Relationships Take Time

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Think about your best friend, or about a best friend you had while growing up. Why is (or was) that person your best friend?

How do you develop stronger friendships with others now?

And here’s the big question: How can you develop a stronger friendship with Jesus? How is the way you approach Jesus like (or unlike) how you approach your earthly friendships?

Jesus is our Lord and Savior—of course we’re going to act a little differently around Him! But Jesus also calls us his friends (John 15:13-15), and that’s not something we should take lightly either. Jesus is going to be there for us, no matter what we’re thinking or feeling, and He wants us to be with Him, too. That’s a pretty mind-blowing concept, but it’s true.

Therefore, if we’re going to grow in a healthy relationship with Jesus, we’re going to need to spend quality time with Him. It’s hard to love—let alone follow—someone you don’t even know. A.W. Tozer put it this way, “True Christian experience must always include a genuine encounter with God. Without this, religion is but a shadow, a reflection of reality, a cheap copy of an original…The spiritual giants of old were men who at some time became acutely conscious of the real Presence of God.”

When have you been “acutely conscious” of God’s presence in your life? Think about the times you’ve encountered Jesus—during a retreat, in the midst of a crisis, or maybe even when you least expected it. Where or when do you tend to feel closest to Jesus? Why are those times or places more special? And when do you feel furthest away?

It’s not always easy to drop what we’re doing so we can have times of refreshing with Jesus. Some of us feel guilty about not giving our human obligations top priority; we may feel we’re letting others down. A lot of us feel rushed and don’t think we can get into “the right frame of mind” to “be” with Jesus. Some of us may even wonder whether we’re wasting our time by doing what, humanly speaking, is… nothing, with Jesus.

Here’s an exercise you can try…. well, now, actually: Find a clock with a second hand, and try to be still for exactly 97 seconds. Look up when you think 97 seconds have passed. Ready? Go.

Interesting, wasn’t it? So now, reflect on this:

• How hard was it for you to be still, for only a little more than a minute and a half? What kinds of things went through your head during that time? Why?

• Why do we seem to be able to do everything except be still? What is it about quiet or stillness that makes us so uncomfortable?

Now, get quiet again, but this time let’s focus directly on our relationships with Jesus. First, take 30 seconds or so to quietly reflect on the time you first drew close to Jesus. Starting now.

Let’s make sure we really capture the moment. Who was with you when that happened? Where were you? What were some of the sounds and smells? What were you thinking and feeling? Take another minute to replay that in your mind and heart.

Now, take another minute to quietly reflect on where you are right now in your relationship with Jesus. Think also about where you are in comparison to those first days, and why.

Finally, think about Jesus coming alongside you right now. What’s different from before? What’s better? And what do you miss from that first time you drew close to Jesus?

Make that last question something you reflect more about this week. Take the time to remember, and reignite, your first love.

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You Can’t Do It Alone

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Think about a past transition in your life such as a move, a new job or position, or a major change in your family. Who helped you most through those changes? How did that person help you?

The fact is, our lives are always changing. Part of the reason you’re reading this, hopefully, is to discover ways to make the shift from being simply a disciple of Jesus to becoming a discipler of others. You’re probably facing other transitions in life as well.

The good news is: You don’t have to face those challenges alone. And you’re not meant to. God has been growing and equipping us to share our lives in Jesus with others all along. And that cuts both ways: God still wants us to seek support from others—to share our lives in Jesus with those we trust, so they can help us move forward even as we help others.

Let’s take one more “big picture” view of the kinds of relationships every Christian needs to grow. Look at the stages of growth  described in the following passage, and what good things John has to say about each of them. Where are you at right now, and how do John’s words speak to that?

“I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his  name. I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that  you have conquered the evil one.  I have written to you, children, that  you have known the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, that  you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that  you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.”—1 John 2:12-14 (NET)

We need all kinds of people to help us grow. More mature Christians show us how to live out the things we still struggle with. They know Jesus and model Him to us. They show us, “You can do this.” Those wrestling with similar issues of faith and life help us gain new perspective and to know we’ve won the biggest battle of all even as we continue fighting the little battles together. Even those who are younger in their faith can teach us incredible things. They help us see God through fresh eyes. They remind us of things in our faith we need to never forget. And they remind us that how we help them in Jesus… matters.

