Feast.

Feast of Giving Back

Recap:

Expect Harv. (Abund/ripe; Life's mindset, focus)

Gather Harv. (Go out and lead ppl to X)

TODAY: Feasting.

"The fulfillment of creation's intended purpose is fruitfulness!"

Feasts celebrate God working in creation to produce a useful product.

All thru OT, feast represents Thanksgiving & God's abundance!

Feast of weeks - Shavuot/Pentecost.

50 days after Passover

Began with bringing an offering of new grain to YHWH, animal, wine sacrifices.

"Fellowship Offering", ppl eat the offering along w priests in celebration!

Giving thanks YHWH as they indulged in the produce.

God provided & Isr. rejoiced!

Gave BACK to God a portion as thank-you!

When YHWH brings a harvest of people, we need to give THANKS!

Help their lives give glory to God - give them back to God...

Church does this thru Discipleship.....

What is Discipleship?

Matthew 28:18-19 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Think of discipleship as a system or a class or a series or plan... "D. strategy?"

The Goal of discipleship is to help people become more like Jesus.

Mathetes/ai - learner, studier, follower

Context: Rabbi & disciple... want to BECOME like the rabbi.

Today: UN-structure discipleship a bit...

(Discl: Good to have systems, classes, series, etc - MYCRA!)

Sometimes, systematizing things isn't actually helpful…

Discipleship is Relationship.

Seek Them Out.

Be Intentional.

Ezekiel 34:11 “ For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them".

God Gives us a perfect model of intentionality!

Abraham. Moses. Proph's. Woman @ well. Matthew. Peter. JESUS?!

"Seek & save those who are lost" - Lk 19:10

Disciples won't always fall into your lap!

It takes conscious effort to commit to someone or to take the steps to see them grow to be more like Jesus.

God ALWAYS wants our WILLs to align with His Spirit... that takes effort/ steps.

Tip: Look for friends outside of your 'normal' group

If your friends group hasn't changed in the last 5 years - you might not be discipling others.

In ministry (serve); At work; At an event (participate)

'Do Life' with Them.

Luke 19:5-6 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Pharisees, tax collectors, prost., Jesus ATE at their HOUSES.

Koinonia, "fellowship".

Close, caring relationships!

Invite Someone to an Event; Invite them to your HOUSE!

Go on a hike. Host a game night! Find someone else who likes kayaking, baseball, etc.

Discipleship Shouldn't be difficult, stodgy, or even regimented and structured. It's just about finding people and being part of their life.

Grow with Them.

Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Too many ppl look for perfect situations at a church. but

God calls us, broken ppl, to seek out other normal people and grow TOGETHER.

Paul mentions growing into the SAME attitude, SAME mind, with ONE voice - all reflecting Jesus!

Through living life together and learning about Jesus together, we come to better know this Jesus - and challenge each other to walk better.

Never 'arriving'.

Never too mature or knowlg. to reject correction.

Never too egotist'l to think you've made it.

May God's Word be in our discussions and our conversations.

May we ask each other: "What has God spoken/revealed/shown" you today?

May we say, "how can I do better"?

From that, may we learn more about Jesus (what TO do and what NOT to do) so that we, in ONE voice, with ONE heart can always been seeking out and loving people closer to Jesus!

Make Disciples

Love Them.

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Romans 1:11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

When they miss, haven't seen, send them text! let know you're thinking about 'em.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Honor one Another. Lift up! Promote! Point out the best in others.

Ask how you can pray for them.