'A little learning or a little knowledge is a dangerous thing' It can lull you into thinking that you are more expert that you really are. It can lead to overconfidence in a given situation that suddenly turns into that moment. That moment when you realise that you are in way over your head, you are way out of your depth and you have a real battle on your hands. It can have catastrophic consequences. In the journey of discipleship there are moments when the task required is bigger, the decision more complex, and the job more involved than we thought, requiring more of us than we possess, or have the ability to deal with. It's been that way for God's chosen people since time began, it continued for disciples in Jesus' day, and it a war that we confront more often than we would like to admit. But there is good news. Jesus reveals a way to walk that overcomes doubt, builds confidence and wins the war. We'll explore that today.
#4 in series: Discipleship begins with 'W'
“Best actor”...Gold Medalist... Grand Final Winner...Most Valuable Player...Australian Open Champion. Those accolades snd others like them get etched in memory and on trophies...The also-rans, not so much. We don’t well remember the ones who faltered in the 1st round, finished in the middle of the pack or got an honourable mention...
In real life, “participation ribbons” don’t receive a lot of applause. In a world organized around success, that’s hard to hear and embrace…In the Kingdom of God, there is a different metric that is valued and highlighted for us that Jesus calls us to live for. Jesus says it this way: “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
Living the way of Jesus is about living how Jesus lived; how he would deal with people and circumstances in your life as if he was you. Living the way of Jesus is growing in our capacity and desire to widen the circle so that all people find a space to draw near and receive the grace of God. That's what we will explore today.
#3 in series: Discipleship begins with a 'W'
Foundations are the first part of any construction. The foundation distributes load from what is built above to the ground below to enable enduring strength and resilience of the building once completed. A strong foundation will map out the rest of the building's construction and protect the construction from compounding defects that undermine the integrity and longevity of the building.The same is true in our lives as disciples. Getting the foundation right is essential so that our lives, which are built on it, can stand strong and thrive whatever outside circumstances we encounter. Discipleship begins with Words - God's Word which not only maps out the rest of our life's construction and direction, but reveals a distinct architecture that will get people talking. We'll explore that today.
#2 in Lenten Series: "Discipleship begins with 'W'
When Jesus said, ‘Follow me’, he invited ordinary people to do one thing…walk. Walk with him. It’s a journey of walking exclusively with Jesus. An intentional journey in grace, a deliberate way of living that increases in us the likeness of Jesus. t’s a humbling journey that involves suffering and requires commitment, sacrifice, and endurance. But for those who faithfully walk with him to the end, Jesus promises a crown of life that no-one can take away.
Discipleship begins with worship and Lent is a specific period of 40 days where we purposefully focus on what it means to walk in the life and way of Jesus, to follow him to the cross. Tonight God invites us into his presence, into a spiriutal workout where he promises to retrain our heart, reform our desires and rehabituates our lives for Kingdom living.
Algorithms are everywhere! From the sequential steps we follow when using a recipe, to the system we use for filing paper or files on our computer. From the sequencing of traffic lights to the scheduling of bus and train timetables. From the facial recognition behind many phone logins to the music suggested to us on music platforms, down to the ads and posts that pop up on your social media account. They even control whether you are approved for a home loan or not! Algorithms reach into every part of our lives and are simply a set of rules that are followed to produce a certain outcome.
What if there was a sequence of steps, an algorithm that we could employ that would enable us to live lives of vibrant discipleship? There is. God declares today a relationship algorithm that is vibrant, dynamic, gives focus and clarity, and will transform every circumstance. We'll explore and discover that powerful algorithm that guides our lives and lights up our world today.
#3 and final in Vision series: Vibrant
Vital signs. At almost every healthcare appointment, a person's vital signs will be taken and recorded. Vital signs like:
- Body temperature
- Pulse rate
- Respiration rate (rate of breathing)
- Blood pressure
- Oxygen saturation
These vital signs are intended to give the healthcare professional a picture of the current physiological status of a patient and when measured against a baseline range, can determine the health or otherwise of an individual. Likewise in the Church, there are vital signs that measure the health of a vibrant community. A key vital sign is vibrant relationships characterised by authentic togetherness and genuine hospitality. When these two factors are a pulsating reality in our relationships, the Spirit of unity, connection, and belonging in present with life-transforming power.
God's deepest longing and joy is for us to experience a deep and vibrant relationship with him and others, so today we are going to do a spiritual check-up to make sure we can experience life in its fullness, a life that shares in vibrant relationships.
#2 in Vision series: Vibrant
Vibrant...full of energy and life. Community - a group of people with diverse characteristics who share an identity-forming narrative. Vibrant Community - a group of people with diverse characteristics, who are full of energy and life and share an identity-forming narrative. That's the vision here at LifeWay...we are a vibrant multi-ethnic Christian church ...living fully, sharing boldly and growing purposefully in the life-transforming grace of Jesus. Jesus is calling us to have an influence and impact as a community of his people in the community in which he has placed us...it's a call to come alive and shine, not for ourselves but for one another, to highlight, illuminate and reflect the beauty and presence of God in our midst. When that happens, hope springs forth, transformation occurs, lives come alive and vibrant community is experienced.
#1 in Vision Series: VIbrant
“Influencers” - 'someone who is able to persuade a lot of other people to do, buy, believe, or use the same things that they do.’ The age of social media has created “influencer” as a career choice for many people young/old whether or not they actually have any experience or expertise in their chosen field of “influence.”
Pick a field…food…finance…fashion…fitness…faith? You’ll find “influencers" whether or not they actually have any experience or expertise in their chosen field.
So here's the Good news…that’s not you and Jesus does not expect that of you. Our call is and always will be “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” This means your new work is to simply engage with people and invite them into life with Jesus. And at that, you’re an expert. At that, you have expertise…experience…the authority given to you by Jesus himself to speak his word and declare his promises to restore and raise people up to a relationship with the Father.
That's the new work that goes hand in hand with the new you he has created in you and the new call he has given to you for the flourishing of his Kingdom. We'll explore that today.
#3 and final in series: New Chapter
Some people might call it a sea change or tree change. Others might refer to it as a "mid-life crisis". Still others may speak of an 'Aha moment' or a 'nagging feeling' they could no longer ignore where they just had to do something. Whatever you call it, these moments seem to have a common thread. They are a call to let go, leave behind, walk away and set off in a new direction. It's an invitation that comes in the ordinary routines of life to discover a deeper life, a more fulfilling life, to embark of a new journey and to grow into the person you were always meant to be, the new you in Jesus. We never get anywhere new unless we are willing to leave where we are. We can never hold anything different unless we’re willing to drop what’s already in our hands. Are you experiencing a 'follow me' moment now...a call so compelling to let go of what you are holding onto for your identity, to leave behind the comfortable and secure and to step into a new chapter of simply following Jesus, wherever he calls and wherever he leads? The new call to follow Jesus into life in the kingdom of God will upend your life...in the most dramatic and beautiful way.
#2 in series: New Chapter