THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS AND THE LOCAL CHURCH: Discipleship and Spiritual Growth
Part 2
Mark 12:28-34
Sermon Objective: The great commandments provide MOTIVE, MANDATE, MISSION, AND A MEASURABLE PROCESS for the local church.
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 28:17-20; Ephesians 4:1-32
INTRODUCTION
Three years ago, when we moved into the parsonage, we had a very small puppy. Bogey (our Cocker Spaniel) was all of 90 days old. Bogey had not only yet to be housetrained, he was not trained in any way whatsoever.
As you may recall our daughter was still in school at Trevecca Nazarene University and, so, we still had her 5 year old German Shepherd (Cayan) too.
Cayan, the Shepherd, has some unique qualities about her. For one, we never had to house break her. She was born and kenneled outside and from the time we brought her into the house, to this very day, she has chosen to do her “business” outside. She has also been a very territorial dog and rather quickly became familiar with the property boundaries and, to our delight, has preferred to stay within those boundaries rather than roam as many dogs do.
Now the new puppy, Bogey, displayed none of those admirable characteristics. Behind the parsonage (out past the property line in the back yard) there is a vast amount of open field; all the way back to the river. Bogey never seemed to know when he had gone too far.
I can remember letting Bogey out and how he would immediately begin to run and run and, before you knew it, was 200 yards from the house. I (and Cayan) would stand at the back door and watch this mindless puppy with a mixture of affection (Bogey has an infectious love for life) and chagrin (he didn’t return when we called him.) But I had an ace in the hole. You see, Cayan had maternal instincts toward this puppy and she was also a “shepherd” in more than name only. She tries to “herd” everything. If we take her on a hike she is always about 30 yards ahead checking things out and if there is a fork in the trail she will try to choose which one we take by nudging “herding” us onto the trail she selects. Well, Cayan would stand beside me very obediently as we watched Bogey’s exploits but she would fidget and grunt with anxiety. It was fascinating to watch. After calling for Bogey a few times I would merely look at Cayan and say “got get him” and her mothering instincts would kick in; she would sprint out to where Bogey was and, with her nose, she would somewhat forcefully knock Bogey off of his feet. She would then begin to trot back towards the house and Bogey would follow.
If I let Bogey and Cayan outside at the same time she would do the same. If the puppy wandered too far away she would dart to where he was, knock him off his feet, and together they would trot back inside the property line. Soon Bogey learned the boundaries.
House-training Bogey was relatively easy too. In this too, Bogey followed Cayan’s lead.
I tell you this story because, in many respects, it is a parable of discipleship. Cayan was using her instincts and training to help Bogey become the sort of dog that he needed to become. In the same way, the mature saints in Christ’s church are to model and lead the younger ones towards maturity; specifically by example but sometimes by appropriate nudges.
Just as Bogey still has the breeding characteristics of an American Cocker so Christ’s disciples still have their own passions and personalities but, by observing and instruction, they learn to think and become “Christian” in their character and conduct.
And with that we turn our attention, one last time, to the two greatest commandments. Within these two mandates we can extract a MEASURABLE PROCESS TOWADS SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
We don’t always look at Jesus’ great commands from this perspective but I am sure you would agree with me when I say these instructions inform the DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, and DEPORTMENT of disciple-making.
Listen to the text.
The Greatest Commandment (12:28-34)
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: ’Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31The second is this: ’Love your neighbor as yourself. ’There is no commandment greater than these."
32"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
Have you ever wondered how you could know if you were growing in Christ at the rate that is expected by the Holy Spirit?
There are ways to tell if a child is developing properly; there are certain standards and benchmarks we look for. So, in my study and meditation of the greatest commands I keep asking myself if it is possible for there to be “spiritual benchmarks” too. I think there are.
As I study these verses I see a progression or a process to measure our progress. I see a way for churches to see if they are training the saints and I see a standard that we can evaluate ourselves by.
I see, so to speak, a model that we can establish to let new Christians know that these are the “steps” of stages of development that we look forward to seeing in their growth.
Maybe we should go through these “stages” with a bit of detail. You will discover that, just like Bogey’s training did not eradicate the “Cocker Spaniel” from him but rather gave him appropriate training, so these stages leave room for personality and individuality while still establishing a Biblical standard of achievement.
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
CONVERSION
As we have seen in past weeks, the heart is the seat of emotions and often the first dynamic of your person to be open to the whisper of God’s Holy Spirit.
It is in the heart that our awareness of God begins to actualize itself and become real.
It is the heart that is turned to God … or not.
Exodus 14:8 gives us an example of a heart NOT turned to God (i.e. not responsive to his call). The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.
Proverbs 3:5 and 6 is a familiar passage that does show a heart turned to God. It reads (KJV): Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
All through the book of Romans you will find references to the heart’s condition being the litmus of whether one is saved or not. For example, Romans 10:9 says: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
It is easy to associate the heart with conversion. As one simply places faith in the resurrected Christ the heart is transformed and a heart of flesh is given in exchange for a heart of stone (i.e. Ezekiel 11, 18, 36).
Unfortunately, there are too many occasions when we are content to stop here with conversion. We rejoice and move on to the next “project.”
It is appropriate to pause and rejoice when one is born again … even the angels in heaven do so (Luke 15:10); but it is totally inappropriate assume that the task of the church is done.
God NEVER asked us to merely birth new people into the Kingdom … he asked us to make disciples of them! And that is where the other stages of growth begin to come into play. Matthew 28:17-20 says: When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So there are other stages (post-conversion stages) that need to be taken into account. The great commandments give us insight into them.
