who He chose- Mark 3:14, Acts 4:13 day 18

There was a system in place.  A Jewish boy was to memorize the Torah by the age of 9.  If he worked hard in school he would continue on to memorize the rest of the Old Testament.  A Rabbi would choose the best of the students to train them to be like himself.


If I was planning on starting a movement to change the world, I think I would want smart,
successful, leaders.  Jesus chose ordinary unschooled men.  He trained them to make disciples that make disciples.


Too often ordinary people who have not been trained in religion think or feel like they cannot make disciples.  God takes regular people who will walk with Him to continue on a movement that changes lives.


Who wants to spend time with God?  Who has time to study the Bible and who will take time to pray?  Those are people who Jesus might have chosen to be his disciples.  As people trust in God, God does the work to change lives.


still thinking,


I am off to NC to see my brother.  I will still try to blog.


If you are keeping up on the 25 day devotions to look at what Jesus taught about making disciples, let me know.    I want us to meet to discuss what we are learning.

example- John 13- day 16

Jesus says: I have set you and example that you should do as I have done for you.  (vs 15)  


He was a new kind of leader that would serve people.  A leader that would build into the lives of those around him.  A leader that would meet needs of those who were near.  He would also take those he was training and together they would meet needs of those they would find.  


I want to make disciples in the ways of Jesus.  


still thinking about how I can do this even today.  

C323- Colossians 3:23 day 15

Whatever you do

I was thinking about these verses as we were at a Christmas party today.  How does a Christmas party with friends = whatever I do is with all my heart for the Lord and not for men.

I met Winston today.  Winston  and I talked about this verse and just the consideration that we are at the party available for whatever God would have us to do.

God was part of the Christmas party.

Many there are followers of Christ.  Not so much the good that I was bringing.  My sister and her friend are very  kind as they invited so many friends to share a Christmas dinner.

I am still thinking about how to do whatever I do for the Lord.

keep on asking Luke 18:1-5- day 14

     Jesus tells the story so that the disciples know to always pray and not give up.
    What do I learn about God in the story about  the widow who keeps on pestering for justice?  The judge who does not care eventually gives in to the request.
    There is something about this judge and this story that tells us something about God.  Or maybe we learn something about ourselves.
    keep on praying.  God says keep on asking.


Help!

the greatest- Matthew 22:36-40 day 13

What do I love?  Who do I love?


The way it feels to get in my old mustang on a sun shine day and feel how the 351c engine can accelerate.  The sunshine with the top down.  I can take a few hours to wash and wax it.  Then just drive.  Maybe across the bay to catch the sun set.  Hours of pleasure with a classic.


God is so much better.  I was talking to him this morning about some of the questions I am facing.  I know I can trust him.  I know he will lead.  I just can't see very far down the road.


Life can seem overwhelming, but God is not.  He says it all comes down to a few things.  Just love him.  Work together.  Take some time and be still before him.  Listen til you know what you are hearing is coming from him. Make sure the truth lines up with what he tells us in the Bible.  Just enjoy the ride.  Enjoy the time being together.


I want to see the picture of what God has planned.  Today I need to just enjoy the ride.


I know I pray more when things are not so clear.


still thinking and praying.

Haver = friendship- Hebrews 10:24-25, Proverbs 27:17 day 10

Meeting together and spurring each other to do what is right, what is good and what is helpful.  We are here to serve others.


Following Christ should happen together.  The relationships of building each other up happen as part of being in a healthy church.  Don't stop meeting together because we need relationships with others who will help us follow Christ.  As I go to church today, I can look for ways to talk to people.  Maybe I will learn from them.  Maybe I can encourage someone.


What happens if a church plans on this to be part of the meeting.  Sometimes it seems like the person standing in front of the group is supposed to encourage everyone.  In these verses it seems more like many people should encourage many people.


God,  help me to think about this today.  Help me to see how I can encourage someone today.


still thinking,

With- Matthew 18:15-20

Following Christ and making disciples is not 1 person working hard.  What if a team of people agreed to seek God through the Bible.  They would discuss what God is teaching them.  The church is a team of people working together as they walk WITH God.  

This is kind of a confusing time.  Who are the people that I talk with about building into the lives of others?  When you leave a church, they have to carry on the work without you.  I can't call the people I worked with for the past years and ask them how the ministry is going.  I trust God will bless others who will do that.  

I am blessed as I have other friends that are interested in talking about the teachings of Christ.  Things are different.  

preach Mark 3:13-19 day7

I enjoyed the discussion with a group of friends.  I am thinking through the question- Who is qualified to make disciples?  Can everyone be a disciplemaker.

