The Worker
Like Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsOnly some become workers who join Jesus in his cause. The cost is seen as too high. These are believers who have joined Jesus in his work as a lifestyle and have given up their lesser visions of what their life might be. They imitate his life with a willingness to obey, an intentional and courageous dying to self, as well as others—all of which opens our lives up to experiences of persecution and trusting God.
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My Sister Angel [picture]
My Sister Angel [picture]
[picture of angel]
My sister angel is the best. When we moved to Houston, I had just finished 3rd grade and she was in middle school and I was in 4th grade. She met a new friend down the street, Anna, and Anna had two younger siblings - Tom and Joey. Angel would then invite me outside where I would meet Tom and Joey in a “staged.” Tom Joey and I would connect and become best friends for the next 3 years. Tom was there with me, through thick and thin.
I imagine that people come to church for a variety of reasons - and one of the challenges in preaching is meeting diverse people where they are - in the stage they are in.
Angel went out of her way to help me make friends after we moved. My sister angel was mindful of me, she cared about me. She was was intentional to help me.
In fact,
*Digress* Now if my sister Angel was younger than me, say in 1st or 2nd Grade - do you think she would have done this? Do you think a 1st grader would have understood social connections well enough to try to set me up with some of my 7th grade peers?
Is this is place where if you’re hurting or
I mean, there’s a chance, but in our early years, we are really learning about ourselves. When we are learning how to talk, walk, and read - and we have less capacity to think about other people’s needs, because we are so needy. Needy people, have a hard time helping others.
Children are gaining a sense of themselves, they are learning who they are, they are gaining how to talk, walk, feed themselves - they don’t have the capacity to think about other people’s needs.
Angel did something very kind, innocent, generous. She
From then,
I don’t expect a 3 year old to come up to me and ask me how I am doing. In fact, there is one three year old who asks me one question often. Eva, bless her heart, comes to me almost every Sunday asking for a balloon animal so that she can inflict her will upon her siblings and parents.
But there will be a day when Eva will become more concerned with other people, just as my sister at 6th grade, was concerned with her little brother’s loneliness and insecurities.
[transition] So what does this have to do with God or our sermon series?
[transition] So what does this have to do with God or our sermon series?
Well we want to live Like Jesus. That’s what this church wants to be about. We are focusing on how Jesus developed people into disciple-makers, not just how he made disciples, but how he made disciples who made disciples.
[slide] What moves someone from Chair 2 to Chair 3 is they become consumed by a desire to serve and reach others. They become radically other-oriented.
[slide] What moves someone from Chair 2 to Chair 3 is they become consumed by a desire to serve and reach others. They become radically other-oriented.
Here’s a quick recap for any visitors or people who have been gone the last couple weeks.
[slide] 4 Chairs Review
[slide] 4 Chairs Review
I got to spend time with Dan Spader this week and it was great. He clarified some distinctions between the chairs. The “end product” of each chair is.
Chair one is the seeker, curious type. They are coming to see the claims of Jesus.
Chair two is the believer, the follower - but not like an Instagram follower but more like someone who has been adopted into a home and is learning what its like to follow their new parents.
Chair three is the worker, the laborer, the one who embraces the hard work of ministry
Chair four the friend of Jesus, the lover, who is replicating their life in someone else.
Now for those who have been here a while - which one feels more confusing?
One of the helpful things he clarified some distinctions between the chairs. We’ve gone over the chairs a few times. Chair one is the seeker, curious type. Chair 2 is the follower, but not like a youtube subscriber but more like but what transitions someone from one chair to the next? What is the “finish line” that indicates you’ve moved from chair 2 to chair 3. “end product” of each chair is.
The most difficult one for me to understand is the difference between is chair 2 and chair 3. Can’t you become a new believer, following Jesus, learning about Him, but also serve and be a worker in the church?
The most difficult one to understand the difference between is chair 2 and chair 3.
What transitions someone from one chair to the next?
I got to spend time with Dan Spader this week and he clarified some distinctions between the chairs.
I got to spend time with Dan Spader this week and he clarified some distinctions between the chairs.
The finish line for each of the 4 chairs.
The end product of the 4 chairs.
Kids toys overwhelm me. I have distinct memories as a child of going to my cousin’s homes and seeing massive amounts of toys and being totally overwhelmed, and mildly put off by how the toys completely took over half of their common living space. It was clear they had cleaned and moved the toys to a section of the home - but that section so happened take up most of their family room.
Kids toys overwhelm me. I have distinct memories as a child of going to my cousin’s homes and seeing massive amounts of toys and being totally overwhelmed, and mildly put off by how the toys completely took over half of their common living space. It was clear they had cleaned and moved the toys to a section of the home - but that section so happened to be what seemed like most of the family room, leaving a small living room.
