the whole package

Back some time ago, we as a community agreed that what Jesus ultimately calls us to is simply to become disciples and then make disciples.  We aren't called to perfect attendance for ourselves or big numbers on Sunday's .  We aren't called to theological brilliance.  We aren't called to technical or programming perfection, or even competence for that matter.  We aren't called to devotional piety.  We aren't called to many of the things that tend to give pastors piece of mind and personal esteem in front of their colleagues when questioned "How is your church doing?".  We are called to discipleship, both personal and progressing outward.
In my earliest days of following Jesus ... or probably more honestly, following church, I don't ever recall imagining that I could ever become a "disciple".  In fact, as I remember it, a disciple was one of Jesus' immediate followers, often to be confused, at least in my mind, with an apostle.  Back in that day, they were "the" disciples, blindly and faithfully ... sometimes... following Jesus on great adventures, being pressed by great and at the same time troubling counter cultural teaching.  They experienced healings and feedings and miracles.  The impression I had was that they were disciples, they were called to that.  I was called, we were called to be "Christians".  What they had was supernatural, otherworldly, and revolutionary.  What I bought into was organized, neatly packaged and comfortable.  We were called to moral purity and being nice, neither of which has proven to be attainable.  I was, and millions like me, led insidiously back into a well disguised form of "The Law" which manifests itself in morality and well produced Sunday worship.  Check those off and I'm a good "Christian".
I have been a practitioner of the pastoral arts long enough to remember that this is indeed the formula that I was taught would bring "success" in my field.  Simply get people to show up ... in increasing numbers... and behave themselves and I could rest easily.  It seemed like a great and workable plan, at least until it wasn't. Ironically, for me at least, about the same time that the whisper became uncomfortably loud, I began to hear the term "disciple" filtering through the undercurrent.  Eventually, like many things evangelical, a right and pure idea gained enough traction for entrepreneurs and marketers to bring it precariously close to fad status. Books were written, conferences were formed, staff positions were created.   A congregation of mine even became part of a disciple making... wait for it ... program, in which we sank thousands of dollars to learn this most basic, fundamental and simple truth of following Jesus;  A follower of Jesus, a Christian, was and is simply, yet profoundly, a disciple.
So then the question for me became, how does one really become a "disciple"?  Ironically, the model I came back to was those first followers that I was led to believe were a unique class of "Christian".  Their lives certainly didn't model moral purity and programming excellence.  They simply spent time with Jesus, they spent time in community, and then they followed him into the midst of those whom he loved unconditionally.  That's what I'd call "The Whole Package".  That is becoming a "disciple".
That's what Common Table is about:
Spending time with Jesus (Love God)
Spending time in community (Live well)
Following Him into the midst of those He loves unconditionally (Do Good)

legacy part 2

Last week we came to the end of Hebrews 11 and began to put it into perspective within the context of our own lives and influences.  When you have lived "x" number of days and are gone, what will be your legacy?  What will you have been commended for?  We shared snap shots of our own faith journeys.  We considered the names of those who influenced us on our pursuit of Jesus.  Everyone is entirely different, yet everyone has a story.  This week we will be wrapping it up with some additional biblical context as well as more reflection on our own journeys. 

Two questions to consider:

1. If you would be remembered for one aspect of your "faith", (based on your life to this point) what would that be?

2. If you could actively improve or advance in one area of your journey, what would that be?