Marks of Discipleship

Marks of Discipleship. What in the world are marks of discipleship and why should I be worried about this? Is it some kind of disease that is going to take over my body? Is it something that could attack my children?
No it is not a disease (although some might say you are infected with something if you do these things). It is not going to attack your children, but they may become lights shining in the darkness of this world if you practice these and help them to practice them also. Let’s understand what a disciple is, then move on. According to Merriam Webster Online dictionary a disciple is “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as a : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ’s followers according to the Gospel accounts b : a convinced adherent of a school or individual.” So a disciple is one who follows the teaching of someone else. The 12 who were called by Jesus were His disciples, as we can aspire to be disciples.
That’s right, I said we can aspire to be disciples. Just because we are a member of a church does not mean we are a disciple. In fact the summer series on the marks of discipleship, or P_oW_eR S_uRG_e is to get us to look at ourselves differently. Just because you are a member of a church does not mean that you are a follower of Jesus. And I am speaking about me to here. I am not always the best follower of Jesus. I do not always pray, or read the Bible. I will have to say I am pretty good at being at worship, but there is more than just being there. I am in the same boat with you. We can help it rise to the top and be a mighty ship in God’s fleet, or we can try to keep it floating by bailing out the water, hopefully putting it out faster than it is coming in.
This summer I want us to take a deep hard look at the Bible and ourselves. I want us to rediscover the early church and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. I want us to move from being a church built on how many members we have to a church that talks about the number of disciples we have. Not boasting, but relational with God, not on the number of people on the books, but the number of people truly in the Book of Life. Just as Walt Disney World has no employees, only cast members. Everyone is responsible for the creation of a great experience, from the person who plays Mickey, to the person who empties the garbage cans!
Michael Foss in his book, Power Surge, which is were the sermon series this summer comes, talks about the Walt Disney no employee only cast members on pages 51 and 52. He says on page 52 “Just as Disney World communicates over and over that it has no employees, only “cast members,” how do we communicate that we have no members, only “disciples”?” Can we do this? Are you ready to do this?
I believe Hosanna I am ready to move forward in the mission God has called us to. I am to commit living the Marks of Discipleship, to make my relationship with God better and to help build up yours. Are you ready to join me?