Couldn’t agree more on the missing second part of the Great Commission. Studying the commands of Christ has always been a great way to help Christ followers grow in their faith.

We recently had a pastor from Indonesia who oversees some 10,000 plus Christians and their church bodies there and he was asked what he thought the single greatest challenge was facing the church today and he pretty much said it was our lack of “obedience”.

When all a church worries about is getting people in the door and getting them to join the club – which of course totally takes the sovereignty of God out of the picture – we end up with churches ( bodies of believers ) that are a mile wide and an inch deep and these are not the kind of people who look any different or even remotely attractive to people who aren’t part of the “club” yet.

That being said I will say that there is too much Scripture – including the very life, suffering and death of Christ – that makes it clear that to the majority of the world Christ followers are going to seem not too attractive and mostly just weird, offensive and scary. If we spend too much time working on how to make us and our message “attractive” instead of trusting that the Holy Spirit is going to shape us into the image bearers that we are supposed to be if we follow God’s Word as He’s revealed it to us and trusting in the POWER of the gospel – even the scary parts – then we are going to make a lot of people happy but very few people will be exposed to the first part of the Great Commission. Ultimately, seeking and saving the lost is what the story of the gospel is. All that flows from that – social justice, stewardship of the earth’s resources, the death of misogyny and ungodly feminism, the ending of racism and so on – are all products of our trusting God to be who He says He is and just getting out of His way while He works through our inadequate hands, hearts, mouths and feet! I put in mouths because the proclamation of the gospel requires speaking according to Scripture even though today we want to put all the emphasis on hands, feet and heart!

Just my usual short commentary!

When I was breaking down and without diagnosis, I asked for guidance, and guidance has been coming ever since.

“The bottom line is that you need to work with God to address those things that you need to address. This take time and insight and a fair amount of asking him to guide you.” And all of the above. Living more and more in the Presence.

I don’t know that doing/saying different things is going to change much. I would say the question might be “are we willing to become the kind of people and places where the kingdom of God is obviously present in a way that people see and hear and want to join us?” For that I think it will take a long process of teaching people the ways of Jesus by practical means.

This may begin by teaching on what it actually means to be a disciple. There is great confusion in the church about this. Here is an example of that: http://tinyurl.com/qr4k8b. We need an understanding of what this life with Jesus is really like. I would say you could go a far distance with this definition: being with Jesus in order to become like Jesus. The pathway for a disciple is becoming like Jesus in everything that we do. This will take many years and much training but it can and does happen.

Scripture meditation has been crucial in my life. Certain passages in my own life have given me great encouragement and power to this end. I have memorized Psalm 16 and 23. Both of which, especially Psalm 23, embody the gospel more fully than I think I ever could in my own words. Memorizing these gives power to let go of self and live interactively with God. Also Colossians 3:1-17 has been a terrific passage to study. My life is hidden with Christ in God so now what: I put off things and take on the character of God.

Practically, I am working on what this looks like for a fellowship that I have met with for a few years. We have heard much great teaching from various people. This summer we are going to take that teaching and try to live out the disciplines in a Christ dependent life that we have learned about. I am still working on the details but perhaps it is fasting for an extended period followed by a time of interactive prayer with God where we listen first and then speak. Or it may be a time of solitude practiced with the group coming back and reporting what happened in their time. It may be that we engage in service opportunity that take us very much outside of our “box” and put us into situations that are uncomfortable.

I think that God enables and empowers us to be very creative with how we go down this journey. The means can be varied and constantly changing. I once read Psalm 16 for the better part of a year as the only scripture that I read. That season is over now and I am meditating on new passages. Reading through scripture quickly (many have done a 90 day program to read through the scripture). The bottom line is that you need to work with God to address those things that you need to address. This take time and insight and a fair amount of asking him to guide you.

There is great freedom, flexibility, and opportunity in the Kingdom for a new way of living. However, we need to step into it and take risks to see what God will do.

What are your thoughts about how to become more and more of a disciple of Christ?

Keep moving forward,

Greg

I couldn’t agree more.

I find after-church time to be often awkward. Tips?

Eva heard a commentary on an NPR program which deepens this issue, especially regarding men: Men do not go to church because church is feminized! No “manly” hymns , like “Rise Up, O Men of God”. A friend at my church insists men are being marginalized even in the most “conservative” congregations: through worship, policy, ministry, you name it.

Happy Sabbath!