n the Gospel of Matthew, we read another angle on what matters with respect to being a disciple: for example, at the end of Matthew’s Gospel we learn that what is important to Jesus is how we are to go into the world and make more disciples, teaching and baptizing, and then obeying all that Jesus commanded. Disciples do what Jesus says. 
 
If you scored high on Matthew, then, you notice that there is a great deal of emphasis on “getting things done,” or in the words of the Nike commercial, “just doing it.” Disciples here have a “rubber hits the road” mindset. Indeed, they might echo the former Lee Iaccoca’s motto of “lead, follow, or get out of the way.” It might sound a bit harsh, but if you are a Matthean disciple sitting in a meeting, and people keep on talking and talking, you might wonder if you are wasting your time because no one seems to be doing anything! It is also why if you want to get a project completed, you ask someone who has a Matthean bent. Mattheans tend to be highly organized, and they like to see things accomplished, checking things off their “To do list.” 
 
These are typically the characteristics of a person who scores high as a part of this type: he or she views the church as a mission outpost, or as a community where disciples do the things Jesus did, like feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger (Mt. 25:31-46).
 
Matthean disciples focus on mission or on serving others. Indeed, that is how the Gospel of Matthew ends with what many people call the Great Commission; the mission of the church is to go into the whole world to share the gospel with all people. Again, look at the verbs like “go,” “teach,” “preach,” “make,” “baptize.” Action oriented. We are not here to sit around. No, we are here to carry out a mission. We are here as fellow learners to understand what Jesus is all about and who he is. Therefore, no matter who you are, you have a job to do – to take part in Jesus’ work. 
 
How may you take part in this work this week? What is Christ calling and commissioning you to do? Take heart: God goes with you!

Pastor Andy Kinsey

Discipleship is about the way(s) we commit ourselves to following the teachings of Jesus and how we apply them to our daily lives.  Morris suggests that each gospel writer presents a different type of discipleship based on their experience and understanding of what Jesus said in the upper room following his resurrection.  She calls these types, Markan, Mattean, Lukan, and Johannine. This week’s devotion takes a look at the Markan type of disciple. 

If there was a gospel that could both inspire a believer to great heights and scare the pants off them, Mark could be the one!  Whether you stop with the shorter ending at verse eight, where the women who went early in the morning to anoint Jesus’s body, end up fleeing the scene terrified and tell no one.  This ending leaves you thinking discipleship is fear based, mysterious, and you're better off to run. OR you go with the longer ending in which Jesus, after he was raised from the tomb, met his disciples where they were hiding in fear for their lives, and told them, “those who believe will cast out demons, speak in new tongues, handle snakes, lay hands on and heal the sick, and not be harmed if they were to drink any deadly thing!” (16:17-18) 

Either way, there is a powerful force at work and if you align your understanding of discipleship more with Mark, then that powerful force is how you experience the Spirit of God and influences how you interact with the world around you.  In fact, according to Morris, that is the first main characteristic of Marken disciples - they are continually seeking the power and presence of the Spirit of God in their everyday life; in their coming and going of their work, church, and encounters with others. 

A second characteristic found in Markan disciples is they are “wildly inclusive” (Morris 29).  Markans know how to make space for everyone - not necessarily by building one on one relationships but rather by making sure “there is space at the table for everyone” (29).  They are inclusive of people the rest of the church may not see.  The third characteristic of Markan disciples is what Morris calls their “short attention span” (30).  Not because they can’t focus or remain focussed, but because if a Markan believes the Spirit of God shifts, they too will shift their focus. 

That leads to the final two characteristics of Markans: they feel the presence of God in an active, physical, tangible way, which allows them to almost always be open to the miraculous and they actively seek the presence of God and look for God in all things and moments.  These are the poets, artists, and musicians.  Markan disciples use their creativity to express prayer, worship, and theology.  By doing so, they open space within themselves for the Holy Spirit to pour its energy into them that they in turn, pour that energy into the world around them. 

The words of Jesus as recorded at the end of the gospel of Mark are not intended to alarm or frighten the followers of Jesus, but rather to energize and inspire them knowing that they have access to and are empowered by the very presence of God’s Holy Spirit.  They are words to encourage and remind believers that it is the Holy Spirit that does the moving and transforming and that all humanity is the vessel through which God can transform lives and in fact change the world.  

