Prayer is essential to disciple-making. God is the one who is sending laborers, empowering us to witness, and drawing people to Jesus. However, we are all called to witness when the Holy Spirit empowers us to do so (Acts 1:8). A witness tells about their experience. You don't have to be an expert; you just have to have met Jesus. In preparation for the power of the Spirit, I encourage you to know your Jesus story and know the gospel. This video teaches you how to prepare your Jesus story with three parts.
Dead Spirits and the Scientific Method
Baptism
At our church, we place a high value on proclaiming your trust in Jesus by following Him in Baptism. When we baptize, we celebrate. It is a pretty special time. We high-five, eat food, tell stories, and remember how good God is to us. We have a baptism service coming up soon, so I thought I would write a little bit about it:
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism is an outward proclamation of an inward decision to follow Christ.
WHY DO WE BAPTIZE?
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus talks about baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the first century, baptism was used to show that you were following the teaching of a particular rabbi. Today, we do the same thing. Baptism is an outward proclamation of a personal decision to follow Jesus. After you tell Jesus, "I'm in," you tell the world through baptism.
Ride the Lion
What would it be like to ride a lion? The thought has been with me for a long time and has been closely tied to a growing desire to be a part of some adventure. This is strange, because for years the spirit of adventure has been typified in the individualism of the American cowboy. Mounted on a horse (not a lion), he chooses his own way with bit and a bridle. I've always been taken with this imagery. The courageous life of a man who answers to none but himself sparks that piece of our hearts that thirsts for risk and meaning.
With respect, I don't think that's true adventure. It is certainly exciting, and it made Clint Eastwood famous. But,to give up everything for the pursuit of individualism, for the pursuit of the self seems to be a narrow goal and a wasted sacrifice. What have I gained if at the end of my life I can say that "I did it my way...for me?" At that, my life, my meaning and my pursuits would all end with my death. A pursuit that ends with me is not a pursuit worth my life.
I'm inspired by the truth that real meaning only happens when one gives his life to something greater that himself. This is what I think it would be like to Ride the Lion. A man on a lion doesn't choose his path. He holds on for dear life. He spends no time looking back, because there is no time to look back. Heart beating, hands sweating, he only looks ahead because there is no telling what will come next. He is completely surrendered to the will of the lion. This is true adventure, and I want it!
I am weary of "cowboy" endeavors that start and end with me. I want to see life from the back of the Lion. Not knowing what comes next, I want to live with the excitement that He's going to take me where He wants to go. This blog is a chronicle of my life following Jesus. I am often tempted to let go. Even worse, I sometimes try to turn or tame this Lion. But, ultimately I'm holding on with all I have. I hope my posts inspire you to grab on and hold on!
