This series of posts* is not designed for you to follow my example directly. Some may, and that is fine, but the main goal is to help the reader to identify a process and to use mine as an example. Of course, the 4L’s are designed to hold true for anyone, but how they fit the collective understanding of the 4L Model of Discipleship will need to be adapted into your own life’s goals and purposes.
*At the conclusion of this post, I have included links for each of the previous posts. Due to the length of this series and the frequency of referencing certain concepts in each post, this system will allow the present post to not be cluttered with an inordinate amount of links.
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The next step to consider is that of LOVE. The problem with this step is that my intention is misinterpreted. When we think of love, most people will naturally think of people, which is certainly appropriate. And, in a very real sense, this Step does require a love for people. In fact, how can being a disciple of Jesus not include the love of people? For as Jesus says the greatest commandment is to Love God and the second is like it – Love Others. As Mark recounts this statement, Jesus concludes this statement with “There is not other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12.31). Notice what Jesus is saying – no greater commandment (singular) than these (plural). Jesus has fused the two commandments (Deuteronomy 6.4-5 and Leviticus 19.18) into one meaning it is impossible to truly love God without loving people (1 John 4.20-21).
But loving someone requires more than words. And this is the important part of this Step. An expression of our love for God is to keep His commandments (John 14.15; 15.10, 14). In other words, our actions are an expression of our love for one another and our love for God. And our actions are represented in how we LIVE (Step 2). So, the things we do (LIVE) when done with the right motivation (LOVE) allow us to move from Step 2 to Step 3.
Consider it this way. We all have things we have to do. Maybe these “have tos” relate to work or to-do lists at home, but many tasks that we do on a regular basis we do because we must. But some people do the very same tasks and “love to” do them. Depending upon the task, we may find their attitude strange, but nonetheless, their attitude is far beyond treating the task as mundane. Perhaps, at one time, the task was something these others did because they “had to” to do it. But something changed over time.
That is essentially the point of this third step – LOVE. Jesus commanded His disciples to teach others to observe all that He commanded (Live). Let’s be honest, some of those commands are hard. One of the hardest is actually a command to love – loving your enemy. In this one command, we are to properly live by loving, which may seem possible until we realize it is about our enemy. But what if we LEARN to LIVE through a LOVE for what we do.
Consider the one thing the disciples eagerly asked Jesus to teach them – how to pray (Luke 11.1). They wanted to LEARN to pray. The desire to do this was so they would actually pray (LIVe). But, we know that prayer was a task for them just as it is for most of us (see Mark 14.38 and 40 – they could not stay awake to pray!). But over time, I suspect the disciples found prayer as less of a task they “had to” do, but rather something they looked forward to doing. That is, they began to “love to” pray. That is the essence of this step – loving what we do for (and with) God and others after we begin to observe what He has commanded.
Most of us know people who “love to” give or “love to” serve or any number of other aspects of living. Each of us have certain tasks we may appreciate more than others, but a true disciple will begin to accept some commands as easier than others, and, over time (ideally), learn to appreciate living each of them as a matter of service to God and others. As we do, we can truly say that our service to God and others is not just a matter of duty, but a reflection of love. When this happens, our actions express LOVE in a way that our words never truly can.
This is the hardest step for me. Some actions are easier than others, but some people are easier than others. But Jesus does not ask me to be selective in keeping His commands, nor does He want me to be selective in my service to others. While that does not mean that I can, or should, do everything for everyone, I must continue to grow in this area so that I can be more effective in the next step – LEAD, where making disciples is the goal.
As I LOVE, I better LIVE the life that I know God wants for me. I have a long way to go, but as I continue to LEARN, I will be able to realize my Strategy, fulfill my Mission, and achieve the Vision of becoming the man God wants me to be, which includes to “walk in love” (Ephesians 5.1-2).
Prior Posts:
4L Model – Matthew 4.19
4L Model – Matthew 28.19
4L – Spiral
4L – Vision
4L – Mission
4L – Strategy
4L – Steps
4L – Learn
4L – Live
Showing posts with label disciple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disciple. Show all posts
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Using the 4Ls, Part 7 – Live
This series of posts is not designed for you to follow my example directly. Some may, and that is fine, but the main goal is to help the reader to identify a process and to use mine as an example. Of course, the 4L’s are designed to hold true for anyone, but how they fit the collective understanding of the 4L Model of Discipleship will need to be adapted into your own life’s goals and purposes.
