The Way of A Disciple

Matthew 4:18-22   (NRSV)

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.  

For the last two months, Mary and I have been sharing with you the words of Jesus that are found in the Sermon on the Mount, particularly in the section known as the beatitudes.

These are not easy words --- I get that.

Not only are they not easy --- they sometimes make no sense.

          Blessed are the poor

          Blessed are those who mourn

          Blessed are the meek

          Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

          Blessed are the merciful

          Blessed are the pure in heart

          Blessed are the peacemakers

          Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake

          Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you

I mean, come on, who yearns for those things . . .

I know there is a disconnect between Jesus words, and my life . . .

          And have I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out WHY?

          And then it hit me

                   Like a ton of bricks

I was listening to a pod cast and in it was said something that I have known but just had not put into perspective very well

Mark Galli, the former editor of Christianity Today (a very conservative evangelical publication started by Billy Graham) was talking about why he wrote an editorial during the impeachment hearings calling for the removal of President Trump.  If you have not read his piece, I highly recommend it.

But what struck me, was not the discussion about the impeachment, but rather what he said compelled him to write the article.

Galli made the comment that most evangelical Christians "think" with their emotions and most progressive --- I believe he would use the term liberal --- Christians think with their heads but have lost the emotional edge to their faith --- he would suggest that we need to think both emotionally and with our intellect

And I think that is why the Beatitudes are so tough for us --- intellectually they make absolutely no sense --- they call to us not at an intellectual level --- but rather Jesus is speaking from a heart level.

Think about it --- how do you study the bible?

          Most of us study it intellectually

                   We wrestle with the text in our brain

When we participate in mission projects, how do we go about the task?

          Exactly like it is a TASK to be conquered

The problem is, following Jesus is NOT an intellectual enterprise --- it requires way more than just examining it

          It requires ACTION

                   action with passion

Last fall, the staff began working on what for a lack of better language we are calling a discipleship path

          If one wants to follow the way of Jesus --- just how does one do that?

Mary last Sunday talked about the markers that one finds on the Camino de Santiago in Spain

          Trail signs that point you along the way

          What we are trying to identify is --- what are the markers on the way of Jesus?

Now, let me be careful to say --- following Jesus isn't about checking off steps

          Let’s not fall back into that . . .

                    It is all about the journey

And the journey with Jesus is ANYTHING but linear

          It loops and jumps --- backwards, forwards, sideways

                   But the goal is to be constantly moving WITH Jesus

During Lent, Mary and I will share with you what we as a staff have come to believe are the characteristics of a disciple.

·         A Disciple Worships

·         A Disciple belongs to a Community

·         A Disciple commits to spiritual practices

·         A Disciple is Generous and Serves

·         A Disciple seeks to be Christ-like

What i love about these descriptions is that they really are not static objectives.

You can't just show up on a Sunday morning and say: Yep, I can check off that box

They require more --- and it is in the nuances, that one finds Jesus

I can come to church --- and not encounter Jesus

I can join a house group --- and not encounter Jesus

I can meditate, or fast and still not encounter Jesus

I can share my time and resources --- and still not encounter Jesus

It is not the DOING that makes us a disciple --- it is all about the relationship and the reason WHY we are doing what we do

One statistic that I have always found fascinating is the amount of time that people spend in actual conversation with their spouse

According to the UK, Office for National Statistics --- Couples, on average, spend about two to two and a half hours a day together, including weekends

That sounds pretty good --- until you dig a little deeper.

They report that this time is largely spent watching television (one-third of all the time spent together), eating (30 minutes) and doing housework together (24 minutes).

And how often is there actual conversation?

          Quality conversation?

Many marriage counselors have compared marriage to a garden. 

I find this to be an interesting analogy. 

If you know much about gardening you know that the “natural” state of a garden (meaning the state it exists in without the intentional input of energy) is death

What is the “natural” state of a marriage --- divorce. 

          Without the intentional input of energy, marriage dies.

I have also heard the analogy that marriage is similar to drifting downstream together

but that would imply that the natural state of marriage is to go where it needs to go

          but that isn’t the case, as anyone who is married knows.

Most marriages that end in divorce often seem to just drift into divorce.

According to other research --- most married couples spend only 5 minutes a day in actual conversation with their spouse

          5 minutes!

What kind of garden is that going to produce?

I ask all that because it seems to me, this is also indicative of our relationship with God.

How much time do you spend in intentional relationship with God?

Can you honestly answer that question?

          And is that time that you spend with God --- quality time

Just because you are here --- it does not mean that you are actually spending time with God

And when --- IF --- you read the bible --- do you read it for intellectual understanding --- or so that you can be in a relationship with God?

          How do I know the difference? . . .

Do you ask yourself as you read each passage: What is this scripture asking of me?

Is the time that you spend with Jesus --- is it enough to allow that relationship to really grow?

Jesus comes along and in our text today says: (Matthew 4:18f The Message)

Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.

The question we have to ask ourselves isn't just will we follow --- intellectually. 

But will we take the time and energy necessary to really fall in love with God

As you come to the table this morning, I invite you to lay aside all your pre-conceived notions about what this is

And instead see it as an opportunity to re-connect with Jesus --- maybe even for the first time

To begin a journey of grace

          To begin to move beyond intellectual knowing of Jesus ---

                   To falling in love with him and his invitation for us today