A Path to Follow
Mark 3:1-18
The opening of Mark's Gospel is the story of Jesus' baptism. Within this story comes a remarkable revelation of a pattern by which we within the church of Jesus can help others become followers of Christ. While I do not believe there is such a thing as a formula for making followers of Jesus, something like Ten Simple Steps of Discipling, I do think there is a path revealed in this text that is well worth modeling in our congregational life.
REPENT
Well, gee...first word, and I've already lost my audience....
I want to reclaim the central word in the Baptist's preaching...repent. It's truest meaning is not to fall into abject self-abnegation, but to simply reflect on where you're going and how you're getting there. If it's not working, not leading anywhere, or bringing any sense of fulfillment, turn around.
In church, though, we tend to stick to the way we've done things. We name it tradition, but often, it is simply habit. We do things the way we do them because we know that way. We will stick with it even if it doesn't seem to be garnering any progress because it's easier than learning a new way of being.
Repent. Turn around. Reflect.
God wants more than a habit. We need more than rote patterns. To find God, turn around.
WELCOME
Mark makes it clear that John welcomed anybody who came out to the river, including Jesus, one whom John thought he had no business baptizing because of his own unworthiness. Yet, Jesus comes, and John welcomes.
We need to welcome anyone and everyone who finds their way to church. More than that, we need to go out into the world where the people are and let them know they are welcome. We do that by simple acts of kindness, care and compassion as we make our way. We do that when we engage with the world in a way of Jesus. I think of Grace Church in our Presbytery that goes to the farmer's market to exchange EBT payments for scrip usable within the marker, feeding the hungry in a simple act.
COMMUNICATE GOD'S LOVE FOR EACH PERSON
The first thing Jesus hears as he rises from the water is God's affirmation that he is God's beloved child.
That is the first and primary act of an follower of Jesus as they encounter any other person. Begin by letting them know they are a beloved child of God. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. In the midst of conflict, try and stop to remember with whom you are arguing--a fellow unique act of God's creative will--a child formed in love. Be creative. Find any number of ways to let someone else know how special they are as a child of God.
KNOW GOD HAS SOMETHING IN MIND FOR EACH PERSON AND OUR COLLECTED COMMUNITIES
In the story, God tells Jesus that God is pleased with him. Beyond affirmation, I think God is also saying, You have what I need to do what I need done.
Most of us have a favorite pair of shoes. They fit better. They wear better. They make us all bouncy as we walk. They've shaped to our feet. We are pleased with them because they are shoes better than other shoes we have worn.
God sees the potential in each of us. God sees the promise in our bringing together our potential as a community. God is pleased to find us ready and willing to meet our potential. We come to faith, perhaps selfishly, looking for an answer, for hope, or for understanding. What happens, though, is the potential in faith is only realized that faith is communal--meant to be shared in working together to realize the promises of God for us and the world.
THE WILDERNESS
Now the hard part--we can't just sit still. We can't simply come and fill a pew once a week. There is a world around us that needs grace, compassion, and mercy. It reminds us of its need daily with the person clutching a sign for food in an intersection. It reminds us of its need in the pictures of children ravaged by war.
Jesus is immediately sent to the wilderness after being told he was God's beloved child and the object of God's good pleasure. That sort of feels like winning the lottery, then having a couple agents meet you with the tax bill and the news that the money has already been designated for use--you just get to write the checks.
But the paradox of faith is that it is the wilderness that its joy fully and completely manifests.
A doctor grew frustrated with the practice of medicine in our world. Fifteen minute consults, four per hour, 32 per day, day in, day out, to meet the billable hours quotas required by the practice. No joy, warmth, or real promise. Just fill the form, get the meds, "NEXT!" Then, on a whim, she decided to go to Haiti on a mission trip. This was way out of her comfort zone. But each face burst into warmth when she met them, talked with them, discussed diagnostics, then treatment. Real human interaction without mandated time constraints. Real service. Real medicine.
Joy is not bliss--a tranquilized smile from simple gushes of pleasure. Joy is settled contentment in knowing you are doing exactly what it is that you need to do to fulfill who you are--i.e., shalom. That often comes in doing the hardest work we have ever done.
That is the goal of faith. Self-emptying to find the deepest meaning in being human.
*********************
So, there it is--a path of ministry that creates followers of Jesus--
REPENT
WELCOME
LOVE
CALLING
SERVING
(repeat)
Let's see where this gets us...
