some don't know God, or don't recognize him, or they believe something about him that isn't true (like believing that he is one-sided and simplistic). Even worse, there are some that hate God because of the lives of some of God's followers. And, if my life has misrepresented the vast character of this incredible Creator, then I'm sorry. If you hate God because of the lives of some of his followers, then it's partly my fault (Romans 2:24). But now that we've blamed those that are responsible, I'd like you to look past the "followers" and look at the "one" we follow... look at the God that lives in the balance of perfection and forgiveness... see his son, Jesus, and know the mercy and righteousness of God.
That's what I want for you... that's what Russ Butcher (the other pastor of Church at the Grove) and I want for the people of this community... that's what the people of Church at the Grove want for our friends and neighbors and coworkers and strangers... we want you to know who God is, to recognize him when he's working around us, and to have a fully accurate picture of the complex God we serve. We want our lives to represent God so well that people can watch us and know what it means to truly follow him.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Making Disciples (and a four-letter word)
Three days ago, I wrote that if you're living your life just to impress people, then you're living for the wrong things. Allow me to clarify something in that blog by saying I was listening to the radio on Wednesday, and I heard "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins for the first time. I am quickly becoming a country music fan, and songs like this are the reason why (http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rodney-atkins-lyrics/watching-you-lyrics.html). This song about a little boy and a four-letter word is one of the clearest descriptions of discipleship that I've heard in a long time. People (especially our kids) watch us and act just like us. So, what do your kids see in your life? What do your actions, words, and attitudes teach them about how to live?
You can't live your life trying to "impress" people with your spirituality. I truly believe this is hypocrisy in its purest form. But, you also can't live your life without understanding the responsibility you do have to certain people in your life. So, when your kids start acting just like you... when they become your "disciples"... will their life be something to be proud of?
P.S. Speaking of how we teach our attitudes, words, and actions to those around us, I got an invitation from the people at the "Noooma" company (www.nooma.com) to go to the premiere of their newest video 016 Store in Atlanta. "Store" is about anger... what it takes to make you angry... what we get angry about... and how we express anger. I went ahead and reserved 6 seats for Amy and I and a few friends. But, if anyone else is interested, let me know so I can get you a couple tickets as well. Tickets are free and the premiere is in Atlanta on Monday, July 11th at 7:00pm.
You can't live your life trying to "impress" people with your spirituality. I truly believe this is hypocrisy in its purest form. But, you also can't live your life without understanding the responsibility you do have to certain people in your life. So, when your kids start acting just like you... when they become your "disciples"... will their life be something to be proud of?
P.S. Speaking of how we teach our attitudes, words, and actions to those around us, I got an invitation from the people at the "Noooma" company (www.nooma.com) to go to the premiere of their newest video 016 Store in Atlanta. "Store" is about anger... what it takes to make you angry... what we get angry about... and how we express anger. I went ahead and reserved 6 seats for Amy and I and a few friends. But, if anyone else is interested, let me know so I can get you a couple tickets as well. Tickets are free and the premiere is in Atlanta on Monday, July 11th at 7:00pm.
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