A Daily Discipline

Shepherding God, bring us into your fold. Lead us beside still waters and restore our souls. Help us see the way we should go, the way we should live. Help us hear your voice calling our name. Enliven this time of worship, that we may find true life as we join with others: praising your name, celebrating your great goodness, and sharing your love for all people. AMEN

HYMN: # Victory in Jesus

VERSE 1

I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins

And won the victory.

CHORUS

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

VERSE 2

I heard about His healing,

Of His cleansing power revealing.

How He made the lame

To walk again and

Caused the blind to see;

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,

Come and heal my broken spirit,"

And somehow Jesus came

and brought to me the victory.

VERSE 3

I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory.

And I heard about

the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;

About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,

And some sweet day

I'll sing up there

The song of victory.

PROCLAMATION AND PRAISE

PASTORAL PRAYER Liturgist

Merciful and loving God, you call us your beloved ones and you seek to protect us, but we love to take risks, emotionally, spiritually, physically. Call to us again. Help us to hear your voice. Give us hearts of love and compassion for all our dear ones who suffer illness and any adversity. Be with those who travel, having no home to which to return, no land they can call theirs, no sense of ever being community again. They truly hunger and thirst in every way and you have called us to meet those needs – not to turn them away because they might be different. You always accepted us, so let us accept others, realizing that your sheep of your pasture are awash with diversity of spirit and origin. Let us celebrate those wonderful gifts and learn from them for we ask this in the name of the Good shepherd. AMEN.

THE LORDS PRAYER Liturgist

Scripture

Acts 2:42–47 The Message

They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

HYMN: #Won’t Stop Now

Verse 1

I give You glory

For all You've brought me through

And now I'm ready

For whatever You want to do

Verse 2

I'm moving forward

To follow after You

And now I'm ready

For whatever You want to do

Chorus 1

Your presence is an open door

We want You Lord like never before

Your presence is an open door

So come now Lord like never before

Verse 3

In every season

Your grace has been enough

And I'm believing

The best is yet to come

Verse 4

The cross before me

My hope on things above

And in You Jesus

The best is yet to come

Bridge

I know breakthrough is coming

By faith I see a miracle

My God made me a promise

And it won't stop now

Prayer of Illumination

Introduction

Today is number 3 of our marks of a follower of Jesus: Intentional Faith Development. We have previously talked about Passionate Worship and Radical hospitality. Here’s what Intentional Faith development is

Growing in Christ demands more than weekly worship. It is through Intentional Faith Development that God’s Spirit works in us making us more like Christ as we grow in the knowledge and love of Christ. We offer small groups, Bible Studies, music ministries, age group ministries, and other opportunities for spiritual growth.

We are responsible for our own growth. The church does not make you grow. The church offers opportunities to grow but it is up to us to participate in them. As your Pastor I am not responsible for your spiritual growth. You are.

When our kids were teenagers we were sent a new preacher as the Methodist system does. I did not particularly enjoy this new Pastor’s preaching style and decided that I was not growing spiritually. I convinced the family that we needed to find another church to attend. I became guilty of something I often preach against: the idea of church shopping. This is the antithesis of what being a part of a church is about. You find the church where God is calling you to serve, not the church that meets your perceived needs. Anyway, I found out I wasn't happy at these other churches either. There were three significant reasons for this:

God had called me to serve in the church that I left. In fact, I was running from God’s call, period. You are never happy when you grieve the Spirit of God and that’s what I was doing.

It was not the new Pastor’s responsibility to see that I grew in Christ. It was my responsibility to be intentional in that. The church needs to offer those opportunities, which it did, but I am the one that has to have a plan for my growth as a follower of Jesus.

I said I did not like the way he preached. Here is the deal with that. If you are not being challenged to grow in Christ from the pulpit, that is you only hear what you like, there’s a problem. I hope I say things that may upset you, or you find uncomfortable or even down right offensive. The gospel is offensive to the cultural status quo and if you are not hearing that, then I need to do a better job of preaching.

When we returned to the church we left I began a great period of Spiritual growth in my life that hasn’t stopped. It has ebbed and flowed, but it has never stopped. It has never stopped because I know that I have to take the initiative in my own growth. That is I have to respond to God’s grace offered to me. I realized I am responsible for my own growth as a disciple. Let’s take a look at the first disciples and see how that worked for them.

Exegesis/Application

Gove some contextual background here.

Luke gives us a rosy picture of the church right after the arrival of the Holy Spirit. This text serves as a summation and a transition from the arrival of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s preaching in the street where 3000 are saved. Luke then goes into a description of the early church.

He says they committed them selves to the teaching of the apostles. This is what we should be doing as well. The New Testament is the teaching we have today. Do not forget these folks did not have the writings we have. They studied the Hebrew scripture along with the apostles and learned the gospel through the oral teaching straight from those who walked with Jesus!

They committed themselves to life together or fellowship or as Peterson puts it here “lived in a wonderful harmony”. The Greek word for fellowship or life together is koinonia. This word is a lot richer and deeper than the English word used in translation. Koinonia is super natural in nature. A deep intimacy and unity that came upon everyone at the Holy Spirit’s arrival. It goes much deeper than mission trips, Wednesday night dinners, small groups etc. Thes are all things that help in our growth in koinonia and if we are to have this supernatural intimacy of the community of believers.

So we see apostles teaching, breaking of bread (this is probably both meals together and the celebration of the early form of communion) and prayers. This lifestyle of koinonia resulted in having all things in common. Do not try to read any kind of economic system into this. This says that they took care of each other financially, spiritually, physically. No one would go hungry or suffer poverty.

Luke goes onto write that they followed a daily discipline of worship, prayers, teachings, meals together, celebrations, and joyful and cheerful lives.

The disciples were well respected in the community and the community grew.

