#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday14
#willyoujoinme

Welcome to the weekend and Luke 14! This tough section continues with another healing and more confrontation with the Pharisees.

I’m struck by two things:

1/ it was not always nice to be near Jesus. I don’t think I’ve ever really noticed this the same way before (and reading in large chunks like this gives a better overview of the general sweep of this gospel). I think I’ve always thought how cool it would be to have travelled with Jesus but these last three or so chapters have not been much fun and if you were alongside Jesus as he kept delivering these “broadsides” to the Pharisees, it would have been becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

Now the words of Luke 9:23-24, 57-62 really start striking home – it will not be easy following Jesus – but more than that – it will be downright difficult; fraught with discomfort and conflict!

The life-giving side of being near Jesus is wonderful – healing, peace, forgiveness and inclusion.

The fiery, confrontational words of Jesus are like death – criticism, condemnation, rebuke and exclusion. (Do check me – how would you feel if you were on the receiving end of the words of Jesus to the Pharisees?)

The instructions on where one should sit at a banquet, who one should invite and the consequences of refusing an invitation are dire and clearly directed at the Pharisees. Luke 13:7 “his opponents were humiliated”

And so again, counting the cost of being a disciple is not just some noble ideal. And the words of Luke 9:51 come back to me “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem”. He knew it was not going to be pleasant. He knew it was not going to end well for him but he went anyway.

2/ it would be too easy to think of ourselves as “not like them” (the Pharisees) and therefore pay less attention to what Jesus is saying.

• What do you think is the difference between experiencing Jesus’ words as life-giving (healing) or death-bringing (humiliating)?
• Why would Jesus deliberately choose to speak like that to the Pharisees? What was at stake?

#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday13
#willyoujoinme

Here we are in Luke chapter 13.

It’s been much heavier going from the latter half of chapter 11 onwards, hasn’t it? And I’m afraid it will continue to be – interspersed with some of the more wonderful accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. You see what’s happened? Luke has portrayed Jesus’ life and ministry as evidence or proof of who he was. What we’re discovering now are the various responses to Jesus and listening as Jesus reveals the consequences of those responses.

Again, Jesus has basically said to everyone, (including us), “You’ve seen and heard what I’ve done and said, now you need to make up your mind about who I am – and live accordingly, as evidence that my words are bearing fruit in your lives”. And this chapter starts off with the very strong words, (vv3 & 5) “unless you repent, you too will perish!” Or in my words, “Unless you start living Jesus’ way, (instead of your own way), you will find yourself outside the kingdom of God”. This should give us all pause! But actually, the parable of the fig tree inserted right after those stern words help us to realise that God will keep giving everyone chances to bear fruit – and so should we!

None the less, it’s a religious leader who, again, is the one who is put to shame. Imagine berating a woman who’s been crippled for 18 years for being healed! It’s preposterous! Instead of praising God and acknowledging Jesus’ lordship over physical health, he grasps at his own puny authority as keeper of the law in the synagogue. All of this illustrates what Jesus is meaning in the teaching about the “narrow door and the wide door” and his lament over Jerusalem – not everyone will be saved – but not for lack of trying on God’s part!

And lest we get discouraged by this, vv18-20 see Jesus illustrating that though the efforts of the Kingdom sometimes appear to be small and insignificant, actually they’re having a huge influence. I think it takes faith and experience to grow in confidence about kingdom work. The first time you plant a seed, it seems amazing that eventually it sprouts and becomes infinitely larger that it was. Likewise the first time you bake something, you follow the recipe (or someone’s verbal instructions) trusting that it will work out, that they know what they’re doing.

• Remember your person of peace? What might God be doing in their life that should be celebrated? “Watered”, (like you would a seed)? Nurtured? Dug-up and Fertilised?
• Is there any element of your own life that you have not surrendered to God? Ie, have you repented of everything? Everyday? How might concentrating on walking in Jesus’ way help you re-route your life?
• Why not ask Jesus to set you free from what currently binds you? (Ask a trusted Christian friend, or a willing Person of Peace to help you with this).

#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday12
#willyoujoinme

Hi everyone, after you’ve read Luke chapter 12, you’re half way through – well done!

