Where does God fit into your schedule?

 

On Sunday at church our pastor shared the Vision and Mission of the Church. It got me thinking about our Vision and Mission here in Bluffton. From the very beginning our entire focus has been on 

“Making Disciples who make Disciples.” 

 We will pursue Disciple Making in one-on-one and/or Small Group settings, devoting ourselves to studying scripture, fellowship, sharing meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and prayer. (Acts 2:42). 

Our desire is to follow the earliest, purest, models of the New Testament Church. We believe that the greatest learning and growth environments are done through intimate, small group settings where deep relationships are formed and a true community of believers is the result. 

As I was exploring Matthew 12 today, it hit me that Jesus modeled this form of church throughout his life here on earth. Jesus provided countless learning experiences for his followers. Some of that was done through direct teaching like the Sermon on the Mount. Other times they were taught through confrontation with religious leaders, but they were deeply involved in all that Jesus did. They lived life together and grew into an intimate family of believers.

In many ways this Spiritual family replaced Jesus’ earthly family. 

As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.’ Jesus asked, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ Then he pointed to his disciples and said, ‘Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” (Matthew 12:46-50)

Mark gives us a few more details about this reaction from Jesus:

“One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. ‘He’s out of his mind,’ they said.” (Mark 3:20-21)

Jesus would let nothing, even his family, stand in the way of his mission and vision. I am not promoting elimination of family as you live out your mission and vision. However, I think this example is an important lesson in the value of ministry. At the very least it should prompt each of us to contemplate our priorities and answer the question, “How important is your ministry and calling in the busy schedule you live out every day?” Where does God fit into your schedule?  God called each of us to Go into all the world and make disciples for him. There were no “opt outs” and no exceptions made. He didn’t say wait until after college.  He didn’t say, once you have a stable career, THEN you can start sharing the Gospel.  He didn’t say you could put it off until your kids got older. (That is what I did!) He did not make exceptions for finances, politics, age, gender, or occupation. 

Where does the Great Commission fit into your work schedule, your kids after school activities, vacations, and recreation activities? What is your vision for making disciples? What is your mission, your plan, to accomplish that vision?