What is discipleship? II. Immersed in His Story
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:30-31 NRSV
Books, crusades, testimonies, tracks, worship songs, salvation prayers, inspirational sermons, Facebook posts, door-to-door evangelism, devotional emails, television and radio programs, even films, etc., etc. So many tools and messages, traditional to all social, exist today for someone to take a step toward faith and ask Jesus to come into their life.
The first preferred method, however, was for us to step into His life. The Gospels invite us into Jesus' story and were the first means people used to learn about His life save from the first generation of followers' personal experience. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John served as the first discipleship manuals back in the day.
The original disciples and their converts didn't think we needed anything else. The New Testament Gospels were it. Instead of Him merely coming into our heart, we are to join in His life and get immersed in His story.
As we join His story we learn His ways. And the story will hold up a mirror to ours. Where do we come close? Where do we fall short? And as we progress, the better we'll understand and see our own. The more we immerse ourselves in Jesus' story, the more it takes up residence in our hearts and shine His life forth.
Matthew--was written for those wanting to link their tradition with the new of Christ and those who appreciated learning and a good education. For those who think they have it all and don't realize the simplicity of what little they truly need.
Mark--was written for those who like it short and sweet, to the point. The doers among us, the action-minded.
Luke--for those who like a little more detail, and are just beginning their faith journey.
John--for those who enjoy epic themes, and grand metaphors and images. And are feeling the tension of living under persecution in a war torn world.
As we immerse ourselves into the life of Jesus, we soak Him in and become that new creation to which we have been called. The ancients called it walking in the Rabbi's dust, following a sandaled teacher on unpaved early roads.
Nine out of every ten Americans consider themselves to be Christian. Yet, many do not know or understand the most elemental things about our Christian faith and what it all means. Or are completely disconnected from an intimate, meaningful, life-changing connection to what their spiritual life is all about.
According to George Barna, “more adults are capable of naming the top-rated prime-time television shows ... than are able to accurately state the defining themes of the Christian faith." Of those who “have chosen to commit their lives to Christ,” those that Barna labels “born-again,” the figures are not much better. Even within this category, eight out of ten do not know what the Great Commission is, only half know John 3:16, while just six out of ten understand the phrase “the gospel.
Is discipleship working as well as we would like it?
Loren Mead asserts, "We can no longer assume that the [faith] community has engaged people in any serious contact with the tradition. Near total ignorance of the biblical story and of the faith is more and more the norm. More and more new members of the church start at ground zero. Young people and adults now come to churches with absolutely no previous experience with any group or tradition....The cultural environment of our younger generations is much more distant from even the stories and illustrations of the faith than previous generations."
Raising people up in the Gospels, the stories and teachings from the life of Jesus cannot be taken for granted nor can it ever be more important.
Find your favorite Gospel and get immersed.
Pastor Chris
Questions for Reflection
Is there a Gospel you find yourself more drawn to?
What part of Jesus’ character surprises you, challenges you, inspires you?
Spend some intentional time immersing yourself in Jesus’ story and notice also where Jesus is showing up in your story…in the daily rhythms of your life.
How can you foster a more conscious awareness of Jesus’ companioning presence in your life?
John 20:30-31 NRSV
Books, crusades, testimonies, tracks, worship songs, salvation prayers, inspirational sermons, Facebook posts, door-to-door evangelism, devotional emails, television and radio programs, even films, etc., etc. So many tools and messages, traditional to all social, exist today for someone to take a step toward faith and ask Jesus to come into their life.
The first preferred method, however, was for us to step into His life. The Gospels invite us into Jesus' story and were the first means people used to learn about His life save from the first generation of followers' personal experience. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John served as the first discipleship manuals back in the day.
The original disciples and their converts didn't think we needed anything else. The New Testament Gospels were it. Instead of Him merely coming into our heart, we are to join in His life and get immersed in His story.
As we join His story we learn His ways. And the story will hold up a mirror to ours. Where do we come close? Where do we fall short? And as we progress, the better we'll understand and see our own. The more we immerse ourselves in Jesus' story, the more it takes up residence in our hearts and shine His life forth.
Matthew--was written for those wanting to link their tradition with the new of Christ and those who appreciated learning and a good education. For those who think they have it all and don't realize the simplicity of what little they truly need.
Mark--was written for those who like it short and sweet, to the point. The doers among us, the action-minded.
Luke--for those who like a little more detail, and are just beginning their faith journey.
John--for those who enjoy epic themes, and grand metaphors and images. And are feeling the tension of living under persecution in a war torn world.
As we immerse ourselves into the life of Jesus, we soak Him in and become that new creation to which we have been called. The ancients called it walking in the Rabbi's dust, following a sandaled teacher on unpaved early roads.
Nine out of every ten Americans consider themselves to be Christian. Yet, many do not know or understand the most elemental things about our Christian faith and what it all means. Or are completely disconnected from an intimate, meaningful, life-changing connection to what their spiritual life is all about.
According to George Barna, “more adults are capable of naming the top-rated prime-time television shows ... than are able to accurately state the defining themes of the Christian faith." Of those who “have chosen to commit their lives to Christ,” those that Barna labels “born-again,” the figures are not much better. Even within this category, eight out of ten do not know what the Great Commission is, only half know John 3:16, while just six out of ten understand the phrase “the gospel.
Is discipleship working as well as we would like it?
Loren Mead asserts, "We can no longer assume that the [faith] community has engaged people in any serious contact with the tradition. Near total ignorance of the biblical story and of the faith is more and more the norm. More and more new members of the church start at ground zero. Young people and adults now come to churches with absolutely no previous experience with any group or tradition....The cultural environment of our younger generations is much more distant from even the stories and illustrations of the faith than previous generations."
Raising people up in the Gospels, the stories and teachings from the life of Jesus cannot be taken for granted nor can it ever be more important.
Find your favorite Gospel and get immersed.
Pastor Chris
Questions for Reflection
Is there a Gospel you find yourself more drawn to?
What part of Jesus’ character surprises you, challenges you, inspires you?
Spend some intentional time immersing yourself in Jesus’ story and notice also where Jesus is showing up in your story…in the daily rhythms of your life.
How can you foster a more conscious awareness of Jesus’ companioning presence in your life?