As Luke continues to recount this section of teaching by Jesus, the Pharisees are still in the firing line but then he turns to make things pretty personal to the disciples and others in the crowd listening to them. So yes, the Pharisees still seem to be the “bad guys” but I think Jesus’ intent is to make sure that his disciples (including us) don’t fall into the same traps of self-interest and hypocrisy. (And let’s face it, it’s pretty easy to use others as scapegoats – “at least I’m not as bad as them!”)

How about an honest critique of: our attitudes towards others; how we use our money; what we stay up late worrying about; our readiness for Jesus to return? Go ahead, spend a few minutes now scoring yourself out of 10 on each of those issues (you can’t use 5!)

Now before you go flogging yourself . . . let’s rewind just a bit and pay attention to vv4-12 & 22-34. For most of us, the important thing to hear is that we are inherently important to God and he will take care of us – provide for us, forgive us and give us the kingdom. Remember we are children of a good father (Luke 11) who hears and provides for all our needs.

But just as children learn how to live from their earthly parents, so we should learn how to live, even more so, from our heavenly father. So instead of worrying about money – become generous with it, learn how to give it away (and like your heavenly father, give life as you do it). And don’t put off being generous – do it now. Haven’t you already got enough? Learn to live as though Jesus is returning sometime today! Be on the alert constantly to ways in which you can bring life to others. Learn how to initiate reconciliation – be a peace-maker, rather than a peace-keeper.

Jesus warns that the values of the kingdom are at odds with the values of the world and we all know how true that is. But Jesus says to press on with them anyway, despite opposition.

And finally today a word about fire. Compare v49 with 3:17. At the judgement, Jesus will burn up everything that is false, greedy, hateful and hurtful. All those things come as a result of fear. But Jesus says, “seek the Father’s Kingdom” (v31) and to me it’s like: when we fill up our lives with kingdom attitudes and actions, they replace all the fear-induced ugliness. We become attractive to live with and good to be around. We become the good news of the kingdom.

• Who can you bring life to today?
• Who needs you to forgive them?
• Who do you need to be forgiven by – what steps can you take for reconciliation?
• Who could really use your money? (Remember – you have enough!)

#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday11
#willyoujoinme

Ok – strap your boots on for chapter 11!

Broadly speaking there are two sections to this chapter. The first, (vv1-13) on Prayer (including the Lord’s Prayer) will be familiar and relatively easy to grasp. The second, (vv14-54) on demons and Pharisees is a lot heavier going and less familiar I suspect for that very reason! I found myself getting bogged down by the detail of some parts I just didn’t understand but as the chapter progressed it seemed to make more sense – so stick with it J

On prayer – it’s natural for anyone who believes in God, (or hopes there is a god), to want to know how to communicate with him. It always seems funny to me though that the disciples ask Jesus how to pray when they’ve been travelling with him and heard him, presumably, many times. Why didn’t they just copy him? I suspect though from the immediate context that unlike Jesus, they didn’t know how to relate/communicate to God as though he were their father. This was new and really different. No one before Jesus had ever referred to God as father, certainly not in any intimate way like Jesus was. And remember, this side of history, anything we know about prayer to God is completely influenced by this very interaction.

We think of God as: worth honouring; our provider; the one who forgives us; the one who protects us from the devil. We also think of God as: a good father, who only gives good gifts (including the Holy Spirit – His very own life-giving essence and power!); someone who responds to meet our needs, no matter how outrageous they might seem; and someone who will be found by anyone who seeks him.

But you wouldn’t want to be a Pharisee or a teacher of the law! This is not “gentle Jesus, meek and mild”! Frankly, it’s no wonder they ended up arranging to have Jesus killed. In my experience, no one likes getting told off – let alone adults – let alone leaders/teachers of adults.

According to the text though, Jesus is actually responding to their ridiculous notion that he was casting out demons by the prince of demons, Beelzebul. The Pharisee could have seen (and had) all the wonderful things that Jesus was doing. (Remember Jesus’ words to John the Baptist, Luke 7:22? Look at what I’m doing and make your mind up about who I am?).

The Pharisees were threatened by who Jesus was to such an extent that they were making up lies and trying to rap him into saying something they could prove was against their religious laws. But their real issue, as far as Jesus was concerned, was that they were making it hard for ordinary people to find their way into God’s kingdom. And that they were actually hypocrites with what they taught and actually did.

