DISCIPLESHIP 101 #10/10

#1 · July 20, 2005, 3:50 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on July 20, 2005, 3:50 pm
Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

DISCIPLESHIP 101 #10/10

NEWS TALK
July 17, 2005
Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-14

We live in contentious times. Red states - blue states. Support the war -
oppose the war. Conservative - liberal. These and many more ideas can fan
alive the flames of heated debate in mere moments. Radio and television
airwaves, newspapers, and internet sites are filled with news talk about
the latest hot topics.

Even though some like to think that the world has never seen a time like
ours before, things were pretty contentious back in Pauls day. We have
read in 2 Timothy, So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or
ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the
gospel For the simple reason of being a witness to Jesus Christ, Paul
writes, That is why I am suffering as I am. We know well from both
Pauls autobiographical comments and those who have studied the life of
Paul that he was beaten, chased, and placed in prison simply because he
testified to the meaning and truth of the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Sounds like rather contentious times to me.

In our day, we have the phenomenon of news talk to get people involved
in discussions about current topics. It even seems that the more
contentious the topic, the more involvement there is. Paul, too, had his
outlets where he could get his message out into the public forum. He went
to synagogues. In fact, he often began there. He went to the
marketplaces. He went to other places where people gathered. He even
stood before royalty and proclaimed the message of Christ when he had the
opportunity. If there had been newspapers, he would have written letters
to the editor. If there had been talk radio, he would have called in.
Paul took advantage of every opportunity he could find to proclaim the
Gospel.

And why not? Gospel is a word that means good news. The very story of
Gods salvation through Jesus is a news item worthy of news talk. Paul
certainly believed this. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord
Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am
convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that
day.

Last week, I said that a goal of a Christian disciple is to become like
our Teacher, Jesus. As disciples, or students, did for any teacher in
those days, they were excited about their teacher and proclaimed his
philosophies enthusiastically. They were not ashamed to openly proclaim
their teachers philosophies and insights.

As Paul expressed to Timothy, and through Timothy to the churches,
Christians are not to be ashamed to testify about our Lord. Christians
are witnesses, and our witness is about what Jesus has done. This grace
was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now
been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has
destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the
gospel. Thats some powerful news talk!

Our Region has a vision statement that reads, Our Vision is to see the
joy of Gods salvation in the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and
Kentucky by creating a Region in which: every church is healthy and
vital; every Christian is involved in daily discipleship; every person is
reached with the gospel. In his address at the Region annual meeting on
October 15, 2004, the Reverend Doctor Larry Mason said, Discipleship is
far more than gaining information, it is formation - and that just does
not happen. As we enter into the family of God we begin a lifelong
relationship that is rooted in love and obedience Discipleship is how we
engage the world in the power of Christ, demonstrating to the world
through our daily lives the good news of the gospel. Healthy churches
disciple, and disciples take the gospel to the world through acts of love
and with a sense of responsibility to the love that Jesus Christ gave us
on the cross. (Larry Mason, Called to be Gods People, an Annual
Meeting Sermon for the ABC of Indiana & Kentucky, Oct. 15, 2004, pp. 8-9)

An important part of what Dr. Mason said that evening is that
discipleship is far more than gaining information Growing in knowledge
and understanding of the Lord is important and a part of Christian
discipleship. Consequently, reading Scripture is important. Bible study
is important. Devotions are important. Reflecting and meditating in and
on the Word of God is important. Being trained in the Word and in ways to
minister effectively is important. But we are not living as disciples if
we are only gaining information.

In that same message, Dr. Mason told this story: In a step of corporate
cooperation AT&T signed an agreement with a New York City electrical
utility that during long periods of time of high demand for electricity
for that utility that really exceeded its capacity, AT&T would
voluntarily go off line - unplug some of its facilities, throw a switch
to move over to internal generators at their 33rd Thomas property in
Manhattan. On September 26th, 1993, AT&T had an opportunity to act on
their new agreement. And they did what they had agreed to do. They threw
a switch and moved off line into their internal generators. But what they
didnt anticipate [was] that when their generators kicked in, there was
such a surge of power that it deactivated many of their very significant
rectifiers that handled [communication circuitry for] 4.5 million
domestic calls, 470,000 international calls, 11,740 airline flights
carrying 85,000 passengers, and totally dismantled the communication
between LaGuardia, Kennedy, and Newark Airports. When that happened the
alarms went off and blared for six hours at AT&Ts 33rd Thomas property
in Manhattan. But the alarms went unheeded because every bit of the
personnel who handled the rectifiers were at a seminar learning how to
handle emergencies. (Larry Mason, Called to be Gods People, an Annual
Meeting Sermon for the ABC of Indiana & Kentucky, Oct. 15, 2004, p. 10)

