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January 22, 2006
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Discipleship
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Pastor Brian Shimer
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"When can I be a disciple?"
Luke 9: 23-24
(John Towne with a mike on, seated in the sanctuary during the service will make occasional comments about the length of hymns, of service, etc. up until the message time and then during the reading of the scripture will fall asleep)
B: John, what are you doing?
J: Sleeping! What? Wait! You woke me up!
B: Yeah, but you were sleeping! What are you doing sleeping? You are at a worship service, John. You need to sleep at home.
J: Hey, and whose fault is it? You are overtime.
B: What?
J: Yes, you are overtime. You see it is like this. You have one hour each week for worship - that is my time for God. And you have gone over these past weeks. What was the first Sunday of the month?
B: Communion?
J: That's right. And you were over by 35 minutes. And once it is gone…
B: It's really gone.
J: So, you were over a bit the next Sunday and the next so by the time we arrived at this Sunday, guess what: you had 10 minutes left. So, for that 10 minutes, I was all ears, I was participating, singing, everything. But after it, well, I was not rude, I did not just leave! Oh no. I stayed, even though you were overtime, and decided when you had the same Bible passage read again to just take a little nap.
B: Where John did you get the idea that you only give an hour to God?
J: Brian, everybody knows that. And besides, I am here to straighten you out.
B: Wait. For two Sundays I have been preaching specifically on discipleship. You know, "following Jesus"? I said we have to turn from our own way, from our selfish ambitions, to even be following him, then we take up our cross - we face the fact we are mortal and will die, we die to our own sin, and seeing ourselves dead to sin, we are alive to God and follow him. John where in the idea of following Jesus does "follow Jesus for an hour each week come in?" After all, John, you are a disciple.
J: Wait, wait, wait, a disciple? Oh no. I am no disciple. A disciple is a professional Christian. That is what you are! You see, a disciple is a professional Christian. Full time. I have to work. I don't have time to stay 7 days a week, 24 hours a day here in this building.
B: In this building, John, where did you get that idea?
J: Where? Well, I am going to get you now! I got it from you and the likes of you. For don't you tell people, "Come to church and be in the presence of God"?
B: Well, yes.
J: So, the presence of God is in church.
B: Oh no, John.
J: And if the presence of God is in church, I come to be in the presence of God for an hour a week, and then go home.
B: John, God does not dwell in buildings made by human hands. He dwells in the heart of his people and is present everywhere not just in church.
J: everywhere?
B: Yes, so if you are home, God is there. If you are in the grocery store, God is there. If you are in your kitchen, or at work, or wherever,
J: God is there?
B: Yes. So, when we come to church we are gathering to worship the God who is there in community.
J: Wait, I like this. I don't have to come into church to be in the presence of God?
B: No.
J: Ah! That means I don't need to come to church at all for I can be with God in my living room or kitchen. (starts to walk out of church)
B: Wait, John, where are you going?
J: Well, if I don't need to be here, I can go home, right?
B: What about the Bible passage that says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing…" It says we are to meet together (Heb 10:25).
J: It says that?
B: Yes, the Bible says that.
J: Really?
B: John, haven't you read the Bible?
J: (offended) Of course I have read the Bible, the whole thing, cover to cover.
B: When was that?
J; Well, 25 years ago when I became a Christian I read it through.
B: That was the only time?
J: I happen to have a very good memory.
B: But you did not even know the Bible says that we are to meet together.
J: Well, you just tugged that one out of your hat to trick me.
B: I did. John, we need the Bible. It needs to be read more than once.
J: Why? I have a good memory. What can I possibly get out of rereading something. That was what bothered me so much about the same passage being read week after week in church - what am I to get out of it time and time again.
B: The Bible is written under the inspiration of Almighty God, John. God speaks more to us the more we read it. In fact the reason I believe so strongly in reading the Bible is because of the influence of a friend of mine who more than 20 years ago by his own example encouraged my own reading of the Scriptures. This friend reads many chapters a day in fact he has probably read through the Bible 20 or 30 times by now.
J: Oh, my. That is really amazing. He must have a really bad memory. You know, there is a medication that they make which can help him with this.
B: John there is no need for a medication for a better memory, in fact he seems to remember quite well what he has read. But God speaks as he reads. He is here this morning. Perhaps he would speak to what benefit the Bible has to him.
This is Robby, here, John.
J: Hi. Wow you read a lot of the Bible. Doesn't that get boring?
Robby: Actually, it is richly rewarding. It has become such a part of my life that God uses it to speak to me, to change how I think about life and about God, and has taught me to know the Lord so much better.
B: So, are you saying that reading the Bible has proved beneficial to you?
Robby: Immensely so. I continue to gain new insights into passages I have read multiple times. It is often as if I have never before read a passage with the depth of insight that comes to me as I read it again.
B: Thanks Robby for sharing.
So, John, what do you think. Maybe you ought to start reading the Bible.
J: You know, I Have a confession for you.
B: Not again?
J; I do. You see my wife has been trying to get me to read the Bible and the other day when she was reading hers, I looked over her shoulder and saw what she was reading. I did not intend to do it, but I read a verse.
B: You read a verse of Scripture. That is your confession?
J: No, well, not exactly. You see I read it and that day at work someone was telling me how he had come down with a really serious illness and do you know what? That very scripture came to mind and I was able to use it in this friend's life and it helped him greatly. That's my confession that the Bible was a blessing in that circumstance.
B: That is a great story. So, do you see John? What does that tell you about reading the Bible?
J: I guess it says that reading it would give God an opportunity to speak to me.
B: So, do you think you could read as much as Robby does?
J: Oh, no, I don't think so. Chapters a day? I don't think I could do that yet, but I could read a verse or a passage. But that means I may come across some things I don't understand well. Hey, if I do, do you think I could call you and ask you?
B: Of course you could, as I can call you when I come across stuff I don't understand!
J: Yes, that would be good. You know, there is a lot to ponder today. First God is everywhere and has called us to follow him day by day, not just an hour a week. And then, God's Word is an available resource to us to read and ponder and allow God to speak to us.
That is so much to ponder that I think I need to go sit down and think about it.
B: you can do that and I will get on with the sermon.
J: The sermon? Brian, I am sorry, but, you know, you did it again.
B: I did it?
J: Yes, you have used your time up for the sermon. Tick, tick, tick, it is all gone.
B: But we have not talked that long.
J: Yes, and it is gone so, if it was a really good sermon, perhaps you can save it for next week.
B: How do you do this so consistently, John?
J: How do I do it? It is you who did it, you went over, remember?
B: Well, perhaps then if you think that you have something to ponder, maybe we all do. That we can begin to follow Jesus now and day by day is the "today" of our following after him. And that the Word is something we all need to be opening so that God can speak.
That is about it.
Okay. Let's pray.
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