A Personal Growth Plan

Introduction

On the Friday before Christmas, my wife and I were out walking the dog.  Out of the blue, she said to me (my wife, not the dog), “Do you have any aspirations for 2019?”  Well, the only thing that went through my mind was a huge ball of tumble weed.  So I did the only thing I could and said, “Do you have any?”

Her response was multifaceted: to overhaul the dining room, to plan our big anniversary holiday, to have more of God in her life and more of God in our church.   Of course, those last two items are things that should be in the minds of all of us.

Her question set us talking, and it set me thinking about growth plans, something that all our chapels have been talking about.  Our circuit leadership team has given three things to think about:

• vibrant worship
• small groups, and
• making new disciples.

These are things we've been working on at my church for quite some time, actually.  While this is a positive thing, to be honest, I've found myself of late to be somewhat discouraged.  Because we're never quite there, and it seems to have been such hard work to make little progress. 

Our growth plans are not merely fine ideals.  They'll not be effective just because we've written them down.  If our churches are to grow, then we must be committed to growing, personally and corporately.

As it's still early in this new year, it seems a good time to think about aspirations, to consider how to discover more of God in our lives and, as a result, to have more vibrant worship, more effective discipleship, and stronger fellowships that people actually want to be part of.

Vibrant Worship

John 4:19-24

As far as vibrant worship in my church goes, we're blessed with musicians with a range of musical talent – some of it to an impressively high standard, some of it (like my guitar playing) of adequate mediocrity.  We've been able to adapt our sung worship to incorporate different instruments and a more contemporary style, while keeping a good balance between traditional hymns and contemporary songs.

But I've concluded that the thing we need most for vibrant worship, the thing we need most to be, is vibrant worshippers. 

Worship is something we give to God.  It's not about whether the style of worship suits us, or whether we enjoy the hymns or other aspects of our services.  Obviously, there's joy in meeting with our God, and as we worship we often find blessing.  But our being blessed is not the primary purpose of worship. 

In our first reading, Jesus tells us two things about God. 

• Firstly, that he is spirit, and,
• secondly, that he seeks out those who will worship in spirit and in truth. 

This is not about some almighty, transcendent being demanding that we bow and scrape before him.  It's much more awe-inspiring than that.  It's about intimacy; the essential nature of God seeking relationship with our essential nature; his spirit touching ours, and our spirit touching his.

The Samaritan woman pointed out a big division between Jews and Samaritans: they worshipped in different holy places.  Worshipping in spirit means 'place' no longer matters.  The NIV translates the relevant verses here as worshipping in the Spirit, not just in spirit.  Although the definite article doesn't seem to be in the Greek, this reminds us that God indwells his people by the Holy Spirit, so wherever a true worshipper is becomes a holy place.  God's kingdom is no longer confined to a temple or church building.

We have a saying, “I'm with you in spirit,” meaning (let's be honest) “You have my sympathy but not enough for me to actually go with you.”  That's not what Jesus means when he says, “in spirit and in truth.”  Genuine worshippers are truly engaged in worship, not merely appearing to be so by following outward ceremony.

The last time I went to the New Wine conference, one of the guest speakers was the principal of a Bible College serving black pentecostal churches.  She was a fantastic speaker, and when she had finished speaking she led the congregation of around 3000 people into a time of worship.  The people responded to her sensitive leading and they worshipped.  God was there.  The people responded to the presence of God and worshipped.  God lavished his blessing on us.  I've never known anything like it before or since. 
The following night, the conference leaders tried unsuccessfully to make it happen again.  The difference?  Well, it may be about the difference between offering something to God and trying to get something for ourselves.

And worship doesn't have to be in large gatherings to be special.  I worship a lot when I'm out with the dog on my own, and I've known the thrilling touch of his Spirit even in that context.

Now, I'm not saying that vibrant worship means that we should always be on some elevated plane of ecstasy.

In a church this size there may well be someone here facing deep problems, and just making the effort to be here to acknowledge that God is God is all the worship they can muster.  Their act of worship is no less valid because they seem to go out as heavy as when they came in.  If that's you, know this: God sees you—and loves you—and is holding on to you, even though you feel your grip on him is failing.  Perhaps in hearing these words you might feel God's spirit touching yours.

Fundamentally, worship is our genuine response to who God is and what he's done for us in Christ; it's our essence reaching out to touch his essence, and his touching ours.  How vibrant is that?!

Making Disciples

Matthew 28:18-20

Making new disciples is the most difficult aspect of the growth plan.  In my church, we have some initiatives like Messy Church in place, and other things that bring us into contact with our community, but we haven't seen a great response yet, in terms of a clear commitment.

Here are a couple of things I believe about mission.

