October 2024 - What does a Disciple look like?

The last three Sundays of September, the sermon series has focused on the theme of “Go Make Disciples”.  It is the commandment that Jesus gave to his original disciples following the Resurrection as he moved toward Ascension.  It is a command that if any generation of disciples of Jesus fail to do, then there will be no generations to follow.  This is the best evidence that this was not merely a command for the 11 disciples, but a command for all of us.

But what is a disciple of Jesus? 

Many years ago, many members of Unionville Church participated in Disciple Bible Study.  This Bible study was a comprehensive overview of the entire Bible across 39-weeks in its original format and in 24-weeks in a new edition released about 10 years ago built around themes of what it means to be a disciple.  Using those themes, here is a synthesis of ideas that begins to capture what it means to be a Disciple of Jesus.

“Disciples love.  Disciples experience and express freedom as loving God and loving neighbor.  They know themselves as distinctive people bearing the inner mark of character and the outer mark of compassion.  They provide a sense of direction and purpose through godly obedient leadership.

Disciples trust God with all their thoughts and feelings.  They know they belong to God, that God has claimed them.  They remain faithful to God even amid persecution and suffering.  They sense their unity with the historic people of God and live in hope with a vision of God’s kingdom.  They respond to God’s call to enter the covenant community of faith and express commitment to the covenant through the tithe.

Disciples place themselves under the power and authority of Scripture.  They accept consequences of their sin, seek forgiveness, look for healing and new opportunities for faithfulness.  They receive and trust the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ and serve out of love and gratitude.  They commit their life completely to God to serve as God wills.  They strive to live in harmony with God’s laws even though obedience is costly.  They experience the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit in their life.

Disciples use their gifts in ministry to others.  They throw their weight with God’s mission to the least, the last, and the lost.  They witness to others to lead them to Jesus Christ.”

A disciple, in the simplest form, is one who hears and obeys Jesus.  Ralph Moore defines the act of disciple-making as “an intentional friendship with another person, with Jesus at its core” (Making Disciples, Page 42).

Discipleship is a life-long journey that each of us is on.  We always have room for improvement.  We are called to have intentional friendships with others, with Jesus at the core of our friendship.  As a part of that friendship, we are both teacher and learner, co-learners together. 

Don’t go alone!  Come, journey with us!  That’s what it means to be the Church!

Blessings!

Alan

September 2024 - 100-day Bible Challenge

During July and August, we have had several small group home-based Prayer Meetings.  Prayer is an essential tool we have been given to be in communication and relationship with God and with each other.  Our goal is for those to continue in various ways as we continue to seek God’s will for Unionville Church.

Another important aspect of our journey with God is to spend time in the Scriptures.

You are invited to join me in a 100-day Bible Challenge called “The Essential 100”.  This reading plan, put together by Scripture Union, takes you through 50 Old Testament passages and 50 New Testament passages that give you the essential 100 stories that allow you to see the big picture of God’s Word.

• Find a Bible translation that is easy for you to understand.
• Set aside a special time and place to read the Bible each day.
  • PRAY: before you read, asking God to help you understand.
  • READ: the Bible passage for the day, perhaps more than once.
  • REFLECT: on the passage. Write your thoughts in a journal.
  • APPLY: what God teaches you from God’s Word to your life.
  • PRAY: again, asking God to help you live out God’s Word.

The rhythm of this reading series is as follows: 

The reading plan is set to start on October 14^th.  You will read Monday – Friday.  Saturday is your day of rest (Sabbath).  Sunday is your mini-resurrection day in which our community of faith gathers for Worship.  We will read the Old Testament readings through December which allows us to hear some of the prophecy of the coming Christ.  We read the birth narratives in the three days finishing on Christmas day.  Then we read the New Testament through January and February, finishing the last reading the week before Lent begins.

But wait, there’s more:

I’ll host a new Sunday School class in the Sanctuary beginning on Sunday, September 15^th.  The first four weeks will be a video series by Christian History Institute entitled: Discovering the Bible.  The four weeks include: 1-Getting Acquainted; 2-The Old Testament; 3-The New Testament; and 4-Survival, Spread, and Influence.

On Sunday, October 13^th, I’ll introduce the study that we will do around The Essential 100 Bible passages from Sunday, October 20^th through Sunday, March 2^nd.  Each week we will learn a little more about the context of the week’s readings as we reflect on what we learned along the way with our daily readings and how we can apply it in our lives.

I hope you will take the challenge each weekday and join me on Sundays.

Blessings!

Alan