Monthly Archives: September 2020

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

The Way it Was (Discipleship, Part II)

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In the last blog, I wrote that a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be a copycat who makes more copycats and offered three essential tips for effective discipleship:

Tip #1: Be a Sold-out Copycat (of good stuff)!

Tip #2: Follow Jesus’ Model to Make More Copycats!

Tip #3: GO!

Now, let’s explore how the earliest Church discipled using Jesus’ approach.

Early Christians didn’t have programs, bills, a different language (Christianese), or an expectation that people should come to them or their church. Instead, they lived life well in the community with everyone else, according to the words of God and ways of Christ. The yet-to-be-churched saw the gospel at work and observed consistent good works and Godly behaviors. What they saw built trust and made them curious. So, the earliest Church grew because God-fearing Christ-followers met people where there were. Here’s part of a letter written to the tutor of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century, which reflects this approach, especially the modeling aspect of discipleship:

Christians are not different from the rest of men in nationality, speech, or customs; they do not live in states of their own, nor do they use a special language, nor adopt a peculiar way of life. … they follow local custom in the matter of dress, food, and way of life; yet the character of the culture they reveal is marvellous … They share in all duties like citizens and suffer all hardships like strangers. … They marry like the rest of men and beget children, but they do not abandon the babies that are born. They share a common board, but not a common bed. In the flesh as they are, they do not live according to the flesh. They dwell on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the laws that men make, but their lives are better than the laws. … They are maligned, and yet are vindicated. They are reviled, and yet they bless. They suffer insult, yet they pay respect. They do good, yet are punished with the wicked.

In the third of three discipleship blogs, I’ll offer a few tips for being light and the Kingdom of God by meeting people where they are today and ministering in ways they understand. As you can imagine, we must get out from behind church walls, or the building becomes the most expensive ‘lampshade’ on the planet! And there’s no point in bringing others the gospel of God’s Kingdom if they don’t trust or understand us! Don’t worry, though – I’m here to help!

Don’t forget to join me on October 3rd for Disciple-Con 20/20 Vision! For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.findingdiscipleship.org/disciplecon2020

Questions or comments? Email publisher@taylorpress.net.

Blessings and peace,

Ron Braley

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Copycat! (Discipleship, Part I)

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I’ll teach a one-day seminar about discipleship and disciple-making on October 3rd. So, I thought I’d pique your interest while making you a little smarter (hopefully) about a Christian’s single-most important task: discipleship. The next three blogs will, therefore, help you to do a good job!

Tip #1: Be a Sold-out Copycat (of good stuff)!

A disciple is an imitator who becomes like the teacher (Matthew 10:24-25). The original word is mimētēs. A disciple is entirely devoted (Matthew 16:24) – no exceptions, middle ground, do-overs, or Sunday-only copycats! Here’s an example of how the apostle Paul lauded his copycats (1Thessalonians 1:6-7):

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Tip #2: Follow Jesus’ Model to Make More Copycats!

You should’ve noticed that Paul also praised the Thessalonians for, in turn, being good examples to others who became disciples. There is a process to becoming and, in turn, making disciples, and it can come at a cost! Jesus said this: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24). He later reiterated to John the Revelator the potential cost of physical death (of the saints who would suffer incredible persecution while awaiting Christ’s return as read in Revelation 12:11):

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

His disciples must replicate the life and death He displayed; modeling was but one part of Jesus’ approach to making disciples. Here’s His (and, therefore, our) disciple-making method:

  1. Built, or used, trusting relationships.
  2. Spoke the good news of God’s Kingdom & its particulars.
  3. Modeled what He taught.
  4. Tested through dialogue and questioning.
  5. Corrected the disciples as necessary.
  6. Sent (think GO!).

Tip #3: GO!

As He was leaving the earth roughly 2,000 years ago, Jesus commissioned His disciples to go and make more. It was and is a mandate – the Great Commission, not the Great Omission or Great Suggestion! Interestingly, the action contradicts today’s misunderstanding that we are to ‘get people to come to church’ and hope the pastor does all the hard work. Perhaps our backward thinking keeps us from being the Kingdom of God in our neighborhoods, at work, and while playing.

Next , we’ll explore how the earliest Church put to work Jesus’ discipleship method. Of course, we’re just scratching the surface, so you must join me on October 3rd for Disciple-Con 20/20 Vision! For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.findingdiscipleship.org/disciplecon2020

Blessings and peace,

Ron Braley

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

How Many Years??

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In early August, I responded to this question in an article I wrote for the Taylor Press:

“Hey, Ron – was Jesus’ ministry really three-and-a-half years long? If not, why are we told that?”

Jesus’ ministry began when He was almost (about) 30 years old – so, 29, and lasted for just over a year. He was crucified at the age of 30, which may also account for the number (30) of silver pieces Judas received for betraying Him (taxes or fees paid sometimes were based on an individual’s age). The gospels agree very well on the flow of the ministry, and John’s account is the easiest to follow.

Why do we believe, incorrectly, that Jesus ministered for 3.5 years? John 6:4, which throws in a bogus Passover, wasn’t in the earliest manuscripts but added by the third century. Then, fourth-century Eusebius, wanting to crack the code of the ‘week of years’ before the end of the world, used the bad information and rounded up, perpetuating the false belief that Jesus’ ministry was three-and-a-half years long. If you leave out chapter six, verse four (as you should!), the flow of Jesus’ one-year ministry goes like this according to the Gospel by John:

  • John’s introduction, the start of Jesus’ ministry, and gathering disciples: 1
  • Jesus performs His first miracle; the ministry begins just before Passover at age 29: 2
  • Jesus’ first Passover; religious contention begins (March/April): 2-3
  • Jesus goes back to his home in the north, stopping in Samaria along the way: 4
  • Jesus visits Jerusalem for Pentecost (May/June): 5
  • Jesus heads back to the north for the summer; feeding 5,000: 6-7
  • Jesus goes back to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths in the fall (October-ish): 7
  • Jesus stays in Jerusalem until winter and the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah in December): 7-10
  • Jesus leaves Jerusalem for the rest of the winter: 10-11
  • Jesus enters Jerusalem for the second and last Passover in His ministry; He’s crucified and then resurrected (March/April): 12-20
  • Jesus appears to various disciples and ascends to Heaven: 20-21

So, what did we learn? First, Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted just over a year from the age of 29-30. Second, the Christian tradition of a 3.5-year ministry was started by Eusebius when trying to rationalize his belief about end-of-the-world timing.

Blessings and peace,

Ron Braley