I’m going to spend the rest of this post focusing on our relationships with those more mature Christians who are willing and available to help us move forward. One of the best-known examples of this would be Paul and Timothy. In Philippians 2:22, Paul takes pride in being a “father” to Timothy. So here are a few things to consider:

• Who’s been a “father” or “mother” to you—someone whose faith examples have helped you to grow?
• How do you see his or her faith reflected in you today?
• How have you been able to pass on what that person taught you to others? And if you haven’t, who could benefit from that person’s wisdom?

I’m going to ask you to do something a bit unusual now. For the next few minutes, forget everything you know about Paul and Timothy. You’ve never read anything about them. For that matter, pretend you know nothing at all about Paul except for what you’re about to read.

Ready? Let’s do this:

“I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant  man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying   is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ — and I am the worst of them! But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that  in me as the worst,Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the eternal king,  immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.”—1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NET)

So: If you were to meet Paul in person right now—based solely on what you know from the passage above—what one thing would you ask him for advice about? Why that?

Now: Who do you know, or would like to, that you’d ask those questions to in person?  What can you do to connect with that person?

Here’s another idea: It might require a bit of humility, but consider this: Which of your friends could really help you right now with the season you’re in? Begin setting a regular time to get with him or her. Don’t do this just as a social time. Confess that there’s a growth area you’re struggling with, that you’ve seen how God has worked in his or her life, and you desire his or her input to help you move forward. As tough as that admission might be, it’ll take your relationship to a whole new level if you let it.

So that’s the challenge. Open up, and prepare to be transformed. And may God’s blessings be upon you as you step out and take the risk of relationship.

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Lay Down Your “Head”: a fragment about insight

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Carl Simmons

“[H]umbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls. But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone  who gazes at his own face in a mirror. For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets  what sort of person he was.”—James 1:21-24 (NET)

We’ve all experienced that a-ha moment, when God has revealed something brand-new to us. And honestly, it’s a great feeling when the Spirit helps us to see God’s will in a new way, whether it’s revealed through the Word or circumstances or when you’re just sitting there and suddenly this revelation hits you.

But here’s what we often forget: Insight is… well, just that. It’s insight. And at the point we receive it,  that’s all it is. It’s a good thing, but it’s a comparatively small thing until we actually put it into action. We have an epiphany; we’re inspired by a book or someone’s personal story; we’re moved to tears by a thought. But that’s only a beginning. What we do with it next is what matters.

If we do nothing, the moment passes. Nothing changes. That’s one possibility, and we do it often enough. It’s a shame, but it could be worse. For instance….

If we share about this incredible thing God’s shown us and then do nothing with it, we’re like our James 1 “man in the mirror.” We’re actually worse than when we started, because we’ve taken a gift from God and made it about us. And we’ve probably primped in that mirror more than a few times. Maybe even flexed our muscles to prove to ourselves what powerful spiritual warriors we are. We’re kidding no-one, especially God.

And yet, because of this brief and so far purely mental experience, we allow ourselves to feel superior about it. If we’re not brought to a place of humility and response, we’ve actually allowed something given to us by God to be used by the enemy instead.

And that thought should stop us in our tracks and ask forgiveness right now.

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Simple Isn’t Easy… Only Worth It

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Carl Simmons

This week’s Other Voice is one I first heard a little more than 2 years ago. It still remains my favorite new book since that time, and maybe my favorite book ever in terms of making an actual connection between spiritual formation and social justice.

Christopher Heuertz. Simple Spirituality. Intro by Shane Claiborne. Softcover, 160p., $15.00. IVP.

Forgive the ho-hum-how-many-more-books-can-we-TITLE-like-this-anyway-FCOL? title. And because of that, this book didn’t look all that appealing to me either when I picked it up at National Pastors Conference in early 2009. Nonetheless, my wife Marion insisted we buy it for our daughter Amy because it had an intro from her homeboy Shane Claiborne (another better-known voice you should check out if you haven’t already — run, don’t walk, to The Irresistible Revolution).

Amy still hasn’t read this book, but I have. And suffice to say, while the common adage around our house is “Amy is her father’s daughter,” it’s probably worth remembering that the reverse is true, too, i.e., I’m my daughter’s father. In short, in God’s twisted sense of humor, I have no doubt that we did really buy this one for me.

