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Bulletin Article Archives
Discipleship
Click on the title to move to the selected article and then on my name at the conclusion of the article to return to this directory.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18). These are the last words written by the great Apostle Peter and preserved for the modern church.
The noted disciple's departure from scripture is undramatic and anti-climatic. His closing admonition is simple, but his life was very complex. Here is an individual perhaps most commonly known for his failures. Among the most memorable scenes of his life is the three-fold denial on the evening before Jesus' crucifixion. Especially interesting is Peter's statement, among the first recorded, when he told Jesus, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:8)!
Jesus, of course, did not depart and neither did Peter. The Lord chipped away at the rough exterior of Peter's stone hard, imperfect life and in the end that apostle would exit sacred history, without fanfare, in victory. He still followed Jesus.
Why Peter followed Jesus has been debated often. I suspect that Peter, at times in spite of himself, came to recognize the perfection of Jesus as an alternative to his own imperfection. Then he chose to let Jesus perfect him.
The result was a lifelong journey of joy, peace, and comfort that closed with Peter still following Jesus.
August 30, 1992
A piece of paper lay buried in my files. It was dated November 16, 1990 and is credited to Dr. Carl Mitchell. Slowly I began to remember the origin of this forgotten note. Brother Mitchell was conducting a Gospel Meeting for us. I searched through other files and found that the theme was “Spiritual Growth” with topics on personal and congregational growth. Somewhere across the weekend he shared with us the following thoughts. Test yourself as you read on:
TRAITS OF THE SPIRITUALLY MATURE
____ Well organized. ____ Has learned to say no to personal desires. ____ Possess ability to compromise in order to get along. ____ An objective person (able to view situation from unbiased perspective). ____ Not moody. ____ Not hostile. ____ Able to accept responsibility. ____ Able to maintain that responsibility to completion. ____ Adopted a good priority system. ____ Willing and able to fulfill God-given role. ____ Possess a healthy sense of humor. ____ Able to give love and attention to others. ____ A basic optimism about self and life.
How are you doing spiritually?
December 17, 1995
An old legend tells the story of a prince with a crooked back. Despite his physical limitations he remained very proud and strong. So it was not surprising to his subjects when he called the most skilled sculptor among them and commissioned him to make a statue in the image of the prince. The instruction was clear, "Make a statue of me, but with a straight back. I would see myself as I might have been."
Upon completion the statue was presented to the pleased prince. It was so impressive many clamored for the statue to be placed at the palace gate for all to admire. The prince, however, refused and ordered it hidden in a secret part of his private garden - a place he alone could visit.
Time passed and many forgot about the magnificent statue. But the prince would visit it each day. He would stand before it and imagine what it would be like to stand straight and tall. Months became years until someone noticed the prince's back was becoming straight. He was becoming the man in the statue.
As we stand on the brink of a new year it is good to look back on the old. Am I becoming more like Jesus or more like the world? Who am I becoming?
December 13, 1998
"The story is told of a man who once bought a new radio, brought it home, and placed it on his refrigerator ... he then plugged it in, tuned it to WSM in Nashville (home of the Grand Ole Opry), and proceeded to do the most unusual thing. He pulled the knobs off! He had already tuned in all he ever wanted or expected to hear, so he chose to limit his radio reception to that one station" (Tom Moore, www.seekyefirst.us).
Under most circumstances such a refusal to broaden one's horizons would be considered a weakness. But when it comes to listening to God rather than the world, maybe the man with the knobless radio has something. There was absolutely no doubt to where his commitment lay. The evidence was clear.
One of the most troubling questions in the New Testament is found in Luke 18:8 when Jesus asked, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Search as we may, no clear answer is to be found in the text. Jesus makes a confident assurance of God's willingness to bless (verse 7). He also stresses the constantly available avenue of prayer, of which He urges His disciples to make wise use (verse 1). In the end, the evidence of our individual lives must answer the question of verse 8. If our Lord were to call us today, would He find evidence in our lives to identify us as His own?
February 23, 2003
"He who steals my purse, steals trash But he who filches me of my good name, Takes what does not enrich him, But makes me poor indeed" (William Shakespeare). "A good name is rather to be chosen than riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold" (Jedidiah).
