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NRS Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors
received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were
prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are
not visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable
sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God
himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still
speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience
death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was
attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." 6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7
By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning
and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and
became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith. 8
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was
to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9
By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign
land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the
same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has
foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he
received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself
was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12
Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born,
"as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by
the seashore." 13 All of these died in faith without having
received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They
confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14
for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a
homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had
left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a
better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
Within the
Discipleship series that I am preaching on is this five week introduction to
Bishop Schnase’s Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. Bishop Schnase began
a study to determine the practices that make congregations fruitful. He
believed at the beginning that different size churches were doing different
things. But what he found is that every fruitful church was in fact doing the
same kinds of things in the context of their setting. These fives things are
Intentional Faith Development, Passionate Worship, Radical Hospitality, Risk
Taking Mission and Extravagant Generosity. These five things are a foundation
to what a fruitful, vibrant church is doing. Are we doing these things? A great
question to ask ourselves as we hear about each one. Today we are going to
explore what it means to be intentional about faith development.
We are called
to practice intentional faith development as individuals and as a church
community. Let’s talk about the model for individual faith development for a
moment as we understand faith in the Gospels and New Testament. We each have
been called by name to share in this great journey that began when we accepted
Jesus into our hearts. It means that we
begin to become a transformed people, changing inside to match the outward
change that should become evident to others. When we look to the scriptures
to understand this change, we focus our efforts on what the bible speaks to us
about faith and then how did Jesus call us into faith. In Hebrews, we see the
transformation of people throughout the history of humanity because of their
faith in God. And what we understand most of all is that often faith is that
which is not seen, but is real, and becomes a part of our living towards a new
image of ourselves and the world. Abraham left all that he had to go to a place
he did not know on faith. Noah built an ark in the sunshine on faith that God’s
promise of rain would come and it did. Sarah begat a son at the age of 100
because God promised it would happened and though she laughed at first, in the
end she too had faith in the promise. And it tells us that all of these died in
their faith without receiving the promises but that they saw them from a
distance and so they took to the journey for that reason.
Jesus walked intentional faith
development with the disciples. His
faith development was in the one on one teaching that he had with each of them
and the community of teaching that occurred as they traveled together. Jesus was intentional about the faith
development of the disciples, so much so that he instructed them to follow him.
And they did! As simple as that sounds, it was a major thing for each of
them to drop their occupations and their families and follow Jesus for three
years as he prepared them for the task that they would fulfill upon his death
at the cross. But they did. So what are we prepared to do in order to be
intentional about our faith development? Are prepared to drop everything and
follow the Master wherever he goes? We
start that process by daily bible reading, prayer and devotion time. We
continue that by becoming involved in discipleship training within the church
community or in the community of believers in our geographic communities. Intentional
faith development is both individual willingness to give up of themselves to be
disciples and the churches intentional focus to give them the opportunity to
learn more about being a disciple. John Wesley’s small groups focused their
discussion on three questions. How is it with your soul? How have the fruits of
your witness shown themselves this week? Where have you stumbled?
"Vibrant,
fruitful, growing congregations practice Intentional Faith Development. From
the first generations of Christians to the earliest Methodists to the youngest
generations of faithful members today, the followers of Jesus mature in faith
by learning together in community. Churches that practice Intentional Faith
Development offer high quality learning experiences that help people understand
Scripture, faith, and life in the supportive nurture of caring relationships.
... Christian disciples strive to develop faith and grow in Christ-likeness
through study and learning, and God is best able to form disciples when people
do this together and not by themselves." - Robert Schnase, Five Practices
of Fruitful Congregations
What this all
means is that a successful church is one that practices intentional faith
development among its people. Part of the Discipleship training that I will begin
in September is to determine where you might be on the Discipleship journey and
together to know where the church is on that journey. By exploring that
information we can begin to formulate classes that reach people where they are.
Sunday school, intentional group studies and bible studies where people come
together to share in their faith journey, special events where witnessing
occurs and peoples stories are shared among the faithful and those searching
for answers. These are the things of intentional churches. Could any of us last
long in the faith community if not for the strength that comes from being with
each other? We need constant reinforcement, constant lifting of one another and
friendships and fellowship to survive. Thankfully we do not have to endure the
persecution of the early church where many died for their faith. But in this
age of political correctness and subdued Christian behavior at civic and public
functions, persecution is already here, just not in a life threatening form.
Our own government dictates to us even now that we are to be subdued in our
outward expressions of Christianity so as to not anger other religious views
while allowing those other religious views to have public and civic voice. From
the first generation of Christians to the earliest Methodists to the youngest
generations of faithful members today, as followers of Jesus we mature in the
faith by learning together in community! The Christian faith is not something
that is to be static, but rather it is something we grow into and strive
toward. The practice of learning in community gives disciples a network of
support, encouragement, and direction as we seek to grow in Christ. The answer
to getting in shape, as well as to developing our faith is to covenant with
friends who share the same interests and goals. If we know that people are
waiting for us and are expecting us at the gym at six-thirty, then we’ll roll
out of bed at six even when we don’t feel like it. In community there is a
natural accountability. That’s why Jesus sent the disciples out two by two to
go “to every town and place where he himself intended to go.” From the first
generations of Christians to the earliest Methodists to the youngest
generations of faithful Christians today, we mature in our faith by learning
together in community.
I used to
spend time with local pastors and candidates for ordination as we talked
theologically. Part of intentional faith
development is to teach us that the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life are not
future events. When we accepted God’s offer of eternal life and freedom
from the chains of sin, we are justified in our faith. That is what
justification grace is all about. But after that moment when we come to
maturity in our early Christian life, we begin to transform into the image of
Christ. That is what our path to perfection looks like. Learn these words.
Learn these phrases. They are the framework that allows us to witness to others
what we believe. But it is deeper than that. When we accept God’s promise, we
receive the promise at that moment. Not later when we physically die, but at
that precise moment of justification. So we become eternal people at that moment.
We enter into a new reality where we live in the Kingdom of Heaven at that
moment. Not some future event, but a present reality. Intentional faith
development is learning how to live into being Christ in the world in the
reality of our physical lives.
In Acts Paul
tells us that the early church devoted themselves to the Apostles teachings and
fellowship. One without the other will not bear as much fruit. There is a story
of two men, lifetime friends who go camping, fishing and hunting. But on
Saturday night, the one friend prepares himself to leave as he has for forty
years in order to be at church on Sunday morning. The other friend asks him why
he has to go. Can’t he enjoy God among the stars and in the streams and woods?
The Christian friend doesn’t say anything, rather takes a stick and moves a
coal from the campfire. He remains silent as the coal cools and then
extinguishes itself. Then the moves the coal back into the fire and it
reignites. Without saying a word, he has told the friend that life outside the
fire is hard and it is easy to cool off. It is only within the fire, within the
community of believers that we can stay strong and ignited in our faith.
Intentional means deliberate, purposeful action toward an end and high
prioritization of that action. Intentional means that we are not afraid of
failing as we try, try again to accomplish the goals that have set for us in
Christian faith.
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