The word preach in Mark 3 seems to mislead us.  In this town, the preacher is the one who stands in front of the church on Sunday morning.  He should have a degree or two.  He is more impressive if he uses words from Greek or Hebrew, which no one in the audience would know.

But everyone can do this.  The word preach in this verse is more like proclaim, publish or talk about it.  When we read the Bible and learn something that we know is from God, we should tell somebody.

I think mostly they would tell people who Jesus is and what he can do for you.

It is not the super smart, religious or even the super righteous.  Anyone that is getting to know God can tell people what they are learning.

Even me.

same verses

ok.  my first thought was, i already read these verses.

If I met Jesus in the morning, we would . . .

Not sit in my office.  I think we would have to be around people.  I could see a coffee shop or maybe somewhere where people have needs.  Hospital, Jail or the line of people looking for work over on Nebraska ave.

I can't picture Jesus alone.  He was always with people.  The crowd ofter grew too big.

Not sure what that means for me.  still thinking.

From Mark 3:13-19

Jesus called 12 people by name.  If I am making disciples, I know them by name.  Who has my name on the list of those they would disciple. 

These were people that he would train with intent that he would send them out.  He gave them authority to carry on the work he was doing.  He prayed alot for them.

I am in a transition in my life.  No longer on staff at a church.  I am still all on in my relationship with God.  I am still all on in making disciples.  I am not sure who they are.  Those God is calling me to pray for and encourage.  Praying and willing to do whatever God calls me to do. 

a past blog- thoughts on Deuteronomy 6:4-7

This is from the teen center blog from a few weeks ago.  it kinda fits with this blog.  


This has me thinking;

As we love God with all of our hearts, we will put his way of living and his commands on our hearts. Knowing God and spending time in his Word becomes part of our coming and going. It is part of our life when we sit, walk, drive and lie down. We should do devotions in the am and in the pm and then talk about it during the day.

The door post is on the way out of the house. The gate would have been on the way out of the community. Maybe out of the city.

Parents who come to church with intent to help other kids grow in how they follow God are continuing the teaching of Deuteronomy 6. I need other people who have pressed the ways of God on their heart to also invest in my children. And I should invest into their children.

Parents are primary but should not be alone.

As we spend time with God in His Word and in prayer, we will overflow into the community.

This hit me in a fresh way this week. When Jesus said to go and make disciples, maybe this was not such a new thing. Walking in a fresh way with God in prayer and in his word are requirements in helping others. Then as we overflow, we will talk about this in the community.

As I spend time with God, I should overflow to share God with those around me.

So, church should be people who are pressing God's ways on their hearts every morning and night. They put this into action in their own homes. They continue this to the edge of the community.

Those who have faith in God have done this for a long time.

the main thing

Should all people make disciples?  Were the gospels only written to the 12 disciples?  What if every person who claims to follow Christ was willing to make disciples?  Some may not be ready to lead others in how they follow Christ.  Maybe it is more like all people should be willing to be discipled.  That is willing to go together in growing to know God.

Just some thoughts on Matthew 28:16-20.

Love God - Love others

It seems like these are both important and must both take place.  Sometimes I feel like when I know God enough then I can start talking to other people.  If I know enough to love God, that would be enough to love others.
Sam called today at 3pm.  I had been at work since a little after 9am.  Not planning to work all day on a Saturday.  He missed the lunch meeting that we had set up earlier in the week.  I told him we could meet sometime next week.  He asked- can we meet now?  Sometimes what I feel like are interruptions, are maybe the plan of God for me to care about another.
I want to put this into place.  It will take an awareness to look for ways to care about people.

still thinking.

The Way of Jesus

Paul says- Timothy will remind you of what I taught you.  He would train them how to walk in the way of Jesus.  the path or the road. On this journey walking the way Jesus would walk.  Paul says Timothy knows all about what Paul was about.  Would Timothy find others so that he would again pass this on.

The be imitators part is a little scary.  Imitate me like I imitate Christ.

another verse.  Matthew 10:24 says when a student is fully trained, he will be just like his teacher.

check out this video on "May you be covered by the dust of your Rabbi"
http://vimeo.com/10950148

kinda like fishing

The gospels are accounts of the life of Jesus.  2 of the books tell about Jesus starting the journey with those he trained.  It seems like at the start Jesus tells them that they will be fishers of men.  They will learn and help others.

still thinking on this; so, what does it mean to be a fisher of men.  somehow people who caught fish would now learn to catch men?  

make disciples

How did Jesus make disciples?  When he said to go and make disciples, what did he want us to do?  This blog is a discussion on how those who follow Jesus might apply the Bible in taking on the ways of Jesus Christ.

feed back is welcome.

we are each going through a small book from Cadre as a devotion study that checks into some of the passages the talk about making disciples.  Let me know if you want to join in.