What does all this mean?  What does it look like in the church and world?  Perhaps mirroring the style of the great evangelist, Jeff Foxworthy can help: 

If the final words of Jesus as recorded by the author of Mark energize and inspire you to immediate action, you may be a Markan disciple.
 
If you believe the church too often puts people and God in a box, and that box is too small, you might be a Markan disciple. 

If new ideas, ministries, and projects are exciting to you, you might be a Markan disciple. 

If you look for, expect, and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in profound and ordinary ways, you might be a Markan disciple.

If you believe everyone has a place you might be a Markan disciple.

If you believe boundaries and rules can limit the work of the Spirit you might be a Markan disciple.  

AND based on the mysterious and powerful words of Mark 16:17-18 

If you speak in tongues, which I believe can mean you speak in a way that those who have been pushed aside, ignored, or otherwise made to feel like outsiders to the church, you might be a Markan disciple.

If you have the courage to handle the snakes of our time; the bullies, the arrogant, and those who misuse the power given them, you might be a Markan disciple.

If you have been exposed to the poison of lies, cynicism, and double standards poured out in our world and did NOT cave or compromise, you might be a Markan disciple. 

If your encouraging words, consistent actions, faithful presence, helping hand, or clear minded council provided healing, support, and wisdom for a hurting soul, you might be a Markan disciple.

Pastor Jenothy Irvine

In her book, Gospel Discipleship, Michelle J. Morris presents the idea that each of the gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John represent a different understanding of discipleship; a different type of discipleship.   Based on the style of writing, what we know about each author, how they viewed the world and the work of Jesus, what was most important to them, and how they, as best as we can tell, interpreted the way to live a life of discipleship Morris suggests their writing illustrates four types of discipleship.  They were witnesses retelling what they saw and experienced.  Morris uses the last words of Jesus as recorded at the end of each of the gospels to base her conclusions.  She writes, “It is somewhat surprising, all four Gospels have different last words. It is a surprise because wouldn’t you pay really close attention to the last thing Jesus said, and then collectively remember and agree on that? Except that is not how humans work. We remember the things that mean something to us. And the four Gospels are written to four different communities, and they are written by four different authors.”

At the end of Mark, we read, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (17-18).  These are the people less interested in the practical teachings of Jesus and instead captivated and motivated by the miracles of Jesus - the very power and presence of Jesus.  They tend to lean into and seek a faith that doesn’t so much help them make it through every day, but that changes the everyday into the extraordinary.  They want radically new and remarkably powerful (Morris 24-25).  They are ready for action and they respond to the immediate needs around them.  Markens want to bring the miraculous to the mundane and transform people’s lives by showing them the  powerful, life giving, life saving presence of Jesus Christ. 

Matthew concludes with the words: And Jesus came and said to them, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  God therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the ather and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Known as the Great Commission (go, make disciples, baptize, teach) these words read like a to-do list of a series of actions. Mattheans are hard working, driven disciples — paying attention to detail, having a plan, getting things done; they are the tangible hands and feet working for Christ, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, making a list and checking it off.  They are all about seeing the physical transformation of the world around them and stand on the conviction that faith without works is dead.  These are the people who often stand between physical labor and doing right by our faith.  Works vs. Grace.  Doing and being.  Action and contemplation.  Matthians love to be taught and to learn but for the sake of doing not just for the sake of learning.  Matthians like to know the vision and have a plan to get there. 

Luke ends in Luke 24 and Acts. 1. There we read: He (Jesus) said to them, “this is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses to these things.  Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with the heavenly power.”  As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?”  Jesus replied, “it isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority.  Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  

In these words, Jesus tells the disciples to start in Jerusalem with the people they know, then go to Judea and Samaria to the people they kinda know, and then go to the ends of the earth to the people they don’t know yet. Lukans are relationship centered disciples — love of God and love of neighbor are the heart of everything.  These are the potluck planning, picnic organizing, coffee shop going, fellowship gathering, small group growing, community connecting, everyone is welcome kind of people.  These are the followers of Jesus that have the capacity to love everyone.  They want to welcome everyone and be welcomed.  They want to live into their call of love and help people understand what it means to love and how loving others has its great joys and challenges.  Lukan disciples prefer to walk WITH others on the journey and get to know their fellow faith walkers.  At the heart of the Lukan disciple is the story of the least, the last, the lost, and the good samaritan.  For these disciples it is all about their relationship with Jesus and with those around them.  