I imagine that people come to church for a variety of reasons. Some of you may be seeking truth, something deep within you knows there is a creator and purpose to the world, one of the challenges in preaching is meeting diverse people where they are - in the stage they are in.
Is this is place where if you’re hurting or
I have distinct memories of going When do kids really start to share their toys? Like really come to the point where they say, I want to give my toys away because some kids don’t have any toys?
Finish line analogy - one of the reasons sports are so effective at helping people grow is because there is literally a FINISH LINE that they are running too. For soccer and football there is a goal line, for baseball there is an outfield fence - and we are aiming for it. It’s clear. Remember children don’t learn how to walk, they learn how to get what they want. Similarly, athletes learn how to get to the finish line, everything else serves that end.
I worked for a community property maintenance company that helped subdivisions manage their
But the issue in Christianity is that we’ve made growth, and the finish line, largely academic. Intellectual - get a PhD or ordained after 4 years in seminary. The finish line is more studying - so much that there had to be a new division of theology called “Practical Theology” because most of it at that point was too broad to be lived out on a practical basis.
Dan Spader helped us realize that each chair has a “finish line,” from one chair to the next. What is the “end product” or the finish line of each chair?
Dan Spader helped us realize that each chair has a “finish line,” from one chair to the next. What is the “end product” or the finish line of each chair?
The end product of the 4 chairs.
[slide] The finish line (with bullets below)
[slide] The finish line (with bullets below)
Chair 1 - The finish line for the seeker is that someone says yes to following Jesus. They have a real true, tested, faith, where they believe Jesus is the one. Baptism or profession of faith is the crossing over this finish line.
Chair 2 - the finish line for the follower/learner, is they are now consumed by serving and reaching others. They BECOME other-oriented.
Chair 3 - the finish line for the worker is that they play a significant major role in leading someone to faith in Christ. They help someone else go from chair 1 to chair 2.
Chair 4 - spiritual grandparent
Today we will be focusing on Chair 3 workers.
1 thess. 2:8
Today we will be focusing on Chair 3 workers.
[Transition] Please turn with me to the gospel according to
[Transition] Please turn with me to the gospel according to
Context:
Context:
Context:
The gospel according to Mark skips over the Jesus birth narrative, John’s birth narrative, Mary and Joseph’s subsequent pack up the family and flee to Egypt, and then their return to Nazareth after Herod’s death. Instead it begins begins with Jesus’ cousin - John the Baptist - who is now a grown man.
Context of
Context of
Mark
recaps Jesus’ lineage and then describes his birth, fleeing to Egypt, and then his return to Northern Israel in Nazareth.
JTB is fascinating. He preaches in the wilderness about people’s need to repent, to change their ways, to turn back to God. He is doing this to prepare them for the coming Messiah - the Jewish Deliverer King. JTB’s message resonated with people and they would come out in the thousands to be baptized - baptism was a ritual cleansing that would symbolize their desire to be forgiven.
Now let’s turn to
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
fast forwards to John the Baptist’s ministry. John the Baptist is fascinating. He preaches in the wilderness about people’s need to repent, to change their ways, to turn back to God, because the Messiah - the Jewish Deliverer King - is coming. People would come in droves to be baptized - a ritual cleansing that would symbolize their desire to be forgiven.
[picture of the region] In those days - in the days of John the Baptist’s public ministry.
[picture of the region] In those days - in the days of John the Baptist’s public ministry.
Jesus comes from his hometown to be baptized. We know from the gospel of Matthew that John the Baptized is confused - “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to see me?” (). But Jesus understands that in order for him to fulfill his calling - he must show himself to be fully human - and in a special way - be anointed by the Holy Spirit for ministry and to be announced by the Father, in “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”
We know from the gospel of Matthew that John the Baptized is confused - “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to see me?” (). But Jesus understands that in order for him to fulfill his calling - he must show himself to be fully human - and in a special way - be anointed by the Holy Spirit for ministry and to be announced by the Father, in “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”
This important moment, then in 1:12 Jesus Begins His ministry with a 40 day camping retreat with no food in the wilderness, accompanied by wild animals, angels, and the great tempter, Satan.
is Jesus’ first public appearance. He would come to John the Baptist and John the Baptized is confused - “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to see me?” (3:14). But Jesus understands that in order for him to fulfill his calling - he must show himself to be fully human - and in a special way - receive the Holy Spirit and hear the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Now we come to
After this strange, bizzare, but important moment where Jesus is presented as the beloved son of God…
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Now, I would like you to consider that these 2 little verses fail to portray the amount of time that has passed. Dan Spader believes that Jesus had been traveling around Galilee, gathering chair 2 followers for at least 18 months over these 2 verses. That’s more than 1/3 of his ministry.
