The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 16:15–18; Acts 18:1–8; 11:22–26 (day five) I love the picture of faith formation and growth in the Acts 18 passage. It is powerful, intentional, and relational. It is happening at work, home, and church. I wonder and pray about conversations and observations between parents and their children from these past two weeks (VBS and Youth Camp). I know of children and teenagers who will go into their homes where not everyone is a believer. They will be the catalysts that God will use to cause a “household” to believe. I know of many parents determined to influence and deepen faith in their homes. Creating and carving out moments for biblical and spiritual conversations and teaching is a monumental task. I know of workplaces where believers work, serve, and witness together.
Would you describe your faith in these places and contexts as intentional, powerful, and relational?  Paul seemed optimistic and confident as he was always looking for and aware of, people and places for new life and growth. May we be just as hopeful and determined that our faith can flourish in these places with our family, church body, and coworkers as well.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 16:15–18; Acts 18:1–8; 11:22–26 (day four)

If you’ve been in church for a significant amount of time, you’ve probably experienced some of your discipleship through programs – classes, retreats, Bible study groups, etc. These things are good and helpful, but they’re not meant to make up the bulk of our experience in discipleship; they’re not the “main course.”

When we look at the early church, we see that discipleship happened primarily through relationships. We see several discipleship relationships in Paul’s life described in these texts and throughout the book of Acts. Barnabas was a mentor to Paul. He was likely older and walked him through the essentials of the Christian life and understanding the gospel. He connected Paul with ministry opportunities in Antioch and encouraged him in his work. Barnabas was one of Paul’s primary discipleship relationships. Priscilla and Aquila were peers of Paul, likely around the same age and worked alongside him in Corinth. They worked arm in arm, helping to disciple new believers like Apollos and develop the church in Corinth. They challenged, encouraged, and strengthened each other, and discipleship happened among the three of them as peers. Finally, we know Paul had several companions that he mentored and considered “sons” in the faith, including Timothy. Paul poured into Timothy and discipled him as Barnabas had done for him.

The main course of discipleship is relationships. Barnabas, Priscilla and Aquila, and Timothy represent different discipleship relationships in Paul’s life: mentor, peers, and mentee. Examine your life and relationships – who would you put in each category? Do you have a more mature believer walking with you on your journey? Do you have peer friendships that you invest in to strengthen and encourage each other in the Lord? Are you mentoring someone in the faith? If not, how might you take a step forward in one of these ways this week?

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 16:15–18; Acts 18:1–8; 11:22–26 (day three)

 ²⁴ for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. (Acts 11:24)

I think we can all say we would like to be remembered in the way that Luke remembered Barnabas. Luke writes specifically that he was a good man, but he expounds on why he was a good man. This world is full of “good” people that do not love the Lord. It is Barnabas’ faith and the Holy Spirit that leads him to be used by the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit and faith that produces much fruit for the Lord. Without this, Barnabas’ actions and life would simply be described as, “He was a good man.” Throughout history, countless spirit-filled Christians have gone about their lives making disciples just as Jesus said, but they may have died without somebody writing about how God used them. God tells us in Acts about Barnabas so we have an example of what He does with ordinary people when we are diligent in following Him and growing in our faith. To be used most effectively by Him, we should be growing in Him to be full of the Holy spirit and faith.

How would your life be described? Would people say you are merely a good person? Would they expound on that? Are you growing in your relationship with Him? Are you following the Lord the way you should so more disciples can be encouraged to follow?

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 16:15–18; Acts 18:1–8; 11:22–26
(day two) 

I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.