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR SOUL
SANCTIFICATION
Remember the word for “soul” is also translated “life” in the New Testament. It is very appropriate to translate this part of the verse as “Love the Lord your God with all you LIFE”.
Sanctification is a big word that means to be made / become holy. There are many aspects of holiness; but a simple starting place is to understand a sanctified life as one that has chosen to (i) separate itself from the profane world and (ii) dedicate itself to the will and purposes of God.
It begins when we surrender our wills to the guidance and authority of the Holy Spirit.
I have heard many in our congregation talk about the moments when God broke through and brought transformation above and beyond their conversion. Those moments when they felt called again by the Holly Spirit to a deeper life … to a more separated lifestyle. Those are moments of sanctification. Those are moments that change us permanently and they should happen with regularity. They bring ongoing purging. They bring a renewed and more intimate sense of God’s presence.
They are evidence that one has surrendered their will to God; turned a spiritual corner, and is headed in Heaven’s direction.
As we seek to grow spiritually and as we seek to help others to grow spiritually it will include moments of genuine and deep transformation. Moments when we say … “I want to give more of myself to God” or “I see God offering more of a Himself, through his Holy Spirit, to me.”
These are natural, predictable, and expected moments in your spiritual growth. If you fail to have them it is an indication that you need to seek the Lord and make yourself available.
In fact, maybe we should go no further until we give you the opportunity right now. For some, even hearing that there is a deeper relationship available has whet your appetite.
God is not playing favorites and making Himself available to some and not others. God is not playing hide and seek. The scriptures tell us to seek him and we shall find him.
† Psalm 145:18 says: The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
† Isaiah 55:6 says: Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
† James 4:8 says: Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Even today you can seek God and surrender to him and God will come in power and love and grace.
But there are more stages to follow the heart and life (soul) that have been committed to God.
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND
TRANSFORMATION
Do you know what happens to someone who has had a heart change and has turned their life over to God? It changes the way they view themselves, others and their world.
First the heart.
Then your life.
Now your mind.
So many of the spiritual problems we have involve the misuse of the mind. We:
1. Allow the mind to roam in an undisciplined way
2. Choose to believe lies and falsehood
3. Dwell on impurity
4. Fail to saturate the mind with God’s Word so it will have spiritual resources to draw from.
Listen to these passages from the Bible and see if they do not indicate that a transformation of our thoughts and thought-life comes with spiritual growth.
• 2 Peter 3:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders TO STIMULATE YOU TO WHOLESOME THINKING.
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every THOUGHT to make it obedient to Christ.
• Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. DO NOT CONFORM ANY LONGER TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS—HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.
• Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.
FINALLY, BROTHERS, WHATEVER IS TRUE, WHATEVER IS NOBLE, WHATEVER IS RIGHT, WHATEVER IS PURE, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, WHATEVER IS ADMIRABLE—IF ANYTHING IS EXCELLENT OR PRAISEWORTHY—THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS.
Just as someone knows they are finally really learning a new language when they can dream in that language, so we know we are beginning to develop the mind of Christ when we begin thinking “Christianly.” 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your MINDS for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
But as good as all this is … there are more stages in spiritual growth … more stages that help us monitor our advances towards Christ-likeness.
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH
STEWARDSHIP
It is truly a watershed moment for the believer when she/he discovers that all one has and does is a trust from God.
Once we realize that God owns everything and we are managers it begins to change the way we handle our time, our money, our talents, and our possessions.
Spiritual growth takes a huge leap forward once we do this because it is at this stage that our energy and potential are turned even further God-ward.
It is here that we begin to live out passages like 1 Corinthians 10:31 which says, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Surely you can see how each stage of spiritual development reveals that one is becoming more and more like Jesus. But the best is yet to come. It is in the final stage; it is with this stage that we can say we are reaching maturity.
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
BEARING FRUIT
The problem with way too many understandings of spiritual development is that they encourage the Christian to remain introspective and self-evaluative. In fact, much of western Christianity has placed an over-emphasis on this. The problem is it excludes “service to others” as a prime test of spiritual development while Jesus himself makes service to others a CRITICAL element in one’s spiritual development.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
"Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
"The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40)
" For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
If Jesus is any indication (and I think He is) then maturity comes when we get our eyes off of ourselves, our problems, or even our own growth, and start serving others with our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Yes, when the first command folds into the second we know we are becoming like Christ.
Once we begin serving others merely because Christ’s love has compelled us then we know that Christian love is indeed becoming mature.
WRAP-UP
The great commandments provide MOTIVE, MANDATE, MISSION, and a MEASURABLE PROCESS for the local church.
My observations from Cayan nurturing Bogey bears witness to what can happen within the church. It bears witness to what Christ can do through His people.
You see, this is what the church about. This IS the mission of the church! To disciple God’s people and help them develop spiritually defines us. If we are not doing this then we are failing miserably.
Everything we do must be funneled through this grid and every soul we disciple should understand the stages of development and be encouraged to celebrate as they move from glory to glory.
That includes you and me.
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear.
FOR CONSIDERATION:
† What do you understand to be the purpose of the Church?
† As you look at the movements within the two Great Commands do you see a process (stages) that can help Christians to monitor spiritual growth?
† At what stage of spiritual growth do you see yourself?
† Are you helping someone else to grow spiritually? Who? At what stage would you place them?
† How can you help yourself or someone else to move from the stage they are in upward (through these stages) towards Christ-likeness?
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
