On Being a Disciple—The Cycle of Spiritual Maturity
Colossians 1:9-12
John emphasized three attributes a disciple of Jesus is required to demonstrate: (1) abide in His word; (2) have love for one another; and (3) bear much fruit. Hopefully, each one of us can look into our lives (or have people we trust who will provide a spiritual mirror) and honestly evaluate how we are doing in these three foundational areas. However, how do we grow to become true disciples if we find ourselves deficient? Is there a process we can follow that will move individuals and a whole church family towards spiritual maturity and better service in the Kingdom of God? This is a question the elders and ministers have been wrestling with for several months as we have sought the direction of God to help this church family become all He has called us to be as ambassadors for His Kingdom.
Interestingly, Paul provides a prayer in the letter to the Colossians that shows his insight into the process of developing spiritual maturity. (Please read Colossians 1:9-12 before moving on with this article.) What we find in this prayer is what I will refer to as the Cycle of Spiritual Maturity. It is a prayer Paul has for the Colossian believers to grow in their understanding of Jesus and His ways, and the fruit that should come about as a result. Understand that Paul is writing to a body of believers he has not met (like us!) and he is trying to spur them on in their faith walk so they do not settle for a watered down version of discipleship and trust in Jesus. He will challenge them through the rest of the letter to avoid mixing faith in Jesus with empty philosophies and legalistic practices. Where he begins is a process that we at Garden Ridge need to consider carefully and weigh all our ministries and activities against to see if they are helping us or hindering us from becoming spiritually mature disciples. Activity, even spiritual activity, does not necessarily lead to spiritual maturity.
Paul begins with praying for the believers at Colossae to “be filled with the knowledge of His will.” Knowing God and His will provides the spiritual map everything else must follow in order to be pleasing to Him and true to His nature. However, knowledge of God’s will is not enough! It should produce spiritual wisdom and understanding (as Paul next prays for) so we can evaluate the things we face in this life according to His nature and will. Wisdom is the application of knowledge to everyday life situations. Understanding shows we grasp how the things we face in this world are really under the influence of God and His will. Having knowledge is a foundational start, but Paul’s prayer is for much more than knowledge! Can we apply that knowledge and demonstrate wisdom and understanding?
This leads Paul to pray for what the next step would be—(knowledge, wisdom and understanding become a part of who we are at our core)—Our Walk! As we learn to evaluate all of life through the eyes of God’s will, we develop disciplines and habits in our lives that constitute our WALK. However, even when His will becomes part of our core being, we have not arrived! He continues on with his prayer to call them to go another step forward by Bearing Fruit. In other words, this is a process meant to be shared. It is meant to influence others to draw them to a right relationship with Him.
The cycle then comes full circle (hence the term, cycle) by resulting in an “increase in the knowledge of God”. As one experiences the will of God in their daily life, through their walk, and in producing a harvest of good fruit, they learn about God at a deeper level and are pulled into the cycle at a deeper level. The beauty of this is that we never stop growing!
Over the next several weeks I will take each stage in this cycle and develop thoughts about them more completely so we can see how beautiful and powerful Paul’s prayer truly is. In the mean time, let us be praying that God will lead us to growth through the Cycle of Spiritual Maturity.
-Scott
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Bear Much Fruit
The Characteristics of a Disciple:
Attribute #3: Bear Much Fruit
Does your life have purpose? It is supposed to! For instance, both the Old and New Testaments have imagery of God planting a vineyard and expecting a harvest of fruit. One example is found in Isaiah 5:1-7. This passage begins as a love song in which a vineyard is planted and cared for in numerous ways. Fertile soil on a hillside was chosen; the ground was dug up and stones were removed; choice vines were chosen to provide a good crop; a wall and tower were built to protect the crop; and then a wine press was built for once the crop was harvested. However, the song quickly changes tone. Instead of yielding a crop of good grapes, it only produces bad fruit! God’s response was to remove His protection and care. He was looking for a harvest of righteousness and justice, but that is not what He found. The rest of the chapter goes on to explain why there was no fruit—6 “Woe Oracles” were pronounced showing areas that needed to be pruned (or cleaned up) before the vine would be able to produce.
Interestingly, John uses the same imagery as he teaches about the third attribute of a disciple in John 15:8: Bear Much Fruit. He begins in V. 1 by referring to Himself as the true vine and then teaches about the pruning (or cleansing) the branches (us) need to go through in order to produce fruit. What is different about this picture is that Jesus is the VINE and His followers are branches that come from the vine. In other words, the fruit is guaranteed to be a good crop as long as we abide in the vine!!! God created us to produce fruit for His kingdom but we are not responsible for making the fruit happen—only for staying true to the VINE and allowing the VINEDRESSER (GOD) to prune away the tangles and other areas where we will hinder our growth.