Having covered the first L (Learn) last week (here), I will now review how the second, Live, fits within the grand scheme of my Vision, Mission, and Strategy. As I mentioned last week, the word disciple means “one who learns.” But learning is not just for the sake of instruction; rather, true learning should provide the means for something else. In the realm of discipleship, we can say it this way: Learning is not simply to be better informed, it is so we can be transformed. And a transformed life is one that uses what is learned to better live.
Many people consider Jesus a great teacher, whether or not they believe He was/is the Son of God. But a “great teacher” makes investments in their students not just so they can be better prepared for a test, but so they can apply principles to pass the test. In the case of Jesus, that test is related to our life, and potentially, even more specifically, various tests of our faith.
Consider the Great Commission (see post here). Jesus did not say that disciples should be made by teaching them only. He said teaching to observe. No doubt, the intent of Jesus is for a disciple to not only know what Jesus taught, but how to live according to what He taught. The reality is that no disciples perfectly knows or observes all that Jesus commands, but that is why the grace of God is necessary. It is why the only Man who ever did live a perfect life had to die – because the sacrifice of Jesus paid for the sin for all of us that could not make a way for ourselves. BUT! But that does not excuse His disciples from attempting to observe all that He commanded – not for salvation, but because of salvation.
If you recall, my vision is to “Be the man that God has called me to be.” That vision certainly requires learning, but Ephesians 5.1-2 (my vision verses) says I am to “imitate God” which requires living. That living encompasses loving, teaching, and encouraging others to be disciples and to make more disciples (a part of my Mission). And my Strategy provides clarity to how I must Live in a variety of areas. I must love, exercise discipline (spiritually, physically, financially), be active in my faith (i.e. live out my faith), read, and nurture others.
Each part of my Strategy encompasses some aspect of actively living, although some may consider reading passive. However, my purpose for reading is to grow – as a man, leader, disciple, etc. So effectively, my reading is so that I can be better in how I Live, even if the reading itself may not be considered living by some.
Last week, I concluded by stating that a true disciple is never finished learning. Well, that statement is equally true for living. We may find occasion to retire from a job or career, but a disciple is to be a disciple – heeding the call of Jesus to “Follow Me” – until the end. It will not always be easy, but it is necessary. And most, importantly, the call comes with a promise to all who respond in the affirmative. For Jesus said, “I will be with you even to the end of the age.”
If that is true, then let us Live what we Learn. And, do so with Love (next week) as we Lead others (two weeks) to do the same.
Having covered the first L (Learn) last week (here), I will now review how the second, Live, fits within the grand scheme of my Vision, Mission, and Strategy. As I mentioned last week, the word disciple means “one who learns.” But learning is not just for the sake of instruction; rather, true learning should provide the means for something else. In the realm of discipleship, we can say it this way: Learning is not simply to be better informed, it is so we can be transformed. And a transformed life is one that uses what is learned to better live.
Many people consider Jesus a great teacher, whether or not they believe He was/is the Son of God. But a “great teacher” makes investments in their students not just so they can be better prepared for a test, but so they can apply principles to pass the test. In the case of Jesus, that test is related to our life, and potentially, even more specifically, various tests of our faith.
Consider the Great Commission (see post here). Jesus did not say that disciples should be made by teaching them only. He said teaching to observe. No doubt, the intent of Jesus is for a disciple to not only know what Jesus taught, but how to live according to what He taught. The reality is that no disciples perfectly knows or observes all that Jesus commands, but that is why the grace of God is necessary. It is why the only Man who ever did live a perfect life had to die – because the sacrifice of Jesus paid for the sin for all of us that could not make a way for ourselves. BUT! But that does not excuse His disciples from attempting to observe all that He commanded – not for salvation, but because of salvation.
If you recall, my vision is to “Be the man that God has called me to be.” That vision certainly requires learning, but Ephesians 5.1-2 (my vision verses) says I am to “imitate God” which requires living. That living encompasses loving, teaching, and encouraging others to be disciples and to make more disciples (a part of my Mission). And my Strategy provides clarity to how I must Live in a variety of areas. I must love, exercise discipline (spiritually, physically, financially), be active in my faith (i.e. live out my faith), read, and nurture others.
