Last Sunday, we kicked off our program year with a lively forum on discerning discipleship. If you weren’t able to attend, here is some wisdom from our conversation, and some questions that you might consider in your own reflection.
As Christians, we know we are called to follow Jesus. But how do we know where God is sending us? Does God ever invite us to drop out for a while and rest? Before we can answer these questions, it’s important to define terms. What is discipleship exactly?
Words like call, follow, serve, and learn came up. The disciple is a bit different than the volunteer, though disciples often volunteer for many things. But the umbrella is bigger for discipleship, which includes belief and vision and hope in the one we are following. For the Christian disciple, following Jesus is a heady mix of giving and receiving.
For examples, we considered the following passages of Scripture, which describe various roles and interactions in the early Christian community. What do they tell you about who disciples were, what kinds of things they did, and the challenges they faced?
Acts 2:42–47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
I Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work powerful deeds? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Acts 6: 1-6
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers and sisters, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.”
What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
We also discussed the tools we use to listen to God, to ourselves and to one another when it comes to discerning what God might be calling us to do or be. Here is a starter list. What would you add?
Listen for needs and opportunities – Pay attention to appeals, to things mentioned to you in passing, to invitations. Be mindful of what is rising in the community. If the ministries are all looking for help, does it make sense to start a brand new one? At the same time, sometimes we become aware of needs to address that no one is addressing. What are you noticing?
Pay attention when needs match your gifts, as well as your interests and longings, and desire to learn something new.
Pay attention to your own tug, pull, curiosity, longing. Name what you would like to do, even if you don’t think you have time or energy right now. What can be done in the time you have? You might have time to learn more about it, have conversations, or accompany others in the ministry you’re interested in.
Pray about it – be specific – ask God for guidance, direction and signs, and then start looking and listening for them. Listen to the liturgy, to songs that move you, Scriptures, announcements, coincidences and distractions.
Check for alignment with your values and your sense of discipleship. Am I involved in things that I care deeply about? How are my values, beliefs, sense of community engaged in what I’m doing or considering?
Check your energy budget How much time do you have really? Are you ready to put something down, to pick something else up? Is there a transition happening in your life – retirement, job change, volunteer commitment ending that makes opportunity for something new?
Check your motivations. Jesus does not use guilt, worry or a feeling of “ought” to invite us into ministry. But Jesus does prompt joy, curiosity, wonder and awe, conviction, compassion and concern.
Consider what needs healing and attending in your own life. Sometimes doing and serving and tending to others can be a way of denying or ignoring our own needs. It can be a red flag if ministry is a reason or excuse not to take care of your needs – for rest, for counseling, for therapy (physical and emotional) for physical and emotional healing. Ministry or service can be healing, but if it takes the place of other spiritual or personal work we need to do, it might be serving another purpose.
As we embark on another program year, it is clear that “the harvest is plenty and laborers are few.” But it’s also clear that God calls, equips and energizes those laborers for the work at hand. And sometimes God calls us to be recipients of the care and nurture that others are called to give. This is the model that Christ gave us, as he both freely gave and readily received from the people who supported his own ministry. Keeping this call to mutuality in mind, I’m sure we will have a very rich and full year tending to God’s vineyard!
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