GOING - 4 fields/4 bases/4 stages/5 touch stones of fruitful discipleship/kingdom ministry

GOING - 4 fields/bases/stages - 5 touch stones of fruitful discipleship & kingdom ministry

All of us, or least most of us long to leave a lasting legacy. For those who don’t , please humor me :-)

For those of us who have that longing and prayer, we must define what kind of legacy we want to entrust to others and how that might be self-perpetuate.

Understanding the laws of thermodyndamics, most of us comprehend that without some outside source of energy, whatever we leave behind, will ultimately dissipate.

That is true for everything except the Gospel, which is empowered by the Holy Spirit (Act 1:8) even those are who believe (Acts 2:37) - Matt 28:18-20

The lasting, self-perpetuating legacy that Jesus left His disciples included a discipleship pattern and examples of this self-perpetuation/self propagation, which Jesus expected and commanded.

Having said, if we were to ask each to define Christ’s discipleship and what He commanded His disciples to do, our responses would be very interesting.

The majority of those responding would suggest that the following are very important when considering a church.

How and what they say about themselves in print & electronically:

Print - quality, design, content, intended readers

Electronic - website, face book , twitter & other electronic media - a means to what end?

Building, landscaping, signage, parking - for those who do not drive electronically

Is it maintained & inviting?

Is it busy and being used by many?

For those enter:

Are the facilities clean, bright, warm and inviting?

Are the people my age and welcoming or busy with each others?

Are there greeter? Are health and care protocols in place so that I and those with me feel safe?

Were there those who an interest in me?

During the meeting, worship service or whatever:

Do the others attending seem engaged - Bibles, singing & participation?

Singing, prayer, sermon.

Does what takes place also engage me as a first timer?

Are real issues and needs being addressed?

Very few of us would deny that these issues are weighed by most of those considering a church. But should they be at the top of all of our lists?

While I would never deny those items are worthy of consideration, I would suggest there are 4 areas of ministry focus, all of which or more important and when comprehensively addressed will also insure the above needs are also addressed.

I am sure that we all acknowledge that these 4 are important. But they are most important because a few of a agree them to be important. They are important because Christ’s ministry repeatedly touched these 4 bases and taught his disciples to do the same.

There are 4 bases that Christ would have us keep in mind .

GOING - Lk 10:1-10; 4:43; Matt 4:23-25; 24:14; Acts 1:8 - with a purpose

Going was an integral part of how Christ carried on ministry and by that taught and commanded His disciple to carry on ministry.

It was an assumed as a basis for what we call the great commission. Going, make disciple …

Jesus modelled and commanded “going” with the assumption that we would also understand that “going” continues to be integral to serving our Lord.

One of the many Scripture portions that underscore that our Lord expects us to be going is Lk 10:1-12 - the sending out of the 72 others. By this Christ not only stressed the importance of going for the core 12 but also for the 72 others and all of others including us.

With our Scriptures open at Lk 10:1, let’s allow what Luke recorded early with regard to how important Christ said going was.

Luke 4:42–44 ESV

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

READ Lk 10:1-11

After this - 10:1 - reminds us that these events have an immediate context. It was after the events in the context that Jesus sent out the 72

Jesus’ teaching re “Take up your cross and follow me.”

Luke 9:23–27 ESV

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”