Perhaps, that is the struggle with this third attribute—letting God prune us! However, no vine will produce great fruit without pruning. Otherwise, the nutrients and energy are used producing branches and leaves, instead of fruit. The vine might get big, but its produce will be small. (Unfortunately, this sounds like a description of some people’s lives and even of some church work.) Abiding in the Word (who also happens to be the Vine) and loving one another is not our purpose—bearing fruit is! However, it is through abiding in the Word and loving one another that we are pruned by God and become productive. The bottom line is: God wants you to produce fruit!
Consider one last story to see how serious this is to Him: Why do you suppose Jesus reacted to the barren fig tree He encountered on His way into Jerusalem at the end of His ministry the way He did? Do you know the story I am referring to in Mark 11:12-14? He was hungry as He traveled from Bethany to Jerusalem and came upon a fig tree that was green with leaves but had no fruit on it. He cursed it saying, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and it withered and died. What is astounding is that Mark also happens to mention that it was not the season for figs! That’s right!—Jesus killed a fig tree for not having figs on it when it was not the season for figs! Why would He do such a thing? He was making a point! We are supposed to produce fruit in season and out of season. We cannot look like we are healthy and green but have no fruit. That tree is worthless and Jesus will wind up cursing it!
So, how are we doing, Church? Would Jesus be pleased and would He call us His disciples?
-Scott
Attribute #3: Bear Much Fruit
Does your life have purpose? It is supposed to! For instance, both the Old and New Testaments have imagery of God planting a vineyard and expecting a harvest of fruit. One example is found in Isaiah 5:1-7. This passage begins as a love song in which a vineyard is planted and cared for in numerous ways. Fertile soil on a hillside was chosen; the ground was dug up and stones were removed; choice vines were chosen to provide a good crop; a wall and tower were built to protect the crop; and then a wine press was built for once the crop was harvested. However, the song quickly changes tone. Instead of yielding a crop of good grapes, it only produces bad fruit! God’s response was to remove His protection and care. He was looking for a harvest of righteousness and justice, but that is not what He found. The rest of the chapter goes on to explain why there was no fruit—6 “Woe Oracles” were pronounced showing areas that needed to be pruned (or cleaned up) before the vine would be able to produce.
Interestingly, John uses the same imagery as he teaches about the third attribute of a disciple in John 15:8: Bear Much Fruit. He begins in V. 1 by referring to Himself as the true vine and then teaches about the pruning (or cleansing) the branches (us) need to go through in order to produce fruit. What is different about this picture is that Jesus is the VINE and His followers are branches that come from the vine. In other words, the fruit is guaranteed to be a good crop as long as we abide in the vine!!! God created us to produce fruit for His kingdom but we are not responsible for making the fruit happen—only for staying true to the VINE and allowing the VINEDRESSER (GOD) to prune away the tangles and other areas where we will hinder our growth.
Perhaps, that is the struggle with this third attribute—letting God prune us! However, no vine will produce great fruit without pruning. Otherwise, the nutrients and energy are used producing branches and leaves, instead of fruit. The vine might get big, but its produce will be small. (Unfortunately, this sounds like a description of some people’s lives and even of some church work.) Abiding in the Word (who also happens to be the Vine) and loving one another is not our purpose—bearing fruit is! However, it is through abiding in the Word and loving one another that we are pruned by God and become productive. The bottom line is: God wants you to produce fruit!
Consider one last story to see how serious this is to Him: Why do you suppose Jesus reacted to the barren fig tree He encountered on His way into Jerusalem at the end of His ministry the way He did? Do you know the story I am referring to in Mark 11:12-14? He was hungry as He traveled from Bethany to Jerusalem and came upon a fig tree that was green with leaves but had no fruit on it. He cursed it saying, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and it withered and died. What is astounding is that Mark also happens to mention that it was not the season for figs! That’s right!—Jesus killed a fig tree for not having figs on it when it was not the season for figs! Why would He do such a thing? He was making a point! We are supposed to produce fruit in season and out of season. We cannot look like we are healthy and green but have no fruit. That tree is worthless and Jesus will wind up cursing it!
So, how are we doing, Church? Would Jesus be pleased and would He call us His disciples?
