DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY: US
Monday, January 27, 2014
The following is written from my notes taken and thoughts
provoked during Pastor Paul’s Sunday sermon.
Just who or what
exactly are we following? In fasting from food, sugar, coffee, TV, radio,
impatience, internet, judging, confrontations and argumentalism, etc. . . .
individual congregants shared what they’d learned.
God showed in
creating Even that He never intended an individualistic ME, but a caring
community minded active US. Indeed salvation, present and eternal redemption is
personal, but together we make up His church (Not a brick & mortar
edifice!) This, His John 1:12 family, is what Jesus and Paul are referring to
in Matthew 7:15-16 and Galatians 5:19-23. Our fruit reveals what kind of tree
we are! Are we spiritually healthy or corrupt?
Employee or
elementary school evaluations often include “Works/plays well with others.” Or not.
My grandson embodied this. Though underage, not old enough to play in
competition, he, though unskilled and not even understand as yet the game rules,
qualified as cooperative (i.e. Not a ball hog.) and now does practice once a
week with a local soccer team.
In John 13:33-36
[MKJV] it’s recorded Jesus said “Little children, I am with you yet a little
while. You shall seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, Where I go, you cannot
come, so I now say to you. I give you a new commandment, that you love one
another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another. By this all
shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love toward one another. Simon
Peter said to Him, Lord, where do You go? Jesus answered him, Where I go you
cannot now follow Me, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
In pondering
these words from our Lord, I took note of not just what Pastor Paul was
emphasizing, but also 2 new things to me.
1.
Jesus spoke of community. Peter expressed
concern for self.
2.
I’d often heard or read that though theme
throughout OT, “new” had to do with who He was talking to. Whereas the “new”
about loving one another is “As I have loved you”. My mind then connected this
dot with Ephesians 5:25.
Like any team
interested in playing well, we practice at home in preparation for the away
games. At this time what is Benson Baptist’ score?
We have been
losing members due to job changes, age, retirement, illness, death et al. Is
lack of loving attention another reason some have left, or visitors haven’t
come back?
Are we simply
satisfied that we have our ticket to heaven lackadaisically waiting for the
trip?
We are surrounded
with opportunities to love more than we do. We must study, train, and practice.
Hopefully we’ll have an outbreak of kindness and it will be contagious beyond
this group!
Pastor Donald
McKnight (Evangelical Methodist Church, Dublin MD) always taught that it is
imperative that we not come to church services to visit family and/or old
friends. He said “That’s what you do outside of this building.”
Pastor Paul
closed with an action list to which I’ve added a bit of my training:
·
Look for those visitors or those you don’t know
·
Make them feel welcome
·
Invite and treat them to lunch out or a meal at
your home.
·
Smile. (I need to work on this one.)
·
Be courteous, hold door etc.
·
Make eye contact.
·
Ask “How are you?” and really listen to their
answer.
·
When in conversation do not allow impolite interruptions
from family, other members, or a pastor.
·
Move! Sit in different spots. Sit next to
someone you don’t know.
·
Write cards and notes of encouragement. Should
Holy Spirit speak to your heart, this kind of note passing is permitted during
service.
·
Give attention to noisy child if helpful.
·
Visit; take food, repair items, chauffer those
going through difficult time.
·
Join Sunday School class or small group.
·
Volunteer!
·
Collaborate!
·
Celebrate!
My final thought:
Five+ months to go on learning discipleship from Pastors Paul Marine and Josh
Klein. Obviously there is much to learn and/or be reminded of. EBB4
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