Grapple Question: Do I Have to Like Everyone?
Students Learn: Love Everyone, Even if You Don’t Like Them
Dig Into the Bible: Acts 7:51-60

Next Sunday treat: Ben Hoerle

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CONNECTING IT THROUGH THE WEEK
Have you ever been really offended by something someone said but never got a chance to tell the person how the words hurt you? Even though many people are hard to get along with, the Bible tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated. More easily said than done, huh? Talk to your teenager about a time you went out of your way to love a difficult person. How did that feel? Hard? Satisfying? Healing? Even though we don’t deserve it, God still loves and accepts us.

Marks of a Disciple: Reproducing

 (sermon audio)

Disciples of Jesus reproduce the life of Jesus in others.

 

“No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

 

Everything needed for fruit to grow comes from the vine, not from the branch. Unless we are abiding in Christ and maintaining contact with him over a sustained time, there will be no fruit. We do not produce fruit on our own--we can’t.

 

God is glorified when Christ followers maintain contact with him so fruit is produced in the shape of transformed lives. This is how it works:

 

• People are transformed by the message of Jesus
• They grow in Christ
• They impact others in positive spiritual ways
• Subsequently, everyone involved is drawn closer to Christ

 

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:16).

 

This verse shows us is that the initiative is not ours; it is God’s. If you are a follower of Jesus; God chose you before you chose Him.  He appointed you to bear fruit—to reproduce the life of Jesus that is in you in other people.   With so many references to bearing fruit in Scripture, it seems obvious that an essential mark of a disciple is that we are reproducing.  Basically, Jesus is saying, “Hey, focus on the fruit.  That is why I came, and it is the work I share with you.” Our primary task is to abide in Christ--to stay connected and to create the environment in which fruit might be borne from our lives.

 

The fruitfulness of a person’s life tells us something about the person. A lack of fruit might be an indicator that we are not as spiritually healthy as we think.  Of course, that is not a firm rule because there are many examples of Christians being very faithful for long periods of time without any apparent fruit:

 

• Fruit might be others coming to Christ.
• Fruit might be persevering in holding out the life of Jesus to others who seem so hard-hearted that it’s difficult to imagine them ever changing.
• Fruit might be modeling life in the Spirit to others by demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit to them such that they want to be more like you.

 

Are you investing your time and effort into bearing fruit in the shape of the life of Jesus being reproduced in others? Is the church bearing fruit with all of our activities and programs? We need to think about it, pray about it and if it doesn’t start producing fruit, let it go so we can move on to something that will be fruitful.

 

There is no such thing as a sterile disciple.  This is why Jesus focused on making disciples and why he asks us to do the same. 

 

Disciples of Jesus reproduce the life of Jesus in others.

On Sunday, February 19, 2012 the “Foundations for the Future” capital campaign was launched. Foundations for

the Future is a collective effort to establish a strong foundation upon which to build into the future. The 

foundation is the part that is laid into the ground as the base stone or rock on which the other parts are built.

Without a firm foundation, the other parts will not last. Our vision – growing disciples who make disciples – is the

foundation for the work that we do as a church. It is a fundamental (“foundational”) calling of all Christians. We

are laying this foundation and building a culture of mission here and mission there on that foundation.

The campaign is about building – our physical building, building leaders and building a new church (body of

believers) in Caledonia. The goal of the campaign is people development, specifically for each of us to grow in

the image of Christ. It represents a very tangible opportunity for us to cross the bridge from theory to

practice and collectively get on board with the vision God has given us of growing disciples who make disciples. By

giving generously of our financial resources we model Jesus’ selflessness.

The subtitle of the campaign is “mission HERE and mission THERE”. The objective is to raise funds

necessary to advance two of our strategic priorities:equipping leaders and planting churches. Both priorities

advance Christ’s mission in the world – bringing people to Christ. We expect to raise at least $450,000 to meet the

vision for these priorities.

