Acts 2:42 tells us that THEY devoted THEMSELVES to the Apostles doctrine. How much effort are we to muster to disciple someone? Many ministers can recount stories of devotion of time, energy, teaching and resources for the spiritual formation of a convert in their care, only to witness this person fall from the faith. Other stories demonstrate the small seed planted by one, watered by another and then supernatural increase by God’s own hand and their insatiable desire for His Word and His Presence.
Acts 8:34-39 further illustrates the point with Phillip and the Eunuch. Obviously, there are multiple passages that encourage studying the Word of God with one another, bearing burdens, and bearing the weaknesses of fellow believers. I just wonder (out loud-I guess) how much of our efforts should be placed on pushing Christians toward discipleship? Shouldn’t most of our efforts be toward salvation? Again, obviously, we should and must provide opportunity (and make that opportunity easily accessible) for Christians to engage in discipleship. We should provide structures, processes, trainings, resources to equip the saints to do the work of ministry. However, Christians/Disciples must devote THEMSELVES to the Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, prayer and breaking of bread (one of my first sermons focused on this passage as the four pillars of the church–discipleship based message–still believe it by the way).
However, shouldn’t most our resources be placed on sending the Gospel out into the community? Cultivating an atmosphere on Sunday mornings where God’s Presence reigns? (Thus, confronting, convicting and converting the sinner). Resources of creativity, money, talent, prayer, preparation, planning, recruiting (inviting lost), and anticipation should be poured into creating an atmosphere of God’s Presence on Sunday mornings that is soooo real that NO ONE can deny His existence. Lives are transformed. It’s not about seeker-sensitive, it’s not about culturally relevant, it’s not about performing excellence—it’s about creating an atmosphere where He reigns and demonstrates His power for salvation. Now, that doesn’t mean that all of those aren’t elements, there just not the main thing!! HE IS.
Discipleship MUST be about moving Christians toward salvation machines. It’s ALL about not letting people die and go to hell. Not just having a better marriage, not just having sweeter kids, not just saving/making money God’s way—-DON’T let your friends die and go to hell.
Let us be DOERS of the Word and not HEARERS only—deceiving ourselves and letting our religion become useless.
May 7, 2009 at 11:51 pm
That’s right!
We must work out our own salvation w/ fear and trembling. Why fear and trembling if salvation was unforfeitable? We must be obedient followers of our profession, not believers only unless we want to be equal to the devil spirits whose end is eternal fire (Mat.25:41; Jas.2:19).What’s the difference between a Christian who dies in sin and an Atheist? Nothing, they both end up in the lake of fire (Eze.3:17-21; 18:4, 20-32; 33:8-20; 1 )?
May 7, 2009 at 11:53 pm
(1 Cor.6:9-10; Gal.5:19-21; Rev.21:8).
May 8, 2009 at 12:16 pm
It goes to your theology of the Holy Spirit. Do you believe that He will guide into all truth or do you think He has stopped His active work and we must now take His place?
I am constantly amazed that when a believer hungers and thirsts after righteousness He is filled. They will find mentors. They will develop relationships with like-minded believers. They devour the word and seek its meaning. They are always guided to draw the unconverted into a relationship with Jesus. But they then encourage them to seek the Baptism.
For me it all flows from a proper understanding of the Trinity and God’s work on the earth today.
(wow, didn’t mean to get all doctrinal here.)
May 13, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I am so thankful I read this today.
Lately, I have been examining myself and my “Christian” walk. I know that in the natural realm if I saw a complete stranger about to walk off of a cliff, I would yell, scream, run, throw something … whatever I had to do to prevent him/her from falling to their death. But when it comes to the spiritual realm, sadly it seems to be a different story. There are people around me every day that are about to walk off the cliff of life into the fires of hell. And what do I do? Watch them fall.
Oh I go to church – I use the talents God has given me – I try to encourage fellow believers – but I am concerned that I am not taking salvation and eternity seriously enough. I am deeply concerned that I don’t wholeheartedly believe what I claim to believe. God please wake my spirit – not just my emotions. I have mastered being a “hearer” – I want to be a “doer.”