The opening of Mark's Gospel is the story of Jesus' baptism. Within this story comes a remarkable revelation of a pattern by which we within the church of Jesus can help others become followers of Christ. While I do not believe there is such a thing as a formula for making followers of Jesus, something like Ten Simple Steps of Discipling, I do think there is a path revealed in this text that is well worth modeling in our congregational life.
REPENT
Well, gee...first word, and I've already lost my audience....
I want to reclaim the central word in the Baptist's preaching...repent. It's truest meaning is not to fall into abject self-abnegation, but to simply reflect on where you're going and how you're getting there. If it's not working, not leading anywhere, or bringing any sense of fulfillment, turn around.
In church, though, we tend to stick to the way we've done things. We name it tradition, but often, it is simply habit. We do things the way we do them because we know that way. We will stick with it even if it doesn't seem to be garnering any progress because it's easier than learning a new way of being.
Repent. Turn around. Reflect.
God wants more than a habit. We need more than rote patterns. To find God, turn around.
WELCOME
Mark makes it clear that John welcomed anybody who came out to the river, including Jesus, one whom John thought he had no business baptizing because of his own unworthiness. Yet, Jesus comes, and John welcomes.
We need to welcome anyone and everyone who finds their way to church. More than that, we need to go out into the world where the people are and let them know they are welcome. We do that by simple acts of kindness, care and compassion as we make our way. We do that when we engage with the world in a way of Jesus. I think of Grace Church in our Presbytery that goes to the farmer's market to exchange EBT payments for scrip usable within the marker, feeding the hungry in a simple act.
COMMUNICATE GOD'S LOVE FOR EACH PERSON
The first thing Jesus hears as he rises from the water is God's affirmation that he is God's beloved child.
That is the first and primary act of an follower of Jesus as they encounter any other person. Begin by letting them know they are a beloved child of God. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. In the midst of conflict, try and stop to remember with whom you are arguing--a fellow unique act of God's creative will--a child formed in love. Be creative. Find any number of ways to let someone else know how special they are as a child of God.
KNOW GOD HAS SOMETHING IN MIND FOR EACH PERSON AND OUR COLLECTED COMMUNITIES
In the story, God tells Jesus that God is pleased with him. Beyond affirmation, I think God is also saying, You have what I need to do what I need done.
Most of us have a favorite pair of shoes. They fit better. They wear better. They make us all bouncy as we walk. They've shaped to our feet. We are pleased with them because they are shoes better than other shoes we have worn.
God sees the potential in each of us. God sees the promise in our bringing together our potential as a community. God is pleased to find us ready and willing to meet our potential. We come to faith, perhaps selfishly, looking for an answer, for hope, or for understanding. What happens, though, is the potential in faith is only realized that faith is communal--meant to be shared in working together to realize the promises of God for us and the world.
THE WILDERNESS
Now the hard part--we can't just sit still. We can't simply come and fill a pew once a week. There is a world around us that needs grace, compassion, and mercy. It reminds us of its need daily with the person clutching a sign for food in an intersection. It reminds us of its need in the pictures of children ravaged by war.
Jesus is immediately sent to the wilderness after being told he was God's beloved child and the object of God's good pleasure. That sort of feels like winning the lottery, then having a couple agents meet you with the tax bill and the news that the money has already been designated for use--you just get to write the checks.
But the paradox of faith is that it is the wilderness that its joy fully and completely manifests.
A doctor grew frustrated with the practice of medicine in our world. Fifteen minute consults, four per hour, 32 per day, day in, day out, to meet the billable hours quotas required by the practice. No joy, warmth, or real promise. Just fill the form, get the meds, "NEXT!" Then, on a whim, she decided to go to Haiti on a mission trip. This was way out of her comfort zone. But each face burst into warmth when she met them, talked with them, discussed diagnostics, then treatment. Real human interaction without mandated time constraints. Real service. Real medicine.
Joy is not bliss--a tranquilized smile from simple gushes of pleasure. Joy is settled contentment in knowing you are doing exactly what it is that you need to do to fulfill who you are--i.e., shalom. That often comes in doing the hardest work we have ever done.
That is the goal of faith. Self-emptying to find the deepest meaning in being human.
*********************
So, there it is--a path of ministry that creates followers of Jesus--
REPENT
WELCOME
LOVE
CALLING
SERVING
(repeat)
Let's see where this gets us...
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