The Path of Discipleship

This week, Austin, Max, Nik, and Erin served as the instructors, with Judy and I as students. We explored what a disciple is, and searched through the gospels for more information on the early disciples and the kind of lives they led.

Our four teachers collaborated to make a list about discipleship:

--Disciples are followers of Jesus.

(prefix dis means follow a path)

--Disciples are learners.

--Students of God's ways.

--Disciples teach others.

--They are loving, kind.

--The church is made up of disciples.

--A disciple could be anyone.

--Began with twelve disciples.

--Two of the Gospel authors are disciples.

We explored seven texts from the gospels that opened us to a fuller picture of Jesus' original disciples and the changing shape of their lives: Mark 1:16-20; Mark 3:13-19; Matthew 9:9-13;

Luke 6:12-16, 8:1-3, 10:1-12. We found out quite a few things! Among Jesus' first century disciples:

Simon (Peter)

Andrew (Simon's brother and fellow fisherman)

James (fishing partner of Peter, Andrew, and his own brother John)

John (James' brother, son of Zebedee, author of fourth gospel)

Philip

Matthew (gospel author, Roman tax collector)

Bartholomew

Thomas

James son of Alphaeus

Simon the Zealot or "Canaanean" (The Zealots were revolutionaries who battled the Romans)

Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus and later took his own life)

Thaddeus

Judas son of James

Levi (tax collector from Mark and Luke's gospel)

"Nathaniel" is mentioned in John's gospel

We note with interest that the list so far has fifteen names! Historically, Levi has been identified with Matthew, the second Judas with Thaddeus, Nathaniel with Bartholomew, as ways to harmonize the "twelve disciples"--but there may be other explanations.

As well, Luke 8 mentions Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others, who provide bountifully for the ministry. Mary Magdalene and other women become key figures in the stories of Jesus and the sharing of the good news! Joanna is described as the wife of King Herod's steward, Chuza, which is amazing since Herod participates in the killing of Jesus. Joanna's participation with Jesus would have been a dangerous, risky, wonderful thing!

In Luke 10, we hear the story of Jesus sending out out seventy others (perhaps 72)!!

They are evangelists who will prepare the way, proclaim, teach, nurture the building of what will soon be Christian communities. So the communion of disciples is much bigger than we originally imagined!

We noted that, in the case of the tax collector, Jesus calls someone who is severely compromised and is hated by everyone. Putting it bluntly, Jesus even calls people that everyone hates!! And he also calls a Zealot, someone who might have killed tax collectors for being servants of the Romans. We said that this normally would lead to an argument or physical violence. But Jesus teaches the men that they are brothers rather than enemies, and they are both loved/valued by God!

What do all disciples have in common? (1) They are everyday folks (2) Jesus says, "Follow me"

(3) They leave life the way they've known it; their lives always take new shape as a disciple of Jesus.

We'll keep learning!!

The Ten Commandments

Several times, in our discussions of the Bible, members of our class have referred to the "Ten Commandments." In the Hebrew Scriptures, these were God's commands, given to the Israelites whom God was delivering from slavery to freedom. In the story they are delivered to Moses on two stone tablets, having been inscribed by the hand of God. These commandments were to shape the daily lives of God's people; they were presented as the heart of God's Law.

We located the Ten Commandments in two places: (a) the Book of Exodus, Chapter 20, and

(b) Deuteronomy, Chapter 5. The Book of Exodus tells the key salvation story in the Old Testament, a theme of "freedom from bondage" that is repeated throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Deuteronomy is a retelling of the Exodus story, interpreting God's message for new generations.

We listed as many of the commandments as we could remember (Bibles in hand):

(1) No other gods (2) Make no idols (3) You shall not steal (4) You shall not kill (5) Honor your father and mother (6) You shall not commit adultery (7) No false witness (8) No misuse of God's name (9) Remember the sabbath and keep it holy (10) Don't covet.

While our reflections on the commandments have only just begun, we noted several things. First, "worshipping another god" doesn't necessarily mean worshipping another God figure like Zeus; it means having another power in our lives that we answer to absolutely, even before God's priorities. Likewise, making an idol can mean creating something ( a system, a weapon, wealth) that comes to run our lives. Is God our ultimate authority, or not? "Coveting" is a major issue in 2010, just as it as in Moses' time. When our minds and hearts become consumed by what we want or think we need to have, we lose touch with the life of love and service that God intends for us. We forget that we are God's people, whom God provides for and delivers.