Shakespeare was not the first to understand the importance of a name. Centuries before Shakespeare was born there was another expounding the virtue of a good name. His name was Jedidiah and he knew the significance of a name. His meant "loved by the Lord: and, due to its origin, is among the most unusual of all time. Generations have gleaned valuable insights into life from the three inspired books credited to him.
The fact that Jedidiah struggled with his own advice does not detract from its truthfulness. His portrait of wisdom provides a solid foundation to support the character and morals that make a name good. Jedidiah, whom his father named Solomon, is part of a select group named by God Himself (2 Sam. 12:24-25).
What's in a name? Your life. Solomon's is synonymous with wisdom. Job's with patience. Samson's with strength. Abraham's with faith and yours with ...
March 17, 1996
This was a man who daily laid his life on the line of service. He withstood the diabolic pressures of the world to crush the message he proclaimed. He endured the complacency within the church to resist the transforming power of the Word he preached. He accepted the "thorn" in his own flesh as a challenge towards greater dedication. Tirelessly he labored without questioning. His extensive travels took him to the far reaches of society but he was never satisfied with what had already been accomplished while the lost could still be found. Then this man, who seemed capable of doing anything, revealed his secret.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Philippi, revealed the obvious when he wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). All across the brotherhood we should be hitting ourselves on the forehead saying, "Why didn't we think of that?" Paul's success emanated from the confidence that he couldn't fail as long as he maintained his connection with Christ.
We can do anything that Christ wants us to do. We can succeed at anything that Christ wants done through us. Our problem is not that we seek the impossible. Our problem is that we do not seek what God seeks. Therefore, it is not an issue of whether or not we CAN grow. The real question is, "Do we WANT to grow?"
September 1, 1996
Dynamic leaders with strong convictions had invaded the church at Corinth. Their aggressive teaching ministry, being built around these core doctrines, stimulated the church into action. Every ounce of energy that could be mustered was focused on the ultimate goal placed before the congregation and accepted with enthusiasm. It didn't seem to matter that the teachers were false, or their convictions misguided.
They believed their brand of Christianity to be just as valid as the one Paul preached. They considered themselves more efficient messengers than Paul. They saw the church as a money making proposition, with riches promised to the best performer. Therefore, Paul's apostolic authority was challenged, his motives misrepresented. Paul's heart broke as he was forced to watch helplessly as the church was destroyed from the inside.
No one could argue that these people did not have the courage of their convictions. That was evident in their actions. In 2 Corinthians the Apostle pleads with them to have the courage to examine their convictions. As he defends his defends his apostleship and corrects the lies spread about him, Paul touched briefly on a simple truth: actions are the surest test of faith (2 Cor. 4:13). What we believe is best judged by what we do rather than what we say. Examine your convictions. Then live by them.
September 22, 1996
Autographs reflect personalities. Each personal "John Hancock" is as individual as a fingerprint. Although composed from the same twenty-six letter alphabet it is unique in style and self-identity. Somewhere over the course of life stress, time constraints or just sheer laziness compel us to take shortcuts that transform a name into a series of hastily scribbled lines with an occasional hint of a particular letter.
As children we were made to practice writing the letters of the alphabet. Our teacher provided us a pattern and set us to the task of reproducing, to the best of our ability, the letters one by one. Then neatness counted as we were admonished to "mind out p's and q's." Then the A's and B's went to the students who most closely followed the example provided by the teacher.
In the latter days of Peter's life he wrote to a new generation of believers reminding them to carefully follow the perfect example set before them (1 Peter 2:21-25). In fact the Greek word "example," found in verse 21, conveys this very thought. Hupogrammos literally means "under writing" and describes the process of learning by imitation, the very thing we are to do with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Peter urges that the pressures of living cannot justify taking "spiritual shortcuts" if our name is to be clearly written in the Book of Life.
January 5, 1997
Seeking solitude from the demands of his ministry, Jesus withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. The disciples were diligent to shield their Master from any further interruptions when they encountered a woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon. She believed that the only one who could help her was Jesus. She knew that the time to secure his help was now (Matt. 15:21-ff).
