Follow My Example Series

In the early years of my ministry Christianity was too often measured by church attendance and how well you excelled at Bible trivia. Don’t get me wrong, as observed through these messages, a key part of discipleship must focus on the study of Scripture. We will not fair well as Christians in the world unless we have a solid belief system. In 2002 we left a pastorate where we met Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night week after week. I became the pastor of a mission church, Vail Valley Baptist Church, on the east side of Tucson. We didn’t meet Sunday evenings. I began asking the question, when is there enough meeting and when should we begin to get outside of the church?

Discipleship is measured by the way we study the Bible; however, it is also measured by the way we practice what we have learned and are teaching others. Learning for the sake of learning has little meaning. It is when we begin to apply things learned that we learn what it means to be a true disciple. Paul is often viewed as one of the prominent teachers of the early church. Not only did he preach the Gospel and disciple young believers; he served as a mentor for those entrusted to serve as elders and pastors.

As he brings his letter to Titus to a close, he gives us a unique perspective on what it means to be a disciple, one where Holy Spirit has created a relational dimension to discipleship.

Paul demonstrated that kingdom people must aim for the best qualities of the Gospel. In addition to his wonderful teaching, we also learn from Paul’s example. He illustrates the kind of relationship that should exist among believers. I believe it is also the kind of attitude we should have for those outside the church. Listen.

12As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

15Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Immediately before this passage, Paul has cautioned against anything that is "unprofitable and useless." While the Gospel clearly expresses the necessity of God's desire to change our hearts, it is also clear about the need for us to focus our minds on the things of God, instead of our will.

The ascent to godliness invariably will lead each of us to make certain and specific decisions about the mission of our life. The ability to move toward excellency does not come without effort. We must gaze into the heart of God, see His passion for the church, understand our place in the church and strive to be the best you can in service to Him. Chuck Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, (p. 17) says,

No one ever oozed his way out of mediocrity like a lazy slug. Everyone I know who models a high level of excellence has won the battle of the mind and taken the right thoughts captive.

God continues to draw my mind to a theme that is central to understanding the demands of the Gospel. It has to do more with what we devote ourselves to than with what we gain for personal gratification. The theme? In Christ, Christians find their greatest sense of fulfillment to the call to disciple through witnessing and ministering to their neighbors.

A. Disciples Have a Benevolent Disposition Toward Life

I hear ministering standing in influential pulpits talking about the pragmatism and individualism that is distorting the true understanding of discipleship. I must concur! However, I believe this self-centered lifestyle is symptomatic of a greater issue. We have become lovers of self more than lovers of God. (see Rom. 1:21-25)

Many professing Christians are consumed with a gospel of self-absorption. They come to church with one criteria for satisfaction. How will it benefit me? Will it make me happier? Will it give me the secret for being successful? Will it get me a better job and position in life? Will it make all of my problems disappear? Sadly, if they don't feel like Christ is answering these questions to their satisfaction, they quickly become apathetic or bored.

Church rolls are full of apathetic or bored church members. John Savage, in The Apathetic and Bored Church Member, describes this phenomenon. The apathetic who follow the apathetic track focuses on an external cause for their inactivity (e.g., somebody got their seat, the preacher didn't visit them enough, the pastor's sermons were too short, etc.) The bored member turns the blame within, begins to feel guilty and drops out (e.g., magnifies a moral struggle they face, becomes neurotic over trivial matters, allows reality to blind them to grace, etc.)