Make no mistake: Christopher Heuertz, executive director of Word Made Flesh, is throwing down the gauntlet to the church. (See also his blog If I Blogged…. to the lower right.) But as opposed to the many books today that are long on well-placed criticisms and short on solutions (cough, cough, emergent, cough), Chris puts his money where his mouth is, working with the poorest of the poor and challenging us to get involved wherever we’re at.

So in Simple Spirituality, we get many stories of the author’s visits to the “Majority World” countries (nice turning of the term “Third World” on its ear, BTW), and his extensive work with Word Made Flesh. As Chris Heuertz tells his stories, there’s very little altruistic or noble in the accounts. Over and over, you see someone who’s broken by what he sees — and who never gets used to the suffering he encounters — and yet presses on, finding his own sanctification in it.

As Chris quotes Mother Teresa (whom both him & Shane had the opportunity to work side-by-side with at Nirmal Hriday), “The poor give us much more than we give them. They’re such strong people, living day to day with no food. and they never curse, never complain. We don’t have to give them pity or sympathy. We have so much to learn from them.” This book brings that message home over and over.

Another quote of Mother Teresa’s (in Shane’s intro) sets the tone early on, “It is very fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately it is not as fashionable to talk to the poor.” This book is filled with that “talking to.” In fact, despite the considerable work being done, more times than not we see more examples of the poor sharing their meals (if not giving them away) to Chris than the reverse. And it never fails to devastate him or me each time I read it.

And while the mission is toward the poor, it starts with the self. And that brings us to the spiritual-formation part. The overall structure of the book in fact revolves around five “simple” disciplines: Humility, Community, Simplicity, Submission, and Brokenness. And if you’ve already surmised that simple isn’t easy, you’re on the right track. This book reduced me to human rubble on a number of occasions. And hopefully that rubble can be used to build something better.

And again, this all has to start on a personal level before one can truly be of any greater use. And thus, the toughest part of all to read was this (extra emphasis mine):

“I would say that I’m a fairly transparent person. Ask me just about anything you want and I typically have no problem opening up the tender parts of my heart… But transparency isn’t vulnerability…

For me, being vulnerable is much more difficult than being transparent. I have a hard time exposing the parts of me that can be wounded. Sure, I can share my feelings with someone, but it’s tough for me to trust people with my feelings. It’s not easy for me to put my needs out there and give someone a chance to reject them. And so what I usually do is work toward transparency as a distraction from my lack of vulnerability.

There’s no submission in that. Submission is giving up oneself to the power of another; transparency isn’t an act of submission so much as it is a preemptive strike — a self-protecting attempt to keep people at a safe distance. Transparency in this way becomes an attempt to protect and control. Submission is a celebration not of insipid acquiescence but of confident surrender. Submission is an opportunity to affirm our deep trust in God by allowing God to be in control as we resist the urge to assert ourselves as God.”

Crap. (And not as in “That’s a load of….” either.)

It can be easy to read all this and walk away. I didn’t want to do that. After being crushed by this book, I wrestled with a way to get involved, somehow. Fact is, I can directly trace my reading of this book to my involvement with our local Center for Adult Learning, helping people 90% of whom are below the poverty line to get their GEDs — and truth is, I get more reward out of it than they do. It’s a long way from what Chris does, but it’s nonetheless what God’s shown me I can do. And that in itself is far more value than the cost of a book.

So now it’s your turn, before Chris’ next book comes out (he just signed a deal with Howard Books). Read Simple Spirituality. Be vulnerable. Be broken. Be transformed. And be ready for what God wants to do with that.

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The Meaning of Commitment

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Think about the last “meet-and-greet” social situation you attended. (For me, it was a men’s retreat this past weekend — I didn’t even know the other 3 guys from my church, let alone the other 80 or so from elsewhere around Colorado.)

Now think about this: How was this “meet-and-greet” time like some — or more than some — of the relationships you have right now? And what do you do to get past that “meet-and-greet” stage and actually get to know someone?

Getting to know new people can be exciting for some—and terrifying for others. God can use a chance encounter to do something meaningful, but odds are the most meaningful encounters most of us will ever have will be with those we stick it out with over the long haul. Because we experience each other’s highs and lows together, both we and our friends are changed.

Now, take those relationships and put Jesus in the center. When that happens, our relationships take on a character greater than anything we could ever have imagined. And it’s something we’ll want to see happen in every relationship we have. So let’s explore how our commitment to Jesus and our commitment to others can come together to become something extraordinary — something that truly glorifies God.

