Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into
His hands…got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel,
He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the
disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded…You
call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord
and Teacher washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet
(John 13:3-5; 13-14, NASB).
Rarely do people dispute the command of Christ to “make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19) However, many believers that I know struggle to do it. Some would argue (perhaps correctly argue) that the issue is time. “We are too busy.” Others might offer an excuse that they are unqualified. Still, others may resist the command simply because they do not know how to get started. For far too many years, I grew up in a church system that had a program for everything. You took this bible study. You enrolled in this course. You participated in this outreach initiative. Check. Check. Check. All of these good things were intended to provide a pathway to obeying the command to make disciples. The programs were not bad; however, they often became a substitute for obedience.
The passage above is a great example of a solution…and I might go as far as to say that it is the example of the solution. Arise. Grab a towel and basin. Wash feet. Repeat.
There is no substitute for action. Every successful teaching
model involves a moment in time when learners must act with what they have
learned. The local church, by God’s design, is the laboratory where that takes
place (Eph 4:11-13).
A lifetime ago, Jodi and I began teaching 4th grade Sunday School. She heard of a need and decided to exchange one more discipleship class for a chance to teach children. I went along to be with her. I sat quietly for 2.8 seconds. In the year that followed, I learned more about the Scriptures, more about the love of God, and more about discipling others than I had in the previous three years. I learned by doing. God showed me my need. He taught me to depend on Him. He used me to help others grow. The next year, I taught adults and we have been involved in some aspect of teaching ever since.
Growing as a disciple necessarily requires growing disciples. There is no substitute. I know of no exceptions. NONE. People that God uses to change the world have this in common: At some point, they stand up, grab a towel and basin and begin to serve others. Through that service, God teaches them, expands their influence, shapes their knowledge and changes lives.
Who are you serving?
How are you serving through your church?
Is your faith vibrant…or would you say it is a bit stale?
If you knew you would not fail, what would you attempt for God today?
I hear a version of this question periodically: “Does the Bible say I can’t do ___?” The fact that the question is asked encourages me. The person is acknowledging that there is a standard of right and wrong conduct with God, and he/she does not want to violate the standard.
Reading through Leviticus (as part of our church’s reading
plan) is a great reminder of this standard. Lev 23:22 commands God’s people that
when they reap the harvest, they are not to reap to the edge of the field and
they are not to gather the gleanings left behind on the first pass. These
things are to be left for the poor and the alien among them.
Lev 22:19-20 commands that any sacrifice brought to the Lord
must be an unblemished male. It cannot have a defect or it will not be accepted
on behalf of the worshipper.
In these two examples, the people are told what not to do.
They are even told why. While many people seek to live by similar standards
today, I want to suggest that they are less than what God intends for His
people.
In Mark 10:17-27, Jesus encounters the wealthy “ruler” of the people. Think of a mash-up between a religious scholar and a local government official. These guys interpreted the Law of Moses and set policy on applying it in the community. This man came to Jesus and affirmed all of the “thou shalt nots” he had abided by. I have not murdered, I have not stolen, I have not lied, etc. Jesus never chastised the man for keeping the Law. (NOTE: Some today will lecture a person who holds to a moral code. A man just yesterday dismissed the need to be part of a church when I asked him where he attended. He told me “the church was in Him.” IOW…there is no command for me to worship with a group of people on the Lord’s day. He was saying, in essence, “That’s not part of the deal for my Salvation. I asked Jesus into my heart”).
While Jesus did not chastise the ruler for keeping the Law,
He also did not leave the conversation there. “One thing you lack: go and sell
all your possessions and give to the poor and follow Me” (Mark 10:21). In this
statement…which I would suggest is exemplary of the teachings of the New
Testament, Jesus says that His followers have an AFFIRMATIVE DUTY to advance
Christ’s agenda in the world. It is not enough to not steal…we must generously
give. It is not enough to not lie (since we could do that by saying nothing). We
must speak the truth (in love and with humility). It is not enough to not murder.
We must promote abundant living.
The point is that the church (the family of Christ-followers) has the responsibility to advance the King’s agenda.
Reflect today on this:
I know you have not murdered your neighbor, but have you helped him live an abundant life?
