Growing Disciples (Mark 4:26-29)

 

[Title Slide] Growing Disciples (Mark 4:26-29)

There are various quizzes online where you can find out something about yourself. For instance, which of the 100 acre wood characters are you most like? I thought I’d get Tigger, but the quiz results said I was most like Christopher Robin. I found out that the sorting hat at Hogwarts School of Magick would place me in Gryffindor House. My kids thought for sure I’d belong to Slytherin House.

 

The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.
Mark 4:28-29

[Slide] In the parable of the growing seed, Jesus tells of how the seed grows in stages. First the seed, then the sprout, then the stalk, then the head, thane the full head, then a ripe harvest. Disciples grow in stages, too. In our time this morning, I hope to offer you a way to measure your growth as a disciple of Jesus.

 

[Slide] What is a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Centenary UM Church has defined what is a disciple in your mission statement. A disciple…

1) Walks by Faith 

2) Known by Love

3) A Voice of Hope

4) Passionate about Making Disciples

 

Walking by faith implies that we trust God. Even when we can’t see where God is leading or what God is doing, we walk by faith and not by sight. We trust God in every circumstance. People of faith trust God to be working out His good purposes in the good, the bad and the ugly. (Rom 8:28)

The song Waymaker, by Leeland, has these lyrics

Even when I don't see it, You're working

Even when I don't feel it, You're working

 

A disciple walks by faith.

 

A disciple is known by love. The Great Commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus gave us the new commandment to “Love one another.” A few Sundays ago, we discussed “one anothering one another.” Church members love one another by being patient with one another, praying for one another, bearing the burdens of one another, and so on. They’ll know we’re disciples by our love.

 

A disciple is a voice of hope. People came from all over to hear Jesus teach. Jesus was teaching hope in the nearness of God’s kingdom. The good news is “God is with us!” We have all that is needed. Let go of worry. Instead, joyfully pursue the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Trust God to provide your needs. We teach hope in God’s unconditional love, his mercy and forgiveness. Nothing will keep God from loving you. We teach hope in living our best and fullest life in fellowship with Jesus. We teach hope in God’s promise to make the world new. Hope is like oxygen for the soul. A disciple is a voice of hope.

 

Where in your life do you need to trust God by continuing to walk by faith in God’s goodness and power? Who in your life needs love from you? How do others know that you are a loving person? When are you welcoming strangers, treating them as friends? Who in your network of relationships needs an encouraging word of hope?

Perhaps the most important question of all is, “Where in your life is someone supporting your journey as a disciple of Jesus?” “Who is asking the right kind of questions that nurture your growth as a follower of Jesus?”

Today I want to offer a metaphor as a sort of a self-evaluative tool. I simply call it “the ocean metaphor.” 

[Slide] Let’s go to the beach. It’s a beautiful day. The sun is warm and there’s a nice breeze. Some are combing the beach with metal detectors. Others are soaking up the sun. Some are walking along the shore, letting the surf roll over their feet. Farther out people are treading water and swimming. And farther still are surfers, catching waves and riding them to shore. You are drawn to the ocean and its mysteries. The ocean calls to you.

In this metaphor the beach is the church, the ocean is God’s endless, amazing grace. God is calling to us to go deeper into grace and further into love.

 

[Slide] According to the book Deepening Your Effectiveness, there are six stages of growth toward maturity in Christ. Each stage has a unique need which the church must meet to help disciples grow.

 

[Slide] The first stage is the beachcomber. They are not engaged in any meaningful way in the life of the church, but they are searching for something of value. They are our co-workers, friends, family and neighbors. They are people we encounter in hobby groups, community service organizations or special interest groups. As they pass by a church building, they may wonder, “Is this for real?” “Is there anything truly meaningful for me and my life in that church?” A personal invitation from a trusted Christian friend is what is needed at this stage.

[Slide] This is why the FRAN Plan is so important to develop. Each of you knows people who have no church home. You are the trusted friend they need. Develop your list of Friends, Relatives, Associates and Neighbors and daily pray for them. Look for your opportunity to invite.

[Slide] At the 2nd stage of growth is the sunbather. The sunbather loves to soak up the warmth of God’s love. They aren’t regular attenders, but when the world gets a bit cold, they like to wander in and work on their spiritual tan. The sunbather needs authentic hospitality from the church.

 

When Abraham saw three strangers approaching his tents, he ran to them and greeted them respectfully. He encouraged them to rest and gave them food and drink. Help visitors and guests to feel at home. Show them where to hang their coats. Make them familiar with the location of the restrooms and childcare. Introduce them to others.

Ask them to share about themselves. Remember FORD. [Slide] Show interest in their family, occupation, recreation, and dreams. I often begin a conversation by inviting a person to tell me about themselves. I ask them to tell me about their family. I ask what they do for a living. I ask, “What do you do for fun?” And “What are you looking forward to?”

