Discipleship

Disciple - One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.

So, discipleship would be putting on my "Jill Suit" that is all filled-up with Jesus inside and being out in the mess of the world and spreading Jesus's teachings all over where-ever I can.

How about if I use the Sermon on the Mount as a good overview of Jesus's teachings? We are currently studying this in Sunday School, so it is fresh material for me.

First there are the Beatitudes.

Then the salt and the light - we are to be both. In this mess of a world, we are to stand out as different. Salt makes all the difference to a food dish. Light make all the difference in a house at night. We are to be the same. We are to make a difference in the lives around us!

We are to be above the law - not that it can't touch us, but that we are better than that! We are called not only to no murder, but to not to hold on to anger for each other! We are called no only to not commit adultery, but to not even look and think unholy thoughts about another! It goes on and on from there!

After all the 'more than that' stuff, Jesus goes on to tell us how to treat each other - and the basic, underlying theme is to love God and love each other. (I do believe I have heard something about that in the Bible somewhere else! LOL) We are to take care of the needy, we are not to judge others, we are to spend time in prayer and fasting, and just in general, keep our eyes on God and love on those around us.

I don't read in this sermon that we are to hold classes. I don't read that Sunday School is a necessary part. Don't get me wrong - I believe very strongly in Sunday School-type class time, but I don't believe they are the end-all. In fact, I believe they are the 'get there eventually' part.

It doesn't start in the church building.

It starts in the world.

Here is an example: Two years ago Bethany invited a friend from school to come spend the night - Indra. I picked her up and we began seeing her regularly. The next year came around and I found myself working with her little brother. One weekend Indra's siblings (3 of them) came with her to the house and Caleb fell in love with Jacob. Jacob became the 'bee's knees' to Caleb and he STILL talks about him often to me. Through these relationships we began to strategically invite the kids over to the house on Saturday nights so that they would come to church on Sundays. Now, 2 1/2 years later, we see them regularly on Sundays and often on Wednesdays and their mom is coming too! All because Beth invited a friend over to spend the night!

It will take some more time to change these lives, but God is leading us in the way to go. Every day is different and challenging, but God has blessed our efforts and will continue to do so. Not once have I sat down and given Anika (mom) a Bible lesson. Not once have I sat the kids down in my house to line out a class, but they have learned a lot from just being with us - they have learned more about love and family and friendship. These are concepts they will continue to build on through the years and they can draw upon as they sit through classes at church - but these 'non-lessons' are just as important as the others! These 'non-lessons' are just as much about discipleship as classroom time. Being an example of living out the love of Christ is as much of a discipleship course as there can be.

I heard it said just this week that it is difficult to call our Wednesday night preschool group as part of the discipleship of the church and it really sat poorly on my heart - just because the main point of that group is to love them does not mean they are not being discipled! They are learning how to get along with each other in a godly way. They are feeling the love of their teacher regularly. They are getting a Bible story in the night - it just isn't the main purpose of their meeting!

I really wish everyone could understand.

I really wish everyone could see.

I really wish... well, I wish a lot of things. I will continue to pray.