The disciples saw only a pesky Gentile woman. The fact that Jesus did not respond to her pleas convinced them he also had little use for her (v. 23). Then Jesus did the unexpected. He coaxed from her evidence of the faith that prompted her to seek his assistance and granted her request. He even commended her for the rare quality of her faith (v. 28). Dramatic changes have taken place between the first century and today. Some things never change. They, like us, lived in a world ruled by gold. Jesus urged them to follow the Golden Rule (Mat. 7:12).
Perhaps, just perhaps, Jesus was not seeking solitude from the demands of his ministry when he withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. Perhaps he knew there was a special lady living there who needed help only he could provide. Maybe he knew that his disciples needed help to see the world as he sees it, without prejudice. They needed to see firsthand the Golden Rule applied.
April 27, 1997
There is a difference between an apostle and a disciple. An apostle is "one sent on a mission." Jesus selected twelve men to fulfill a specific mission for which he equipped them to succeed. A disciple is "a student, learner, and follower." At times these were described as "multitudes" and at other times mere handfuls remained (cf. Jn. 6:66.) In the familiar story of the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22) three traits of discipleship emerge.
Discipleship remands learning. This young man displayed a good foundational knowledge of the will of God and could boast of his success in applying these truths to his daily life (vs. 20). Yet to be a disciple of Jesus demanded that he learn even more about the deeper truths of God's will as it was revealed in Christ.
Discipleship demands leaving. To be a disciple of Jesus demands that one leave behind the things of the world that distract from the ultimate goal (vs. 21).
Discipleship demands living. It demands that our lives change. This is the point where this young man failed to prove himself to be a disciple of Jesus. Turning his back on the love of Christ (vs. 21a) he walked away in sorrow. He saw only the demands of discipleship, not the rewards.
June 29, 1997
The apostles had been through a lot of pain as their Lord was arrested, unfairly tried, sentenced and put to death. Perhaps they felt helpless and ashamed because they had forsaken him in his hour of need. However, many things were to happen to change their lives: the resurrection, the ascension, the promised Spirit and the beginning of the church. Now these men, who had forsaken their Lord, are boldly preaching that Jesus is the Christ. Because of their preaching, Peter and John are arrested. They are not ashamed of Jesus but boldly proclaim their faith in him (Acts 4:12). Then the Jewish leaders saw
Jesus. They saw no vision but rather Jesus in the lives of these two unlearned and ignorant men (Acts 4:13). That is what a Christian really should be, one who has been with Jesus.
There is not much left in the name "Christian" when Christ is removed. Likewise, there is not much left in the life of a Christian when Christ is forsaken. Jesus told his disciples, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Man tells Jesus, "I love you but I think my way is the best in this situation." Are we greater than the Lord's apostles? If Christ is our Savior he is also our Lord and Master. If you were a master, would you tolerate such tampering with your commands? How can we expect any less from Jesus Christ?
A Christian is one who belongs to Christ. He is one who had died with Christ in baptism. He is one in whom Christ is living and ruling (Gal. 2:20). Each of us must live our lives in such a manner that it will be clear that we have been with Jesus.
July 31, 1988
Confidence! Webster tells us it is the quality or state of being certain. God tell us it is a valuable asset in the human character (Ephesians 3:8). But like many traits of man, an overabundance or imbalance can lead to problems.
Commitment! Webster tells us it is the state of being entrusted with a charge. God supplies us with the charge (John 14:15). Man, by his very nature, places himself under obligations to someone or something. We are all committed to something.
One night these two concepts came into direct conflict of each other. As the small party assembled together the teacher predicted the nearing abandonment by his chosen followers. In the stillness of the Garden and the darkness of the night came a commitment: "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended" (Mathew 26:33). "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee" (verse 35). Such were the words of all eleven. But all serious commitments must be proven. This commitment was to be no different. The great confidence of this commitment did not prohibit the testing of the words and men. And they all fled!
It was in Peter, perhaps, that the test that night was most clearly seen. Not long after his bold statements we find a man seeking the warmth of a fire in the high priest's courtyard. There were two failures that night: Confidence and Commitment. As Jesus turned from his passion that evening he saw a man with a broken heart. It was time for Peter to reassess his commitments.
