Sermons for the Month
The Making of Disciples
DATE: 5/26/02
SERVICE: Holy Trinity Sunday
TEXT: Matthew 28:16-20To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
I'm a cook. You may not know that if certain friends of mine were in the congregation they would be falling off their chairs laughing. The fact is that while I liked to bake about 15 years ago, and I would even cook a meal now and then, I've pretty much become devoted to frozen meals and restaurants that serve large enough portions that I can get two meals for the price of one. However, for the sake of illustration, I'm still going to make the claim that I am a cook. I have cooked in past. I am acquainted with the recipe concept and I have the ability to do what I read, especially with guidance and encouragement. So, I'm a cook. I'm just not an accomplished or committed cook. If I became an apprentice or a disciple of someone who cooks well, I certainly could become a better cook. The long and the short of it is that I'm a cook who does not cook much or well but could do so, and that probably would be good for me and for my friends. Now keep that concept in mind because it applies to being disciples, which is the focus of today's Gospel lesson. We read that the 11 disciples are on a mountain with the resurrected Jesus. Even though Jesus is there, present with them, some are filled with doubt. Having seen him die, they are uncertain about what is now before their eyes. So, Jesus attempts to calm their doubts. First he assures them of his power, saying that God has given him all authority - in heaven and on earth. The proof of that is, of course, that he has been raised from the dead. Second, he gives his followers a commission, telling them to go make disciples of all nations. That raises the question, then, of how disciples are made. The answer is clear as Jesus continues, "make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." In baptism God makes disciples. The proclamation is made, we are God's loved and forgiven children and we did not have to do anything to earn or deserve God's acceptance, it was a gift of grace unmerited love. So, we are disciples. But, how are we at being disciples?" Are we serious disciples? Are we committed? Just as one can be a cook, but not do it well, one can be a disciple and be uninspiring. It takes effort and devotion to Jesus Christ in order to be disciples who are not questioned or laughed at if they state that they are one. That's why Jesus tells his followers to baptize and then to teach the baptized, "to obey all that I have commanded you." It's so that we disciples can learn to live as children of God. To paraphrase Dallas Willard who wrote an article in *"The Christian Century" titled, "How To Be A Disciple", we are learning from Jesus to live our lives as he would live life if he were us. Our goal is not necessarily to do everything Jesus did, but to do everything in the manner in which he did things. Professor Willard, who teaches philosophy at the University of Southern California, gave this example. "My main role in life, for example, is that of a professor in what is called a research university. As Jesus' apprentice, then, I constantly have before me the questions of how he would deal with students and colleagues in the specific connections involved in such a role. How would he design a course, and why? How would he compose a test, administer it and grade it? What would his research projects be, and why? How would he teach this course or that?" The point is, Professor Williard said, is that he is learning from Jesus how to lead my life, my whole life, my real life. And that's what all of us disciples are learning to do, whether we are teachers, or students, or waitresses, or plumbers, or computer "geeks", or bankers, or parents, or retired. We are not learning how to be religious but how to live our lives so that we are the best disciples we can be. We are striving to do for God's sake what we commonly do for our own sakes. That means, of course, that we are not just avoiding wrong, but we are seeking good, remembering that all tasks that serve a positive human purpose - from child care to dental care to lawn care - are important to God. We all know, I think, that seeking good is easier said than done. Probably few of us want to become a Christian nag or judge of people's behavior. To have people say, "He or she is really religious", may indicate the presence of a wall rather than a witness. So, we ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do if he were me?" and we become quietly bur firmly uncooperative with what everyone knows is wrong. We serve others in an unpretentious way. We follow the scripture's advice to pray always and to treat others as we want to be treated. And, we rely on Jesus - who says, "I am with you always, to the end of the age," to help us. In the process of moving this week I have dealt with many people - realtors, repair people, inspectors, painters, those who work for the utilities or phone companies and movers. As most of you know, the whole process can be quite frustrating, especially if you are juggling other responsibilities. I've met some exceptional people, and others who have some sharp edges. It's not hard to see who considers their work - indeed their day-to-day real lives - as a place of discipleship, an avenue through which things are done as Jesus himself would do them. I wonder how many were aware of their witness, be it positive or negative. This week I ran across a reading titled, "Letter to a Coach". In it a father is writing to his son's coach, noting that given the coach's record he must teach the game well. He says that while that's important, there is another phase of coaching that is even more important. He then describes how, in the coming years, the coach will become a part of the family's household conversations as their son comes home with stories about the coach's successes and abilities. "When we are hearing all this talk," the Father wrote, "Our son's eyes will shine. You see Coach, he will idolize you." He goes on to describe how there are no longer heroes in the world, or people who can be trusted. Then he concluded his letter, "You are our son's hero. We are relying on you. His muscles are nearly developed but his mind is still fragile and so impressionable. Your responsibilities are great. Impress him, Coach." We are not all coaches, but we all have a great responsibility in the world to impress people, not so much with who we are, but with how Jesus is working in and through us. We are disciples. And as we focus our attention on being apprentices of Jesus, using scripture to guide us in conducting our lives, we will be better disciples. That will, however, require time, effort, commitment and a desire to live our lives as Jesus would live them if her were us. Are we ready to have that powerful of an impact on the world? Let's hope so.
"How to Be a Disciple", Dallas Willard, "The Christian Century", April 22-29, 1998. AMEN