When Disciple Making Hurts
This past weekend at our Disciple Makers breakfast, we had a wonderful time together breaking down God's word. We looked at Matthew 7 when the Lord declares that many on their day of judgment will be turned away because our Father never knew them despite their resume' of doing so much in His name. These wayward souls relied on themselves to earn God's favor, but never had a relationship with Him. Then we looked at Acts 2 that teaches us "That all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." These passages do not contradict each other. The people of Acts 2 relied on the saving power of Jesus' blood and accepted His perfect sacrifice for the remission of their sins. The powerful difference is we are saved by what HE has done and not by anything we can do. Amen!
As disciple makers we are building relationships with other Christians that require intimacy, transparency, vulnerability and trust. Those wonderful attributes are byproducts of life on life discipleship which one day will prove to be noble, but imperfect. In our intimate sharing of life, we may offend a brother or sister. In our transparency, we may share a personal struggle resulting in us being judged, instead of being covered in grace. Vulnerability may open the door to us being taken for granted. Trust takes forever to earn and only a second to lose. Thank God disciple making is not rooted in noble human intentions, but in our reliance on His perfect inerrant word, and the tie that binds us through acceptance of His once and for all sacrifice for our sins.
Thank God disciple making is not rooted in noble human intentions, but in our reliance on His perfect inerrant word, and the tie that binds us through acceptance of His once and for all sacrifice for our sins.
So, what do we do when we unintentionally hurt someone within our D-Group? Let me start by saying, if you haven't upset a person you are discipling, you are either in week two of your very first group ever or you aren't doing it right. It is going to happen! But Romans 5 encourages us that suffering is productive. It produces endurance, steadfastness, and Christ-likeness. Do not avoid the suffering caused by relational hurts. Do not ignore them like they will go away in time or we will miss the productive, healing power of addressing the hurt as God instructs. No matter the nature of the offense, whether it's a comment, the moving of the meeting time or location, or the perceived lack of attention for our friend in their time of need, please do not respond like the people of Matthew 7. Do not go to the one you have offended and give them the list of all the relational deposits you have made that should have your love account so far in the black that this relational withdrawal shouldn't matter. Instead, go to your brother or sister in Christ and beg for forgiveness relying on what Jesus has done for us and not recounting what we have done for them.That's a humble Acts 2 approach that shows that we are imperfect as we prevail upon our perfect Savior to restore us to Himself and to each other. Then, testify, testify, testify! When the mending of the relationship has happened by God's grace, take the testimony to the whole group. Share with them how the hurt, the repentance, and the reconciliation has produced a strengthening of the relationship for the mission moving forward. Doesn't that mirror the gospel? Sin, repentance, salvation, and proclaiming the name of Jesus while living a life on mission. Let me encourage you to grow through a disciple makers hurt and do not be paralyzed by it. Go disciple so passionately with such determination that it hurts, trusting in the great Healer!
4 ways to Make Disciples
Check out this post by Mark Dever on 4 things included in the disciple making process. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/4-ways-to-make-disciples/%3famp
Grace & Peace, Chris Wyndham