I know you did not promote some wrong perspective of God, but how did you advance the right view?
I know you did not oppress the poor, but how did you act generously to provide for him/her?
The church (that’s us) was not called to play “prevent
defense” until we are taken up into heaven. We are charged to advance the ball,
step by step, until we reach the other end of the field.
The life of a Christ-follower is one of community. Individuality is not part of the program. I know that in the West, and particularly in the United States, the value of individualism is romantic. We celebrate the Lone Ranger. We applaud the trailblazer. We resist accountable community.
Such was not the culture of the early church and it is not
the tone of the New Testament. In fact, the idea of individuality is often the
subject of warnings. There is great value in community.
Several brothers from by doctoral learning “community” (cohort) at SBTS
Somewhere along the way, people got the idea that matters of
faith were private matters. While faith is highly personal, it is never
private. We may confess sins privately, but we declare God’s forgiveness
publicly; and, at times, we confess those sins publicly within the
context of community (James 5:16) so that others will pray for us. This
provides for us the tool of accountability.
I suggested in a recent article that a small gender-exclusive group of believers, typically a close communion of 4-5 people who are committed to meeting regularly, reading the bible together and praying with one another is a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Those groups work best when they have these characteristics:
They are joined by invitation. There needs to be some chemistry (or at least potential for chemistry) if the group is to flourish. This is why I suggest that the first place to find people for this group is among existing circles…like a Connect Group. [Connect Groups are how my church organizes small group ministry].
They have a defined objective. Meeting to “hang out” may feel like an “organic” approach to community; however, it is its own version of stress-inducing. These communities should have an objective. We will meet to ____. I suggest that the reason to meet is to discuss insights from a Bible-reading plan that everyone in the group embraces.
They have a confidentiality ethic. As the group begins to discuss how the Scriptures “spoke” to them during the previous week, there will come a time when someone will share a personal or even private struggle with a stronghold or sin. This is not an act of WEAKNESS but of COURAGEOUS STRENGTH! I say that because I only do men’s groups (of course) and men are terrible about not wanting to share defects with one another. For honest and helpful sharing to occur, there must be a sense of trust that what is shared will “go to the grave” of those who hear it.
There must be an exit strategy. How do we get off the bus? In my experience, many of these groups default to an insular nature within a few weeks. As relationships grow and trust is confirmed…a band of brother (or sisters) is established. The easy thing is to stay together forever. This tool for spiritual growth can become stagnant at this point and ultimately loses missional effectiveness. It needs new blood. This is why I suggest only a “one-year” group. In fact, I recommend that the group form with a clear understanding that each member will identify 3-4 others during the year that they can begin meeting with when this group concludes. [Note: A group that concludes does not mean that friendships dissolve; rather, the multiplication of groups provides for increased friendships.]
If you are not part of a D-Group (which is what I call these
accountability communities) and would like some specifics on how to start one
(or perhaps join one), give me a call. I have some recommended resources that
will help you get started successfully.
If this year is to be a year of advancing in your development as a Christ-follower, you will NEED partners in an accountable community. CHOOSE now to take that step and I guarantee that when you look back at the end of the year, you will be blown away at what God does in your life!
In recent days I have shared about the power of routines/disciplines/habits. In many cases, routines are helpful (even if some might think them boring). Routines are simply tools that we employ to make sure that we accomplish those tasks most important to us.
Routines answer the question of “should I” when the drive to
do so is waning. Should I go to the gym today? Should I eat that? Should I
sleep through my alarm? Should I read my Bible today? Should I go to church
today? In these cases, the routine itself functions as a form of
accountability. However, this alone is insufficient for most of us, particularly
when we find ourselves in times of stress.
I promised a couple of days ago to share one of the most effective tools for finishing. If you really want to lose that ten pounds, run that half-marathon, or grow spiritually you truly need this tool. It can be embraced in a number of creative ways but without it…your chance of success drops by more than half. That tool is accountability.
We all resist accountability on some level. In fact, some people refuse to make a “new year’s resolution” because just writing it down provides some level of accountability. Instead, they just want to follow their feelings. Friend, my feelings lead me to raid the pantry at about 9 pm every night. My feelings order dessert. My feelings lead me to skip over the “Table of Nations” reading in Genesis or the genealogies in the Gospels. Feelings are terrible accountability partners.
