Ephesians 4:11,12 tell us that God has given us leaders to help those following Jesus to understand how to get ready to impact their work place, neighborhoods, community clubs, towns and cities. Many people have an interest in making a difference with their life but are uncertain how to go about it. There are many moral and ethical issues facing us today and we need input on how to deal with these things.
Just as any athlete must go through training in order to compete in a challenging event, so those of us following Jesus must learn how to help our friends understand what life is about and how to wrestle with the hard questions life throws at us. Discipleship is not only getting out of the starting blocks in a race but also dealing with what happens after the first turn or the next to last lap. It is sharing life with new followers and those who have been on the track for a long time.
It is a challenge to invest time with someone when we are often separated by distance and busy schedules. We can easily become passive but discipleship requires interaction with people in real life settings. Helping people learn to follow Jesus is more effective when it is done in a context where people are connected by proximity, relationships, transparency and values. In 2 Timothy 3:10,11 Paul reminds Timothy that they were in the arena together and he saw Paul's manner of life, direction, faith, love, troubles, suffering, grief, etc. They didn't just do a Bible study on this but got dirt on them as they traveled life together.
We need leaders who will model what it means to innovate, experiment, risk, fail and begin again in living out the gospel with friends.
Our neighbors are learning how to squeak by in life by TV, the Internet and music. They are not getting their money's worth. Most of the people in these venues are not connected to Jesus and so they are communicating a very limited perspective on what is real or important in life. Think about how refreshing it would be for them to see in you and I, color in a black and white world. But we do have to learn how to hold the brush, what picture to paint, what paint to use and how to get it to stay on the canvas.
Let's not add to their conclusion that Christianity is a "harmless delusion."
Focus Thought Training is essential for those who follow Jesus. It is best carried out in real life situations because that is where people live.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Should I stop and pick this guy up?
Have you ever seen someone hitchhiking and wondered if you should stop and give them a ride? I know you have to be smart in our day but most of the time we just keep going and the guy stands there probably cussing as another car passes by. I was recently challenged in thinking about people with little or no Christian background who want a ride...or who might just be interested in a conversation about things that really matter.
In Luke 18:35-43 Jesus picks up a hitchhiker. He is blind...at first. He is yelling...for a while. He is told to shut up by people with Jesus...he ignored them and shouted louder. Jesus stopped, asked a question and gave the man something that changed him forever. Who knows what the disciples were thinking now.
Jesus could have just passed by...after all he did not heal everyone and this was an important trip.
There are many out there who might like to peek into what goes on in our Christian groups but it seems outrageously strange to them. The language is so different and they will not risk being embarrassed or accepted as they are. So they stand by the road waiting for the next person who just might stop and meet them where they are, listen to their story, treat them and their questions with respect, give them time to think, and maybe share a meal together.
In our haste to make disciples we often press for a quick decision about committing their life to Jesus for the rest of their life. But we need to provide time and space for people to understand what we are asking them to commit to. We need to allow people to check out who Jesus is and what he is about with no expectations. We need to pick them up and take them with us so they can see what being a Christian is all about. Sometimes people are ready...the blind guy was ready. But most of the time people need to be welcomed to travel with us as we learn what it means to follow Jesus.
There are many hitchhikers out there looking for solutions to life's issues. Stop and pick one up.
Focus Thought: Be alert to people God is bringing into your life, love on them and have many conversations with them...especially about following Jesus.
In Luke 18:35-43 Jesus picks up a hitchhiker. He is blind...at first. He is yelling...for a while. He is told to shut up by people with Jesus...he ignored them and shouted louder. Jesus stopped, asked a question and gave the man something that changed him forever. Who knows what the disciples were thinking now.
Jesus could have just passed by...after all he did not heal everyone and this was an important trip.
There are many out there who might like to peek into what goes on in our Christian groups but it seems outrageously strange to them. The language is so different and they will not risk being embarrassed or accepted as they are. So they stand by the road waiting for the next person who just might stop and meet them where they are, listen to their story, treat them and their questions with respect, give them time to think, and maybe share a meal together.
In our haste to make disciples we often press for a quick decision about committing their life to Jesus for the rest of their life. But we need to provide time and space for people to understand what we are asking them to commit to. We need to allow people to check out who Jesus is and what he is about with no expectations. We need to pick them up and take them with us so they can see what being a Christian is all about. Sometimes people are ready...the blind guy was ready. But most of the time people need to be welcomed to travel with us as we learn what it means to follow Jesus.
There are many hitchhikers out there looking for solutions to life's issues. Stop and pick one up.