About fifty days later a man stood before the crowds of Jerusalem. This man was a man with confidence, not in himself but in his Lord! This man was committed to God and to His will. He had reassessed his commitment and we see a life glorifying God. Peter reveals to us the need for true confidence and serious commitment. Perhaps we need to reassess our commitment!
August 28, 1988
It was easy following Jesus. Days were spent on the spiritual mountaintops gazing into the steady glory of God as hearts were touched by the deep insights of Christ. To the common people who listened it was as if this great teacher from Nazareth spoke from personal experience, having been himself in Heaven. The power exhibited was far greater than any previous human had possessed. The dynamic force surging through Jesus, attracted by wisdom and mesmerized by the seeming divine traits inherent in him held disciples. That is, as long as it was pleasant.
Then, one day Jesus spoke of his body and his blood (John 6:53-ff). Those around him did not seek understanding but refuge as they began departing. Many took offense at the thought of partaking of these elements, which we anticipate each week in the Lord Supper. In ignorance they ran from the light into the darkness beause what they heard seemed too difficult to accept.
This was why Saul spared Agag (1 Samuel 15), Jonah fled to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3), the rich young ruler failed to measure up (Luke 18:23-24), Agrippa was only "almost persuaded" (Acts 26:28), and Demas sought his fulfillment in Thessalonica (2 Timothy 4:10). It has been accurately stated that "the Christian faith has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried" (G. K. Chesterton).
Countless are those who have turned away from Christ without giving his precepts the chance to take root and bring forth fruit. Modern man is challenged to accept the message sealed with the blood of our Savior with this promise: the hardest sayings contain the greatest blessings.
May 31, 1992
Saul did not seek the limelight, nor did he reject it when thrust upon him. His humble, gentle spirit was suddenly subjected to the ravages of power and pride, which accompanied his position of king.
To the reader of 1 Samuel the transformation is nearly blinding in speed as Saul's craving for prestige begins to dominate his life. First he usurps the office of priest (chapter 13) then he blatantly disobeys God's specific decree (chapter 15). Once yielding clay in the hand of the Father, Saul quickly became a useless lump, his hard heart refusing to yield any longer.
In I Samuel 16, God selected another to take the place of a rejected king. David was chosen because of his obedient heart. The reader stands in awe as David marches to battle against Goliath armed with his faith in God, delivering Israel from fear of the evil empires about them. He would win the heart of his nation, the fear of his enemies, the hand of his predecessor and the kingdom of Israel.
It is an amazing lesson for all of history to remember. The one who grasped for greatness suffered defeat while the one who grasped for obedience received greatness.
October 18, 1992
The rocky terraces blended harmoniously with the fertile plains. Together they guarded the beginning of the most central river in the New Testament. The natural beauty of Caesarea Philippi, beside the Jordan River, was the chosen stage for the Son of Man to bring his closest followers to verbalize their faith.
The peaceful surrounding and relax conversation Matthew recorded in the sixteenth chapter of his gospel belies the struggle that took place there. Peter seemed eager to consent to the spiritual identity of his Master. Verbal consent has always been the easiest part of discipleship. Once Jesus began speaking of suffering, rejection and death it was more than Peter could accept. The battle was joined.
"These things shall never be," insisted the fisherman. But, of course, they had to be for that was why Jesus had come. "Get behind me Satan," came the Master's reply, "for you are looking at the things through human eyes and not through God's."
In those words Jesus defined the challenge of discipleship. He further expressed it in verse twenty-four. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Discipleship is learning to see life through the eyes of our Master.
June 27, 1993
His writings stir the imagination, having firsthand witness to the remarkable ministry of Jesus. With words painting images of the transforming power brought to countless admirers, the saga of Christ's life spills from his pen. Each chapter carries the reader into lives troubled with trials and sin. We watch in amazement as the tranquil peace Christ freely shared takes root in a liberated soul. These powerful words could only come from one himself captivated by the Gospel he relates.
Matthew sat at this tax office. Here, no doubt, he had uncomfortable access to the unkind comments of his fellow Jews forced to pay him taxes. How unusual it must have been to encounter the accepting love of the Nazarene rabbi. Matthew himself recounts the moment (Matthew 9:9-ff). The notion that a Jewish teacher would seek, not only his company but his assistance, had to have been beyond his wildest dream. Yet it was obvious also that this was no ordinary Jewish teacher. His words rang with authority. His eyes emanated love. His words gave strength. For a life racked with sin he brought healing as only The Great Physician could. For Matthew this was his moment of truth that called for a life-altering decision.