That leaves us with John, where we read: When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love more than these?”  Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”  He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?”  He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed by sheep.”  After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.”  Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them.  This was the one who had leaned against Jesus at the meal and asked him, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”  When Peter saw this disciple, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”  Jesus replied, “If you want him to remain until I come, what difference does that make to you?  You must follow me.”  (John 21:15-17, 19b-22).  

John ends with Jesus and Peter at the lakeshore. Jesus tells Peter what he needs him to do, Peter asks about the other guy on the beach, Jesus tells Peter not to worry about that guy and just focus on what Jesus needs him to do, which is follow Jesus.  Johannines are mentor-apprentice nurtured disciples — they look to the Great Teacher (Jesus) but in his absence Scripture and a great pastor will suffice.  They are deep students of the Bible, have high expectations for leaders, able to mentor others when they have a level of expertise they are comfortable with, and they are lifelong students focused on soaking up the wisdom of the Master kinds of people.  These are the folks that value learning for the sake of learning - for the sake of keeping traditions and hierarchy, for the sake of wisdom and knowledge.  They want to know who Jesus is, not just what Jesus is or what he did.

Understanding discipleship plays a large role in how we live out our faith and how we participate in the life of the church.  In the end of course, it takes the style of Mark, Mathew, Luke, and John to create the kind of church Jesus intended.  May it be that those who follow Jesus recognize the gifts and strengths displayed in these types of discipleship and strive to bring about the best in all of them, thereby bringing about the best in the church and community. 

Pastor Jenothy Irvine

In the River Jordan, a great realignment takes place when Jesus is baptized, which redefines God, and which realigns both humanity and divinity, so that never again will we think of our “humanity” or “God” without thinking of Jesus Christ. 
 
Indeed, in Jesus' baptism, we come to realize that if we are seeking a God we can domesticate, we are not seeking God at all, or Jesus and the Holy Spirit for that matter. A Jesus we can handle is no Jesus at all, and a Spirit we can manipulate is no Holy Spirit, as the Spirit blows where it wills (John 3:8).
 
When the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus in baptism, and when God calls out Jesus as Beloved, it is a new ball game, for here is a God who is in solidarity with us in the waters of the Jordan River, and whose own Son submits to baptism, a reminder to us that we too must submit to God in baptism and that we too must align our lives with him. 
 
To be sure, it is a lifelong task to think about God with all the complexity that God is present to us in such moments, just as it was with God in a manger, or an upper room, or a cross. We all are human after all – all too human. In the course of our journeys of faith, we are always looking through what the apostle Paul says is a glass darkly; we don’t see the whole picture (1 Cor. 13:10). It is a stance that requires humility. 


And yet, what we receive in our baptism is the full promise of Jesus’ divinity and humanity. We receive the message that we are God’s children, wherever we live, whoever we are. We are children of the Most High, coming up out of the waters of grace.


As we begin a new year, how might you receive the promises of God in your life? How is God calling you to a realignment with Christ? How is the Spirit wanting to remind you that you are a child of God?

Pastor Andy Kinsey

​Jesus' action in feeding the five thousand raises a question for us: there is always going to be someone trying to convert us, so why not let it be Jesus. There is always going to be someone wanting to feed us something, so why not feed on what Jesus gives?

Maybe it is why, amidst all the choices we face in our world, we need to hear Jesus’ words again: “I am the bread of life.” Maybe we need to realize that with such bread there will always be enough; that with Christ our hope lies in our ability to trust in what God is providing. 

This is not something we need to fear, even though we are afraid and anxious most of the time. No, it is something we can believe. It is what Jesus is saying to the five thousand; and it is what Paul is saying to Ephesians: that in Christ, God provides. 

And if you really want to discover this truth, then live in openness and kindness; live the love and forgiveness you have received from God. In doing so, as Paul says earlier in Ephesians, you will receive more than you can ever possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:14-15). I believe that this is one of the most radical convictions you can have as a Christian, especially in the face of a mindset of scarcity and disbelief and anger and cynicism. 

It is also one of the hardest faith convictions to turn into daily practice: to trust that Jesus will provide, especially when you cannot immediately see Jesus providing in thirty-minutes or less. 

Dear Friends: God has given us Jesus, as a sacrifice, as bread, as an example to imitate, revealing to us what a true life looks like rebooted in him – having access to God’s grace and receiving more than enough. I suppose the next step at the beginning of a new year is really yours: Do you believe what Jesus says and who he is, or not? Do you believe or not? 

Pastor Andy Kinsey