So here’s some thoughts for us:

• How does your idea of God measure up with the way Jesus speaks to him as father?
• Are you a timid or audacious pray-er? What could you be praying about that you haven’t thought was enough to worry God with?
• Is there anything you do or communicate about God that might be a barrier for those who don’t really know him yet? Do you start with rules or relationship? How can you foster your own relationship with God such that it might encourage others to do the same?

#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday10
#willyoujoinme

Welcome to day 10 of our “Advent Calendar”. Please read Luke chapter 10 and see what lies behind the door of hopeful expectation . . .

In yesterday’s reading it was the 12 Apostles, today it’s a wider group of disciples (72 others) who get sent out by Jesus in pairs. This movement is gathering momentum! But note the very deliberate strategy of Jesus. He doesn’t just send them anywhere. They are to look for and stay with “someone of peace”. If they get a knock-back, they are to move on.

There’s such life and freedom in this method! We all know what it’s like to experience genuine welcome. Someone who shows you favour or kindness or who opens doors to others. This is what we should be looking for. For me, I’m looking for my spirit to sing, as it were (or like the baby leaping within you – remember Luke 1:41?) and I know it’s going to be alright talking about Jesus or doing ministry in his name with that person.

None the less I am always challenged by this call to miraculous ministry (v9) but two things are true and make it easier. Firstly, if I go with someone else, they help me with moral support (at the very least) but usually with extra insight to the situation. Secondly, if I find myself with a true person of peace, I know whatever I do or say in the name of Jesus will be welcome.

v16 is both encouraging and consoling. “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” And I like to hold it alongside

Matthew 10:40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me”.

And just a quick word about the Good Samaritan. Back in Luke 9:51-55 we get a snapshot of the general feeling between Jews and Samaritans which helps give some context for this parable. The people you would expect to care and help – don’t. The person you don’t expect to care or help – does. This is another way to identify a person of peace. Who would you rather work with?

• Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs? Who might God pair you with?
• What similarities can you see between a “person of peace” (v6) and a “neighbour” (v36)
• Write down the names of obvious people of peace/neighbours for you? What is Jesus saying to you about them?
• Who might you be a person of peace to today? Tomorrow? Next week?
• Which everyday albeit important activities are you allowing to get in the way of focussing on what Jesus is saying to you?

#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday9
#willyoujoinme

If you dare, read Luke chapter 9!

Remember I said yesterday it’s important to believe and trust that Jesus brings life and healing? This chapter is the pivotal point for this gospel. It’s the moments when the disciples have to make their minds up about who Jesus is. They’ve witnessed miracle after miracle. They’ve heard wise moral teaching. They’ve seen demons cast out, they’ve even seen resurrections! And now Jesus says to the twelve Apostles (note: this would have included Judas) effectively, “go and do what you’ve seen me doing”. That was a normal statement for a rabbi to make, remember, but oh boy, this is something else! How would you have felt?

And they get on with it, with such success that even the king is now asking “who is this man (and his followers)?” Surely, this must be one of the main goals of our own discipleship – people should be asking as a result of our following Jesus, “Who are these people and the man they follow?”

Note that Jesus promises power & provision (v1-5) and demonstrates it in the feeding of the 5000. Then, after their first ‘direct mission’ and his demonstration of provision, then, he asks them finally, “Who do you say I am?” You may want to reflect on the idea that it’s only after going on mission and learning to trust in God’s power & provision that they are truly able to say who Jesus is. If you never go on “mission” (ie put Jesus’ promises into action), will you ever truly believe in who he is?

And lest we get overly (irrationally) excited about going on mission with Jesus, sober up with the words of v23 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. These are words of triumph, but only after personal and costly sacrifice!

• Is anyone asking about Jesus because of what you are doing and saying?
• What’s stopping you from being engaged with God’s mission? (Why not go and talk to your pastor about getting involved somehow?)
• Have you asked for Jesus’ empowerment (the Holy Spirit) to equip you for the job?
• Who is God speaking to you about right now that needs healing or some other evidence of Jesus’ good news?
• What are you going to have to “die to” in order to follow Jesus?

#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday8
#willyoujoinme

Hi Everyone – guess what, after you read chapter 8, we’re a third of the way through! Isn’t it wonderful that no matter how many times you read these accounts of Jesus’ life, there’s always something new to learn and think about?

vv15, 16 & 21, all seem to be reiterating that when you know who Jesus is, true faith looks like putting into practice what you’ve learnt from him. Normally we’re not called to hide it away but to keep finding ways to live it out. But the parable of the sower seems to indicate that not everybody will, for various reasons.

