Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” – Genesis 22:5

It has been almost five and a half years since I last wrote about this passage; personal study I was doing on worship throughout the Bible that eventually led me to begin blogging. As I read over it again this morning, I was reminded of the cynicism I had towards the church when it was written. Cynicism that led to me swear I’d never work in a church. Oh the irony of me trying to be my own boss.

I still stand by the principles I wrote while still in my twenties, but wish I could take back the tone and rhetoric. I wish I had known I was going to end up pastoring a church; end up in the exact position to make the changes my inexperienced immaturity demanded from behind my first personally owned Apple computer. Such a long post that ultimately missed the real point of this passage.

While focusing on what worship in the church should look like, I skipped right over the lesson that speaks so clearly to me today–Abraham’s example of a worship leader. We speak often to the message of what it takes for a father to let go of his son, but what of the man that leads his son to worship God in spirit and in truth? There is every indication that Issac was accustomed to accompanying his father in worship. There was no push back or suspicion. This was more than likely not the first time Abraham had taken his son with him to worship God.

As a worship leader and pastor, I often ask myself how much show I bring to the microphone. In other words, do people see a different me in normal everyday life than they do when I lead worship or teach? My prayer is that they do not. My prayer is that my children pick up their Bibles on their own because they see their father doing it with habit. My prayer is that our congregation sing with reckless abandon because they have been led by people who worship that way on and off the stage.

How often are you demonstrating intentional, authentic worship to those around us that matter most?

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. – Proverbs 20:22

My sons do not have a lot of patients when dealing with each other. They get it from my side of the family. More specifically, they get it from me. I’m not the best example of calm when something gets under my skin.

I want to be a good parent, so I find myself quoting Proverbs 20:22 or Romans 12:19 when telling my boys I don’t care who started it. But what about me? Do I trust god has my back when I let junk from culture or politics or whatever tip my boiling point?

There is tremendous peace and freedom in being reminded I’m not in control…nor do I have to be. Oh, to completely put my life in God’s hands.

Now if I can just get my boys to stop hitting each other.

COMFORT FOR CAUSE
Paul willing went towards “imprisonment and affliction” because his life was more about God’s will and the advancing of the Gospel than his own safety.

PATTERN FOR PURPOSE
In speaking with the Ephesian elders, Paul reminds them is they do not continue to pursue holiness in every aspect of life, the enemy will eventually win.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR RELATIONSHIP
If our inheritance is in Christ, the pursuit of “gold, silver, or apparel” should mean nothing. All we have received, including the Gospel of the grace of God, should be willfully given away.

What excuses have you used in making and keeping the trades you made?

in what ways do you still hold onto your own life instead of accepting God’s?

Is there anything else you still need to trade that you fell would honor god?

Post your answers in the comments below.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! – Psalm 30:12b (ESV)

Over 50% of marriages end in divorce. People rarely live one place more than ten years. It’s almost expected to not stay at any one job very long. I’d say we’ve lost touch with forever. Even trying to exegete the true meaning of “forever” and it’s implications would give most people a headache.

The idea of forever haunts us. To focus on one thing without giving room for the stuff we want to do or think about just seems absurd, out of touch, and irresponsible. Then again, if we truly believe it all flows from the one true God, who has his fingerprint on every molecule and atom, who paints every blink and neuron flash, an all-encompassing, everlasting, constant character of gratitude is the least we could do.

Could every exhale become a “thank you” for allowing just one more breath?

Could the pause between each heart beat be a song of praise and thankfulness?

Forever thanks is not a phrase that crosses lips. It is a life presentation that remembers the cross.

Have you said thanks today?

ENCOURAGE THE SAINTS
Paul did not just preach the gospel and move on. He planted churches and appointed local leadership he had an invested interest in seeing succeed.

ENGAGE THE STRUGGLING
The church at Corinth were in sin valuing outward appearance and eloquence over the genuine work of the Spirit. Paul rightfully called them to repentance for the sake of the universal church.

EMPOWER THE STRONG
The leaders around Paul are a testament to his leadership & faithfulness to care for a growing population of believers. It is through his investment in these individuals the churches they represented continued to thrive and spread the gospel of Jesus.

When were the last 3 time you experienced God while attending a church service?

How has coming  or not coming to church helped or hurt you?

What are some ways the church can better encourage you?

