Nick’s Walk

Yesterday I blasted teachers and preachers. I aimed at a real problem but after some thought not the biggest problem. Let me share my frustration and re-aim my concern. I believe that the church is the last best hope for us all. I also believe that it is generally ineffective in its mission. This is certainly not a failure of the Spirit, and probably less a failure of leadership than it is a lack of response in the flock. Let me use last Sunday at my church as an example. We have a teaching hour at 9 a.m. Sunday we had an important message on “Fishers of Men.” But like teaching hours at most churches, it was not well attended. However, the message was so important that the Spirit gave the same message to the Pastor to pass on at the principal service. Even many of the same scriptures were involved. As it turned out however, much of the church was not in a position to receive that message. Much of the 10 o’clock time was taken up in prayer for health and other needs. This was a Spirit Led time of prayer and very necessary. Our congregation, like […]

I love reading the words in red in scripture, the words of Jesus. They are a study in themselves. Jesus’ ability to convey profound thoughts in a handful of words is a wonderful gift. We have a limited window to communicate with others. If we pour out too many words without sufficient meaning, our listener will cut us off. We have all experienced the termination of listening long before the speaker has run out of words. Jesus was well aware of this phenomenon and spoke with a great respect for His listener with every word counting. Review the gospels and read any of Jesus teachings or exchanges. They are short and sweet and nothing is left to be said at the end. It is a gift that has been lost in the modern church. Much of what is said on Sunday mornings is repetitious babble. I don’t know why preachers think they can add to the words of Jesus. I don’t know why they think saying something 10 times is more profound than saying it once. There seems to be a compulsion to fill an imaginary time period each Sunday morning like we were dealing with a news talk […]

I am enjoying the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this year. Two of my favorite teams are still alive: The Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats are both in the final eight. It’s amazing to me how the same programs have success each year. I understand that success breeds success; but it must be admitted that certain men have the uncanny ability to get self-centered, egotistical, eighteen year-old superstars, to decide they can be better and that success lays in being part of a team. It’s really what Jesus does for us in the process of Discipleship. Jesus meets us where we are, challenges us to be better than we are, makes us want to be better than we are, enables us to be better than we are, and joins us together as part of His spiritual body to spread His gospel here on earth. As part of the team, our real worth emerges. It’s amazing to watch these guys take skinny freshmen and build them into basketball scoring machines. These guys are drilled in teamwork. Each having a role in producing the eventual winning machine. It’s what Jesus calls us into. He wants us to give up our individual goals […]

Touch, TIme and Truth are the elements of Discipleship. Truth is the goal; the centerpiece of discipleship. It is the area in which we most often fail. First. We often try to deposit Truth without having it ourselves. It is impossible to deposit Truth into the life of another unless it is securely part of our own life. We need to make sure we possess truth before we try to give it to someone else. Truth isn’t a set of true facts. We often make the mistake of believing that truth is a set of beliefs. Not so. Jesus explained, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” The truth we are called to deposit is not a set of ideas; it is the person of Jesus Christ. It is a living truth that can respond to and address all the question and needs of life. We can’t transform another’s life, by substituting their beliefs for ours. We often believe we can deposit truth instantaneously, without investing touch or time. While it is true that Jesus gave the Good Thief on the cross all he needed in a matter of moments, we are not Jesus and the person […]

The elements of Discipleship are Touch, TIme and Truth. Although may treat touch as a limited commodity that we dole out miserly, time really is limited. We are each given but 24 hours in a day and those are eaten up pretty quickly. Sleeping, eating, taking care of personal needs, work, care for children all eat into those 24 hours. The time we have for ministering, discipleship is limited. But it’s not as limited as we think. Try recording your use of time for a day, or even better, a week. You will be surprised how much time we waste. And if we are recording our time, we are less likely to be wasteful as we are on a non-monitored day. Our allocation of time is a function of our value system. We do what we consider important. We need to sleep and eat so we spend time on these activities. We owe so off to work we go. If we cherish family, we find time to spend with them. But much of our time we flit away staring at a tv screen or computer screen watching meaningless programs or playing mind-numbing video games. It is frightful to consider […]

Yesterday we discussed the elements of discipleship. Today I would like to expand on one of these: touch. I remember years ago a study of newborns which demonstrated the power of touch for these young ones. One set of newborns were touched and held regularly and the other group was not. There was a demonstrated difference in the health of the two groups. The power of touch continues well past the new born stage. One of the most dramatic parts of a Kairos weekend is watching how the residents go from being sullen and withdrawn to smiling at the hugs and touches from those who offer unconditional love. I believe we can judge the status of relationship by the fervor of touch. I greatly look forward for the first day my great grandchild is back with us. I know I will be kissed and hugged enthusiastically. We seem to lose that free spirit of touch as we get older. We need to be careful that we not lose that enthusiasm of touch. Are we willing to reach out and touch those we say we love? We live in a world that greatly needs a “touch” from above; but we […]

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2: 2 We are commissioned to “make disciples.” What does that mean? Well, it’s more than inviting someone to church or to a bible study. In 2 Timothy we are told about the “good deposit” we have been given. Our goal is to transfer that deposit to others. How do we do that? The first requirement is touch. Discipleship is a one-on-one operation. We have to “touch the life of another.” It takes more than prayer from afar or writing letters. It requires a physical presence. The second requirement is Time. We have to spend quality time with the one we are discipling. Quality time is necessary. We need the kind of relationship where two can sit together in silence and there will still be growth occurring. Time is the most valuable commodity we have and giving it is the greatest gift. The third requirement is Truth. We need to deposit truth into the life of others. No matter of touch or time will make a difference if what is transferred is […]

Matthew 7:21-24 English Standard Version (ESV) I Never Knew You 21 says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 never knew you; you workers of lawlessness.’ These have been described as the most frightening words in scripture. I have to say they scare me. Doing the will of the Father? Most of the time I’m not sure what the will of the Father is. Rarely do I feel I am doing it. As D.A. Carson puts it, “It is true, of course, that no man enters the kingdom because of his obedience; but it is equally true that no man enters the kingdom who is not obedient. It is true that men are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ; but it is equally true that God’s grace in a man’s life inevitably results in obedience. Any other view of grace cheapens grace, and turns it into something unrecognizable.” As Lloyd-Jones, comments, “We must realize that what God wants, and what our blessed Lord wants, above all, […]