Journey

Discipleship begins before a person’s salvation moment/ conversion experience and continues through the rest of their walk upon this earth. Discipleship is better understood as a journey, a pursuing after Christ and being pursued by Christ. This journey is like a dance, twirling and gliding on the feet of our Father, steadily holding his hands and heart glowing because of the momentum of the twirls and the exhilaration of the dance. Journey is messy, even though we haven’t always allowed for ourselves and others to admit the messiness of the journey. The goal of discipleship is transformation, steadily becoming more like Christ. It is Christ in us and the hope of this transforming presence that continues to give meaning to our lives. We must remember that discipleship should not happen alone. We must have community for discipleship to be effective. We need relational intimacy with those that have walked this journey ahead of us and understand the highs and lows and the ins and outs of this roller-coaster ride we call the Christian life. And as we have been poured into by seasoned souls we too must pour ourselves into the lives of others.

 

Jesus Christ was relational and allowed for his disciples to ask questions and was patient with them when they didn’t get it. Jesus understood the importance of hearing a person’s story and seeing the Greater Story. We haven’t lost that relational thrust of following Christ. Following by its very nature implies relationship. We don’t follow those we don’t know. Likewise, today in our ever changing world we need to be sensitive to the stories of others, and allow them to see how their story connects to the Greater Story. But hearing a person’s story will not occur outside of relationships. This sort of thinking should change the way we share the gospel with those outside of church culture. The content certainly won’t  change but the way we present the message will. When we commit to relationships with those who are outside of church culture we are making a long term investment in the lives of those whom Jesus misses most.

Journey

Discipleship begins before a person’s salvation moment/ conversion experience and continues through the rest of their walk upon this earth. Discipleship is better understood as a journey, a pursuing after Christ and being pursued by Christ. This journey is like a dance, twirling and gliding on the feet of our Father, steadily holding his hands and heart glowing because of the momentum of the twirls and the exhilaration of the dance. Journey is messy, even though we haven’t always allowed for ourselves and others to admit the messiness of the journey. The goal of discipleship is transformation, steadily becoming more like Christ. It is Christ in us and the hope of this transforming presence that continues to give meaning to our lives. We must remember that discipleship should not happen alone. We must have community for discipleship to be effective. We need relational intimacy with those that have walked this journey ahead of us and understand the highs and lows and the ins and outs of this roller-coaster ride we call the Christian life. And as we have been poured into by seasoned souls we too must pour ourselves into the lives of others.

 

Jesus Christ was relational and allowed for his disciples to ask questions and was patient with them when they didn’t get it. Jesus understood the importance of hearing a person’s story and seeing the Greater Story. We haven’t lost that relational thrust of following Christ. Following by its very nature implies relationship. We don’t follow those we don’t know. Likewise, today in our ever changing world we need to be sensitive to the stories of others, and allow them to see how their story connects to the Greater Story. But hearing a person’s story will not occur outside of relationships. This sort of thinking should change the way we share the gospel with those outside of church culture. The content certainly won’t  change but the way we present the message will. When we commit to relationships with those who are outside of church culture we are making a long term investment in the lives of those whom Jesus misses most.

live from LCU

Class is going well. I spent a good part of yesterday sick as a dog. I don’t know what hit me, but I am feeling better.

We talked a lot yesterday about pomo.

live from LCU

Class is going well. I spent a good part of yesterday sick as a dog. I don’t know what hit me, but I am feeling better.

We talked a lot yesterday about pomo.

What is the “gospel?” (more reflections on class)

I have asked this question before, and it certainly is question worth considering. So what is the gospel?

Paul let’s us in on what the gospel is in 1 Cor. 15:3-4. He writes, “3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” I think from Paul’s words we could say that Jesus is the gospel. Isn’t that great. Think of the implications if we allowed this thinking to influence us. We could avoid unnecessary arguments but focusing on Christ.

Sometimes in our ambitiousness we have have an equation that resembles the following:

Jesus + our own little hangups = the Gospel

What does he tell the church in Galatians? Basically anything plus Jesus is not the gospel.

Thinking out loud and processing…

What is the “gospel?” (more reflections on class)

I have asked this question before, and it certainly is question worth considering. So what is the gospel?

Paul let’s us in on what the gospel is in 1 Cor. 15:3-4. He writes, “3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” I think from Paul’s words we could say that Jesus is the gospel. Isn’t that great. Think of the implications if we allowed this thinking to influence us. We could avoid unnecessary arguments but focusing on Christ.

Sometimes in our ambitiousness we have have an equation that resembles the following:

Jesus + our own little hangups = the Gospel

What does he tell the church in Galatians? Basically anything plus Jesus is not the gospel.

Thinking out loud and processing…

Greetings from LCU

I am writing this at the hotel in Lubbock. It’s been a great start to the week. I am here at LCU taking an advanced youth ministry course with Dr. Dave Fraze, and some great guys ministering in wide variety of settings.