-Scott
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Love for One Another
The Characteristics of a Disciple:
Attribute #2: Love for One Another
It is incredible what people are capable of doing “in the name of God” in order to police His church and stand in His name! For instance, over the past two months there have been two full-page ads taken out in The Oklahoman newspaper denouncing a particular Church of Christ in Oklahoma for their decision to add a contemporary worship service in which musical instruments are employed. Now, people may not agree on the right or authority to use instrumental music during a worship service, but could we at least agree that running a full-page ad in a public forum is not the most loving way to deal with one another? (Besides the fact that each ad cost $11,000 and was sponsored by individuals who do not even live in the same town as the congregation in question.) Seriously, if your neighbor had something against you, would you want them to put up a billboard in town to advertise your offense, or just come talk to you?
What are we advertising by the way we deal with one another? Are we showing we are part of something those without hope want to be part of because of how we stand with one another and bless one another? Or, do those looking in figure they get beaten up enough by the ways of the world and have no time or energy to have to deal with it in their religion as well?
Some of the danger of living in a culture in which we emphasize our “rights” and “freedom of speech” is that we become insensitive to others because we are focused on ourselves. However, Jesus clearly called us to a different level in our relationships. John 13:34-35 states: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” He said this in the context of just having finished washing the feet of His disciples! Imagine that—a Rabbi washing the feet of His own students. There is no place in any literature from the time of Jesus or before, except John 13, where an account of a Rabbi serving in this manner is recorded.
And how do you suppose Jesus handled the task of washing the feet of Judas, who would soon after betray Him? Apparently it was with tenderness and care, because when Jesus states that one would soon betray Him, the disciples began looking at one another at a loss to know who He was talking about (John 13:21-22).
The same is true of the cross! Do you understand that Jesus died for all the sin of the world? All the sin!!! He died for those who will never accept Him! He died for those who will try to use Him and His Father for their own gain! He paid the price for all sin, setting an example of what this new commandment of love should look like. Does this advertisement by Jesus look a little different than the one mentioned in the 1st paragraph?
Abiding in the word (the 1st attribute we looked at 2 weeks ago) sets the foundation for the disciple. Loving one another helps this first attribute of a disciple be about relationship with a living God and His creation rather than a checklist of rules and regulations. It puts the heart into our “religious” experience with God and His people. It makes following the letter of the Law more about caring for the souls of people than just being “right with God”. Besides, how can you be “right with God” if you don’t care about the souls of people?
-Scott
Attribute #2: Love for One Another
It is incredible what people are capable of doing “in the name of God” in order to police His church and stand in His name! For instance, over the past two months there have been two full-page ads taken out in The Oklahoman newspaper denouncing a particular Church of Christ in Oklahoma for their decision to add a contemporary worship service in which musical instruments are employed. Now, people may not agree on the right or authority to use instrumental music during a worship service, but could we at least agree that running a full-page ad in a public forum is not the most loving way to deal with one another? (Besides the fact that each ad cost $11,000 and was sponsored by individuals who do not even live in the same town as the congregation in question.) Seriously, if your neighbor had something against you, would you want them to put up a billboard in town to advertise your offense, or just come talk to you?
What are we advertising by the way we deal with one another? Are we showing we are part of something those without hope want to be part of because of how we stand with one another and bless one another? Or, do those looking in figure they get beaten up enough by the ways of the world and have no time or energy to have to deal with it in their religion as well?
Some of the danger of living in a culture in which we emphasize our “rights” and “freedom of speech” is that we become insensitive to others because we are focused on ourselves. However, Jesus clearly called us to a different level in our relationships. John 13:34-35 states: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” He said this in the context of just having finished washing the feet of His disciples! Imagine that—a Rabbi washing the feet of His own students. There is no place in any literature from the time of Jesus or before, except John 13, where an account of a Rabbi serving in this manner is recorded.
And how do you suppose Jesus handled the task of washing the feet of Judas, who would soon after betray Him? Apparently it was with tenderness and care, because when Jesus states that one would soon betray Him, the disciples began looking at one another at a loss to know who He was talking about (John 13:21-22).
The same is true of the cross! Do you understand that Jesus died for all the sin of the world? All the sin!!! He died for those who will never accept Him! He died for those who will try to use Him and His Father for their own gain! He paid the price for all sin, setting an example of what this new commandment of love should look like. Does this advertisement by Jesus look a little different than the one mentioned in the 1st paragraph?
Abiding in the word (the 1st attribute we looked at 2 weeks ago) sets the foundation for the disciple. Loving one another helps this first attribute of a disciple be about relationship with a living God and His creation rather than a checklist of rules and regulations. It puts the heart into our “religious” experience with God and His people. It makes following the letter of the Law more about caring for the souls of people than just being “right with God”. Besides, how can you be “right with God” if you don’t care about the souls of people?
-Scott
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