None the less, those who DO produce a good crop. Stop and think about that for a moment. What you are doing for Jesus, living out your faith as best you can, will produce good fruit – Jesus just said it would! Be encouraged!

Now let’s have a look at the demon-possessed man, Jairus and the sick woman. All three come to Jesus, but one out of fear and the others out of faith. I want to say that fear brings death and faith brings life. (John 10:10) It so striking to hear of someone being afraid that Jesus would torture him! Fear is a liar and comes from the “father of lies” – the Devil (John 8:44). There’s a song around called “Fear is a Liar” by Zach Williams which you may find helpful. [It’s C&W which is not normally my preference but don’t let that put you off 😉 ]

Fear makes people do strange and unhelpful things. If you’re ever afraid to do something for Jesus, consider who the source of that fear is. Jesus only ever brings life but sometimes you have to push through what “fear” is telling you. Fear will tell you:

• you might offend
• you might make a mistake
• you might not be important enough
• people might not like you or ridicule you
• you might get hurt

The demon-possessed man, Jairus and the sick woman, even the disciples in the boat during the storm all prove that trusting in Jesus brings life and healing. It’s important to believe that before moving on to the next stage in discipleship, as we’ll find out in the next chapter.

Are you currently afraid of what’s next? Is the “storm” raging? Where is your faith – in the one who brings life or the one who lies? (Don’t worry, I’m asking these questions of myself too!)

There’s another song playing as I write “No longer slaves” by Bethel Music. One line of the chorus goes, “I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God” Maybe that’s for us today 🙂

#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday7
#willyoujoinme

Chapter 7 (It’s tough to read such big slabs when you’re also trying to reflect on what they mean, isn’t it?)

Oh to have the faith of the Centurion! v7 “ . . . just say the word and my servant will be healed” and yet I know that many of you reading this have faith just like that! Your prayers amount to the same – and that’s without Jesus moving about (in the flesh) in your community! And notice that Jesus’ comment is about faith rather than his own power to heal “remotely”.

But then things get ramped up even further by a resurrection! Wow! Just imagine you were hearing these stories for the first time . . . wouldn’t you be thinking “who IS this man”? Luke reports the people as saying he must be a v17 “great prophet”. Then we hear of John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin remember) asking, v19 “are you the one?” Everyone’s trying to work it out.

In v22 Jesus is effectively saying, “If you want to work out who I am, look at what I’m doing”. “Who else do you know who can do these things?” The trouble for the people at the time was, only God can and yet Jesus was a man, so how would they respond?

The story of the woman anointing Jesus’ feet is one response, the faith of the centurion another. These incidents are recounted to help US think about who Jesus is and how we will respond to him. This is exactly what Luke is trying to do for us and therefore exactly what God wants us to be thinking about and responding to.

• In what ways has Jesus been “good news” to you? (eg healing, forgiveness, wisdom)
• How would you like to respond to Jesus in thankfulness?
• How might you tell your good news story so that somebody else might have faith in Jesus?
• Who would you love to tell? Why not pray about an opportunity to do so?

#disciplemaking
#adventcalendarday5
#willyoujoinme

Luke 5

In the days of Jesus, it was common for a rabbi (teacher) to take some young men as students (disciples) and they would do everything the rabbi would do.

I love this story of Simon becoming a disciple . . . v5 is almost “you’re clearly crazy but because you healed my mother in law I’ll give it a whirl!” And then of course Jesus astonishes him with an extraordinary catch.

Keep that question in your mind, “What would God on earth look like?”

He looks like:
Someone who knows where the fish are (more than the experts)
Someone who is generous (even with those who’ve been proven wrong)
Someone who wants to and can heal
Someone who thinks that having your sins forgiven is really important (even more important than being healed)
Someone who believes even the socially unclean can be included in God’s kingdom
Someone who is not too fussed with the way things have always been done and recognizes that new ideas sometimes require new contexts
Someone who came for those who needed him not those who didn’t think they did

• Is that someone you could follow (learn from)?
• What does Jesus know (better) about your work (social group / family) that you don’t?
• Do you need healing?
• Do you need your sin being forgiven?