Testify

What excites you?

What is that one thing that you can get started talking about and not stop until you feel nearly foolish at the extent of your knowledge on the topic? Or maybe it is something that you and your friends do together or start talking about where the conversation goes on for hours? Maybe this topic, or idea forms your career or your career goals?

Have you ever been a sales person? Most likely you have at one point in your life been in a situation where you needed to share information about something in an persuasive manner. As humans, it is almost natural for us to share something we know to be a good thing, like a product or idea, if we believe that it will help someone in some way. When we know we have something good to share, we tend to get excited about sharing what we have or what we know.

Pray and Read 1 John 5:1-12

1 John 5:1–12 NRSV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I think it is very important to read that passage again, slowly line by line. Let the words sink into your mind and heart. Listen for the Holy Spirit to lead you through this passage, stop when you feel you should stop to focus on a word or phrase. This is what we believe, this is the main gospel! This is our faith, that Jesus came, born as a human is born, lived, healed, delivered, taught, died, was risen, ascended, sent His Spirit, and will come again. This is the Gospel Story. This is our story as well.

The word testify, in the original Greek is Martyr. It is a verb, so their are various endings indicating the use or tenses. The root word is Martyr which translates to testify or witness. Yet, when we hear the word Martyr, we identify it as meaning a person who was killed for their faith in Christ. What kind of testimony is worth the life of an individual? The Truth is stronger than any weapon formed against us. This Truth is eternal, our human existence is only for a short time. Martyrs put aside all fear and human desire to share the powerful and life changing truth of our Lord and Savior. A true disciple of Christ knows the power and the love of God and desires nothing more than to show others this power and love.

Intentional Discipleship

The late Junius B. Dotson taught about Intentional Discipleship and what that should look like for the church. On Wednesday nights we have begun to dive a little deeper into his book on Intentional Discipleship. It is “intentional” because of the purpose, intention, plan or goal that is the reason for what is being done. Discipleship, has two very important and correlated meanings. To be a disciple is to learn about and to master the knowledge of the Master. Yet, it also means to take that knowledge and use it in mission and for a greater purpose. So when we say we are disciples of Christ, we are saying that we learn from Christ, have a personal relationship with Christ, and desire to be like Christ. Yet also, being a disciple of Christ is to tell, or testify, about Christ to the world, show all who our Savior, Creator, and Friend is truly.

To be intentional disciples is to have a plan and a goal in mind as to why we are disciples and how and why we make disciples. This happens with a church, or a group of believers who desire to not only grow in their faith, but to grow with others who are on the journey. Yet, also this group then desires to collectively share the gospel with others, in whatever way God has called them to testify to their faith.

So How Are We Intentionally Making Disciples?

This is the main question for us as a church right now. We have our ways, we have our few Sunday School classes and Bible Studies. We are giving to and helping with local charities, as well as gathering for worship in person and online. Yet, how does this describe our intention? What is our mission, what is our vision for being disciples of Christ who are making disciples of Jesus Christ? Can you tell me?

Each and everyone of us needs to be able to speak on our identity as a church, and be excited about it. Every one of us should be ready to tell others what God has done for us personally and how we are growing in our faith.

That is what we are going to do this summer. We are going to be diving deeper into our discipleship system as a church. We will be learning about the gifts and skills that God has given the church and how we are to use them. We will discover or rediscover our identity and purpose. It is my hope that all of our members and friends, from those who are regular attenders, to life long members will band together as we grow into a new age of church life. Each Sunday morning worship service will dive into these topics, following our Bible Study on Wednesday nights. So the kickoff date is June 2nd, Wednesday night where we will learn what it means to be a Church from Paul’s perspective in Romans 12. We will have a week dedicated to our youth as well as a week dedicated to our kids as we have a fantastic Vacation Bible School program planned. We will be talking about what the terms, Discipleship, Outreach, Invite, Nurture, and Gather mean and what they mean for us as a community of faith. We will have a time of prayer and fasting as well as times of ministry projects from which to grow. It is my hope and prayer that everyone can participate as much as possible.

This is something that I am excited and honestly a little nervous about doing. But we are going to do this together and see where God leads us. The main idea is for us to be intention in who were are, say what we mean, live what we believe, and work together to sow seeds for a great awakening. Are you ready? Are you ready to testify? Not one of us is going to do this alone. We will be standing side by side, testifying the good that God has done.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.