There are several passages of scripture that illustrate what a deep, committed friendship looks like. Here are just a few examples:

• Ruth 1:3-18 (Ruth & Naomi)
• 1 Samuel 20:1-17, 24-34 (David & Jonathan)
• 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:1-14 (Elijah & Elisha)
• Acts 9:21-28; 11:19-26 (Paul & Barnabas)
• 2 Timothy 1:3-10, 2:1-9 (Paul & Timothy)

Think about those relationships you want to take to the next level. You probably have at least one in mind already. But it’s going to take work. Dietrich Bonhoeffer captured this in Life Together: “The Christian, however, must bear the burden of a brother. He must suffer and endure the brother. It is only when he is a burden that another person is really a brother and not merely an object to be manipulated.”

What keeps you from “suffer[ing] and endur[ing]” some of the people who God puts in your life?  What would need to change in you, so you felt prepared to take on that person’s burden—and became a better friend to him or her?

We’re going to explore this more in the coming weeks. But for now, keep thinking about your answers to those last couple questions. We all need each other in order to grow, and having friends who can help us is a huge factor in making that happen. May God bless your efforts to develop not only friendships, but spiritual friendships.

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Who Do You Love?

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Carl Simmons

“Frequently in our attempt to achieve Pentecost we bypass Calvary.…Here is the spiritual principle: die, and then bear fruit.” — Watchman Nee, The Messenger of the Cross

Let’s kick off this week by taking one more look at what Jesus has already done in our lives — because the more we realize what Jesus has done, the more we realize how much He still wants to do. And let’s get scriptural as we do it:

“Not that I have already attained this — that is, I have not already been perfected — but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind,   I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let those of us who are ‘perfect’ embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways. 

“Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard   that we have already attained. Be imitators of me,   brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.” — Philippians 3:12-17 (NET)

What’s one area of your life in which you could honestly encourage others to “be imitators of me”? (No false humility here—take time to be thankful for what Jesus has already done in your life.) How does dwelling on your past affect your ability to “strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”?

In this passage , Paul describes a race that we were meant to run for a lifetime. The good news is not only that God is calling us to reach the prize, but also that we have Jesus to coach us the entire way. With Jesus’ help, we can reach the goal he’s set before us.

Let’s jump back one chapter in Philippians, and read chapter 2, verses 5-8 (NLT). I want to present the passage a little differently today, so you can listen for the connections between what Jesus has done and how God wants us to respond. As you read this, take time to think and reflect. Time for you to connect with God. Ready? Let’s do this:

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…[who] did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.” In what ways do you still insist on doing things your own way instead of God’s way?

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…[who] gave up his divine privileges.” How have you allowed yourself to feel superior to others, simply because you’re a Christian?

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…[who] took the humble position of a slave.” 
Who in particular have you refused to serve, whether you’ve openly rebelled against them or quietly avoided them? Picture that person.

When was the last time you claimed glory for yourself rather than giving it to God?

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…[who] humbled himself in obedience to God.” What areas of your life have you not yet really submitted to God? What would it look like if you did?

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…[who] died a criminal’s death on a cross.”  When do you still insist on defending your reputation, rather than trusting God and allowing Him to defend you?

So what did God show you during this time of listening? Ask God to elaborate on it. Then share it with someone else. Listen to that person’s story. By bringing our “stuff” out into the light, we give Jesus an opportunity to change us eternally. We also give others permission to keep us accountable and to support us as we continue to pursue God together. So make it happen. Today.

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Third Time’s the Charm

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Carl Simmons

James Bryan Smith. The Good and Beautiful Community: Following the Spirit, Extending Grace, Demonstrating Love. Hardcover, 240p., $22.00. IVP.

I have to confess: For all the buzz and provenance surrounding them (Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, the latter more or less commissioning this “curriculum for Christlikeness”), the first two installments of James Bryan Smith’s Apprentice Series (The Good and Beautiful God and The Good and Beautiful Life) didn’t do a whole lot for me. Even truer confession: I didn’t even bother finishing the second book. They said all the right things, sure — and given all the other resources out there that focus on statements and movements more than on Jesus, that’s saying something — but in the end, both left me cold.

But when the third and final installment, The Good and Beautiful Community, landed on my desk, I had to give it one more shot — if only because this is a site dedicated to building community. And you know what? It’s easily the best of the three.