Now we come to - where jesus is tempted in the wilderness.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
But something happens when John gets arrested - Jesus understands that his ministry needs to change, and it’s time for him to assemble his main disciples, it’s time for him to call together some workers.
When Jesus comes to Simon and Andrew in 1:16, this is not his first time meeting them. In fact, Simon and Andrew have been following Jesus’ ministry for several months, and are chair 2 followers. This scene in is actually the same scene in where Jesus has just been teaching a multitude and uses Simon’s boat as a platform.
Now, I would like you to consider that the number of verses given to betrays just how long Jesus was going around proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom. In these 2 verses, Dan Spader believes that Jesus had been ministering up to 18 months at this point and by the time he gets to 1:16, Simon and Andrew have been following Jesus’ ministry for several months.
So let’s see what Jesus says to them in mark 1:17
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
we come to - where Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit to pray and be tempted by the devil in the wilderness, and when he
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
Jesus Begins His Ministry
Jesus Begins His Ministry
Jesus Calls his first
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
he gets to 1:16, Simon and Andrew have been following Jesus’ ministry for several months.
After he endures this temptation Jesus begins now we come to .
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus then challenges Simon and Andrew with this - “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Jesus then challenges Simon and Andrew with this - “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Now, I would like you to consider that the number of verses given to betrays just how long Jesus was going around proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom. In these 2 verses, Dan Spader believes that Jesus had been ministering up to 18 months at this point and by the time he gets to 1:16, Simon and Andrew have been following Jesus’ ministry for several months.
. The author Mark is try to set the stage and situate Jesus’ ministry in light of big events that the public readers would know about - John the Baptist’s ministry and his subsequent imprisonment.
Now we don’t know exactly how much time passed between and 14, but Dan Spader believes that Jesus was going healing and teaching people and slowly people began to follow him around, and eventually begin believing in him as the Messiah.
Dan Spader uses this verse to define what it means to be a disciple. Someone who follows Jesus, is being made by Jesus, into a fisherman.
Dan Spader believes that the time from verse 17 to 18 is around 18 months.
Spader breaks down
Now we don’t know exactly how much time passed between verses 13 and 14, but Dan Spader believes that Jesus
Jesus invites them to be transformed into disciple-makers. He is inviting them to do more than just believe in Him and learn from his teachings (chair 2), but he’s them to eventually help others believe in Him.
During these 18 months Jesus doesn’t start building up a massive following - he chooses to find his initial followers
Jesus is going to make them into fishers of men. This is the challenge of the chair 3 disciple - they are confronted with the opportunity to serve and reach out to others.
[slide] What moves someone from Chair 2 to Chair 3? What is the finish line of a chair 2 disciple? It’s that they become consumed by a desire to serve and reach others. They become radically other-oriented.
[slide] What moves someone from Chair 2 to Chair 3? What is the finish line of a chair 2 disciple? It’s that they become consumed by a desire to serve and reach others. They become radically other-oriented.
Analogy: There was a time when we believed that the sun revolved around the earth. The center of focus was us. Then we grew to learn that the earth revolves around the sun.
What’s the chief desire of the Chair 3 worker?
Today we will be focusing on Chair 3 believers.
To go from chair 2 to 3 is a change from what is the center of our orbit. For a Chair 2 disciple - our growth, our personal experience of church, even our belonging, is the center of our world.
The questions chair 2 believers ask of the church, are largely concerned with themselves and others like them. And that’s not wrong - its where chair 2 people are.
But Chair 3 workers become less consumed with their preferences but more desiring to reach the community.
What’s the chief desire of the Chair 3 worker?
[slide] They want to be used by God to make a difference in new people’s lives. Both within their community but especially outside their community.
[slide] They want to be used by God to make a difference in new people’s lives. Both within their community but especially outside their community.
How do I know? Let’s look at how Jesus starts to teaches His new chair 3 disciples to be other-oriented.
We see this in the following chapters of Mark.
(1:21-28) First they go into Capernaum - the largest city in the area - into the synagogue where they witness Jesus teaches and cast out a demon
(1:29-30) they go to Simon’s house and Jesus heals his mother and grab a bite to eat.
(1:32-34) the whole community comes to Simon’s house and Jesus heals many people.
[slide] (1:35-39) At this point, Simon, Andrew, James, and John - tell Jesus, “Everyone’s looking for you.” Jesus has a mega church in Capernaum! Instead, Jesus says, nope, we’ve got to keep moving and reaching NEW AND OTHER PEOPLE, and they start preaching throughout all of Galilee.