Is this a true picture of that early church or an idyllic myth? I believe it is a true picture, maybe somewhat embellished. Does he gloss over negative stuff goin on? Probably. I am sure these folks were not sin free. But the lesson here is they had an intentional daily discipline that was a response to God’s grace and this produced koinonia. In other words, for churches to thrive and grow they must be intentional to create disciples in community. Koinonia is not an individual event, but a communal event.

In his book Five Practice of Fruitful Congregations Bishop Robert Schanse writes this of our Methodist Heritage:

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations Chapter Three

As Wesley and the early Methodists realized, growth in faith does not come easily or automatically, but requires placing ourselves in community to learn the faith with others. Wesley commended the practices of public and family prayers, the searching of Scriptures, the receiving of Holy Communion, and the practice of works of mercy—all in supportive community

Our Christian life is demanding. Jesus did not say it would be easy to be a committed follower. We have a tough time of it individually. The early Christians knew this because Jesus knew this. The 12 he called were not just representatives of the new 12 tribes of Israel. They were the church. They were called out to serve with Jesus in the proclamation of his gospel. They learned together from the master. This daily discipline as Luke called it calls for a repentant mind and purified heart. Acts of a daily process of continuing conversion that must be done in community of shared practices.

What we see in these first believers is that we must prioritize and make room our faith development. We will make time for those things that are important. We have to be intentional in this, that is have a plan to become closer to God and more and more Christ like in our thoughts and actions.

What I have witnessed in my years of ministry has been:

Those that do intentionally make a plan to grow in their faith. Frankly these are the minority. These people have transformed lives that are transforming the community.

Those that invested for a while in their growth then it petered out. This is because they were looking for information rather than transformation. Most of these folks have a Biblical knowledge that is a mile wide but an inch deep. These folks will start a new study and quit or bounce around from church to church to find one that has got it right or just confirms their theology rather than challenges it.

Those that have it all figured out and don’t need to grow anymore. However, if you are not growing you are dying. This is a stagnant, luke warm faith.

The excuse makers: I don’t have the time, the Bible is too hard to understand, or in today’s world I don't get the technology. yet we have kindergartners who get it and go to school virtually. If you can dial a phone number you can have a group or class meeting.

Here’s what I have found as well. The folks I described first are the ones that experience the awe Luke is referring to here. They have experienced the supernatural koinonia that occurs when you intentionally work on your faith in community. One commentator said, since 21st century believers only want to come to worship once out of every 6 Sundays that it was up to preachers to make them feel this awe. It is up to us to tell great awe inspiring stories.

I disagree, I cannot make you feel or see God’s awesomeness unless you are invested in doing so. My personal experience and experience as a Pastor has taught me that. it is up to you to respond to God’s grace in a manner of growth and transformation where you will experience that awe. An awe that points one to God beyond our common awareness to the beauty and mystery that surrounds us. Our eyes are open to this supernatural occurrence in koinonia and this is where we see the signs and wonders today.

A young Mother who came to me and said, “I was going to get an abortion until I heard your sermon on Christmas eve about Mary.” Or the young lady who told me: “My Mother has always asked me why I can’t be as pretty as my big sister.But, because we studied Psalm 139 I now know I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I am beautiful to God." Or the woman in a Disciple Bible Study group I was in that said at the beginning she never understood the Jesus thing and that is why she was there. At the end of the study Jesus had become her savior.

I have more of these awesome stories of signs and wonders. They all occured during faith development and I would have never witnessed them if I had not intentionally been there. This is the fellowship koinonia, the spiritual intimacy we can experience through intentional faith development.

The title of this series is the Road. We are all on the Road walking with Jesus. We are not all on the same place on the map. You may want to be intentional about growing your faith but you are not sure how to do that. Or you might be burned out. Or health reasons, or family issues, may keep you from doing what you really want to do. I am not trying to lay a guilt trip on you here. What I am saying is that no matter where you are on the Road, the important thing is that you are on the road and have not left it.

Many years ago Billy Graham was traveling in china. He was going from one town to another by car on a tight schedule. He passed an old man on the road carrying a heavy burden. Graham wanted to stop and talk to the man but his handlers said no that they were late for the next town. Late that night Graham and his entourage were traveling back along the same road after his engagement. Sure enough the old man was still walking along the road. This time Graham was allowed to stop. He spent some time talking through an interpreter with the man. He shared the gospel with him and the man replied, I often wondered who he was, now I know. The old man was full of expectation. Like so many people today, he was weighed down with a heavy burden. Of course his was physical and ours today run the gamut from illness, to addiction, to indebtedness, etc. all heavy burdens. Perhaps the heaviest burden of all is having the expectation, but never having that expectation met.

God is waiting for you, God is walking beside you waiting for a response Put down your burden. You are on the right road, just pay attention to the one who travels it with you. I promise it will be awesome. I promise you will see signs and wonders

HYMN: #I Surrender All

Verse 1

All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him

In His presence daily live

Chorus 1

I surrender all

All to Thee my blessed Savior

I surrender all

Verse 2

All to Jesus I surrender

Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken

Take me Jesus take me now

Verse 3

All to Jesus I surrender

Make me Savior wholly Thine

Let me feel the Holy Spirit

Truly know that Thou art mine

Verse 4

All to Jesus I surrender

Lord I give myself to Thee

Fill me with Thy love and power

Let Thy blessing fall on me

Verse 5

All to Jesus I surrender

Now I feel the sacred flame

O the joy of full salvation

Glory glory to His name

BENEDICTION Liturgist

We have been refreshed and restored. We have been called and guided. Let us go forth knowing who our true shepherd is, following his path, secure in the knowledge that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life. Amen.

We go forth together to : Love Christ Love People and Help People Love Christ. AMEN.

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