I think the reason this volume hits me so differently can be found in the introduction. As opposed to the first two books, where Smith writes as more or less an “expert” on spiritual formation and character-building, he openly confesses: “You are not reading the words of an expert in human relations. You are reading the journal of a novice who is sharing his struggles and insights… Fortunately, I have a lot of great people around me who are teaching me about this important area.”

And Smith lets those great people do the talking, or at least talks about what they’re taught him over the years — from his rediscovery of Jesus in a college group that was the antithesis of the cold, quiet church he grew up in; to the student who taught him about forgiveness in the face of sexual abuse by a family member; to the South African pastor who gave up the “fast track” to start a small church that focused on commitment and accountability.

And sometimes even bad examples make good teachers — such as Smith’s experience at a denominational conference where leaders literally turned their backs to him and showed him the door shortly thereafter, over a rather fine theological point (to introduce a chapter on putting Jesus first).

In each of the book’s eight sections, Smith also does a good job of breaking down “false” and “true” narratives — in other words, taking our “religious” misconceptions and replacing them with the actual biblical teachings on such matters as service, reconciliation, accountability and stewardship. There’s also a helpful closing “soul training” piece at the end of each section to help individuals address and practice those areas in their lives.

Now, notice I just used the word “individuals.” That’d probably be the one objective kvetch I can make about this book — yes, people are strongly encouraged to work through this book in community, but it’ve been that much stronger if some of the application ideas had actually  been built for the group, rather than just providing opportunity for group members to debrief individual experiences. True, most people are going to do the challenges — and arguably read the book itself — on their own, but opportunities to work together as a group should’ve been on the table, especially for this volume.

For similar reasons, I’d’ve loved it if the small-group sessions had been placed at the end of each section, rather than lumped together at the end of the book. It would have reinforced the “community” approach to this book so much more. But the important thing is that they’re there at all.

Bottom line is: There’s depth here that you just don’t find in a lot of small-group materials these days. James Bryan Smith saved his best for last in the Apprenticeship Series, so give it a shot (and maybe even another chance).

This review originally appeared in smallgroupministry.com.

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What Wou… DID Jesus Do?

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Theology is a tricky thing. At the genuine heart of it is the intent is to make deeper sense of who God is, and to articulate it in such a way that everyone gets it and everyone’s on the same page. The results, of course, are often quite different. Say the word “theology” and all sorts of responses might come back—”dry,” “divisive,” “putting God in a box,” “irrelevant.” . . .

And yet A.W. Tozer nailed it when he said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” So we’d better get our heads on straight. And when done properly, that’s what theology is all about.

Still, throw such words out there as justification, atonement and sanctification,  and you’ll draw a blank stare from the vast majority of Christians these days. They’re good words—heck, they’re biblical words—but the meanings have been lost. And yet, every true believer of Christ has experienced their meanings— and the power behind them—while being totally oblivious to that fact.

So let’s start rebuilding the bridge between theology and experience, so that we can add meaning to both.

This time last week, you were challenged to reflect on your testimony — because you’ve got one of those, too, whether you’ve thought about it or not. What was your life like before Jesus? How have you encountered Jesus in your life since? Why is your life different because of that?

Here’s the thing: What we already know Jesus has done in our lives is amazing enough. But what’s even more amazing is what God says Jesus has done for us.

Here’s just a few passages worth reflecting on:  John 15:13-16;  Romans 8:14-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Ephesians 1:11-14 and Ephesians 2:4-7. Take a few minutes to reflect on them right now. I’ll wait here for you. . . .

Done? Good.

Now: What encouraged you about these verses? What intimidated you? Which ideas do you just not get?

And here’s the big question: How might really understanding and believing what Jesus has done for you change the way you see yourself? the way you see others?

So do something about it. Here are just a couple ideas:

• Spend another hour meditating on this week’s Scripture passages. As you encounter thoughts “too marvelous for words,” stop right there and ask for God’s help—God does know all things, and wants to teach you. When you’ve finished, thank Jesus for all he’s done, and ask Him to help you know his love more and more.

• Set aside a specific time each day to talk to God. Tell God what’s on your heart, and ask God to help you know what’s on His heart. Who does God want you to reach out to? How does He want to stretch your faith? Don’t limit your prayers to what you think you need. Ask God to show you what he can (and wants to) do in your life. The answers will probably surprise you.

Good luck on the journey. And don’t be scared of that Bible or the big words in it—God gave it (and them) to us for a reason.

