No one accidentally creates disciples. Discipleship is an intentional pursuit. -Mike Breen One of the goals for my own personal life, my family, and my missional community (my extended family on mission) this year, is to close the gap between good intentions and what we actually practice in our day-to-day lives. I’m learning that no one “wanders into spiritual maturity” as Ed Stetzer has recently written. Discipleship is an intentional pursuit. In other words, I believe that if we want to become more and more like Jesus and develop spiritually, then we have to plan for it and work at it with intentionality. I’ve recently challenged my missional community to read a chapter from the book of 1 John on a daily basis and just a few days ago I came across this verse: “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” I don’t know about you, but through the power of the Spirit and rooted in the gospel, I want to press into the ways of Jesus in 2015 and invite others with me on the journey. So how do we close the gap between good intentions (“I really want to be like Jesus”) and what we actually practice in our day-to-day lives (“I really am becoming more like Jesus”)? I believe there are several answers to that one very important question. But often times the journey begins by learning to master our calendar in the context of an extended family on mission that is collectively committed to becoming more like Jesus (I love 3DM’s definition of discipleship: “learning to become more like Jesus in our character [being] and our competencies [doing]”) In other words, I believe we have to intentionally plan for spiritual growth (just like we do for physical and financial break through). It’s not something that happens naturally or by accident. So here is a list of the rhythms that we are committed to as a missional community. We believe that Jesus was deeply committed to moving UP (love for the Father), IN (love for the church) and OUT (love for the world) and we are learning to intentionally embrace these practices together in our pursuit of becoming more and more like Jesus (by God’s grace and help): 1. When/how are you going to move UP DAILY and spend time with your Father just like Jesus did (spiritual disciplines rooted and based in the Word of God)? We are currently reading a chapter per day from the book of 1 John and asking the following two questions: What is God saying to me? What am I going to do about it? 2. When/how are you going to move IN WEEKLY (encouraging and investing in our church body and missional community)? Are you going to write a note to someone? Serve them? Get plugged into a ministry as a volunteer? In other words, what can you intentionally do this week to strengthen our extended family on mission? Write it down. Put it in your calendar and make it happen. 3. When/how are you going to move OUT MONTHLY (investing, serving, praying for a not yet follower of Jesus)? Go out to eat? Help a coworker in need? Join a co-ed sports league to meet new people? Ask them if you can pray for them in any way? Remember, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the Father’s heart for lost people. Continue to explore and pioneer new ways of engaging your neighborhood or network with the gospel. Continue to develop your ability to recognize persons of peace. What can you do this month to reach out to someone that doesn’t know Jesus yet? In what ways can we move out together? Write it down. Put in the calendar. Make it happen! It’s been an incredible journey as we continue to learn together what it takes to become more and more like Jesus in every area of our lives. Pursuing this in the context of an extended family on mission is essential and often provides the support and accountability to make it happen. How are you planning for your spiritual growth? What are some healthy rhythms that you would like to incorporate into your life on the journey towards Christlikeness? Our goal over the next 3-6 months is to close the gap between good intentions and what we actually practice in our lives. By the power of the Spirit and rooted in the gospel, may we become more and more like Jesus! Feel free to join us on the journey. Love in Christ, Pastor Andy
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 01:33:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015