Here’s a thought: If you are really going to grow spiritually this year, why not link up with 3-4 other men/women (I think gender-exclusive arrangements work best due to the way the Holy Spirit does His sanctifying work in our lives and because the similarities in thought processes among men and among women are pretty well established) and do it together? What we are talking about here is an agreement for 4-5 people to meet for 45 minutes to an hour a week, at a coffee shop, sandwich place, living room, dark alley (OK…maybe skip the dark alley) with an agenda of making sure everyone is staying true to the course?
If meeting together is tough due to schedules or geographic dispersion…FaceTime or group chats are good alternatives. One friend I know has set up a private Facebook Group with daily check-ins. While I think an in-person meeting is probably best, any of these alternatives are better than trying to hold yourself accountable to doing it alone.
Where do I find 3-4 others? I’d suggest asking 4 guys
in your small group (Connect Group) or that you know from another context who
are: (1) of like faith, (2) are reliable, and (3) have the same objective. In
my experience, many guys/gals are hungry for this kind of accountability and
connection; however, they are a little timid about the first step. Why not make
it easy for them and you take the initiative?
If you have other ideas on accountable partnerships like these I have described, I’d love to hear them. I’ll share more in the next post on how some of these groups have worked best for others. If you want to explore this further offline, just hit me up and we can chat.
It. Never. Fails. Someone has a better idea. Their “philosophy” is better than mine. Often times though, particularly in our social media world, people with better philosophies have just that: a philosophy. There is no action. No change. Just an idea.
Not long back I was listening to a guy tell me his philosophy of evangelism. He shared some trendy new perspectives that would make any old evangelism professor cringe. It was the BEST…according to this guy. Then…the telling question (or at least my “Dr. Phil” version of it): “How’s that working for you?” The silence was deafening.
Yesterday I wrote about the power of disciplines. Some probably never made it through the article since disciplines and routines are too restrictive for them. In the article, (published HERE if you haven’t read it) I promised to share my daily Bible reading (i.e. devotional) discipline…both for the accountability (you can ask me about it since I am “on the record,”) and because it may be useful to you. Here goes:
My day generally begins around 5:30 AM. That’s when the
coffee finishes brewing.
Coffee. Obviously, this is important or the book of Hebrews wouldn’t be in there. [Think about it].
Prayer. 2-5 mins. This is more about me talking to God. “Lord, help me to see and hear from you today. Give me wisdom and clarity. Speak to me. Give me the courage to accept You and Your Word as you speak.”
I read 4-5 devotionals first. 8-10 mins. (Chambers, Piper, Blackaby, Heart of Worship, and some short-term devotional on varied topics throughout the year. Topics like manhood, leadership, marriage, prayer, praise, etc.) These devotionals seem to prime my thinking and the part of my brain that applies truth.
Bible Reading Plan. 15-20 mins. I read the daily chapters from my plan. (Today was Genesis 9-12; Proverbs 3). While reading, I underline, highlight, and write notes in the margin if my mind is carried to a place.
Take Note- This is not a deep dive reading process of cross-references or word studies. It is the Scripture at a 5,000-foot level. I am looking for big-picture themes and verses that catch my attention.
[Also, I try to read in a different translation every year to keep it fresh. This year is the CSB].
I journal (as led) and pray things that God brings to mind. 15-25 mins. A lot of my journaling is archived here on this site. I also have many notes in my Evernote App that are too seminal to share on this site, or that God is working on me with. My journal notes could also be a prompt for deeper study. That is the bulk of my journaling. As for prayer, this part is about reflecting and listening.
Extra-biblical reading. (10-20 mins) I read highlights of articles in Baptist Press (I am a church guy after all). I catch the headlines of the news. (honestly, I used to read more but I find the news to be pretty myopic and biased…particularly in an election cycle). I may read articles from favorite theologians, academics, preachers, and some entertaining weirdos [smile]. This time may also include catching up on the latest “twitter rant” or select readings from different-minded publications (I’d put the Huffington Post and half my twitter feed in here).
