I have the pleasure of apprenticing under Bill Putnam who works with Church Development Fund mentoring churches for spiritual health. My first time with him, I gained a powerful new perspective on our roles as Christ Followers.
As he laid the ground work of our faith journey as Christ Followers he pointed out the stages as we grow in Christ. Infant, child, adolescent, adult, wait.... one more: PARENT. The last stage is often overlooked as we grow as individuals. Our role as Christ Followers is not only to grow up ourselves, but also to help others grow, too. Jesus said, "Go and make disciples..." That's not just "go and make spiritual babies" and leave them on their own like abandoned babies, but to act as parents to help them grow.
The thought of abandoned babies is a powerful one. One that is not to pleasant to me. And the decision to be a parent is one that comes with a higher level of responsibility. But we do it. Many of us marry, and talk about having kids. We don't have a clue how to be a parent, really, but we do it, and learn along the way.
How many of us realize our call as Christ Followers is to be spiritual parents? Not just "making babies" or enjoying someone elses new little one. But helping to raise spiritual babies up to adulthood, to their own parenthood. And yes, it's more responsibility, but it's our "job!" And yes, we don't always have all the answers, but when do new parents ever have all the answers?
This weekend, George is back, and he has a fire in his belly after returning from abroad. Come hear his message. Come hear about our mission. Come prepared to be a little uncomfortable and challenged to "go" and make disciples!
And for those of you who are prepared to accept the challenge of being a "parent" ask yourself "who am I investing time with, mentoring, teaching, setting and example for?" Maybe it's spending time with your kids this fall with the new Fusion materials Josh is introducing. Maybe it's stepping out and leading a Lifegroup even though you don't know it all.
Hey, we'll see you this weekend!
Pastor Alan,
Mentoring, shepherding, teaching and guiding those who are "spiritually young in Christ" is so important! What greater gift can we offer them than to help them understand the riches of Scripture and the power, freedom and peace that come from learning to rely on the Holy Spirit? This has been my life's call over the years and the Lord has been so wonderful to bring to me "babies" to help. It is a privilege from Him to be trusted in this way. Thank you for bringing this to the attention of us all.
Posted by: Tamara Cunningham | 08/19/2009 at 10:34 AM