Each part of my Strategy encompasses some aspect of actively living, although some may consider reading passive. However, my purpose for reading is to grow – as a man, leader, disciple, etc. So effectively, my reading is so that I can be better in how I Live, even if the reading itself may not be considered living by some.
Last week, I concluded by stating that a true disciple is never finished learning. Well, that statement is equally true for living. We may find occasion to retire from a job or career, but a disciple is to be a disciple – heeding the call of Jesus to “Follow Me” – until the end. It will not always be easy, but it is necessary. And most, importantly, the call comes with a promise to all who respond in the affirmative. For Jesus said, “I will be with you even to the end of the age.”
If that is true, then let us Live what we Learn. And, do so with Love (next week) as we Lead others (two weeks) to do the same.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Using the 4Ls, Part 6 – Learn
This series of posts is not designed for you to follow my example directly. Some may, and that is fine, but the main goal is to help the reader to identify a process and to use mine as an example. Of course, the 4L’s are designed to hold true for anyone, but how they fit the collective understanding of the 4L Model of Discipleship will need to be adapted into your own life’s goals and purposes.
The 4L Discipleship Model is based upon four interdependent aspects of the life of a disciple. In previous posts, I have outlined the 4Ls based upon Scripture (here and here). Now, in this series, I am showing how the 4Ls help to guide me in following my Strategy to achieve my Mission so that I can fulfill my Vision. Each of the L’s have an independent purpose but also must be woven together in order to fully realize the impact. In last week’s post, I covered them collectively. This week, I will begin with the first of the L’s – Learn – and focus on each individually, first expounding a little further on the idea of Learn in general, and share how it applies to my life’s purpose.
The first L is Learn. This is sensible because the very word disciple means “one who learns.” Of course, what we learn, and even where we choose to learn are important elements in what type of disciple we become. In a general sense, a disciple can learn any number of topics, lifestyles, etc. However, this word is typically used in a Christian context, and from that standpoint, our learning should be based upon the Bible and the teachings of Jesus.
According to Matthew’s account of the gospel, the last words of Jesus included the need for His followers to make disciples of all nations. The word nations is from the Greek word ethnos, which means it implies more of the various ethnicities rather than geographical boundaries. But the goal is to make disciples – or learners – of each of these groupings of people.
Making disciples certainly encompasses the transfer of information (how we typically view learning), but the reality is that disciple-making is far more than information. Jesus words to The Twelve and others was to “Follow Me.” This implied learning about life from Him – watching Him as He traversed throughout Galilee, Judea, and eventually Jerusalem. His first disciples were to watch Him, learn, and then emulate Him. While all accounts slow them to be slow learners, eventually (post-resurrection) they “got it” and the implications are still being realized today.
The same words Jesus said to His followers directly, are still applicable today, even if we may audibly hear them. “Follow Me,” is a phrase that still rings true today. It is a call to be informed (Learn) so that we may be transformed and be conformed to His image (Romans 8.29). The proof that learning is more than information can be found in the two primary verses I have shared elsewhere related to the 4L’s. In Matthew 4.19, Jesus calls others to follow so that He can make them something else (fishers of men). In Matthew 28.20, Jesus doesn’t just call people to learn information, but states that the teaching is not complete until it is “observed.” That is, until we observe His commands, we have not truly learned them, and thus, we are not true disciples. Thus the LEARN helps us to LIVE which will be the focus of next week’s post.
So, how does LEARN relate to my Strategy, Mission, and Vision? Well, first, as you can see here, my Strategy is based upon the acrostic L-E-A-R-N. As I better learn to understand and live by those principles, I am becoming a better disciple. As I become a better disciple, I am then better equipped to make disciples which is a part of my overall Mission. Furthermore, as I LEARN more about God, I not only better know what He wants from me, but I know Him better! As such, I find myself more apt to imitate Him which is my ultimate goal (Vision). Of course, I can do none of this on my own; I am only able to become more like God because of Him working in and through me, which is why I need to heed His call to “Follow Me” in the first place.
A true disciple is never finished learning – at least on this side of eternity. To Learn is the very essence of being a disciple, and the learning we do allows us to then Live and Love and Lead, which will be the focus of the next three posts.
