Ablaze Church Sermon Podcast (Audio)

The Protestant Reformation was launched by Martin Luther on October 31, 1517 by posting 95 theses for debate on the community bulletin board, the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Saxony, Germany. These documents went viral and in a short time nearly everyone was aware that something was happening that would change everything. The rest is history. This action by Luther began a process that restored attention to the completed work of Jesus for us in the Cross and Resurrection, and underlined the biblical teaching of salvation by grace through faith alone. This is the issue on which the Church stands or falls. It is the core of what we preach and teach at Ablaze Church.

How do disciples reproduce? They do what Jesus did. Jesus chose people to disciple. He

trained them by spending time with them. They observed everything he did. They listened to

everything he said. Then Jesus told them, “Now you go and do the same.” They did what Jesus

did; they told what Jesus said. Then they gathered others and trained them just as Jesus had trained his disciples. The result was multiplication of disciples. It worked then and it works now.

How can you know something if you aren’t told? Part of what we are emphasizing this month is how to share this Good News with others. How can you tell? Prayerfully look around you and ask God to lead you to people who will be receptive. Look for people with hurts, and point them to Jesus so He can heal them. Look for the lonely and let them know that a best friend is available in Jesus. It’s all around us!

When Jesus fulfilled his redeeming work on the cross, ratified in his resurrection, He ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit and set about establishing what He had promised when he said “I will build my church.” He redeemed and set apart for himself a people so closely connected to him and each other it would be designated, “The Body of Christ.” That Body is intended to present Christ to the world. Its very existence bears witness to the very existence and redeeming love of Christ. Jesus gave that Body, the Church, the commission to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins, and to follow that with making disciples.

Christians have discovered what God has revealed in Jesus Christ: that God loves the sinner and is passionate about bringing the ultimate solution for what’s wrong. The provision is Jesus, who came into our broken world to fix it with a cross. He offers forgiveness and reconciliation, to restore us into a relationship with God. It’s a better world when Jesus finds entry into despairing hearts with hope and restoration. We need to be telling that Good News of Jesus that can turn our upside down world right side up.

Following Jesus in every aspect of our lives can be more than challenging. It actually requires more than the strengths and resources we bring to it. The discipleship summons involves every facet of our lives and every arena where we exist. That would include our personal life, our vocational life, our church live, and our family life. Every area of life needs divine empowerment. Every marriage certainly needs it. Empowerment flows from God’s Word and his sacraments, especially in the community of the church. We all need the empowering Holy Spirit to flow in every aspect of our lives.

Jesus gives warnings about the risks of discipleship. He warned the disciples that to follow him they would be persecuted, rejected, and might even lose their own lives on his account. And that is what happened. But note that Jesus did not say that it was at “their own” risk. We never are alone when we are living in Jesus. He took the big risk and paid the big price. That was the cross. So we need not fear the dangers or inconvenience that can accompany discipleship. Jesus promised “I am with you,” and accompanies us even to the ends of the earth.

When you “sign on” to be a follower of Jesus, things begin to change, like your focus in life. Instead of self-focused, your life’s point of reference becomes Jesus Christ. That’s what just naturally (better yet SUPERnaturally) happens because when Jesus comes, the Holy Spirit comes along. The Four Gospels give us vivid word pictures of the “before and after.” Look at the transformation of the disciples, for instance. A tax collector who keeps the books of his collection accounts becomes one who writes a different kind of book we know as the Gospel of Matthew. Commercial fishermen are taught by their Master how to catch people. And it’s not “catch and release,’ but catch and keep, retain and retrain. Paul also had a transformation from a bitter opponent of Christ to proclaimer and promoter of Christ. How is your life’s focus and mission developing?

Jesus had a mission in mind, and chose a band of followers to mentor and then empower to carry on his work as a team. The call was simple. Jesus just said “Follow me.” The notable thing is that this call was so powerful that fishermen left their nets, a tax collector left his booth, a radical political zealot traded in his cause for a better cause. They followed Jesus. The call is from God. It’s not our call to accept or refuse or ignore. The right choice is to follow and experience the fulfillment of what God had in mind when he created us.

Does prayer make a difference? According to the Bible, it does. There are many examples in the Bible and in history, even recent history, where people prayed, God heard, and God changed the course of events away from disaster. Our nation, and all the nations of the world, are in great need of prayer. Left to itself, history seeks the lowest level, following the inclination of the lower impulses of human nature. Sin has brought devastation and will continue to do so unless God intervenes. As we pray for our nation, God hears and God answers. He delights in acting upon the intercessions of his children brought in the name of Jesus.