Leave your answers as comments below.
FUN FACTS
During the three missionary journeys of Paul recorded in Acts, he traveled approximately 14,000 miles and reached tens of thousands of people. After the ship wreck on his voyage to Rome to be put on trial, Paul revisited several cities he had been to before and many people refer to this as his fourth missionary journey. However, the first three were supported by the church at Antioch and

When I was called out to be a church planter, I spent a considerable amount of time praying about whether I should come up with a new name or stick with the one that I inherited. Obviously, I kept the name. So, in my nerdiness, I decided to do some research and come up with a “Sunday school answer” to the question I was bound to have to answer over and over again. Here is what I wrote down:

What does Oak Leaf mean?

SHORT ANSWER
The leaf of an oak tree is like a disciple of Jesus committed to helping spread the gospel & grow the church.

An oak tree doesn’t know where the most fertile soil is, so it scatters acorns everywhere hoping some will take root. The leaves of the oak provide nutrients for the tree to produce its fruit, shelter for the acorns & the tree itself, and eventually will nurture the ground to help the acorns root and grow into more strong oaks.

LONG ANSWER
And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump. – Isaiah 6:13

In Isaiah 6, God moves Isaiah from “Woe is me” (v. 5) to “Here I am, send me” (v. 8) with an outpouring of grace. It is here God reveals to his willing servant the plan to discipline his people leaving only a small portion to bring the rest of the world towards salvation. That ”tenth” remnant is characterized by the strength and resilience of an oak tree after to most devastating of circumstances.

So how does a stump of an oak tree become strong enough to warrant this vivid illustration?

LEAF FACTS
The purpose of a leaf is to absorb the light of the sun and transform it into nutrients that help the tree grow and become sustainably healthy.

Eventually, the tree will release its leaves to refocus its energy and begin the process of producing new leaves.

While away from tree, the leaves shield the tree’s roots and nourish the soil to further strengthen the tree and pave the way for the next generation of trees.

LEAF ANALOGY
The oak tree is the local church – stretching out it’s branches to produce fruit and provide protection for its surroundings.

The forrest of oaks is the Universal church of which Jesus Christ is the head – strengthened by each other and ever growing to expand it’s reach and influence.

We are the leaves – intended by design in our creation to strengthen, grow, and protect the church while preparing the way for the next generation of churches and disciples.

EVERY COMMUNITY WILL CHANGE
The only thing a community can hold onto that will not change is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul hoped they would choose the one true God over Artemis as their new identity.

NOT EVERYONE WILL LIKE THE CHANGE
Jesus told us in Matthew 10:16-22 people will hate us for trying to live our lives like Jesus. The opposition we may face can not deter us from being Jesus to our community.

EVERY BELIEVER IS MANDATED TO LEAD CHANGE
The Great Commission (“go and make disciples”) and the Great Commandment (“love God then love others”) call us to lead the change in our communities.

What are some ways you can serve the community to take church to where people are?

What are some changes Oak Leaf could bring that would make the community better?

What are some ways to deal with opposition to efforts to serve our city?

Leave your answers as a comment.

We gave everyone a list of possible things they could do and a bag filled with items to help them with their acts of kindness. We map a Google map with markers and instructions of potential locations so people could get directions to different places and know what was appropriate to do at those places. For example, the fire stations were marked and if you clicked on it it would tell you the name of the station and that you could verbal thank them, leave a hand written note, or maybe some food or cookies.

The map was printed out as well, but that wasn’t nearly as much fun as using a smartphone. :)

Here is what was in the bag we gave each group/family:

1. 1x instructions
2. 1x roll of quarters – $10
3. 1x gift card to restaurant or grocery store – $10-15
4. 20x 4×6 branded postcards
5. 10x branded “thank you” cards
6. 3x pairs latex gloves
7. 1 garbage bag
8. 1x box of 16-24 crayons
9. 5x sheets of colored construction paper
10. 5x sheets of blank art paper
11. 1x roll of scotch or painters tape
12.  2x pens
13. 1x sharpie
14. 1x pack of gum

Here are some of the things we did:

