Mark’s version of the Great Commission calls us to
“preach the Good News to all creation (Greek: cosmos, literally all that is seen and unseen)” (Mark 16:15). I
love Mark’s emphasis: the Gospel of Jesus Christ applies to wholeness, to the
totality of all that we are, all that we are becoming, and all that we will one
day be, as well as all that we will never be. This is the life of discipleship
in which we are called to live and move and have our being.
Jeffrey
Jones, in Traveling Together: A Guide for
Disciple-Forming Congregations, suggests the following marks of the
Christian disciple:
·
An abiding desire to grow in
relationship to Christ
·
An active trust in the power of God
·
An evident sense of humility
·
A deep yearning to discern and respond
to God’s call
·
A willingness to change (yes, this
applies even to Presbyterians J )
·
An ability to deal with conflict that
change and challenge bring
·
An enduring spirit of gentleness
·
A bold commitment to participate in
God’s mission in the world, always in a compassionate way and often in a
prophetic one.
Beyond noting the marks of a
Christian disciple, Jones, as the title of his book suggests, is concerned with
what congregations can do to encourage individuals toward growth in this
direction. While he lists many congregational practices worthy of discussion,
three in particular draw my attention:
·
Gifts
and Call as the Basis for Ministry: FrederichBuechner
said vocation is where the world’s great need and our great passion intersect.
I would add a third caveat: and where God has gifted us with spiritual gifts.
Are we calling people to discover the intersection of these three essential
values, or are we just filling committee slots for the good of the
organization?
·
Shared
Ministry of Laity and Clergy: The recovery of the
priesthood of all believers forces us to redefine everything we think about
ministry, especially its location! “The laity must become the ministry of the
church in the world. It is yours! It is not that you are to pitch in and help
out but that you are the only hope we have.” How are we as congregations
creating opportunities and training toward making our shared priesthood a
living reality among those beyond our church walls?
·
A
Commitment to Equipping: Jones points to the decreased
effectiveness of the traditional Sunday School as an inevitable consequence of
the increased need for shared, missional ministry that calls for people’s
spiritual giftedness. One hour a week won’t cut it! Instead, the new reality of
discipleship formation requires such practices as holistic small groups,
“service-worship” that is framed by reflection on
Scripture, prayer and discussion, as well as a commitment to rethink our budget
priorities: “In the disciple-forming congregation the ‘equipping budget’ will
be a high priority and used primarily by laity who are being equipped for
ministry outside the church.”
I better stop here; in suggesting a
change in how you do your budget, (as they say in the South), I stopped
preachin’ and went to meddlin’. I hope, however, I have offered good grist for
the mill of reflection and discussion among us all!
Grace to you today and always,
Brad Munroe
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