Tonight Mustard Tree Ministries met in its new "home" at its new time. It has found an indoor place for its Sunday services. Instead of meeting under the Walnut Street Bridge on Sunday mornings, the ministry will now meet at 1st Centenary's Oak Street Center on Sunday evenings, beginning at 5pm.
The meeting started off with a warm welcome from Brian Davis.
Then everyone was invited to share pizza, brownies, and drinks: tea, lemonade, and water. The time of food and fellowship lasted about 20 minutes.
Then, Joseph led us in some songs on the guitar. After worship in song, Barry Kidwell came up to share the message. (What you'll find in my blog is a combination of Barry's message and some of my thoughts that took off from his message.)
Tonight's verses were: Matthew 4:18-22 and Matthew 9:9-13. Both of these passages were about the calling of the disciples.
Barry mentioned how it was strange to not have to get up this morning and be the first one at church, after 32 years of doing so. But, his alarm was set to get up early and it went off. He realized he didn't have to get up, so he didn't. He ended up getting up after a while, got ready, watched some of the 10 year anniversary coverage on CNN and went to worship at Tyner UMC.
10 years ago people were calling out to God for answers after what happened on 9/11. People are still calling out to God today for healing and answers for that situation and for many others.
Why do people call out to God? Most people call out to God when there is a need or when the issue of their final resting place has come into question.
Jesus met people where they were. Sometimes people called out to him, but weren't quite ready to surrender everything. He met them in their excuses and challenged them. Jesus pushed people to become what they were intended to be. As disciples of Christ, we are called to challenge the excuses that people put up and push them to become what they were intended to be. Let's follow Christ's example in doing this... Christ typically asked questions and allowed people to make decisions for themselves.
Do you have people in your life who challenge your excuses and push you to be all that you are intended to be? If so, that God for them! If not, start praying that God would bless you with such people! I am grateful for the people in my life who challenge my excuses and who push me to be all I'm intended to be! It's not always comfortable or easy, but growth never is. ☺(This is one of those thoughts that was spurred from what Barry was saying about people challenging his excuses; these aren't his words.)
Barry quoted Tony Campolo who once asked: "If there were no heaven and if there were no hell, would you still be a follower of Jesus?"
Hmmm.... that is something to think about. 'If there were no heaven and if there were no hell, would I still be a follower of Jesus?' This question brings out my motive, my focus in following Jesus. Today, at this moment, I can say, "yes". What is most important to me is the relationship in following Jesus, not the end. It is the living in the kingdom as Christ lived that is my focus. Living with Christ eternally is a good thing, but it is not my focus.
How would you answer that question?
Barry reminded us that Jesus came to prepare us to LIVE, not die. He came to challenge us in our living.
Barry asked: "How do you make disciples?" Then, he shared Jesus' method of doing it. Jesus said to people: Follow me. Then, Jesus did things in their presence so they could see it done. They watched, they observed. Then, there came a time when Jesus said "Go and do." Jesus remained in their midst and mentored them. Then, later, Jesus told them it was time for them to go and do as he had done, without him. That's discipleship. Walking alongside others, doing ministry with them, showing them the way. Then, watching them do it. Then, sending them off.
We are to go and do as Jesus did.
It takes time for the "come watch" and the "come do it with me". It also takes time for the "you do and I'll watch" portion. Discipleship is an investment of time and energy. But, it is well worth it!
The disciples weren't always sure about life, but they were sure that they saw something they liked and wanted in Jesus, something worth following.
The disciples didn't talk much about heaven or hell, but rather about changing the world.
Barry noted that the group of people gathered before him tonight looked more like the kingdom of God than most churches. He remarked that we came from different walks of life. As I looked around the room I saw children, youth, college students, young adults, seniors, different races, pastors, etc. Truly, we were the kingdom of God gathered to worship.
Barry challenged us to invest our lives into other people's lives, to follow Christ. We all need discipling and we all need to disciple.
Jesus had the intention for the world to "break through". Like the mustard seed, the mustard tree breaks through and becomes huge so that many can find shelter in it.
This service "Break Through" is really an extension of what this ministry has been since its foundation 8 years ago when it began at Forrest Avenue UMC. Many have "broken through" to become what they were intended to become. They have broken free and broken through and are now ministering to others. Several ministries have come out of the one seed. This tree continues to branch out as others "break through".
It's an exciting time in the life of the Church, in the Kingdom, for those desiring to be discipled and desiring to disciple others, for those seeking to "break through" and become all that God intended them to be.
I got carried away there with some of my thoughts that came from hearing the Word tonight. I forgot to add that we shared communion together and were encouraged to be discipled by someone and to find someone to disciple.
After communion, Pastor Dwight Kilbourne dismissed us with a benediction.
It was a wonderful time of community, fellowship, hearing God's word, praying for one another, sharing in communion, etc.
On your journey, who are you discipling? Who is discipling you? Who are the people to whom you can go to when you know excuses are between you and what Jesus would have you be and do?
Peace on the journey,
~Debra
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