[slide] (1:35-39) At this point, Simon, Andrew, James, and John - tell Jesus, “Everyone’s looking for you.” Jesus has a mega church in Capernaum! Instead, Jesus says, nope, we’ve got to keep moving and reaching NEW AND OTHER PEOPLE, and they start preaching throughout all of Galilee.
This is what Jesus does with his Chair 3 workers - he takes them out to work together where they can see and participate with Jesus in action - teaching and healing and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. They have gone beyond being followers in the crowd, but they are now on
[slide] Jesus’ “ministry team” as they go serve, sacrifice, and suffer with people that are hurting in their surrounding cities.
[slide] Jesus’ “ministry team” as they go serve, sacrifice, and suffer with people that are hurting in their surrounding cities.
Chair 3 people are Jesus’ chosen ministry team and they go on mission trips together.
GEOTRACKER (car) WITH KEMPTON [picture]
GEOTRACKER (car) WITH KEMPTON [picture]
And over time, they realize that the greatest difference they can make in people’s lives is to give these folks an opportunity to encounter the living God, full of grace and truth.
I remember traveling with Kempton Turner, the first man who discipled me, on a 3 hour trip in his old Geotracker - this classic car. He was invited to go speak at a retreat and I was just tagging along to learn from him. We then pull over for gas and when we are checking out, Kempton strikes up a conversation with the man behind the counter and asks him a question i’ll never forget, “If God were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you in heaven?’” what would you say?
The man said something to the effect of - I don’t think I deserve it, but if anything, just because of his love?
Kempton, agreed, shared the good news of Jesus in a few more sentences, encouraged him to find a good church, and we went on our way. I learned from kempton what it meant to be intentional, ask questions, listen, and respond.
Kempton and I debriefed that experience
Similary, as Jesus engages the crowds, his disciples are learning and laboring!
Jesus is engaging with crowds with his disciples who are learning and laboring!
Dan Spader says that Jesus understands the importance of developing those closest to him on his ministry team.
[slide] Spader observes that the gospels record 17 instances of Jesus engaging the crowds but 45 instances of Jesus teaching his disciples in a smaller group.
[slide] Spader observes that the gospels record 17 instances of Jesus engaging the crowds but 45 instances of Jesus teaching his disciples in a smaller group.
Real transformation happens in the context of smaller groups where you can learn from each other and be truly known.
That’s one of the reasons I really like connect groups or other small groups - because they help us live like Jesus.
[Transition] Now let’s go back to how Jesus calls James and John as they were mending their nets.
[Transition] Now let’s go back to how Jesus calls James and John as they were mending their nets.
Chair 3 is not just that you help greet, pass out bulletins, or volunteer on Sundays at children’s ministry. Volunteering in the church is huge and we are grateful for everything that our countless volunteers do, but chair 3 involves a lifestyle of being other-oriented.
And over time, they realize that the greatest difference they can make in people’s lives is to give these folks an opportunity to encounter the living God, full of grace and truth.
That word mending in the greek has several meanings
And I think they represent some of the important things that Chair 3 workers need [slide w/bullets]
And I think they represent some of the important things that Chair 3 workers need [slide w/bullets]
Equipped/Prepared - in chair 2 we were learning how to talk to God - in chair 3 we prepare what it looks like talk and share the good news with chair 1 seekers and how to nurture new chair 2 followers.
Form/Endurance - in chair 2 we learned how to walk - in chair 3 - you learn how to gain endurance through better form in following Jesus.
Restored - Despite the joys of the gospel they began learning in chair 1 and 2, feelings come and go, and the God who has changed their life is often rejected by so many others. They endure rejection, frustration with themselves, and potentially even burnout. But only in the place of this heartache will God teach us how to depend on the Spirit of God and be restored.
Chair 3 disciples Must learn a new way of living that results in restoration through the Spirit-filled life. The most tangible thing the chair 3 disciple can learn is how to practice rest. How do they get restored? Jesus pulled away over 30 times to pray - it’s how he was restored.
Restore- Despite the joys of the gospel they began learning in chair 1 and 2, feelings come and go, and the God who has changed their life is often rejected by so many others. They endure rejection, frustration with themselves, and potentially even burnout. But only in the place of this heartache will God teach us how to depend on the Spirit of God.
[slide] What is the finish line of chair 3? That you play a major role in leading someone to faith.
What is the end product of chair 3? That you play a major role in leading someone to faith.
