One of the big questions which has
been on the hearts of Christians living in the western world, especially in
this city, has been the question of church growth.
How
can we grow the church? This question has become central. In the face of
declining attendance, closing congregations, leaders have been scrambling to
develop solutions. And many church growth programs have been developed and
offered. There’s been lots of talk, lots of discussion, lots of seminars, tons
of books, and all kinds of formulas. Perhaps more cookies have been baked and coffee has been
brewed to keep people awake for
long-winded lectures, seminars and meetings over this question than any other.
But
when we read scripture, we actually find that Jesus has something to say about
church growth. When we open the Gospel of Mark to the 16th chapter,
we red about the ascended Christ speaking to his disciples. In verse 16 Jesus
says, “ Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole
creation,” In Matthew, chapter 28 Jesus says to these same disciples, “ Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In Luke Jesus says, “ Thus it
is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the
third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his
name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” So we see that Jesus was very interested in growing the church,
and he tells his disciples very clearly how it is to be done—through witness and discipleship.
Witness and
Discipleship. To witness is to testify, give testimony. Witnesses in a court of law testify to
what they have seen, what they have heard. They are called to speak the truth about whatever matter is
being judged. So those early disciples were called by Jesus to testify, give
testimony, to speak about the
truth they had seen and heard. And
what they had seen and heard was Jesus, Jesus the Saviour, and speak about the
foundational difference he has made to the world and to their lives. Jesus
didn’t just talk about Good News, he was and is and will be the Good News.
Through his life death and resurrection,
the great gift of eternal life has been offered to all. Through Jesus
God’s New Creation has begun and will be completed when Christ returns again.
When the disciples followed Jesus, their
lives were difference. When he
came to them after his resurrection, there could be no turning back—their lives
would never be the same again. Jesus makes a difference in the lives of people.
To this truth those disciples were
called to witness. To this truth, all disciples of Jesus, across time and space
are called to witness. In fact, Jesus commanded it “ Go into the world and
proclaim the good news to all creation.”
“
Go into the world and proclaim the good news to all creation.” Well what does that mean? It means to
testify to Jesus, to speak about Jesus, but more importantly to speak about Jesus
through actions. It is to witness
to Jesus through what we do and who we are. It was true then, and its true now, that what people pay
attention to most are actions. And
those actions are key part of the first component of Jesus’ church growth program.
This
brings us to the second key piece of Jesus’ church growth program, and that’s discipleship. I’ve already used that
word a couple of times, but what does it mean? What does it mean to be a
disciple of Jesus. It means to follow him
in every way. It means to do everything he says. It means to get the job done
the way he wants it done in every single aspect of our lives.
Now
that isn’t easy. It means giving up a lot. Really it means giving up everything
for Jesus. This is the call of Jesus, and we read it today. “ if any want to
become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and
follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who
lost their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel will save it.” Now those are perhaps the scariest, and
most challenging, most difficult
words we’re going to read in any of the gospel accounts. Scary and difficult
because we naturally like what we have, we naturally like to be comfortable, we
don’t like to give up things. Even
in the church, we don’t like to give up things that might not be essential—or
make things essential that are really not
But giving up things isn’t even the scariest part. It’s taking what Jesus has to offer and what
Jesus has to offer is the cross—the cross of suffering and shame endured out of
total obedience to God. And we naturally do not want any part of that. Those original disciples, the chosen
twelve, they didn’t want any part of it. So when the trouble came, and Jesus
was headed for crucifixion, all of them, every single one, got out of Dodge as
fast as they could.
So
we see that discipleship is not easy. But it is the second necessary piece of
Jesus’ church growth program.
But how can we do it? How can we fallible
humans, with our attachments and shortcomings, foibles, and selfishness be
these disciples of Jesus? How can I do it? How can I take up that cross and
really follow Jesus?
Well,
first of all, we need to know which cross Jesus is telling us to take up.
In today’s gospel lesson Jesus speaks to
the disciples about his crucifixion and death. He is speaking plainly about
what is going to happen to Him. He is
speaking of the cross which looms ominously on the horizon, the cross which has
yet to be filled with his body.
When
Jesus speaks to us today, and tells us to take up our crosses, he is speaking
of the same cross--but with a key and foundational difference.
It is not the cross which has yet to be filled. It is the cross which has been filled, and which now is empty,
and never has to be filled again. Jesus Christ filled that cross once and for
all. It is the cross of total and complete fulfillment which is to be the one
which we carry. On Easter Morning we process the empty cross into our worship
space to show that it is finished, that the saving work has been done. And this is the cause for celebration.
Jesus, perfectly obedient, perfectly righteous imputes—or gives—his
righteousness to us.
So
discipleship is not rooted in ourselves. It is rooted in Christ alone Through the Holy Spirit, he
gives us the power to do it.
You
see the empty cross represents freedom—the freedom to be witnesses and
disciples of Jesus even while we struggle as sinners. So those reasons some
folks might have for not witnessing or standing back from the work such as
“Well I’m not holy enough, learned enough”. Those excuses don’t stand up. After his resurrection Jesus
entrusted the same fallible humans who had turned their backs on him, to build
his church and bear the empty cross.
If you are a Christian, then Jesus has
made a difference in your life. He has made a difference in your life by
suffering death so that you do not
have to die eternally. He became sin so you don’t have to stand in judgment for
those sins. He has given you hope that the world cannot give. And he has called you
to be his witness and his disciple.
And he has also entrusted you and the rest of his church, all the
members of the body, to do his work on earth.
Today,
the morning bible study group, resumed its study of the Book of Acts. And that
Book we read about how the Holy Spirit Grew the church, how the Spirit gifted
the disciples of Jesus. We read about their work—their work of witness and
discipleship. That work—that work of witness and discipleship hasn’t ended. It
has been passed on to those who confess Christ as Lord wherever they might be,
and that includes this place, this neighbourhoods, our families and friendship circles, and even
our places of work. Are people not going
to like it? Count on it. But
count on this: Jesus has given us everything and wants others to know that he
has given them everything as well.
This is our call—this work of
witness and discipleship. And in carrying it need to pray and trust God in
the direction is leading us, confidence in God’s love and guidance. Now may the peace which surpasses all
understanding guard your hearts
and minds in Chrsit Jesus. Amen.
