love

SUNSET WOMAN

by

In the 7th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, we have recorded for us two notable examples of the heart of God for needy, hurting, struggling people. The Scriptures concur that: “A true friend knows your weaknesses — and loves you anyway.”

This is the kind of love Jesus has for His people — such as John the Baptist whom we pondered a bit yesterday. Today’s reflection concerns a wayward woman, her perception that Jesus would receive her, and the response of Christ to this woman.

The story (told in Luke 7:36-50), begins with a Pharisee by the name of Simon who invited Jesus to his home for dinner. As they were having their meal together, a woman of ill-repute (no doubt a prostitute in that community) entered the Pharisee’s home and stood behind Jesus, weeping. Luke writes: “When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” (NLT)

An unloved, abused, desperate, or otherwise mistreated woman can be driven to desperate measures to relieve her burden. The “sinner” in Luke’s narrative was no doubt just such a woman. Oh, how the broken respond to the unconditional love of Jesus! This devastated matron had somehow heard about the gentle man from Galilee who called Himself “the good shepherd.”

Well, when Simon the Pharisee saw what she was doing, he thought to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” (v. 39)

What takes place next is equally fascinating: Rather than rip on Simon for his cold-hearted judgment, Jesus gently reprimands him via a parable (vv. 4-47) about a moneylender who excused a debt owed him by two debtors — an amount neither one could repay. The point of the parable was that both the sinful woman and Simon had a sin-debt before God. Unlike Pharisee “Sinless-Simon” (Ya, right!), the woman of ill-repute expressed her gratitude to Jesus in a very sacrificial and loving way: ceaseless tears which fell upon the feet of Jesus — tears which she wiped away with her long hair followed by the anointing of His feet with perfume — kissing His feet the whole time!

You are just like me: An undeserving recipient of God’s grace, compassion, and mercy. Remembering all that we’ve been forgiven, let us resolve to look at people through the eyes of Good Shepherd Jesus, the compassionate Savior. As Jesus reminded Simon in this story: “… he who has been forgiven little loves little” (v. 47). It’s difficult to admit, but most of us are more like the woman in the story than Simon — we have been forgiven much. Therefore, let us love much; let us show the wayward the way home.

Foundational Discipleship: Four Biblical Habits All Disciples Practice

by

The four Gospels articulate four foundational habits the LORD Jesus Himself practiced that He advocated for the first disciples: 
1)  A daily companioning worship walk with God (where prayer and conversation with God are givens and frequent);
2)  Daily meeting God in His Scriptures (the Word);
3)  Daily connecting with supportive relationships (fellowship) with fellow believers; and,
4)  Daily serving others on God’s behalf (serving).

These four habitual practices seem to be foundational for all believers, regardless of their unique and customized assignments.  Therefore, it should go without saying:  especially for those who God assigns to lead His congregation in the important and central activities of gathered congregational worship, that they  should set their sights on developing these life-long habits to a deep and central level in their own lives.

Pastor Grant Edwards of Fellowship Christian Church of Springfield, Ohio uses the more traditional terms for these four foundational practices:  prayer, Word, fellowship, service.[1] What follows is an application of these four principles to the discipleship process of worship leadership:

First, a daily companioning worship walk with God, where prayer and conversation with God are givens and frequent, is essential for anyone leading public worship.  It is the first foundation habit of every healthy disciple..  Any worship leader that does not develop such a companioning-worship-walk with the LORD will almost assuredly end up repeatedly placing most emphasis in their worship ministry on performance, production and administration.  And, the result will be just that:  performance with little congregational participation; entertainment of people without much congregational encounter of God. The worship leader should intend to talk with the LORD throughout the day more than you talk with anyone else. The result of this kind of lifestyle produces a disciple focused on companioning with Christ; demonstrating the character of Christ in daily living, and embracing the commands of Christ.