1. Mission involves all believers, not just the 'gifted' or the 'professionals'.  We all represent Christ.  We're all on display.  We all need, as Peter puts it in his first letter, to '… be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.'  We may not all have the confidence to do that yet but sharing what we believe in the safe environment of a small group may help us build confidence.
2. To make disciples we must be disciples.  I sat in church on many occasions before I met someone who lived what he believed.  Guess what made the difference to me …

When Rev PD spoke about the 'Great Commission' at my church, he said that we're not to make merely church-goers, or believers, or even converts.  We're to make disciples.  He said lots of other things too but this is my sermon, not his!

So what is a disciple? The word that we translate as “disciple” means “learner” or “apprentice.” In Jewish tradition, a rabbi would call apprentices. His disciples aimed to become like their rabbi. Eventually, they would become competent enough to call and train their own disciples.

Jesus followed the same pattern. He called and made disciples. They were sent out to call and make disciples, and the church has propagated around the world and down the ages on this same model.

John Wesley's work was successful because of his emphasis on discipleship.

I said earlier that worship is our genuine response to who God is and what he's done for us in Christ.  In a way, discipleship is exactly the same.  We could even say it's the highest form of worship we can offer. 

But who is God, and what has he done for us in Christ?

Discovering the Nature of God

1 John 4:16; Deuteronomy 5:8; Psalm 103:7-12

We've just heard read three passages about the nature of God.  We're all familiar with the first one: 'God is love.'  The second is a difficult one to understand, in some ways troubling—but it's God telling us something about himself.  The third was just to remind us after hearing the second, that God is full of compassion. 

I've said that worship is our response to who God is.  But if all we know of the nature of God is 'God is love' then we don't have the full picture.  In fact, it can be quite dangerous! 

There is the danger of thinking, “'God is love' therefore love is God” but that's not true.  If a man falls for someone else's wife and takes her from him we might be tempted to think God is in it because they love each other.  We'd be wrong.  It's called adultery, something God tells us not to do.

Another danger is to think that “'God is love' so he'll let everyone off in the end.”  John 3:16 says, “… God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  God, because he is love, holds out the offer of life and longs for us to accept it, but those who reject it have no remedy.

We have a distorted view of love, these days.  The New Testament word translated as 'love' is agape, and it has a very particular meaning.  We've no time to go into it today, but if you read 1 Corinthians 13 you'll find a very good explanation of it.

So, how do we discover the full picture of what God is like?  John Wesley spoke of the Bible as a means of grace.  Reading the Bible puts us in the place where God can speak to us and reveal himself to us.  Methodists, of all people, should be Bible readers!

Small Groups

John 13:34-35

We live in a very individualistic age.  It's all about 'Me', or, in your case, 'You.'  But that's not how things work in the kingdom of God.  Jesus commands us to 'love one another' (and there's that word agape again) but we can't really love one another from arm's length.  We can't really do discipleship by ourselves.  Being loving disciples together is important to Christ's growth plan:  'by this everyone will know that you are my disciples.'

Small groups give us the perfect opportunity to grow together in love.  On our own, we can be neglectful of our spiritual well-being.  Belonging to a group can keep us sharp.  On our own, we can form weird ideas about what it means to be a Christian.  Being in a group means we can test our ideas with more mature believers and stay on the right track.

Of course, being in a small group has risks.  You might find it challenging!  Especially if you struggle to be vulnerable.  Living in close relationship can be difficult but if we keep in mind Christ's command to love one another, we can help each other gently through our difficulties, and bear with those who are not yet ready to receive help.

As for my church, we've had several small groups for a while now, meeting for worship, bible study, prayer and fellowship.  In the group I attend, I've been encouraged to see people growing closer and engaging in lively discussion.  I'm sure you'll have experienced the same in your groups here.

Small groups are also important for the growth of new disciples.  When someone makes a commitment to Christ, we can't leave them to flounder.  Zealous new converts often lose social links.  They may find that as their tastes change they feel uncomfortable with their old friends, or their friends think they've gone nuts and start avoiding them. 

New disciples need support; they too need to discover what God is like and what it means to follow Jesus.  Established groups will have to adapt to the needs of new believers because the kingdom of God can seem like an alien world to begin with.

In the early days of Methodism, small study groups played a key role in establishing robust discipleship.  They're just as valuable today.  If you're not already in one, join one!

A Personal Growth Plan

So how does the plan work?  We make new disciples, nurture them along with ourselves in our small groups where they can learn what God is like and what he's done for them in Christ, and so grow to become vibrant worshippers.

Where do we start?  I believe it begins with our personal commitment to being disciples together, and so demonstrating God's love to the world; discovering together more of God and responding with vibrant worship; showing the world that the 'more to life' that they're looking for is found in Christ.

So, what of our aspirations for this new year?  I want more of God in my life.  I want more of God in my church.  Do you?

It requires commitment but it's a good investment!  Get into your Bible.  Join a small group.  Open your heart and mind to God so that he can inspire you with who he is and what he's done for you.  And your living and your worship will be transformed!