The guiding metaphor for understanding discipleship is the process Jesus used. He walked with his disciples, teaching them and showing them what he wanted them to become and to do in this world. The story of the Road to Emmaus in Luke chapter 24 depicts what this process looks like. The story begins with Jesus “coming up and walking along with them” (v.15). Jesus makes contact yet the disciples “did not recognize him.” Jesus connected with them by asking questions (v17, 19, 26), digging into their experiences and helping them see what they couldn’t yet perceive (v27). This kind of connection is made in the internal struggle in which they could not understand what Jesus was teaching them. When they arrived at the village, they offered Jesus a place to stay. Jesus committed to joining them for a meal. Here at the table, Jesus shared a regular meal in the same ritual format - becoming a covenant meal as the Eucharist by taking the bread, giving thanks, breaking it, and giving it to them (v31). It was at this moment the disciples recognized Jesus who had been walking with them all along. Make Contact > Make Connection > Make Commitments > Make Covenant The rubric for pastoral engagement evaluates the work of the pastor, not who the pastor is trying to reach or who is more committed to his or her work. When it comes to evaluating oneself as a pastor, many times it is the other person’s behavior being measured and held accountable whether it’s a student or employee or church member. In the case of pastoral ministry, the tables will be turned and instead measure the pastor for evaluation. How can the pastor tell if he or she is doing well?
What is missing from other evaluative tools for making disciples, such as church attendance, sermon series, and giving records, is found in what do pastors do and how do they know they’re doing it well. If there is a way to understand and evaluate the work of the pastor, this is how to do it: make contacts, recognize connections, engage in commitment to participate in their lives and work, and recognize covenant partnership with them as members of the Body of Christ. This is the pathway of making disciples in a way that Jesus did. Sample rubrics: Contacts Pastor How-to Habit #1 -- Initiate eight new contacts every month. That’s 96 new contacts in a year. Connection Pastor How-to Habit #2: Twice a month celebrate a new Kingdom work in someone’s life or with the community through the work of the church during the main service; and twice a month promote new opportunities to serve in the church and in the community. Commitment Pastor How-to Habit #3 - Select four activities outside of church that are important for some of those in your community of faith, e.g. sports league participation, workplace volunteer. Use your time in these spaces to get to know this part of your parishioners’ lives outside of their participation in church. Get to know their friends, family, and colleagues especially those not already part of your congregation. Commit to being involved in these four activities for at least four months. Covenant Pastor How-to Habit #4 - Choose up to twelve parishioners that seek a deeper experience with Christ and walk with them in a more intimate fellowship. Pray for them, but also ask them to pray for you. Teach them from what you’re reading. Ask them what they are learning and let them teach you. A covenant is mutual and multi-directional. Agree to meet regularly even weekly for up to one to three years.
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N.T. Wright is offering a course that "have meant the most to [his] spiritual development." And, so, I began reflecting on what passages from. the Scriptures have shaped me. I'm not a fan of "life verses." They seem more like bumper stickers of wisdom extracted from their source and surroundings. The interest here is to get to the passages that have continually drawn us back over the years. I cannot really shake what they tell me about myself and the world I wish to inhabit. Here is the beginning of my list: Romans 1:16-17 NIV "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'” It's really verse 16 that jarred me loose. I was a new believer, at a youth retreat for the South Central Ohio District in Ripley, West Virginia. The speaker talked about this verse. It was later in the weekend that I sensed a calling to mission and ministry. So, I've always taken to heart the desire to not only be with those inside the group but also to be among the outsiders. This is really the verse that brings to life the whole notion of the doctrine of entire sanctification--"the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" either it works for everyone or no one. One of the few either/or's in my spiritual lexicon. Colossians 3:1-14 NIV "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." My first sermon in French was on this passage. It's just packed with the basics of Christian theology on the Incarnation - the heavenly becomes earthly - as well as the transformative power of the Resurrection that continually brings about a newness to daily life - la vie quotidienne. Even the mundane gets an overhaul. Especially the mundane, daily, boring makings of a life become something glorious in the hands of God. Moving toward Christlikeness makes us more like Christ and more recognizable to each other: "Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." This is not only an individual transformation but it is witnessed in the whole of "God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved." The witness continues through the people as they "bear with", "forgive", "love" and all the one anothers that "binds them all together." They surely don't look alike but they are "unified" in the Body and Blood of Christ--here on earth as it is in heaven. I'll continue the list over the next few weeks, this is just a beginning. |
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