Focus Thought: Be alert to people God is bringing into your life, love on them and have many conversations with them...especially about following Jesus.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Tiptoeing Through Life
To walk through life stealthily or cautiously on your tiptoes. There is nothing wrong with being cautious...at times. There are times when Jesus disappeared in the crowd. But living life with those not yet following Jesus must done with complete visibility. We may not mind being real and visible with some but not necessarily with others. This is wrong. Jesus was the same with everyone. Some were encouraged and others outraged and demanded he change, leave or risk being treated as an outsider.
Galatians 2:11-14 Paul openly challenged Peter because Peter had been eating with outsiders when his religious peers were not present. When they showed up however, he stopped eating with them and began to withdraw from them. His fear of what they would think or say made him go back to where he was before the great adventure with those who had not seen Jesus in anyone's life. But it affected others who were on the team and they did the same.
Paul hammers this one. He says they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel and why should they try to get these people to become like their religious peers.
It is no different today. When you begin to live life intentionally with those not yet following Jesus there will be opposition from those who have no intention of being around outsiders except at a grocery store when they check out. You can plan on being accused of compromising or giving up the faith altogether. There are always many believers who do not plan on ever following Jesus into the marketplace of life.
We must be careful not to tiptoe into living life with people who can't figure life out but rather walk straight into it boldly. There is no other way for people to see who Jesus is if we only get our toes dirty. And forget about those who carry around religious check lists to make sure they do not cross the lines they have drawn that define following Jesus. If we walk honestly with Jesus, he will erase some of those lines and show us the ones that matter.
Focus Thought Live intentionally and courageously with those who are not yet following Jesus and forget about the labels religious people will give you.
Galatians 2:11-14 Paul openly challenged Peter because Peter had been eating with outsiders when his religious peers were not present. When they showed up however, he stopped eating with them and began to withdraw from them. His fear of what they would think or say made him go back to where he was before the great adventure with those who had not seen Jesus in anyone's life. But it affected others who were on the team and they did the same.
Paul hammers this one. He says they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel and why should they try to get these people to become like their religious peers.
It is no different today. When you begin to live life intentionally with those not yet following Jesus there will be opposition from those who have no intention of being around outsiders except at a grocery store when they check out. You can plan on being accused of compromising or giving up the faith altogether. There are always many believers who do not plan on ever following Jesus into the marketplace of life.
We must be careful not to tiptoe into living life with people who can't figure life out but rather walk straight into it boldly. There is no other way for people to see who Jesus is if we only get our toes dirty. And forget about those who carry around religious check lists to make sure they do not cross the lines they have drawn that define following Jesus. If we walk honestly with Jesus, he will erase some of those lines and show us the ones that matter.
Focus Thought Live intentionally and courageously with those who are not yet following Jesus and forget about the labels religious people will give you.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Don't be a Tourist
In Philippians 2:5-8 are words that should challenge us to immerse ourselves with those not yet following Jesus. Jesus fleshed out what life was suppose to look like by deciding to leave the perfect environment for where we and our friends live life. In fact he got rid of his passport and became one of us. He chose to experience life as we do. It seems easy to drop into someone else's world for a day, month or whatever and leave when we want to. If it gets uncomfortable in any way we can easily decide it is time to go home. But Jesus changed addresses. His home was where we live.
We are kidding ourselves and cheating other people if we do not really enter their world. The gospel will never make sense to my friends if all I do is talk about it and leave. They will never see what I am talking about. For me this means I must consistently be with them in their environment and on their terms. I do not have to compromise to do this but I will have to alter my lifestyle.
Our comfortable environment with believers is sweet but never crosses the boundaries where life is lived for most people. We must eliminate the boundaries or those not yet following Jesus will never get to see Jesus and how he loves them.
Take some of the back streets and get off of main street. Eat at the local cafe rather than the chain. Invite someone you do not know to have lunch with you that is outside of your boundary. Just don't be a tourist. The view from the street is different from the tour bus.
We are kidding ourselves and cheating other people if we do not really enter their world. The gospel will never make sense to my friends if all I do is talk about it and leave. They will never see what I am talking about. For me this means I must consistently be with them in their environment and on their terms. I do not have to compromise to do this but I will have to alter my lifestyle.
Our comfortable environment with believers is sweet but never crosses the boundaries where life is lived for most people. We must eliminate the boundaries or those not yet following Jesus will never get to see Jesus and how he loves them.
Take some of the back streets and get off of main street. Eat at the local cafe rather than the chain. Invite someone you do not know to have lunch with you that is outside of your boundary. Just don't be a tourist. The view from the street is different from the tour bus.
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