Orange Church

Posted on Feb 21, 2010 in Sermons | Comments Off

Speaker: Andrew Brown
Key Passage: 2 Timothy 2:2
Date: 21 Feb 2010

Elevator: A disciple of Jesus is someone who disciples

In recent years there has been quite a bit of debate in academic circles over the use of the word ‘Christian.’  Some people think its too exclusive and puts unnecessary barriers between people and Jesus.  It builds walls.  Becoming a Christian can look like a Chinese man having to become an African, or a Kiwi an Indian.  So people have started using the term ‘Follower of Jesus’ in recent years.  That way you can say, “I’m a follower of Jesus from a Chinese, Maori, Muslim or Buddhist background.”  It sounds more inclusive, but if you’re playing with words, ‘follower of Jesus’ also has some problems.  It misses out some important meanings.

For instance, ‘what does it mean to follow Jesus?”  Let’s look at two scenarios.  Which one is following Jesus?  Scenario: 1.  Guy follows Jesus around, 2.  Guy does what Jesus is doing (keeps checking).  Which one is actually following Him?  Let’s have a show of hands.  Who says 1?  Who says 2?  The second one is the correct one.

Why is this so?  Because a follower of Jesus is not someone who simply ‘believes’ in Jesus or who ‘follows’ Him –a ‘follower’ or a ‘Christian’ is someone who ‘copies’ Him.  They imitate Jesus and they do what Jesus is doing.

1. That’s why I often prefer the word ‘disciple’ for followers of Jesus. It has a broader meaning and this is also what Christians or ‘followers of Jesus’ are often called in the Bible.  For example, many of you will be familiar with Jesus twelve disciples.  There were the crowds who came to listen to Jesus and then there were the disciples who learnt from Him personally.  The word ‘disciple’ means a pupil, a student, an adherent or apprentice -one who is willing to learn to become like their teacher and to do what they have been taught.  The New Testament tells us that Jesus called them, taught them, showed them how to do in, i.e. trained them, and then sent them out to build the Kingdom of God like He was.

But notice that the followers of Jesus who came later were also called ‘disciples.’  Acts 6:1 tells us “(1) In those days… the number of disciples was increasing.” Acts 11:26 says, “(26) The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” And in Acts 18:23 it says “(23) After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and travelled from place to place… strengthening all the disciples.”

One of the best examples of what being a disciple means is contained in the words that Paul writes to his protégé Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2.  He says, (1) You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [Banner]  (2) And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” So a disciple of Jesus is someone takes from what they have been taught and passes it on to others who will in turn yet more.  A true ‘Christian’, a true ‘follower of Jesus’ is a ‘disciple’ who is still learning, but is now discipling others.

So why I am I talking about this?  Well, over this month we are looking at what it takes to be an Orange Church.  In other words ‘how do we combine the red heart of the family with the yellow light of the church to create a more powerful combination for reaching the next generation?’  Last week we talked about what it means to be an orange family –a family who raises their children to follow God in partnership with their local church.  That topic may not have been completely relevant to all of you, but it is critical that every one of you understand today’s topic, because not only will PBC fail to be an effective church if you fail to gasp this, but you will fail to achieve your purpose as a disciple of Jesus if you do not understand that you are called to disciple others.

2. So what is discipling? What forms does discipling like?

Well in the business world this kind of thing can take on many different forms, and these can give you an idea of what it is like –some of the dimensions.  There is the teacher who instructs someone in new information.  There is the trainer who helps someone learn new behaviours and skills.  There is the consultant who makes specific recommendations on how challenges can be overcome and improvements made.  A counsellor helps someone recover from a previous or current event that prevents them from functioning at their best, while mentors share what they have learnt along the way with someone less experienced.  Coaches help people assess their life situation and improve their skills so they can make big picture changes they need to.

But to keep things simple I really like an illustration that Gareth shared with me recently.  He might tell you more about it himself soon, but he described discipling like you teaching someone how to drive.  You are right beside them, but they do the driving.  You give input and advice, but they make the decisions.  They can ask you for help sometimes, or they may choose not to, but you both evaluate how they are doing as you go along.  The only difference is that instead to helping them learn how to drive, you are helping them to get the hang of being a Christian.

The main characteristics of discipling are that you get together regularly with someone at a different level in the Christian faith.  It might be in different venues like the church, coffee shops, McDonalds or a home, basically anywhere, but you begin to let down your guard and to trust each other.  Over time you learn to talk about life and faith and what the Bible has to say about both.  You usually share your challenges and learning’s, and hopefully along the way you have some fun!