Decisions fill the pages of the Bible even as they fill our lives. Some seem inconsequential while others determine who we are as individuals. Some we bear like scars the remainder of our lives. Some we must face even longer. Only one can affect all the others, the one Matthew made while sitting at his tax office.
February 20, 1994
"Come!"
Every rational impulse within Peter's being told him to ignore the command. Even while drenched with incoming water and wearied by the relentless tossing of the sea, Peter was well aware that being in the boat was safer than being out of it.
Here was a man who had long lived by the rules of logic. As a result he had a successful business and a comfortable family life to show for it. But since meeting Jesus something was struggling to take over within him. Perhaps now, in the midst of this storm, he was beginning to see clearly what it was: faith.
He had been invited to walk on water by the only man who could do it himself. Often Peter had seen Jesus heal the sick and disabled. He would also see him restore the dead to life and seize life himself following the cross.
Peter stepped out of the boat. He stood, not just on the surface of the water, but on faith. He walked only to sink.
Walking by faith demands trust in the promises and in the one who promised. Sometimes the commands are difficult because logic obscures faith. We, like Peter, need simply to step out of the boat, keep our eyes on Jesus, and come.
August 28, 1994
He came with aspirations of greatness to crown his righteous attainments. Unlike the many who sought an audience with Jesus, this young man did not come empty-handed. At the feet of Jesus, where others carefully placed their sins, he offered a lifetime of good deeds and faithfulness along with a confession of emptiness and the anticipation that it would be filled (Matthew 19:20). "What lack I yet?"
Others left with broken bodies mended, shattered souls made whole and lives that had been tormented calmed. But this rich man left with head held low. The excepted. Jesus would settle for nothing less than first place in his heart, a place long since devoted to another. Although he might argue that he had given his mind to God, Jesus could prove he had given his heart to his possessions.
The heart is powerful. Solomon said it defines our whole being (Proverbs 23:7). Jesus said it dictates our eternal destiny (Matthew 15:19). That day a wealthy young man was forced to realize that prosperity is a poor substitute for faithfulness; self-confidence can never make up for the spiritual ground lost to apathy and complacency. When all is said and done the work of the church will be determined by where your heart is right now and by whom is enthroned in your heart today.
January 21, 1996
Charles Sheldon's novel caught the world of the 1890's unexpectedly. In His Steps quickly became a favorite with readers across the nation, prompting them, along with the story's characters, to ask the question "What would Jesus do?" before making any important decision in life.
The more recent marketing trend of bracelets, shirts, and other items first appeared awkward in a society with strong leanings away from the spiritual. It is always refreshing to see interest in the life and teaching of our Lord. The challenge seems to be graduating the fad into a lifestyle. For this to take place, the heart has to change.
So Peter urges his readers to seriously consider their decisions that prompt suffering, "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:20-21). The logo is true to the demands of scripture when the heart is conformed to the teachings of Christ. Only then are we really ready to answer the question, WWJD?
May 23, 1999
The Modern Denial of Jesus Christ
An uneasy feeling was settling over the city as the curious gathered near a fire, both to keep warm and hoping to see any portion of the proceedings underway in the High Priest residence. Peter had a special interest that could not be hidden in the light of the flickering flames. True to his master's prediction this leader among the apostles seemed powerless to stop the words from escaping his mouth. Three times he denied with the strongest of words that he had ever met Jesus. His anguish is powerfully revealed in a simple, well-timed glance from the One he just denied (Luke 22:61).
That was then. Today the followers of Jesus find themselves again huddled near the flames of the world's fire. Here the unbelieving world seeks to recognize the true disciples of the crucified Messiah. Strangely, amid the varied professions from every quarter that Jesus is their Lord the world is confronted with the contradicting evidence of religious division (John 17:20-21). As the fire dies into glowing embers the world is unconvinced by the professions to the contrary as once again Jesus has been denied. Denied this time, not by words but by actions, as their Lord looks on.
February 24, 2002 |
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