• Return carts customers are done with or loose carts in the parking lot to the cart storage station.
• Hand bottled water to joggers/walkers/bicyclists/walking-pedestrians you pass by.
• Place a gift card on table of a family eating at a local restaurant, smile and walk out.
• Drop off several hand written thank you notes at the police station/fire station.
• Give water to a crew working outside.
• Pray over a car for the family it belongs to then leave a note saying you prayed for them.
• Give balloons to children shopping with their parents.
• Take art supplies to the family waiting room of the ER or labor & delivery floor of the hospital.
• Deliver balloons to an assisted living facility or the hospital.
• Take bottled water to nurses at the hospital.
• Tape change to vending machines with a note that says, “The next one is on us, God Bless.”
• Ask to pump a person’s gas so they don’t have to get out of their car in the cold.
• Leave quarters at a laundromat with a note that says, “Have a blessed day.”
• Deliver handwritten Valentine cards or notes of blessing to the local assisted living facility.
• Write a letter to an old friend and mail it the old fashioned way.
• Read a story to children in Books a Million.
• Give water and/or a thank you note to the mail-person.
• Tell a police officer “Thank you” for all their hard work.
• Take a police office on duty some water.
• Take water by a Fire Station.
• Tell the Fire Fighters “Thank you” for all their hard work.
• Write thank you notes to the Mayor and/or City workers (we’ll help you deliver them).
• Pick up trash at a local park or on the side of the road.
• Find a place in town to pray specifically for the people in the surrounding community.
• Pay for the person next in line at the drive-thru.
• Buy a gift card for groceries and turn around and hand to person in line behind you.
• Pay for the person’s coffee behind you in line at Starbucks.
• Walk into a fast food facility or restaurant and pay for someone’s meal for them.
• Make a donation to the Goodwill, Must Ministries, or Habitat Restore.
• Take treats to Canton Paw Park
• Give quarters to families with kids to play arcade
• Tape quarters on newspaper stands with a note that reads, “the next one is on us.”

PAUL IS USED BY GOD
To the not so careful observer, one would think it was Paul performing miracles. No, it was God “by the hands of Paul.”

PRETENDERS TRY TO USE GOD
There is a big difference between God using us and us trying to use God. The Jewish exorcists learned the hard way.

PRAISE WAS LIFTED TO GOD
You’ll see in scripture every time God works, speaks, or moves, people worship Him as if there is not other option.

PEOPLE WERE CHANGED BY GOD
The people of Ephesus burned their magic books because they were moved to look at all their stuff and ask, “is this worth it?”

Is your stuff a symptom of a healthy or unhealthy relationship with God?

Do you have stuff that needs to be crushed, burned, or traded?

How can you view your stuff so it does not become an idol?

God, teach us to see everything we have as something that either brings you honor and glory or something we should consider trading. May we be a people that knows where our blessings comes from and not let them become hindrances to our relationship with you.

FUN FACTS
The Temple of Artemis was built during the fourth century BC and was located near the ancient city of Ephesus, about 30 miles south from the modern port city of Izmir in Turkey. At almost 112,000 sq feet, it was the largest building in it’s day and is considered one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. It had 120 marble columns that were so ornate, some say they look like they took hundreds of years to carve.

I’ve got several dozen books on my shelves on that subject alone.

Whether it is Sunday school or small groups or house churches or whatever, the fix that worked for you should work for everyone, right?

I’m going to go out a limb here and say I don’t have a fix.

I’m not even sure I know what discipleship is (I can hear the draws dropping).

And I’m pretty sure I was never discipled.

But if you asked me, I would readily say I am a disciple…a disciple of Christ…a follower of Jesus’ teachings.

So how did I become a disciple and what does the Bible say about what a disciple is?

I looked into it. I wanted to know from a more reliable source than the newest edition of the Sunday School manual.

Here is some of what I discovered:

1. The word discipleship does not appear in scripture. The term is based off the ”go and make a disciples” clause of the Great Commission (matt 28:19-20)
2. The word disciple(s) (??????? – mathetes) appears roughly 270 times in the Bible.
3. All but one (Isaiah 8:16) are in the first four books of the New Testament. It appears zero times in the epistles.
4. The word literally means “practicing what one has been taught.” So a disciple Jesus would be one who practices his teachings.
5. In Matthew 16:24-26, mark 8:34-37, Luke 9:23-25, Jesus gives clear instruction what a disciple of Christ or “Christ-follower” looks like.
6. The verb form of disciple (manthan?) means “to learn” and is never used to translate as disciple.
7. Every occurrence in scripture of the word “disciple(s)” is a noun. It can be argued “disciple” is not as much about training as much as it is a qualifier.

All together, the Great Commission clearly says “make people who practice what Jesus taught.” That is the last command from Jesus to those that would build the church. Yet, they didn’t use the term in their own letters and Luke’s description of disciples in Acts was clearly based on practice and not a particular method.

So how to you do discipleship? I don’t know.

I’m not even sure we can.

Maybe our responsibility is to speak the truth of the Gospel and the message of scripture and let the Holy Spirit do the work of discipleship.

Then all we have to do is look at who is practicing what Jesus taught and say, “there goes another disciple.”