A New Day & A New Start

This Wednesday, we started a new class called "Becoming a Romans 12 Christian" or 'r12' for those more familiar with the name. I must say, the biggest need in the Church that I have personally seen is not more programs, money, and time. The biggest need in the Church today is more disciples. As part of the brief introduction I gave to the packed room of people, this is not just another 'class', it's more of a 'course'; it's about discipleship and learning to become Romans 12 Christians.

I've observed a few different people and congregations on my own time, including my own, and see the symptoms of what happens when there is a lack of disciples. The answer to lack of participation, lack of money in the tray, lack of spiritual growth, lack of genuine caring for the lost, lack of community involvement can all be addressed with discipleship. There are way more decisions for Christ than there are disciples. If your definition of being a disciple is showing up on Sundays and Wednesdays or any other day and doing more religious activities, then you've been deceived by the enemy! Now please don’t take this as me coming down on you, but please open your heart and see what Paul writes:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1

When I read this and when you read this, we should notice HOW Paul is writing. He's not saying we should be casual and that it's an option if you want to be a good Christian. He's URGING us... He says "Brothers, please, I beg you in light of the mercies of God! Do this! This is the only thing that makes sense!" Some translations say "your spiritual act of worship", but the idea is the same. The motivation for our surrender to God is the mercies He's already provided and the promises He's made. I encourage you to read the first 11 chapters of Romans; it's all about God's Amazing Grace.

So the solution to our problems of participation and whatnot are not to guilt people into helping or enticing them with a carrot for their help (reward). The solution to all of our needs and the things we lack are reliance on God and making disciples. We need to stop being doctors, who historically have treated SYMPTOMS and not the ROOT. I'm in no way downing doctors, but the truth is, as of now, we can only treat symptoms of the common cold and not the cold itself. But we as followers of Christ CAN treat the ROOT of our problem. Make disciples. That's the only thing that makes sense and the only cure for our church's needs. Let's make today a new day and let's start getting serious about being surrendered to God. Let's start making disciples and in the process, let God make us better ones too. God Bless you all and have a Good and Godly week!