The Compelling Invitation

At our Pittsburgh District Assembly in July, our DS provided us all with mugs that have the district logo on one side, and on the other side, it says: “Pittsburgh District Runs on Discipleship.” I do agree with the sentiment expressed, but it is certainly more than the Pittsburgh District that runs on discipleship. The church, wherever we are truly followers of Jesus, runs on discipleship. We are going to be focusing over the next several weeks on discipleship as a journey of grace as we utilize this little book, “Way, Truth, Life” written by Dr. David Busic.

Sometimes we define disciple as one of the 12 men that travelled with Jesus while he was here on earth. While it is certainly true that they were disciples, we are all disciples of Jesus! We are invited, in the same way that the original 12 disciples were invited to go on a journey with Jesus. Dr. Busic reminds us that “The Christian life is more than right belief. It is more than intellectual assent. It is an invitation to a journey with Jesus.” He adds, “the end goal of discipleship is always the same to be like Christ.”

Why do I believe in discipleship? If we are to be Christ followers, it is not a call to watch - it is a call to participate in and continue on - the life of Christ in a world that is desperate to see Christ in action through His church. We are not called to be bystanders, cheering others on, we are called to be active participants - to be like Jesus. Discipleship is the process whereby we are transformed into His image and likeness. So, let’s go on this journey of grace together. While I am a learner - I love to learn - Discipleship is not about learning more, it is about being! While I definitely understand why refer to ourselves as believers - I think referring to Christ followers as believers does a disservice to what discipleship is all about - discipleship is about so much more than believing! Let’s begin by reading from the gospel of John.

John 1:35–42 NIV

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Situation There were a couple of people from my home church in Canton, Ohio that exemplified for me what it was to be a disciple of Jesus. Their names were John and Miriam - they were a husband and wife that were great examples of what it is to be a disciple. They weren’t pastors. They didn’t have a theological education that was impressive. I know that he was a plumber, but I don’t really know if she had a career, or if she was a stay at home mom. They taught Sunday School to children, they sang in the church choir. They were involved in lots of things at church - but none of that impressed me. There were all kinds of people that did those things. I didn’t really come to know them very well when I was a kid. But then I went away to college. I would come home on occasion to visit my family and my girlfriend who is now my wife. On those weekends that I would visit home, I would go to church, and inevitably, John and Miriam would find me. It was a pretty large church, so it wasn’t always easy to connect with people every time you were there, but John and Miriam would both find me to tell me that they were praying for me - they prayed for me every day - and they were genuinely interested in how things were going for me at college. Their prayers continued after I was married, had gone through Seminary and was beginning in ministry - every time I saw them, they reminded me that they were praying for me, and they prayed for me by name every single day!

They did not know what struggles I went through in my life, but they knew that God’s grace was alive and well in my life and in theirs. They did have a son that was in ministry, so they understood some of the challenges that pastors face. I was always greatly encouraged by their kind words and their reminders of prayer for me and my family. They lived a life of grace and they were great encouragers.

They were not just “believers.” I was not drawn to them because they taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, or were faithful to their church. All of those things were valuable parts of who they were. Bu the thing that drew me to them was that they were genuine, not just in their belief and their faithfulness, but they were genuinely Christ followers - they were genuine disciples. They were on a journey with Jesus. They have since gone on to receive their heavenly reward, but they took the journey seriously. They saw that it was not enough to be known as a “Christian” in name - they were on a journey - a lifelong journey that leads from the kingdom of this world to the kingdom of God.

If we are going to be true disciples of Jesus, we are invited on a journey of grace. Jesus was an itinerant preacher, prophet, and healer—he didn’t stay in one place. He moved from place to place and life to life.

A couple of these early disciples had been disciples of John, but when John introduces Jesus as the lamb of God, John tells us that they didn’t mess around, they didn’t say, “someday I’m going to follow Him.” They followed Jesus immediately. And from that time on, they followed Him wherever He went.

It was a journey that led them all over Israel, and it changed them - maybe none more so than the disciple we know as Peter. His given name was actually Simon, but Jesus decided that he would from that time on be called Rocky. OK, I know it was Cephas, which is translated as Petra - we call him Peter - but the word petra or Peter literally means rock - so - Rocky.

But that journey had to start somewhere. It begins with an invitation. The two disciples of John were curious about this man that John thought so highly of, and they started following Jesus. In that process, Jesus invites them to come and see where he was staying. It was an invitation to go along with Him, because He didn’t really have one place that He stayed - He travelled, and His invitation was that they come along with Him.