A couple of things of interest today:
1. In our class we have had the privelege of meeting and fellowshiping with an ICOC brother. God has been doing some awesome stuff in their congregations and this brother has such a passion for Christ. It was cool getting to shake hands with him and talking, a few years ago a conversation between our groups wouldn’t have occured. I don’t want to get into this whole historical split thing, but it is worth noting that having both sides talking and admitting wrong on both ends is refreshing.

In addition to our ICOC brother, we have a Baptist and a member of the independent Christian Church amongst us. It’s cool hearing their perspective they bring to the table.

2. Fraze challenged us to begin thinking theologically about youth ministry. Theology is part of what we do as ministers, theology affects our whole being, it’s more than what we beleive, it’s who we are.

As we talked and discussed, there were times in class I was overwhelmed a bit with the material. One of the things that really impacted me has been how historically theologically has moved away from a Christocentric focus and shifted to a Bibliocentric model (Read my last post about how we have lost sight of Jesus). What’s the problem? The Bible is good, right? It certainly is, but as we have been cultured/conditioned to approach the Bible with a certain hermeneutical approach that hasn’t always allowed for tension to exist in the realm of theology. But we need the tension that is present between our theological inquiries and our outcomes. We may never get at the answer, but we need the question. I am not sure if this connecting with any of you out there in blog land, but my head is still racing from class.

How does all of this connect with youth ministry? In our methodologies and theologies we need to be asking “how are we doing according to God’s standards?”

3. Another thing of interest was we talked about the history of YM and kind where it has brought us today and the importance of asking “how are doing according to God’s standards?”

So, if we were to really ask ourselves how are doing to God’s standards, what would our answers be? I hope this question will continue to guide my ministry and if it hasn’t yours that it will.

Greetings from LCU

I am writing this at the hotel in Lubbock. It’s been a great start to the week. I am here at LCU taking an advanced youth ministry course with Dr. Dave Fraze, and some great guys ministering in wide variety of settings.

A couple of things of interest today:
1. In our class we have had the privelege of meeting and fellowshiping with an ICOC brother. God has been doing some awesome stuff in their congregations and this brother has such a passion for Christ. It was cool getting to shake hands with him and talking, a few years ago a conversation between our groups wouldn’t have occured. I don’t want to get into this whole historical split thing, but it is worth noting that having both sides talking and admitting wrong on both ends is refreshing.

In addition to our ICOC brother, we have a Baptist and a member of the independent Christian Church amongst us. It’s cool hearing their perspective they bring to the table.

2. Fraze challenged us to begin thinking theologically about youth ministry. Theology is part of what we do as ministers, theology affects our whole being, it’s more than what we beleive, it’s who we are.

As we talked and discussed, there were times in class I was overwhelmed a bit with the material. One of the things that really impacted me has been how historically theologically has moved away from a Christocentric focus and shifted to a Bibliocentric model (Read my last post about how we have lost sight of Jesus). What’s the problem? The Bible is good, right? It certainly is, but as we have been cultured/conditioned to approach the Bible with a certain hermeneutical approach that hasn’t always allowed for tension to exist in the realm of theology. But we need the tension that is present between our theological inquiries and our outcomes. We may never get at the answer, but we need the question. I am not sure if this connecting with any of you out there in blog land, but my head is still racing from class.

How does all of this connect with youth ministry? In our methodologies and theologies we need to be asking “how are we doing according to God’s standards?”

3. Another thing of interest was we talked about the history of YM and kind where it has brought us today and the importance of asking “how are doing according to God’s standards?”

So, if we were to really ask ourselves how are doing to God’s standards, what would our answers be? I hope this question will continue to guide my ministry and if it hasn’t yours that it will.

in but not of, we can make a difference

The more I read, and study and hear some conversation in churches about differing worship styles, the faith once for all trusted, fellowship issues, etc., the more convinced I become that by and large we’ve lost sight of Jesus. Somewhere in our caravan from Enlightenment, modernism to postmodernism we’ve lost track of Jesus. Somewhere along the way we’ve allowed ourselves to get to comfortable not asking difficult questions and stretching ourselves to think theologically about things. We’ve isolated ourselves from the world and even in some istances from other brothers and sisters in the Lord because they look and do "church" different than we do.

 

It is so easy to take sides and point fingers at those who are different. Instead of being issue driven, all of us need a healthy dose of reality. Let’s wake up and smell the splinters of the crosses we are supposed to be carrying. Following Jesus Christ isn’t about dividing into stained glass ghettoes and disfellowshiping perceived heretics. We need more Christ centered vision and focus and less everything else. I am not saying doctrine isn’t important, or sin is to be overlooked. Instead of fighting for an audience to sell our religious propaganda let’s die to self and commit to the way of God in Jesus Christ. We can sit next to hand raisers, and hand clappers, gossips, liers, adulters, idolaters in service without festering hate in our heart. The bottom line is we all need Jesus. The more conservative and the less conservative have the same need of the same Jesus. It’s time to see others as those for whom Christ died and not enemies.