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So, You Want to Grow a Christian…

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Since this weekly entry—really, this entire blog—is about helping other Christians grow, let’s start this week by reflecting on our own journeys so far. Think about a time where you experienced a huge “growth spurt” in your life. If you can’t think of a spiritual example off the bat, use an example from your professional life or another personal example.

Got an example in your heads? Good. Now, think about this:

• When did you first realize that you’d somehow taken a giant leap forward? What was different?
• Who helped you most in taking that leap? What did he or she (or they) do to keep you moving forward?

You just reflected about an important time in your life, and the people who helped and maybe even inspired you. It probably felt good just to think about those people again. But as good as those people made us feel, it’s even more rewarding to be that person—to know that God has truly used us to help someone else.

Any work we do that has eternal value involves other people—whether it’s by serving them, praying for them, being a good parent, or simply being a good friend. Everything we do can potentially have an eternal impact on others. Think about it: How others have loved you—or failed to—is part of the reason you are who you are today.

Dallas Willard, in The Divine Conspiracy, put it this way: “Nondiscipleship is the elephant in the church…. The fundamental negative reality among Christian believers now is their failure to be constantly learning how to live their lives in The Kingdom Among Us. And it is an accepted reality.”

When we think of discipling others, it’s also easy to get caught up in thinking, “I can’t do this” for whatever reason—“I need to learn more first”; “I need to accomplish more first”; “I need to have more credibility with that person before I open my mouth.” And these might well be things you need to work on. But very often, we use these issue as or unnecessary roadblocks  to ourselves. Most of the time, it’s only fear of the unknown that holds us back. We make it about what we think we can do, rather than about what Jesus commands us to do, and what he promises to do as we step out in faith.

Therefore, the first and maybe the biggest step to becoming an effective discipler to simply to show up—and make the most of the situation God’s called you into. God’s brought you through a lot already, hasn’t he? More than anything, that’s what God wants to show others through you. Not your perfect answers or your unbelievable heart, but what God’s done—and therefore, what He can do for that other person, too.

Who do you know who seems ready to take the next step spiritually—whether he or she’s already growing, a brand-new Christian, or a not-yet Christian? If you could help that person understand just one thing right now, what would it be? And if you’ve already shared that one thing with him or her, what do you think that person needs to really “get” it? If you haven’t shared it yet, what’s held you back?

Now consider this: How could spending more time with that person help you grow closer to Jesus?

Some people might hear the words “accountability” or “discipleship” and say, “I’m in. When do we get started?” It’s more likely that many will be intimidated by that kind of talk. So don’t bash people over the head with this. Invite them out to lunch or a cup of coffee for starters. Talk about their lives and the things that are most on their minds and hearts right now. Then ask whether he or she might want to make a regular time out of it. Most people will accept if they know you’re serious and don’t feel overwhelmed by the commitment. A weekly time together is best, but if schedules only allow for bi-weekly or monthly, that’s OK. Start there and see where things go.

You can even say something like, “I’ve been reading this blog about discipleship, and I’d like to try out some of the things I’m learning on a real person. You’re a real person—would you mind helping me work through this?” Once they’re done laughing, they’ll probably say yes.

The important thing is to make it happen. Begin to share what Jesus has done in your life. Help people see that a changed life is possible. Starting with yours.

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Obedience: a rough fragment for Good Friday

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Carl Simmons

I am becoming increasingly convinced, as I get older,  that God does not demand our obedience simply because it honors Him. That is, of course, a true and healthy reason to do it. And I wouldn’t even put up an argument against someone who argues that it’s the primary reason.

Still, as I come to experience and better understand God’s love for us, I’d suggest that God demands our obedience because He wants us to become the people we were truly created to be. Because only God sees the final picture, He is therefore the only one capable of making that happen. Therefore, without our obedience — our submission to God’s vision of us, which incredibly is way more than we could ever think of ourselves — the end result is a tragedy that only God can comprehend and experience the full depths of. The suffering we see and experience is but a rough fragment of that.

By extension, I think that’s why Jesus became so angry with the Pharisees. They saw a broken law as an excuse to claim superiority. Jesus saw it as a sin so profound that only He could die to remove it.

P.S. It’s been a crazy but good week — the result being that this example isn’t as developed as I’d like to be. Still, hope you gain something from it. I did at the time I first wrote it (a couple weeks ago, actually).

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