I have engaged in rediscovering the lost pursuit of making disciples that make disciples. I have returned to the scripture for teaching and committed to walk outside the established religious system of our day. This was a personal conviction and a faith journey that I believe was in obedience to a clear call from God on my life. Over the last few years I have learned many things and I have found a relationship with God that I had once only read about. Here are a few things I learned.
The Narrow road is really narrow and few will find it. I understand this teaching today.
You can only follow one master is truly a choice we make every day. God or money – which will it be?
The corruption that I saw in the church systems I was in is more widespread and deeper than I first imagined.
Even in deeply corrupt church systems there are great people that love God and serve Him and others from that motivation of love.
The way church operates in America today, is for the majority, a far distance from what Scripture describes or defines. This keeps many from walking in the power of God to transform the world. The church systems will often consume the resources of its people on itself.
I do not need to have followers in order to change the world. While most religious leaders count the things that they can see I will focus on the change that I can bring.
I have discovered how big and awesome and sovereign God really is. I do not need to worry about what others are doing or not doing. I need to seek holiness, be obedient to God’s word, and be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within me, at all times.
As one dedicated to making disciples I need to be willing to walk along side those that seek to find what I have found. I must teach, preach, encourage, correct, empower, and release those who wish to dedicate their whole life to Jesus. Anything less is not worthy of our time or our lives. Those that wish to hold on to their lives and seek God with less than all that they have, must be shown again the call of Jesus on their lives and left to make their own decision.
Unity is possible but can only happen as we lay aside our own agenda and begin to serve others selflessly. God’s agenda naturally brings unity to those that are following.
I would love to help you find what I have found but first you must count the cost – Luke 14:33
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Whose Call are You Following?
There are some teachings of our faith that are so foundational to our lives that they cannot be ignored if we are to claim the name of Christ as our Lord. Some of these are the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Without belief in these we can hardly claim to follow Christ. What about the call that Jesus made to follow Him? We see it in three of the Gospels.
“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
To deny ourselves is the first step in answering this call from Jesus. He defined what it takes to be a follower. As I look around me in America and I see the excesses of modern Christianity, I have to ask myself if people are even being called to follow Jesus in the way He called them to follow? Does the church itself follow the way in which Jesus called?
Does the church in America deny itself? I am looking for those churches. Can you help me find them? The church that denies itself will make do with what it has in order to serve the poor or the lost. It will make choices to do without the things that comfort, attract, or entertain the crowd so it can use it resources to pastor the community.
I am truly looking for those churches but I can hardly find them. What I find instead are organizations that expand themselves like a field of dreams scenario. As soon as they are at 60% of capacity they start planning another expansion. If we build it … They provide latte's for the crowd but very little for the hungry outside. How can leaders teach people to follow if they cannot get step one correct – deny themselves?
How do you spot those churches that have learned step one? I once attended a large church in California. It was one of the first Mega Churches in the country. The pastor was well known and on the radio nationally. He put off expanding the church to the point that he was preaching 5 services each Sunday as well as his other commitments to travel and radio. Easter services were held in the parking lot. His reasoning was clear. While an expanded sanctuary would alleviate the load on his personal life and bring comfort to his followers, he felt that building too soon would jeopardize the nearly $1,000,000.00 that the church gave to missions each year. He did not want to risk the work of the kingdom for his own personal benefit or for the comfort of the crowd.
As you go to church this Sunday keep in mind the great call of our Lord Jesus. Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me. Does your church practice and preach the call of Jesus?
“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
To deny ourselves is the first step in answering this call from Jesus. He defined what it takes to be a follower. As I look around me in America and I see the excesses of modern Christianity, I have to ask myself if people are even being called to follow Jesus in the way He called them to follow? Does the church itself follow the way in which Jesus called?
Does the church in America deny itself? I am looking for those churches. Can you help me find them? The church that denies itself will make do with what it has in order to serve the poor or the lost. It will make choices to do without the things that comfort, attract, or entertain the crowd so it can use it resources to pastor the community.
I am truly looking for those churches but I can hardly find them. What I find instead are organizations that expand themselves like a field of dreams scenario. As soon as they are at 60% of capacity they start planning another expansion. If we build it … They provide latte's for the crowd but very little for the hungry outside. How can leaders teach people to follow if they cannot get step one correct – deny themselves?
How do you spot those churches that have learned step one? I once attended a large church in California. It was one of the first Mega Churches in the country. The pastor was well known and on the radio nationally. He put off expanding the church to the point that he was preaching 5 services each Sunday as well as his other commitments to travel and radio. Easter services were held in the parking lot. His reasoning was clear. While an expanded sanctuary would alleviate the load on his personal life and bring comfort to his followers, he felt that building too soon would jeopardize the nearly $1,000,000.00 that the church gave to missions each year. He did not want to risk the work of the kingdom for his own personal benefit or for the comfort of the crowd.
As you go to church this Sunday keep in mind the great call of our Lord Jesus. Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me. Does your church practice and preach the call of Jesus?
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