Obviously, attending a seminar to learn how to handle emergencies is
important. We want people in positions of responsibility - law
enforcement personnel, firefighters, nuclear power operators, airline
pilots, and any number of other personnel working in areas of public
safety - to be trained in how to handle emergencies. But, when the time
comes, we also want those personnel to actually handle the emergency!

Dr. Mason makes this connection, Lets not be caught studying how to do
ministry when ministry desperately needs to be done. (Larry Mason,
Called to be Gods People, an Annual Meeting Sermon for the ABC of
Indiana & Kentucky, Oct. 15, 2004, p. 10) Nothing wrong with Bible study
or learning how to do ministry. Nothing wrong with learning new skills
that enhance our ability to use our Spiritual gifts. But the point of the
illustration and the point of Dr. Masons application is that if we are
not doing the ministry when ministry needs to be done, then were not
producing a yield for Gods Kingdom.

Make no doubt about it; ministry needs to be done. What does that mean?
Evangelize? Yes. Teach? Yes. Visit in homes and hospitals? Yes. Give to
the Lords work? Yes. Mentor a new Christian? Yes. Reach out to children
and others in need? Yes. All of these are ministry needs. Im sure you
can think of a few more. Christians today have access to more books,
videos, and training seminars than ever before. And they are quality
resources. But what do we do with them after we have read, viewed, or
attended them? Seems like theres always another one to get or go to.
Consider the resources that Paul had and look at his accomplishments.
Consider the resources we have and look at our accomplishments. Sadly, we
are found wanting. The warning alarms are going off, and we are at a
seminar learning how to handle emergencies.

As I said earlier, our culture is filled with news talk. A lot of people
want to have a voice in the topics of our day. And there are a lot of
topics in our day. So why cant we be serious about the real news topic,
our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel. Maturity is putting into
practice what we have learned, and we have learned a lot. For God did
not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of
self-discipline. Be a minister and a witness for our Savior, Christ
Jesus.

Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

NEWS TALK
July 17, 2005
Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-14

We live in contentious times. Red states - blue states. Support the war -
oppose the war. Conservative - liberal. These and many more ideas can fan
alive the flames of heated debate in mere moments. Radio and television
airwaves, newspapers, and internet sites are filled with news talk about
the latest hot topics.

Even though some like to think that the world has never seen a time like
ours before, things were pretty contentious back in Pauls day. We have
read in 2 Timothy, So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or
ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the
gospel For the simple reason of being a witness to Jesus Christ, Paul
writes, That is why I am suffering as I am. We know well from both
Pauls autobiographical comments and those who have studied the life of
Paul that he was beaten, chased, and placed in prison simply because he
testified to the meaning and truth of the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Sounds like rather contentious times to me.

In our day, we have the phenomenon of news talk to get people involved
in discussions about current topics. It even seems that the more
contentious the topic, the more involvement there is. Paul, too, had his
outlets where he could get his message out into the public forum. He went
to synagogues. In fact, he often began there. He went to the
marketplaces. He went to other places where people gathered. He even
stood before royalty and proclaimed the message of Christ when he had the
opportunity. If there had been newspapers, he would have written letters
to the editor. If there had been talk radio, he would have called in.
Paul took advantage of every opportunity he could find to proclaim the
Gospel.

And why not? Gospel is a word that means good news. The very story of
Gods salvation through Jesus is a news item worthy of news talk. Paul
certainly believed this. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord
Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am
convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that
day.

Last week, I said that a goal of a Christian disciple is to become like
our Teacher, Jesus. As disciples, or students, did for any teacher in
those days, they were excited about their teacher and proclaimed his
philosophies enthusiastically. They were not ashamed to openly proclaim
their teachers philosophies and insights.

As Paul expressed to Timothy, and through Timothy to the churches,
Christians are not to be ashamed to testify about our Lord. Christians
are witnesses, and our witness is about what Jesus has done. This grace
was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now
been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has
destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the
gospel. Thats some powerful news talk!

