Guess how many times Jesus said to his disciples, “be born again”? Once, in John 3:3 in his conversation with Nicodemus. Do you know how many times he said, “follow me”? More than thirty.

This is where some churches miss the mark. They get excited, all about how many souls they can claim. Now I will admit that some of those churches are intentional about discipleship; true discipleship, not “prosperity gospel.”

Following as a disciple can be measured in any of the spiritual gifts assessments that churches use. Based on areas of ministry that most churches have, it is simply providing opportunities for people to serve; tell their story. There are no magic tricks, silver bullets, gimmicks or strategies that take the place of being an evangelist. Ours is not to produce results – that is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Followership is best achieved by two things: prayer and Scripture. These prescriptions give you the fuel for your engine. The easy, brief daily discipline of beginning each day with these two things will unleash an evangelical, discipling power that will surprise you – if you let it! We as churches have tried unsuccessfully to “reinvent the wheel” when it comes to living a Christian life. More people are returning to spiritual roots, like Celtic prayer and monasticism. Our faith practices, exercising social justice and sharing leadership are other “hunks of coal” to “stoke the fire.”

Here at Joy, we are wrapping up a course on a book titled “The 7 Habits of Jesus.” So here’s the list:

Remembering your baptism
Listening to God’s Word
Praying for God’s help
Preparing to hear God’s forgiving Word in worship
Returning a percentage of what God has given us
Inviting others to baptism and Christ’s mission
Caring for others and creation with God’s love

Or, “Really Large Purple Plums Rot In Cars”

It’s not a great, unattainable mystery, blog readers. A mystery to be sure, but one in which the great imaginative journey will help you and I discover the joyous burden of following the Rabbi, the Teacher, the Lord of all who loves us unconditionally.

Pastor Art