 

I have said before, and maybe you’ve heard that it’s time to stop minoring in the majors and majoring in the minors. Indeed, we need to keep the main thing. I think sometime though, the factions that exist argue over what’s major and minor. Let me spell out what the main thing: Jesus Christ and him crucified. If we are commited to becoming fully devoted disciples of Jesus we can learn to love those who are different. I keep hoping for the day when we will catch a vision of the kingdom of God that is bigger than our own preconceived ideas of what the kingdom is or entails. The kingdom of God is a kingdom without borders, and it is an inclusive kingdom. The Gentile and the Jew are welcome as are black and white, hispanic, asian, the native american, and the arab. Disciples of Christ are colored differently, speak different languages, but have the same Savior, they have the same hope, they are in the body together.

 

For to long good hearted disciples have sat in the shadows and watched the world pass us by. I believe that Jesus would have us to effect change in our world through his tender love and compassion. I believe we can make a difference if we are willing to think theologically and Christologically about our world and the needs even in our communities. Jesus took his message and his touch to the places in society and that the religious people wouldn’t go. Dare we do the same? I think it is time we start an epidemic of global prorportions by leaving behind those things that won’t last past today. We must become missional. As a missional people, it’s not up to the clergy to share Christ alone and be involved in ministry. Missional Christians are those who work in regular jobs of whatever stripe and are actively living out a vibrant faith in their workplace and at home. Church, the world needs us. While our citizenship is in heaven, we must not turn our backs on those that need Christ the most. We can’t hide any longer in our sanctuaries and claim we are faithful to our Jesus if we aren’t involved in changing the world. It’s time to repent of our own self absorption and our striving to be autonomous individuals, and our competing with the Jones’s, and our quest for material gain. We need to become self emptying, cross carrying, Christ commited disciples who recognize our treasures aren’t stored up on earth but in heaven. It’s time to live like we mean it.

in but not of, we can make a difference

The more I read, and study and hear some conversation in churches about differing worship styles, the faith once for all trusted, fellowship issues, etc., the more convinced I become that by and large we’ve lost sight of Jesus. Somewhere in our caravan from Enlightenment, modernism to postmodernism we’ve lost track of Jesus. Somewhere along the way we’ve allowed ourselves to get to comfortable not asking difficult questions and stretching ourselves to think theologically about things. We’ve isolated ourselves from the world and even in some istances from other brothers and sisters in the Lord because they look and do "church" different than we do.

 

It is so easy to take sides and point fingers at those who are different. Instead of being issue driven, all of us need a healthy dose of reality. Let’s wake up and smell the splinters of the crosses we are supposed to be carrying. Following Jesus Christ isn’t about dividing into stained glass ghettoes and disfellowshiping perceived heretics. We need more Christ centered vision and focus and less everything else. I am not saying doctrine isn’t important, or sin is to be overlooked. Instead of fighting for an audience to sell our religious propaganda let’s die to self and commit to the way of God in Jesus Christ. We can sit next to hand raisers, and hand clappers, gossips, liers, adulters, idolaters in service without festering hate in our heart. The bottom line is we all need Jesus. The more conservative and the less conservative have the same need of the same Jesus. It’s time to see others as those for whom Christ died and not enemies.

 

I have said before, and maybe you’ve heard that it’s time to stop minoring in the majors and majoring in the minors. Indeed, we need to keep the main thing. I think sometime though, the factions that exist argue over what’s major and minor. Let me spell out what the main thing: Jesus Christ and him crucified. If we are commited to becoming fully devoted disciples of Jesus we can learn to love those who are different. I keep hoping for the day when we will catch a vision of the kingdom of God that is bigger than our own preconceived ideas of what the kingdom is or entails. The kingdom of God is a kingdom without borders, and it is an inclusive kingdom. The Gentile and the Jew are welcome as are black and white, hispanic, asian, the native american, and the arab. Disciples of Christ are colored differently, speak different languages, but have the same Savior, they have the same hope, they are in the body together.

 

For to long good hearted disciples have sat in the shadows and watched the world pass us by. I believe that Jesus would have us to effect change in our world through his tender love and compassion. I believe we can make a difference if we are willing to think theologically and Christologically about our world and the needs even in our communities. Jesus took his message and his touch to the places in society and that the religious people wouldn’t go. Dare we do the same? I think it is time we start an epidemic of global prorportions by leaving behind those things that won’t last past today. We must become missional. As a missional people, it’s not up to the clergy to share Christ alone and be involved in ministry. Missional Christians are those who work in regular jobs of whatever stripe and are actively living out a vibrant faith in their workplace and at home. Church, the world needs us. While our citizenship is in heaven, we must not turn our backs on those that need Christ the most. We can’t hide any longer in our sanctuaries and claim we are faithful to our Jesus if we aren’t involved in changing the world. It’s time to repent of our own self absorption and our striving to be autonomous individuals, and our competing with the Jones’s, and our quest for material gain. We need to become self emptying, cross carrying, Christ commited disciples who recognize our treasures aren’t stored up on earth but in heaven. It’s time to live like we mean it.