Our Region has a vision statement that reads, Our Vision is to see the
joy of Gods salvation in the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and
Kentucky by creating a Region in which: every church is healthy and
vital; every Christian is involved in daily discipleship; every person is
reached with the gospel. In his address at the Region annual meeting on
October 15, 2004, the Reverend Doctor Larry Mason said, Discipleship is
far more than gaining information, it is formation - and that just does
not happen. As we enter into the family of God we begin a lifelong
relationship that is rooted in love and obedience Discipleship is how we
engage the world in the power of Christ, demonstrating to the world
through our daily lives the good news of the gospel. Healthy churches
disciple, and disciples take the gospel to the world through acts of love
and with a sense of responsibility to the love that Jesus Christ gave us
on the cross. (Larry Mason, Called to be Gods People, an Annual
Meeting Sermon for the ABC of Indiana & Kentucky, Oct. 15, 2004, pp. 8-9)

An important part of what Dr. Mason said that evening is that
discipleship is far more than gaining information Growing in knowledge
and understanding of the Lord is important and a part of Christian
discipleship. Consequently, reading Scripture is important. Bible study
is important. Devotions are important. Reflecting and meditating in and
on the Word of God is important. Being trained in the Word and in ways to
minister effectively is important. But we are not living as disciples if
we are only gaining information.

In that same message, Dr. Mason told this story: In a step of corporate
cooperation AT&T signed an agreement with a New York City electrical
utility that during long periods of time of high demand for electricity
for that utility that really exceeded its capacity, AT&T would
voluntarily go off line - unplug some of its facilities, throw a switch
to move over to internal generators at their 33rd Thomas property in
Manhattan. On September 26th, 1993, AT&T had an opportunity to act on
their new agreement. And they did what they had agreed to do. They threw
a switch and moved off line into their internal generators. But what they
didnt anticipate [was] that when their generators kicked in, there was
such a surge of power that it deactivated many of their very significant
rectifiers that handled [communication circuitry for] 4.5 million
domestic calls, 470,000 international calls, 11,740 airline flights
carrying 85,000 passengers, and totally dismantled the communication
between LaGuardia, Kennedy, and Newark Airports. When that happened the
alarms went off and blared for six hours at AT&Ts 33rd Thomas property
in Manhattan. But the alarms went unheeded because every bit of the
personnel who handled the rectifiers were at a seminar learning how to
handle emergencies. (Larry Mason, Called to be Gods People, an Annual
Meeting Sermon for the ABC of Indiana & Kentucky, Oct. 15, 2004, p. 10)

Obviously, attending a seminar to learn how to handle emergencies is
important. We want people in positions of responsibility - law
enforcement personnel, firefighters, nuclear power operators, airline
pilots, and any number of other personnel working in areas of public
safety - to be trained in how to handle emergencies. But, when the time
comes, we also want those personnel to actually handle the emergency!

Dr. Mason makes this connection, Lets not be caught studying how to do
ministry when ministry desperately needs to be done. (Larry Mason,
Called to be Gods People, an Annual Meeting Sermon for the ABC of
Indiana & Kentucky, Oct. 15, 2004, p. 10) Nothing wrong with Bible study
or learning how to do ministry. Nothing wrong with learning new skills
that enhance our ability to use our Spiritual gifts. But the point of the
illustration and the point of Dr. Masons application is that if we are
not doing the ministry when ministry needs to be done, then were not
producing a yield for Gods Kingdom.

Make no doubt about it; ministry needs to be done. What does that mean?
Evangelize? Yes. Teach? Yes. Visit in homes and hospitals? Yes. Give to
the Lords work? Yes. Mentor a new Christian? Yes. Reach out to children
and others in need? Yes. All of these are ministry needs. Im sure you
can think of a few more. Christians today have access to more books,
videos, and training seminars than ever before. And they are quality
resources. But what do we do with them after we have read, viewed, or
attended them? Seems like theres always another one to get or go to.
Consider the resources that Paul had and look at his accomplishments.
Consider the resources we have and look at our accomplishments. Sadly, we
are found wanting. The warning alarms are going off, and we are at a
seminar learning how to handle emergencies.

As I said earlier, our culture is filled with news talk. A lot of people
want to have a voice in the topics of our day. And there are a lot of
topics in our day. So why cant we be serious about the real news topic,
our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel. Maturity is putting into
practice what we have learned, and we have learned a lot. For God did
not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of
self-discipline. Be a minister and a witness for our Savior, Christ
Jesus.

Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN