The Saints: A New Formation
How the goal of discipleship changes everything
Return
G’day everyone and welcome back to The Holy Go!
Every Monday I send out a newsletter that will teach, equip and empower you to fulfil the Great Commission.
This week we commence our new series, “The Saints” that will frame up a Jesus shaped approach to discipleship and spiritual formation. Today we explore what happens when we make “Love” the mark of Christian maturity.
Enjoy!
Equip
Over the weekend I raced in another Hyrox. Eight 1km runs, broken up by workout stations. About 90 minutes of strength and endurance.
You can finish without training, but I had a time and placement goal. So I followed a plan and for much of the build, I trained twice a day.
I had:
a goal,
a process to reach it, and
practices that made it happen.
It got me thinking… What if we approached Church and discipleship the same way? Would it be possible to actually change the world like the early Church did?
A New Goal
If the goal of discipleship is maturity, what does that actually look like?
For much of my ministry, I’ve seen “maturity” as serving or being sent. Most pathways reflect this:
Bring In
Build Up
Send Out
But if maturity = serving, then the goal becomes moving people from not serving to serving. In other words, getting people busy.
But when I read Jesus, I see something deeper.
He said people would know we are His disciples by our love.
He said the greatest commandment is to love God and love others.
Discipleship to Jesus is all about love.
And the goal always shapes the process.
A New Process
If the goal is love, we need a process that forms people into love.
But how do you make someone love?
You can’t just say, “Love more.”
It’s deeper than a course, a Bible study, or a serving roster.
It requires honesty, vulnerability and transformation.
But it is possible.
What if it looked more like a life of continually:
Awakening to God’s love — becoming more aware of His love for us.
Abiding in God’s love — learning to live in and participate with that love.
Abounding in God’s love — letting that love overflow into the world.
New Practices
In my Hyrox training, the goal and process only worked because of consistent habits.
In order to ensure we are forming disciples through the “Awaken, Abide, Abound” process we need to create habits that match.
These are often called Spiritual Practices. For example,
Awakening (Surrender)
Confession, repentance, lament, renouncing lies.
Abiding (Participation)
Thanksgiving, worship, listening prayer, meditation, giving and receiving forgiveness.
Abounding (Openness)
Intercession, generosity, hospitality, evangelism, care for the poor, peacemaking, justice.
And we could add more like sabbath, solitude and silence! The point is, if we want to be known for our love, we need practices that ensure that happens.
Moving Forward
My Hyrox Race is over but I will continue with my training and eating habits. What started as a strategic plan has turned into a way of life.
And that’s what happens with discipleship too.
It may start off feeling formal and strategic, however the goal is that it becomes a lifestyle.
The early Christians called this “The Way” and they went on to change the world.
And that is what I pray happens as we continue this series.
Let’s retire “maturity looks like busy-ness” and raise up disciples “that are known for their love!”
I have a feeling that if we did that,
we might just end up changing the world.
Activate
This weeks challenge is to meditate on Jesus words in John 13:35,
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?
What is the Holy Spirit’s encouragement to you?
What is the Holy Spirit’s challenge to you?
Let’s Go!