 

[Slide] When people encounter this church, they ought to walk away knowing they can make friends here. When the sunbather discovers there truly is something of value here in church, they ask themselves, “What am I going to do about this?”

 

[Slide] The 3rd stage of growth as a disciple are Waders. They have learned that church is more than a one hour worship experience on a Sunday. Church is a community of faith, a family of Jesus followers. They are ready to test the waters and get involved in life beyond the pew. The question that drives them is, “How can I help?” which is really a way of saying, “Where do I fit in?” These folks need solid biblical teaching, and a small group that helps them build meaningful connections with others in the church.

[Slide] The 4th stage of a disciple’s growth are the Treaders. This is a difficult stage. Treading water gets tiresome and it’s a bit frightening to no longer be touching bottom.  They’ve done the rounds, the committee volunteering, the soup kitchens, and paper drives, and they feel a bit disillusioned. The question that is driving them is, “Is this all there is?”

 

The need to grow deeper in connection to Christ will give a disciple a certain level of anxiety.  Church committees, pitch-ins and service projects were fun, but now there’s just something missing. If we aren’t careful at this stage, we can begin to look for someone to blame. Disciples at this stage will sometimes withdraw, going back to shallow waters. They may return to the beach with sunbathers and beachcombers. These are church hoppers and the MIA.

 

Most church members think of discipleship in terms of church activity. But activity alone doesn’t lead to a deep, rich and rewarding relationship with Jesus. God calls us deeper.  If we don’t get the guidance and support we need, we give up on growth and just sit back in a comfortable chair and let the opportunity pass. Treaders experience a kind of mid-life crisis. The big danger is looking for satisfaction in the wrong places. Buying a sports car or changing partners is not going to fix it.

What treaders need is to be mentored in a small group with strong Christian leadership. The group will invite them to face their anxieties and join them in moving deeper into the ocean of God’s mysterious grace.

 

[Slide] The 5th stage of growth are the Swimmers – Swimmers push past the breaking waves of disillusion and go further into God’s love.  They discover there so much more to this life of faith than they ever dreamed. It’s falling in love with Jesus all over again in a deeper and more profound way. The chief question that drives the swimmer is, “Where has this been all my life?” 

Swimmers are ready to serve in ways true to their calling in Christ. They are aware of their giftedness and are using their gifts to serve others. They are getting clear about their calling as a disciple of Jesus. They are ready to impact the world for Christ.

Swimmers will continue to experience the ups and downs of life, but there is a new and powerful confidence keeping them afloat. There is no turning back now. The only way they might fail to mature as disciples is if something causes them to doubt God’s goodness.  Should they misinterpret suffering, they may fall away and not bear fruit. What they need is mentoring to help them through times of doubt.

 

[Slide] Finally the 6th stage is the Surfers –  You will recognize mature disciples. They are out there trying to become one with the wave, that is with God’s Spirit. They are leaders, teachers, pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. None of them are perfect. They wipe out. They miss the wave sometimes. They have weaknesses just like everybody else. But they are totally committed to the Lord. The question that drives them is, “What do you want me to do for you now, Lord?”

 

 

 

When a disciple is at this stage we call it mature discipleship. They are no longer asking, “What about me?” They are about Christ’s mission to make disciples and save the world. They are willing to sacrifice and bear difficulties in order to follow Christ in ministry. They are in a different place than most Christians. That can be a lonely place.

What Surfers need is another mature disciple to hold them accountable. Meeting regularly to share the journey keeps a mature disciple grounded. Another important need at this stage is to share with others what they have learned. Surfers need to disciple other disciples. The surfer rides the power of the wave back to shore where they encounter beachcombers, sunbathers, waders and treaders and swimmers. And they tell them, “Dude! You got to check out Jesus! He’s awesome!”

 

[Slide] This is only a metaphor to help you discover your stage of growth. What is the chief question driving you? Are you cynical like a beachcomber searching for something of value, wondering if this church stuff is real? Are you curious, like a sunbather wondering what you’re going to do about this thing we call church? Are you getting your feet wet in the community of faith, moving into life beyond the pew? Are you in that anxious place between going deeper in your commitment to Christ and the lure of running back to the safety of the beach? Are you pushing past your doubts, dissatisfaction and fears and swimming deeper into God’s ocean of grace? Do you feel alone as a fully committed follower of Jesus and looking for a likeminded disciple to walk with you?

 

 

 

[Slide] None of us has the power to make anyone grow as a disciple. Just as the farmer plants the seed, he cannot make it grow and bear a harvest. That is for the invisible and powerful hand of God. All we can do is create an environment that enables growth. It takes good soil, well-watered and filled with nutrients. It takes the light of the world shining on our souls. And it takes helpful hands tending the garden. I’ve had many helpful hands tend to my soul in my journey toward maturity in Christ and I am grateful for each and every one of them. Be that person for someone. Be those helping hands that care for the garden of souls.