Jesus demonstrated this sort of companioning worship walk. Even as a child, Jesus was unusually well versed in the Hebrew Scriptures. FIRST,  He “. . . grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52); and, Second, (where Jesus, as a 12-year-old boy was left in Jerusalem, and was found three days later amazing everyone there at the Temple by “understanding and answers” (Luke 2:47). Apparently, Jesus spent much private time in the Scriptures. 

Publically,  Jesus repeatedly indicates that He spent much time interacting with the Father; listening to Him, hearing from Him, and interacting with Him.[2] Jesus’ companioning-worship-walk with The Father is the model every disciple may follow. 

His worship-walk with God is completely in line with other biblical role models: Able was a righteous man (Heb. 11:4); Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:24); Noah walked with God (Gen. 6:9); King David was a “man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14 & Acts 13:22);  Joseph was a righteous man (Mt. 1:19); the Apostles had been “with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Certainly, the true disciple must develop a life of prayer but, the real disciple is one who “companions” with God through Christ, conversing all through each day; leaning into Him, interacting with Him, listening for Him and to Him—while living out His dynamics and directions in the crucible of everyday living. The specialized ministry leaders who lead their congregations into gathered worship must practice developing that sort conversational, dynamic, companioning-worship-walk with Him.

Jesus also demonstrated an understanding of the principles of companioning, character imitation, and obedience when he says to “the woman at the well” in John 4: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” Jesus is underscoring the fact that worship at its core is an inner spiritual transaction and not an outward, ritualistic transaction. Worship happens in the inner world, in the spiritual dimension of a person. Jesus underscores this by not capitalizing the term spirit. Jesus is making an application to the inner world of an individual and interacting with God in the realm of the spiritual, not, per se, in the realm of the physical.

Second, Jesus’ use of the term truth in this passage is not talking about the Truth of God’s Word. Rather he is talking about the reality that worship is a lived-out life transaction.

The Apostle John uses the term truth in 4:23 in the exact same way as in the 1 John 3:18, where he says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” John is instructing believers not just to talk about love, but to live love out. That is, the truth of the matter is in the lived-out actions of our daily lives. John is pointing out that true worshippers will worship the Father in the way they live out their lives in the realities of everyday living—that true worshipper will worship the Father in reality.

It is interesting to note to whom Jesus is speaking in John 4:21–26 passage.  Jesus is not speaking to a sophisticated Jewish religious person, but to a woman, who is also a Samaritan. Interestingly, once Jesus revealed his Messiahship (v 26) and the woman had gone into town and told everyone that in fact Messiah was standing at the town well, then Jesus and this woman and many in the town proceeded to companion together for another two days for so.  The point being made here is that the purpose of discipleship is to move people into a companioning worship way of life with God Himself.

Other scriptures seem to support the notion that God desires a companion type relationship:
1. Matthew 1:23 points out that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is to know that this Son to whom she is giving birth will be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” The implication given by the angel is that God intends his worshippers to companion with him.
2.Matthew 4:2–4 documents Jesus interacting with the devil after his forty days of companioning with the Lord through fasting and praying in the wilderness.
3. Mark 1:35–37 and 6:45-46 provide insight into Jesus’ pattern of pulling away from the regular interactions of the day to find at some solitude in which to interact and companion with God intimately.
4. Luke 5:16 points at the same: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
5.In John 10:7–21, Jesus states, “I am the gate for my sheep” (v. 7), and “I am the good shepherd” (v. 11), and “I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (v. 14). These metaphorical statements about how Jesus interacts in a companioning manner are “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (v. 15). What Jesus is getting at with his disciples is that he no longer calls them servants but friends (John 15:15).[3]

At the heart of this companioning relationship is the disciple’s desire to develop the character of Christ in their lives. In Matthew 22:37–40, the Lord himself explains that the ultimate purpose of life is to, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Galatians 5:22–23 articulates how this companioning with Christ is demonstrated in daily living: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

It is important for those who are discipling worship leaders to realize that those being discipled should evidence the character of Christ in their daily walk. It is seen in how the artist interacts with others, develops relationships, and partners with other musicians in genuine ministry.   In fact, demonstrating the character of Christ is the ultimate goal of discipleship; and the ultimate indicator of whether or not discipleship has truly happened.