What does it mean to play a major role in leading someone to faith? It means you’re the trusted friend that’s been a consistent, explicit witness, that Jesus is Lord and Savior. You may not be the one who actually prays the prayer of faith with someone, but if that someone were to share their testimony - you’d be their friend who they explored with, wrestled with, asked questions. You’d be the one or two people they’d want to baptize them.
High School Student - Reading John - forgot his bible and that we were meeting but he was still available. Told him to bring a friend to explore reading John with us - “Man, i am not there yet.” He started tweakin out.
Chair 3 Disciples are - Faithful, Available, Teachable, Enthusiastic. Now remember, Chair 3 disciples are not fully trained, but they are maturing in these directions.
The worker is other-oriented.
They are willing to suffer
They live into servanthood
They sacrifice their worldly comforts
All the while, learning the joy of suffering.
This is the person who wants even more.
They become aware of “the needs of others and begin to experience the joys of serving others and being productive.” (Spader 79).
They want more than the class. They
Reasons people come to church: I imagine that people come to church for a variety of reasons. Some of you are here because this is what you’re supposed to do on Sundays, and church is a value for you.
Reasons people come to church: I imagine that people come to church for a variety of reasons. Some of you are here because this is what you’re supposed to do on Sundays, and church is a value for you.
If you’re in chair 1 - and you may be seeking truth, i want to encourage you, ask questions - investigate - it’s worth it and people around you will learn just as much from the questions you ask.
If you’re in chair 2 - keep learning, keep focusing on your prayer life, learning scripture, and confession/repentance. You’ve got to find someone to disciple you! The finish line you’re aiming for is to become other-oriented. You need someone to labor with - because you weren’t meant to do it alone.
If you’re in chair 2 - keep learning, keep focusing on your rhythms of grace - better learning how to pray/read scripture/and repent. But if you’re ready to get really serious about being other-oriented - you’ve got to find someone to disciple you! You need someone to labor with - because you weren’t meant to do it alone.
If you’re in chair 3 - I pray you continue learning what it means to be restored, to gain better form/endurance, and I pray the center of your orbit is reaching others with the good news of God. With the finish line being that you play a major role in leading someone to faith.
This sermon has sought to explain what chair 3 is and define what Jesus was aiming towards with his disciple-makers - He was modeling for them how to cast seed, heal others and experience the joy of seeing someone’s life transformed.
Thomas [picture]
Thomas [picture]
Young adult, teen, worker, laborer - not fully trained but moving in that direction - gaining experience and maturity. .
Working within the church and out in the harvest field.
They are in search for more.
Chair 3 Disciples are - Faithful, Available, Teachable, Enthusiastic.
Jesus experienced 3 major transitions:
One of Leadership - John to Jesus;
One of Location - Nazareth to Capernaum (larger more commercialized city)
One of Message - From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near ).
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
Reasons people come to church: I imagine that people come to church for a variety of reasons. Some of you may be seeking truth, something deep within you knows there is a creator and purpose to the world, one of the challenges in preaching is meeting diverse people where they are - in the stage they are in.
Is this is place where if you’re hurting or
End with Thomas -
Remember that friend my sister introduced me too? Well his name is Thomas [picture]. When we were young I never talked with him much about God because I didn’t know anything really. Then he moved when we were in 7th grade and we slowly lost touch.
I connected with him again when I was graduating High School. It was abig moment and I was reflecting on the friends who helped me get there. It turns out that he developed paranoid schizophrenia, and things just weren’t the same for him.
He came over before i shipped off to college, we watched a couple movies, talked some about God. I tried my best to share the gospel that I had recently received at that point, but there seemed to be a cloud over him.
Sadly, I haven’t seen him since 2007.
This is not about responding to pressure or obligation to save all your long lost friends. That’s impossible - all we can do is cast seed, God has to bring the growth.
[slide] But the Chair 3 disciple asks this question - how do we reach people like Tom? People different than us? How can i reach someone different than me?
[slide] But the Chair 3 disciple asks this question - how do we reach people like Tom? People different than us? How can i reach someone different than me?
[slide] Sabbath Prayer:
[slide] Sabbath Prayer:
Chair 2 - who is helping you talk/walk/feed/clean up so that you can be more other-oriented?
Chair 2 - who is helping you talk/walk/feed/clean up so that you can be more other-oriented?
Chair 2 - what’s keeping you from being more other-oriented?
Chair 2 - what’s keeping you from being more other-oriented?
What are you doing to grow in how you pray, live, learn the Word, and repent?
[slide] Chair 3 - who do you need to help you prepare/gain endurance/ be restored?
[slide] Chair 3 - who do you need to help you prepare/gain endurance/ be restored?
who is someone you’d love to baptize? what are you willing to do to find it?