Jesus’ life is so compelling to them that they want to see more - they want to experience Him and to have experiences with Him. It is not a forced grace - it is an invitation to come along for the journey.

Complication Following Jesus begins at the point of invitation. It’s a simple “come and see.” When we are invited to follow Him, we have no idea what all that means for our lives. Jesus understands that no person follows him long without being confronted by the need to make a series of decisions. Following Jesus isn’t an extended spectator sport. We sometimes view being a Christian in that way. We can fall for this mistaken notion that being a disciple of Jesus is just being along for the ride without really making any changes.

But there is a moment when “come and see” becomes “follow me.” These sound similar, but they are different. “Come and see” is about becoming acquainted with the journey. It’s about getting close enough to explore, even as a person is trying to decide if it is for them. But eventually a decision is required. I fear that far too many people who call themselves Christians today are people who are onlookers - they are spectators - they like what they see in Jesus, but they have not made the decision to truly follow Him!

• Before you make the decision, there are a few things you must know. We talk about making a decision to follow Christ, but even our decision is only possible through the grace of God. God’s grace makes it possible for us to have a real relationship with Him. That grace goes before we even make that decision and draws us to be a true follower, as opposed to being a spectator.

This grace is personal but not private. Dr. Busic points out that one reason that grace is personal is that it is not a thing - grace is found in the person of Jesus, sho said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Grace is not about having the correct belief system, or in believing stronger in what we believe in - grace comes in the person of Jesus and in our relationship with Him. Busic reminds us that “the first Christians did not give up their lives for a theory, a principle, or a life force. It was for and because of a person—a real person who was really crucified and buried, who was really raised from the dead as the firstruits of the new creation, who really ascended into heaven, and who is really coming back again.”

Grace is also personal because in grace, God meets every human being in the place they are. We have similar situations and experiences in life, but there is nobody who has ever lived that has your same strengths and weaknesses. God made you unique, and God will meet you in your uniqueness. He will meet you in the way that is best for you! This grace is personal!

This grace is free, but it is also costly.

Grace is free because it has already been paid for. Jesus paid the price for our ability to respond to His gracious gift. We talk about grace sometimes as if it is grace because it costs us nothing - Jesus paid it all, so the song goes, but the very next phrase is “all to Him I owe.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Christian minister who experienced a German concentration camp and eventually was martyred for his faith. He points out that while grace comes to us freely, it is not without cost. It cost Jesus His very life.

Grace, while free is not cheap! Bonhoefer said: “cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” We are not called to just be followers of Jesus. This is our tailgate Sunday, and, yes, I follow several sports teams. I follow the Browns, most of you follow the Steelers - but following a sports team doesn’t really cost me much in the way of preparation. I didn’t really do anything to get ready for the game this afternoon that my team will play, but if my team wins, I will say “we won.” Cheap grace is a follower mentality of grace. Being a disciple is so much more than believing or even following - Discipleship is a participation event, not a spectator event.

Resolution Journeys are rewarding, but they are typically not free. This journey of discipleship is deeply compelling and personally costly, but if you heed the call, it will transform you powerfully.

The journey starts with the invitation to “come and see” and moves to the challenge of “follow me” but is evidenced in the promise of Jesus that “you will be”—made radically different.

Those who take seriously the journey of grace will be thoroughly transformed. It is often said that Jesus loves us enough to meet us where we are—but he also loves us too much to leave us there.

When Peter and Andrew were called Jesus said, “I will send you out to fish for people” (Matt. 4:19). This simple call transformed how they saw themselves and gave them purpose.

Celebration • “I will send you out to fish for people!” This statement from Jesus points to a beautiful truth of the journey of grace: follow Jesus long enough, and you will be called and commissioned.

It starts with “come and see,” moves to “follow me,” promises “you will be,” and then commissions with “go and do.”

Earlier we said that this work is personal but not private.

The journey of grace is compelling not only for us but through us, to others.

We are afforded the opportunity to join Jesus in partnership in his mission. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the ways in which this journey will fill our lives with meaning and purpose.

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return.

The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.

All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.

In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And so we pray:

The minister may offer a prayer of confession and supplication, concluding with the following prayer of consecration:

Holy God,

We gather at this, your table, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who by your Spirit was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, set at liberty those who are oppressed. Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and established the new covenant for forgiveness of sins. We live in the hope of His coming again.

On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Matthew 26:27–29, Luke 22:19)

And so, we gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these your gifts. Make them by the power of your Spirit to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood.

By your Spirit make us one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, let us pray:

(Here the congregation may pray the Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Before the partaking of the bread, let the minister say:

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

Before the partaking of the cup, let the minister say:

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.