Those that focus on “companioning with God” will develop and grow as disciples that live Out The Commands of Christ. The seven commands of Christ referenced below may serve as a guide to discipling worship leaders and artists:

  1. Repent, believe, and receive the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:14–15).
  2. Be baptized in the baptism (or name) of Christ. (Matthew 28:19–20;
    Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–4).
  3. Love God and neighbor (Luke 10:25–37).
  4. Break bread—which may also imply activities of worship (Matt 26:26-29).
  5. Regularly spend quality time in prayer (Matthew 6:5-10).[4]
  6. Give Money.[5]
  7. Disciple others (Matthew 28:18-20).[6]

Meeting God daily in His Word is a SECOND foundational habit healthy worship leadership must develop.  Jesus does not directly say the words, “study the Bible every day to be a good believer,” or “meet me in the Bible every day.”  But, Jesus’ entire life was centered around God’s Word, the Holy Hebrew Scriptures.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9, underscores God’s desire for His people to marinate in His Word: 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

God is serious about the practice of His believers meeting Him daily, repeatedly in His Word.  He told Joshua, in preparation for Joshua’s new leadership role as head of the people of Israel, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).

The Church needs worship leadership steeped in God’s Word.  Every worship leaders must purpose to set their face and heart on meeting the LORD daily in His Word.

The THIRD practice foundational to discipleship is daily and regularly connecting with supportive relationships with fellow believers. Healthy Christian friendships, help us develop as mature disciples.  All disciples, especially worship leadership disciples, must purpose to nurture a set of solid friends from which they find strength, encourage, instruction, and correction (2 Tim 3:16) and accountability. Humans were created by God to live in community.  It is difficult for a disciple – especially one with an artistic personality – to develop and mature spiritually outside a community of faithful, loving, God-seeking brothers and sisters in Christ.

A FOURTH habitual practice that insures growth as a disciple is the regular serving of others who need your help.  This includes answering the call to evangelism, meeting the social needs in a community, and reaching out to people when they are hurting.  This is the act of “putting our good works into practice.”

Interestingly, Jesus Himself, on the very first day of His public ministry confronts Satan with the pronouncement,  “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'”  (Luke 4:8).  And then toward the end of His public ministry he states, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”  (Matt 25:40).  

The Apostle Paul writes, “. . . we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  . . .” in 1 Thess 5:14; and, “. . .  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ,” in Gal 6:2.  Finally, it is recorded that the Early Church that,  “. . . they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:45b-47).

The practiced habit of “serving” others on God’s behalf is one of the key ingredients in the recipe of becoming a healthy disciple.

[1] Edwards, Grant. First Steps One-on-One Discipleship: An Adventure for New and Renewed Believers. Springfield, OH: Specificity Publications, 2000; and Swimming + Lessons: How to Keep New Christians Afloat in a Sinking World.  Springfield, OH: Specificity Publications, 2010.

[2] Passages supporting this principle from the Gospel of John—1:1-2;  5:19;  7:28-29;  8:38a;  8:42;  8:58;  10:14;  10:27-30;  12:49-50;  14:9;  14;30-31;  15:10;  17:7-8;  17:25-26.

[3]  Other passages pointing to this same principle are: Luke 6:12–14; Luke 22:39–40; John 6:1, 56–59; John 8:54–59; John 10:22–30; John 15:4–13, 26–27; John 17:20–26.

[4] Matthew 6:5-10: 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

[5] Five key passages about money for disciples to consider in their daily lives: Matt 5:42; 6:19-21; Luke 6:30-31; 6:38;.20:25.

[6] “. . . All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore as you are going (where ever and whenever you go) be making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And know for certain that I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Authors translation.)