A couple of considerations:
I try not to hurry. As you can see, I average around 40-60 mins for the first five items, and 10-20 mins for the extra-biblical stuff. My deadline is 7am. I have to get ready for work and head into the office.
This is a morning discipline for me. I find my mind is sharpest in the morning, so this is my early routine.
I don’t have the “extra hour” either.Yep, someone was thinking it. I’d do that but I don’t have time in the morning! Well, neither did I. So, I changed my other routines. I go to bed earlier than most and skip a lot of late television.
This works for ME. Remember, this is not my philosophy but my activity. It may not work for you. It may be too long, or too early, or too “anything.” Don’t mimic what I do because I do it. Do what works for you, but DO IT in a disciplined manner.
Two quick cautions:
Don’t set the bar too low. I know some guys tell me that they do their Bible while driving in the morning. I listen to audible books and podcasts too, but this time of devotional discipline is DEVOTED (see what I did there) to the Lord. It is His time. I even have a favorite place to do it. Even if it were 15 minutes a day devoted to Him…might it be worth it to focus on Him rather than the person who almost ran you off the road texting? [smile]
Don’t get discouraged. If you set a lofty goal and can’t hang with it, adjust it. Shrink it to what you CAN do. Build from there if you find it necessary. That’s what I did.
There’s another tool to help you with this…but I will save
it until another day. [shameless tease to get you to subscribe].
I have a routine. For the most part, I stick with it…
(sorry) routinely. This routine involves my morning habits, the way I
dress, the foods I eat…nearly every area of my life.
I know people who hate routines. They find
them boring. They see them as killers of spontaneity. If something is routine,
they will (again…sorry) routinely avoid it.
Still others, many who have excelled in leadership, swear
by routines. Some leaders advocate routines because they reduce decisions on
less important matters. For instance, if you wear a uniform, you never stare at
your closet wondering what to wear. If you eat out (only) every Friday evening,
then you eliminate the question of what restaurant to visit Saturday through
Thursday.
While I have a routine, I am not a slave to it; rather, I use it as a tool to help me achieve the goals that I have adopted. Meal planning (diets) work this way. If my body reacts well to a certain regimen of foods, I may set a routine of eating only these foods. This routine means I intentionally preclude other foods because they are not part of my routine. In this example, the diet is not dictating my life; rather, it is the roadmap I placed in my life to get me to an objective.
Such is true in my spiritual development. I believe
that biblical knowledge (study of the Word) is essential to sanctification (becoming
like Christ). [See Romans 7]. Sanctification is essential to effectiveness in
God’s Kingdom work (mission). [See 1 Corinthians 9. esp. v.23] Effectiveness in
mission is my objective. It requires sanctification which requires knowledge.
So, I read the Bible. Routinely. I want to be an effective husband, dad,
grand-dad, disciple-maker, teacher, neighbor, etc. These are part of God’s mission
in and through me. So, again, I read the Bible. Routinely.
Another word for routine is discipline. My discipline
(which takes about an hour a day to accomplish) has been built over years. When
I started, it was about 15 minutes. Prayer. Proverbs. A chapter or two from the
New Testament.
Two final thoughts:
If I were beginning a new exercise regimen, I
would not expect to spend two hours, two times a day in the gym…the first
week. I’d be lucky to work out for an hour, three or four times per week. If I
tried to keep up with the biggest and strongest on day one, I’d quit by the end
of the first week.
Second, I blow it from time to time. I get busy,
oversleep, have a sin issue that prevents me from hearing God, etc. If I miss
my routine for a day or two, I catch up on my reading. If this persists beyond
a couple days, catching up will prove impractical. In such a case…I will fast
forward to the plan for that day and pick up from there. What I cannot do is
QUIT and declare that I’ll try harder next year. That’s defeating. It doesn’t
work. So just skip to the right place and begin again. God won’t hate you if
you admit to sleepwalking through parts of Leviticus or the genealogies…though
there are some cool nuggets in there to find if you can discipline yourself.
Anyway, that’s me. Tomorrow I will share my actual routine
(which will surprise some of you). Mostly I share for accountability, but it
may also have some parts you want to add to your discipline.
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