Two unrelated events this week worked together to teach me valuable lessons about being and making disciples.
First: Fifty pastors from around our district participated in our fifth annual clergy retreat. For approximately 24 hours we joined together in fellowship, meals, worship, prayer and study. The central question of our retreat: How do we face the stark reality that many of our churches are declining? We have two choices: 1. Continue our decline. 2. Get better at making disciples.
"How we can work together as leaders and churches to get better at making disciples?"
Jesus said: "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (Mat. 22:37-40)
As disciples of Jesus Christ, how can we better love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our souls and with all our minds? How can we learn to love our neighbor as ourselves?
Interestingly enough, the lesson was not that we found answers to these two questions. The lesson and miracle of the retreat was in our recognition that we need each other as we continually work together to learn how to better love the Lord our God and love our neighbor.
Our covenant to work together as pastors and churches will shape our future as disciples of Jesus Christ.
A pastor wrote; "You changed the conversation on our district; forced persons out of denial regarding the state of our Church (which has been with us since the early 60's) and to think about fundamental charge; and moved pastors toward community which hasn't generally happened over my lifetime."
Second: Several days later, I attended a service of Celebration for our new Bishop: Young Jin Cho. Bishop Cho modeled his intention to be a servant leader. The worship service itself was beautiful and inspiring but in the midst of the service Bishop Cho taught us all a valuable lesson.
Bishop Cho's first act as Bishop was to bring a child before us and place her in a chair. He then took a bowl of water and in front of the leadership of our conference began to wash her feet. In this act of servant leadership, Bishop Cho demonstrated how we too are to be leaders of our churches.
Bishop Cho humbly and powerfully demonstrated the meaning of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself."
Bishop Cho then said, "It will not be possible to have vitality as individuals or become vital congregations unless we first make Jesus Christ the Lord of our life. We must commit ourselves to spending time with God. Before we answer our emails, before we go on the internet, before we watch TV, we must first learn to open our hearts to Jesus Christ in prayer."
Bishop Cho's demonstration of humility and servant leadership will shape our future as leaders and disciples within God's church.
Two lessons in modeling what Jesus taught: "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (Mat. 22:37-40
Questions for taking this Message Farther:
- What is the difference between a member of a church and a disciple of Jesus?
- What can you become more of a disciple?
- Do you know anyone who struggles with issues of trust and faith?
- How can your church create a culture of encouragement and listening?
- How can we be more authentic with each other in sharing our faith?
- How are you sharing your faith at work, on Facebook or in your Tweets?