The 4L Discipleship Model is based upon four interdependent aspects of the life of a disciple. In previous posts, I have outlined the 4Ls based upon Scripture (here and here). Now, in this series, I am showing how the 4Ls help to guide me in following my Strategy to achieve my Mission so that I can fulfill my Vision. Each of the L’s have an independent purpose but also must be woven together in order to fully realize the impact. In last week’s post, I covered them collectively. This week, I will begin with the first of the L’s – Learn – and focus on each individually, first expounding a little further on the idea of Learn in general, and share how it applies to my life’s purpose.
The first L is Learn. This is sensible because the very word disciple means “one who learns.” Of course, what we learn, and even where we choose to learn are important elements in what type of disciple we become. In a general sense, a disciple can learn any number of topics, lifestyles, etc. However, this word is typically used in a Christian context, and from that standpoint, our learning should be based upon the Bible and the teachings of Jesus.
According to Matthew’s account of the gospel, the last words of Jesus included the need for His followers to make disciples of all nations. The word nations is from the Greek word ethnos, which means it implies more of the various ethnicities rather than geographical boundaries. But the goal is to make disciples – or learners – of each of these groupings of people.
Making disciples certainly encompasses the transfer of information (how we typically view learning), but the reality is that disciple-making is far more than information. Jesus words to The Twelve and others was to “Follow Me.” This implied learning about life from Him – watching Him as He traversed throughout Galilee, Judea, and eventually Jerusalem. His first disciples were to watch Him, learn, and then emulate Him. While all accounts slow them to be slow learners, eventually (post-resurrection) they “got it” and the implications are still being realized today.
The same words Jesus said to His followers directly, are still applicable today, even if we may audibly hear them. “Follow Me,” is a phrase that still rings true today. It is a call to be informed (Learn) so that we may be transformed and be conformed to His image (Romans 8.29). The proof that learning is more than information can be found in the two primary verses I have shared elsewhere related to the 4L’s. In Matthew 4.19, Jesus calls others to follow so that He can make them something else (fishers of men). In Matthew 28.20, Jesus doesn’t just call people to learn information, but states that the teaching is not complete until it is “observed.” That is, until we observe His commands, we have not truly learned them, and thus, we are not true disciples. Thus the LEARN helps us to LIVE which will be the focus of next week’s post.
So, how does LEARN relate to my Strategy, Mission, and Vision? Well, first, as you can see here, my Strategy is based upon the acrostic L-E-A-R-N. As I better learn to understand and live by those principles, I am becoming a better disciple. As I become a better disciple, I am then better equipped to make disciples which is a part of my overall Mission. Furthermore, as I LEARN more about God, I not only better know what He wants from me, but I know Him better! As such, I find myself more apt to imitate Him which is my ultimate goal (Vision). Of course, I can do none of this on my own; I am only able to become more like God because of Him working in and through me, which is why I need to heed His call to “Follow Me” in the first place.
A true disciple is never finished learning – at least on this side of eternity. To Learn is the very essence of being a disciple, and the learning we do allows us to then Live and Love and Lead, which will be the focus of the next three posts.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Looking Ahead
Today's post is shorter due to my being
out of town and without good (free) internet access. I find this
ironic as I am in St Louis, yet I normally reside (post) from a small
town in NW Missouri. I am attending our denomination's annual state
convention this week, and a focus has been made on discipleship.
Having finished my series on the JOURNEY, my intention for this blog
was to focus on matters of Kingdom-living (living in, not of -
fotonni). One very important element of this is discipleship, but
learning to live with a Kingdom mindset is more than just
discipleship, at least as it is often considered. As has been posted
throughout this blog's introductory series on the JOURNEY, we cannot
properly function without intertwining each of the five functions –
discipleship, fellowship, worship, ministry, and evangelism.
That said, much of this blog's posts
will be on the function of discipleship. There are a number of
experts in each area of focus, and though I am no expert on
discipleship, my background and training is in the area of Christian
Education and my heart is to make disciples. Indeed, I am still
learning about being a disciple myself. My own journey has been
drastically impacted within the context of James 4.7-8 this week as
God has spoken to me often over the last three days since I preached
on that passage.
As I close today, I leave you with a
two brief quotes from the teaching part of the convention. If you
follow me on twitter (@andybraams), you may have already seen these,
but if not they are worthy to preserve.
"The only thing Jesus has authorized
us to do is to make disciples." (Matthew 28)
- Bill Hull
"The Christian life is not a
negotiation. It is a surrender."
- Bill Hull
So, my challenge to each of us today is
to surrender our life to the King and make disciples in, and for, His
name.
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