Foundations for the Future timeline

February 19 - Campaign Introduced

February 28 - Consistory Meeting and Commitments

March 11 - Pledge cards distributed to congregation

March 18 - Commitment Sunday (pledge cards returned)

March 25 - First Fruits Offering

Marks of a Disciple: Loving

Disciples of Jesus Love.

“My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Jesus gave us all sorts of other instructions and commands, but he boils obedience to God down to one thing: love. In the summary of the law, Jesus said to love God and love people.  Here he says to his followers, “Love each other.”  But he didn’t stop there.  He said, “Love each other as I have loved you.”

The thought process goes like this:

• As God loved Jesus, so Jesus loves us.
• As Jesus loved us, so we are to love one another.
• The love of God is a self-giving love – a willingness to give of oneself for the benefit of others.

But what does that love look like? Christ-like love means being Christ-like in our willingness to give everything away–even our lives–for the sake of God’s purposes in others. Yikes. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t expect perfection from us, but he does expect imitation.  If we are just throwing up our hands and saying, “I can never do that,” we are missing the point. Our goal is to grow in Christ-likeness until we are willing to lay down our lives for our friends.  (And not just in the imaginary moment of being a martyr – but in the everyday routines of life where all of us naturally focus on ourselves and our needs.)

You might have heard it said that hurt people hurt. That means if a person is hurtful to others in their words, actions or presence, it is probably because they have been hurt themselves.  This perspective gives us a way of become curious about others rather than furious with them.  But it is also true that loved people love. 

The church is often accused of being hypocritical (and let’s face it: we have a less-than-stellar record because we are less-than-stellar people). Sometimes in the face of these accusations, we overlook the great change God has worked in the world through the transformed lives of people. Much of the world has no concept of the very real value added every day to life on this planet by authentic followers of Jesus Christ.  The church isn’t perfect, we know that full well. But God is up to something.  God is using his church to reach the world. 

Practically speaking, the purpose of Christians loving one another is not to create a holy huddle. The purpose is twofold:

1. We move toward the goal of the entire Christian life, which is becoming like Jesus.
2. The world will witness a new kind of community that surprises them, that wows them, that baffles them, and that attracts them.

Bill Hull in The Disciple-Making Pastor said, “The distilled essence of Christ’s ministry to mankind was motivated, sustained, and underlined by love”. Boil this Christian thing down, and it is all about self-giving love. Jesus gave himself for us.  When we let that sink in, really sink in, we are transformed by understanding that God SO loves us. And then we give ourselves for others.  We are empowered by the Spirit to obey Jesus’ command to love one another within the church, and to love our neighbors outside of the church.

Disciples of Jesus Love.

Stay up to date with our IMA Mexico missions team by clicking here!!

Weekly Grapple Connection


Grapple Question: Do I have to Be a Jesus Freak?
Students Learn: Love God with ALL I am
Dig Into the Bible: Revelation 3:14-22


Next Sunday treat: Aurora Riley


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CONNECTING IT THROUGH THE WEEK
Teenagers just want to fit in, so the thought of being set apart as a “Jesus Freak”
is scary! But it’s important to stand up for things we believe in. Tell your child
about a time you took a stand for something you felt strongly about—maybe
a co-worker asked why you pray before lunch or you debated your views on
abortion with a relative. Knowing that you made it through that tough time will
help your child stay firmly rooted next time his or her faith is tested.

January, 22nd 2012 - "Abiding" (sermon audio)

The first step in becoming a disciple who makes disciples is being a disciple yourself.

Spiritual fruit comes from the overflow of our fellowship with God. The more deeply we are connected with Christ and

walking with Him, the more fruit there will be. The best investment you can make in combating the evil or advancing

the Gospel or serving the poor is to focus first on your relationship with Jesus. To commit by yourself as his apprentice -

to learn everything he said and to seek to apply it all the time. Abiding in Christ, is the most basic and necessary

commitment needed from a believer to grow into a more devoted follower of Christ.