One of the commandments, to keep the sabbath, is described somewhat differently in Deuteronomy than in Exodus. Check out and note the differences so we can discuss them in class.

Jesus reinterprets the Ten Commandments for Christians in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). This will be very important learning for us as we seek to follow Jesus!

Prayer

"Prayer is acknowledging that we are always in the presence of God."
--Desmond Tutu

"In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed." --Mark 1:35

_____________

How might we describe what prayer is?
--Opening ourselves to God
--Taking time to talk with God
--Honest sharing with God
--A time for God to talk to us!
--A time for listening
--Confession
--Thanksgiving
--Intercession for others
--Relationship

Where?
--in church
--at home
--in school
--sports activities

When?
--Before bed.
--Before meals.
--Before important athletic events.
--Before tests.
--When we are grateful.
--When we are scared.
--When we need help.
--When we need to make the right choice.
--When we need strength or courage.
--When we need guidance and direction.
--When we are in trouble.
--When someone is sick or struggling, or something bad happens to them.
--When we need to confess.
--When we seek forgiveness.

For Whom?
--Ourselves
--a struggling friend or community member
--people around the world
--someone sick or dying
--people we love

In the first chapter of Mark's gospel (Mark 1:29-39), we hear the story of Jesus healing so many people in the town of Capernaum that it seems as though everyone has come to him; the needs are great. After an entire evening of caring for people, Jesus gets up early the next morning and goes out to a deserted place to pray. There he centers himself in God's will. In his weariness, he is renewed and gets a clear sense of God's will for his emerging minstry. When Peter and the other disciples find him and say," Everyone's looking for you, " Jesus tells them that it is time to go on to other towns to share the good news of God's love; that his mission is to share that good news with everyone, not just the people in one place, much as he loves them! It is the time in prayer, away from all of the demands, that helps Jesus to be clearer.

Later, Jesus teaches his disciples what we call "The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4)." Among its petitions:
(a) Jesus teaches us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." He is teaching us to pray for God's will rather than our own, in the hope that God's will be done in the midst of our lives here and now. In this sense, God helps us to be answers to our own prayers!
b) "Give us this day our daily bread," focuses us on God's daily provision, rather than long-term security.
(c) The words "our," "we," and "us" throughout the prayer remind us that we pray as a community, and that we are praying for God's blessing and encouragement for all.

What else do you notice in the Lord's Prayer? What would you add to our descriptions and reflections?

The Book Is Still Open!

In recent weeks, we have begun to discuss and share the Bible's richness. There are some basics that we have wanted to commit to memory:
--Two major sections: The Hebrew Scriptures (OT) and the Christian Scriptures (NT)
--"Bible" means "little books"
--There are 66 different books in the Bible; 39 comprise the Old Testament, 27 in the New.
--The Hebrew Scriptures were originally written in Hebrew; the Christian Scriptures in koine Greek.
--Historically the Bible content covers maybe 1700 years; it's texts, however, are timeless and speak to people in every age. This is particularly true today.

When the members of our class were asked, "What is the Bible?," the answers included:
A textbook for Christians.
A book about Jesus' life.
A book including creation stories.
The stories of God and God's people.
The stories of God's saving action.
The class did well on a "Match 'Em" exercise. We're not starting from scratch!!!

What I think was new, or at least renewing, was our exploration into the remarkable depth and breadth of the literature. The Bible includes narrative, law, history (a storybook!), poetry, song, wisdom,visions, prophetic messages, gospel, the stories of Jesus, and pastoral letters. What a surprise it was when we discovered the bold, romantic poetry of love from the Song of Songs, right in the middle of the Bible! Several faces reddened as we read from it. And perhaps we didn't realize that there isn't just one creation story in the Bible, but no less than three!
Much of the Bible was first shared orally, and learned through the telling and listening.The texts were received communally. We'll be doing some of that in our time together.

How does God speak to us through the Bible? Our initial responses:
--God tells us his will and how to do it.
--God gives us commandments.
--We can read the letters as written to us.
--God speaks through Jesus. Following him shapes our lives.
--In church, we gather together around the stories: reading, sharing, listening, praying, speaking, and acting.

What else have you been learning about the Bible in recent weeks? how has your learning affected your life?