Out of context, this looks like a pretty dismissive verse. In light of our study on discipleship, this takes on a different dimension. Paul wasn’t trying to highlight where the church was failing; he was helping them acknowledge where they could grow. Do you see the difference? We all have growth areas in every part of our lives, and especially our faith walk. We would do well to hear this encouragement from Paul to rejoice when others can help you grow. This is the heart of discipleship. The Lord wants to refine you. Our tendency, especially as adults, is to feel like we have somehow arrived developmentally. After all, we spend so much time in school, building a career, in relationships – at some point we want to feel like we’ve got it figured out. In truth each of those areas requires constant adjustment and refinement. Our walk with the Lord is a series of becoming more like him each day, and that means allowing others to help you where you are weak.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day seven)

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:27

The people had no idea that Jesus was being prophetic here. Jesus spoke in parables and illustrations; surely this was another one, right? This was horrifying! Everyone knew that if you took up your cross, then you were not returning from it. This was personal. It wasn’t just “A” cross or “The” cross; this was a call to take up your own cross. Jesus was calling each individual to be willing to start something that they would see to the end. He doesn’t just want us for a moment. He doesn’t just want us for a little bit. He wants all of us for all of time.

Except this wasn’t a parable, nor was it an illustration. Jesus was literally telling his followers what it was going to look like for them to take this road with Him. Today, he asks us to join Him on that road. Are you willing to give Jesus all of you for all of time?

I write this from Impact Camp as we prepare the campus and our student leaders for a week of immersion with Jesus. Pray for our students to become committed disciples of Jesus this week. For some it will be for the first time, for some it will be a challenge to give Jesus all of themselves, and for others it will be a calling to take their faith to the next level. Pray for our students to realize that Jesus wants all of them for all of time, as He does for you!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day six)

One of the great temptations of modern Christianity is to keep Jesus on the margins of our lives. We gladly welcome him into certain areas of life, but hesitate to surrender everything to his lordship.

In Luke 14:28–33, Jesus reminds us that discipleship requires more than admiration or occasional participation. Following him means counting the cost and allowing every aspect of life to be reordered around him.

Gerhard Lohfink writes, “Where faith is really faith, it cannot be shoved to the margins of life. Christian faith, just like Jewish faith, subjects all of life to the promise and claim of God.”

The image of the margin is powerful. Margins are for things that are secondary, not central. Yet Jesus refuses to remain on the periphery. He calls us to place him at the center of our lives, where our priorities, relationships, ambitions, and decisions are brought under his loving rule.

A marginalized Jesus is not discipleship. Discipleship is all of life realigned around Christ.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day five

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Jesus says these words seven times in the gospels and again seven more times in the book of Revelation. Of all the senses, hearing is the one that affords the best opportunity to transform hearts and lives. Words have a preeminent value in God’s economy. We serve a God who speaks. Who created the universe by using words. Who reveals Himself and His plan for salvation and sanctification through words. The scriptures tell us “faith comes from hearing.”  The real battle for our hearts and souls is fought using words- written and spoken. Why? “Whom you hear with delight today will be who you become more like tomorrow.”- David Mathis

Whose voice — whether through audio or written words or video, or old-fashioned face-to-face talk — whose voice is most regularly streaming into your ears, and going down into your soul? Whose voice captures your finite attention, and focuses you, or distracts you? Which voices do you long to hear most? Whose words are you welcoming most to enter into your soul, to sow seeds of life — or death? Whom do you welcome into that intimate space that is your ear?

Our discipleship and spiritual growth will be mainly fueled by words. Let those who have ears be intentional and disciplined to not only listen, but hear the life giving and life changing words of the Lord. “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day four)

Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?

This remark about salt seems odd here at first. Jesus seems to be mixing metaphors about building towers and cooking spices. But this is not the first time Jesus has talked about salt. The disciples would have heard Jesus use this metaphor of salt at least twice before, recorded in Matthew 5 and Mark 9. Each time he talks about this, Jesus is telling believers to live a distinct life – one that is noticeably different from the world around them. The calling to be a disciple requires us to live in such a way that people take notice.

In Luke 14, Jesus is communicating one of the ways that disciples are called to live in a distinct way – we are called to center our entire lives around Christ and follow him alone, keeping all other things subordinate to him, even things that are precious to us. This goes against the norm of the society Jesus lived in, and it goes against the norm of our world today. One of the ways we maintain our “saltiness” is by keeping all other possessions, loves, and positions in our life subordinate to Christ. Consider the testimony it is to the world to live in this way.