"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can

bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you

are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

(John 15:3-5)

When we become believers, the Holy Spirit - or the Spirit of Christ - comes to live within us, to be ever present in our

life, to intercede for us, to remind us of everything Jesus said. He stays in us ... present all the time ... active all the

time. What would it look like for us to stay in Jesus all the time, to be present with him all the time, to be active with

him all the time? That's what Jesus is talking about.

We all need to develop our own Rule of Life to grow as disciples who make disciples. Basically, this is a game plan for

spiritual growth. A Rule of Life involves a rhythm for living that helps us abide in Christ and grow more connected to Him.

To begin crafting a strategy for spiritual transformation, Pastor John Ortberg suggests these initial questions:

1. How and when will I pray?

2. How can I approach my work in a way that will help Christ to be formed in me?

3. How will I handle money in a way that draws me closer to God?

4. How will I invest in Christian community (such as corporate worship, fellowship and confession)?

5. How can I fill my daily tasks with a sense of the presence of God?

The first step in becoming a disciple who makes disciples is being a disciple yourself, and the crucial and most basic

element of being a disciple of Jesus is choosing to abide in Him daily.

February 5, 2012 - Praying (sermon audio)

 

Disciples of Jesus Pray as a Way of Life.

Disciples of Jesus pray. The words of Jesus Christ are the foundation of all we, as disciples, do. These words shape our prayers. Scripture instructs us to pray for health, families, friends, enemies, shalom for the world, and an end to poverty and oppression. Still, we find ourselves asking, what is prayer, how do we pray and why do we pray?

 

What is prayer?
Disciples of Jesus pray as a way of life. As Pastor Jon says, “We live in a world where a resurrection has happened.” Prayer is primary in that world. Prayer is not a special language for holy times. Prayer is the “Amen!” to God’s actions and the language through which a disciple grows. Eugene Peterson calls it “practicing resurrection.” The disciple is immersed in prayer, soaking in it, and struggling through it.
Prayer is the language we use to respond to God. It is an active passivity. Disciples begin praying by listening. God speaks. We respond.

How do we pray?
Prayer begins in silence. Silence is where the disciple recognizes his/her reliance on God. Silence is not resignation, but rather active waiting for God. Silence can feel awkward and uncomfortable, but when growing, abiding, reflecting disciples practice silence, our true selves are revealed. We see our own human hearts and recognize the pride, the violence, and the apathy. We also build within us a true desire for God. Silence in prayer grows us as disciples and teaches us to respond to God. The disciple listens first understanding that God is at work.
Prayer is not something we just teach ourselves to do. It is a discipline that takes time to develop. The disciple knows he/she can only pray when abiding in Christ and when immersed in the Word. At times it may still seem impossible to pray, but the disciple is certain Jesus Christ will pray for him (Hb. 7:25) and the Holy Spirit will intercede (Rm. 8:26).

Why do we pray?
Just as our lungs were created to breathe, we were created to be in relationship with the living God. Disciples know they are children of God, so they pray. Disciples know they are heirs to God’s promises of redemption, joy, and a full life, so they pray.
Disciples are convinced prayer is how we are in relationship with the living God, how we grow and abide in Jesus Christ, how we reflect on the Word through the Holy Spirit, and how we act for Jesus Christ and the mission of the church. When we pray for the will of God to be done, we participate in the mission of God. God hears his disciples and acts for them.

Invitation to pray
Our purpose of church multiplication is coming to fruition in the Caledonia Church Plant. We cannot accomplish this on our own. The number one thing we can all do is pray. “Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into the harvest field (Luke 10:2).

Disciples of Jesus pray as a way of life, seeking to join God in His mission in this world.

January 29th, 2012 -"Reflecting" (sermon audio)

The most powerful practice for abiding in Christ is reflecting on scripture.

Reflecting on scripture is the best thing we can do to assist in our own growth toward being a more devoted follower

of Jesus, that is toward being a disciple who makes disciples. Our aim is to truly be Christlike: not just one who thinks

good thoughts about Jesus, but one who is willing to sacrifice of self to follow Him and love others.

