Our congregational mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ who love God, love each other, and serve in the world. How are we doing? Are we on target? Are we making disciples?

What does it mean to make Jesus’ disciples?
Need loving God, others, and serving the world all be in place?
Is making disciples a competitive race?
Are we making disciples if there are some we offend?
Must the disciple learn to do endless backbends?
Are there step-by-step instructions that could fit on a cereal box?
Is there a shot we can take, like for chicken pox?
Does a disciple need the church for advice?
Won’t coffee at St. Arbucks actually suffice?
What about the golf course, or soccer game, or shopping mall?
Is there really any need for the church at all?

What does it mean to make Jesus’ disciples?
How will we know one when we see one?
Are they serious all the time, goofy, or fun?
Do they bite?
Do they think Jesus is just alright?
Does a disciple have tattoos?
Eat certain foods?
Does a disciple recycle?
Rather than drive, ride a bicycle?
Do they wear shawls or turbans or ball-caps on their heads?
Or do they sleep in king-sized beds?

What does it mean to make Jesus’ disciples?
Is it a church with a large steeple?
When you open the doors, is it all these people?
Is it membership, relationship, or a Holy Lands trip?
Or how about Sunday worship?
Do disciples only sing hymns?
Do they only work out at Christian gyms?
Do disciples sing Blue Grass with voices that wail?
Is part of being a disciple having Christian voicemail?
Does a disciple speak with a Christian accent?
Does TV watching and book reading take on a certain bent?
Are there disciples who end up in prison?
Are there disciples in other religions?
Is what matters denomination?
Or is being a disciple like being guilty by association?

What does it mean to make Jesus’ disciples?
Do we need special training from a ‘disciple-making’ school?
Or does education actually make us fools?
Are disciples those who know wrong from right?
Does becoming a disciple happen over night?
Are they built in assembly-line fashion?
Are they built to eliminate their passion?
Is it the end result we’re looking for?
Is the journey what we’re concerned with more?
Do we make disciples by preaching comfort and health?
Do we judge our success on comfort and wealth?

What does it mean to make Jesus’ disciples?
Does shame hold our feet to the flames, and all sorts of posturing games?
Is it first about me rather than all the others I see?
Does it start, with Jesus’ work of love in my heart?
If Christ’s grace is how we begin, are we still under the law of sin?
Does Jesus still speak, even today?
If he does then what does he say?

Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life, just as it is, destroys that life.

But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them. (John 12:24-26)

Seeking to follow Jesus,

Mark