For example try and think of someone who invested in your life earlier on.  Can you think of someone?  You probably saw them fairly often.  You most likely mixed with them in a variety of situations.  There developed a level of openness and trust so that you could ask questions of them.  They were happy to talk about their experiences and what they had learnt from the Bible and others.  As a result you grew.  Well, now that’s what Jesus expects you to do for others.

3. Why disciple/mentor?  (Gareth)

a. Mentoring is Biblical

How do you become like Jesus?  Mark 3:14 – “Jesus chose them to be with him”

I think we can call this mentoring.  o       the Disciples witnessed:

§       Jesus’ time with the Father   §       his work

§       his relationships

o       Jesus gave them responsibilities to stretch them, then called them back in to talk about how it went. (Luke 10)

Acts 4:13 – Peter and John have been arrested and are being questioned for preaching about Christ. “When [the religious guys] saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Ordinary// ἰδιώτης (idiotes – Gr) What made them extraordinary is who they’d been with.

·       Disciples were common people, not scholars – Jesus took these and made them world changers

·       1 Cor 11:1 – “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” – living example

b. Mentoring is Practical

·       Discipleship is not just learning; it is becoming.

o       Can’t become a great artist/chef if you never paint/cook

o       What better way to learn than to witness a great at work and absorb their influence?

o       Like an apprenticeship – see the work being done before you try it yourself

·       You can know just about anything from the internet today (although maybe not reliable) and yet how do you know what a person is meant to be like?

·       Young people crying out for role models

o       Give young people a chance to ask questions

o       Adolescence involves forming own identity – chance to show them your identity:

§       the things you decide are important

§       how you respond in all sorts of situations

§       who you are!

C. Mentoring is relational

·       Youth ministry e.g. Integration of students finishing high school

·       Bonds of trust and honesty – real with each other e.g. Eastercamp story

·       Overall, church is the biggest winner – it’s that synergy Andrew was talking about. Maize maze story – can help direct others in the right way

4. (Andrew) So if discipling or mentoring is so important where do you begin?  How do you make a start?

An important thing to remember is that this is a normal behaviour, but it is also a learned behaviour.  Some of you are already doing it.  In fact you may be doing it quite naturally without even thinking about it.  You might be the kind of person who gets together with other Christians on a regular basis and talks about spiritual and other matters.  But for those of you who don’t do it, it is quite easy to learn.

You can do it informally or formally.

In an informal situation sense you start by showing an interest in another younger Christian (the same sex as you) in the church.  That means creating opportunities where you can chat with them; find out who they are and what they are doing.  Over time you develop a friendship where you can talk about faith as a normal part of conversation.  Typical things you would cover would be what has been a spiritual highlight for you lately?  What has been a challenge and what is God saying to you at the moment?  Over time you an offer to get together regularly to talk about life and things, and if accepted you do this for as long as it is valuable for the other person.

But for those of you who would like to be part a more formal, defined opportunity… (Gareth)

An Opportunity to be involved in mentoring

What it is – matchmaking service.

Who can take part – maybe you are already teamed up with someone informally!

Scared? What’s the worst that could happen?

Share your life! Your legacy ends with you if you refuse to pass on what you’ve gained.

C. (Andrew) I hope we’ve made it clear today that is it is Christ’s expectation that every one of you will be discipling someone else. For quite a few of you this will be your children, but for everyone else you need to find someone in order to follow Jesus.  It might be someone in this room or it might even be someone who is not yet a disciple of Jesus!  You may not be discipling anyone right now, but the critical thing is that you start doing it as soon as possible.

To round things off I want to say this.  Just this week I was reading in Luke 9 the account of the ‘Feeding the five thousand.’  Jesus had gone into the countryside to teach.  A large crowd had followed Him.  As time went by they got hungry and so the disciples told Jesus about this.  Jesus said, “You feed them.”  They replied, “We can’t feed them all.  We only have two loaves and fishes!”  So Jesus prayed.  He had them break them into more manageable groups of fifty.  They fed them and they found they had more than enough food left over.

The analogy is that God wants you to disciple and to help spiritually feed other people.  You may be worried about that, but you don’t have to do it for the whole crowd –just a few.  These people are often ones that God has already placed around you.  Now you might feel inadequate (and think ‘what can I offer?’), but all Jesus asks is that you present the little knowledge and life experience that you have to God.  Then pray and get to know those younger disciples of Jesus around you.  Leave the spiritual results to Him!

Would you please bow your heads?  Please take a moment to ask God for a name or names of someone you can start keeping an eye on this week…a younger Christian with whom you can make a connexion …hopefully establish a friendship where you can input into their life…  “Amen.”