A church near Chicago named Willow Creek did a study in their congregation, seeking to measure how folks were

growing spiritually and then invited 1,000 other churches to do the same. Results of individual member surveys showed

that people seem to fall into one of four categories of spiritual growth.

EXPLORING CHRIST - GROWING IN CHRIST - CLOSE TO CHRIST - CHRIST CENTERED

Results further revealed that there are identifiable catalysts to spiritual growth for individuals in each segment which

help to move them forward in their journey. The one catalyst that stood head and shoulders above all the rest is the

practice of "Reflecting on Scripture." If you want to grow spiritually, read and reflect on the Bible.

As we immerse ourselves in scripture, we are transformed as our minds are renewed. Scripture shapes us. From it we

are taught and trained. To be trained in righteousness is to know what we have received Christ's righteousness through

his sacrifice for us. We are also rebuked or redirected from hurtful and self-defeating paths; we are corrected. The

original word is the same as that used in 'orthopedic' - meaning to set right - like the setting of a bone, fixing that which

is broken.

There is a difference between reflecting on scripture and Bible study or Bible reading. Knowing a lot about the Bible is

not the same as abiding in Christ. The goal is not for you to make it all the way through the Bible. The goal is for the

Bible to make it all the way though you. We grow to be a little more like Jesus with every sincere investment in

reflecting on scripture, so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work to participate in what God is doing

in the world - and not just participate but to be thoroughly equipped!

Plan for Reflecting on Scripture

Pray for enlightenment ... acknowledge that you can't figure it out on your own.

Read with a vulnerable heart ... approach the passage with a spirit of vulnerability.

Reflect on a brief portion of the Bible ... in reading for transformation, we have to go slowly.

Take a thought of verse with you through the day ... look for a nugget to take away for you.

Commit some portion of scripture to memory ... not to recite to others, just for you.

The most powerful practice for abiding in Christ is reflecting on scripture. Through the Bible, God will change you if

you're open to it.

January, 15th 2012 - "Growing" (sermon audio)

Disciples of Jesus are Growing People.

Our purpose as a church is growing disciples who make disciples.  So we need to ask ourselves, what does a disciple look like?  Though there may not be a complete and comprehensive description, we know that a follower of Jesus means much more than simply being a believer in Jesus.  To follow Christ means to seek to become like him.

Peter teaches us about being a disciple in 2 Peter 1:3-7.  In this passage, he notes that disciples are united in Christ.  Disciples acknowledge the depth of their own need and surrender themselves to Christ.  They are “in Christ” and participate in the divine nature.  Also, a disciple is a growing person spiritually.  There is a flow.  As a result of being united in Christ, disciples invest in growing in Christ.  As disciples, we understand the call to become more like Christ and pursue that growth with no excuses.

In 2 Peter 1:8-9, Peter goes on to explain why disciples need to be actively growing.  Growing keeps us from becoming ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of Jesus.  If we are not growing in Christ, we are spiritually blind.  We’ve forgotten we have been cleansed from our sin.  If we are not actively remembering, we are forgetting.  Disciples of Jesus are growing people.

So if spiritual growth is so important, as a church, how do we know when it is happening?  If spiritual growth, according to the Great Commandment, means to grow in love for God and love for others, how do we measure that?

Willow Creek Community Church, near Chicago, conducted a survey to try to measure if their congregation was growing spiritually.  They found they were leading people to Christ, but once there, people were not growing much spiritually despite robust participation in church activities and programs.  So if church programming doesn’t necessarily lead to spiritual growth, what does?  1000 additional churches have taken this same survey and identified specific catalysts for growth as well as four distinct stages of growth.

The point is not so much which stage you are in, but rather, are you moving?  Disciples take responsibility for their spiritual growth.  Our top priority as a church is helping people grow into more devoted disciples of Jesus Christ. 

So as we seek to grow disciples who make disciples, we need to know what a disciple looks like.  Disciples of Jesus are growing people who take responsibility for their growth and pursue it.