Disciple Making, Future Thriving and Feasting

I recently sat in Starbucks and had a long conversation with a young man. He told me his story, what God was doing in his life, how he wanted to grow, redeem the wasted years, and become more like Jesus. What does one say to that? What would you say? Is it possible to see this young man become more like Jesus? Do I tell him to read a few books or just show up for worship? Do I shove him off on someone else?I sat and listened to him for a long time, I didn’t say much, then I told him that what he wanted to do had the shape of the cross - death to self. There is freedom and joy on the other side, but when Jesus bids a person to follow him, he bids them to come and die! Then I told him some of the things I have been preaching about the “habits of grace,” that is, how God forms us to be more like Jesus. The last thing was for him to meet with me a lot and I would be something like his “spiritual father,” coach, or mentor - whatever he wanted to call me. I told him that I would say hard things to him sometimes and that it didn’t mean I didn’t love him. I told him that he would have to trust me when I did this because I had lived longer than him, sinned badder than him, and repented more eagerly than him. I told him that I would ask him “heart questions” about his walk with God and that he had to walk in the light with me when I did. And I told him that he could do the same with me. I told him my job was not to get him out of pain but help him confront his pain and his deepest idols so that he could run to Jesus and experience his power and grace. I told him anybody could be good when things were easy but character was formed when things were difficult. Then I told him, somewhere along the way, that I am going to ask him to go and do the same thing with another man who God puts in his path.That is the essence of disciple making. It is not sexy, it is not flashy, it is not in the spot light, it is not just more information - it is life on life, it is personal, it is raw, it is real, and it is the what Jesus spent most of his three years in public ministry doing. It appears that Jesus' philosophy of ministry was not large crowds - did that. Not a public healing ministry - got that t-shirt. It was not putting on a magnificent feast - Jesus could always get a crowd. No, while Jesus did all of these things, you see his real philosophy of ministry in where he allocated most of his time. Most of his time was spent in the mundane give and take of life with a few men. And get this, I don’t even think they were converted till after the resurrection! Jesus spent most of his time being with a few guys - discipling, apprenticing, or coaching - who had total access to his life. And when he was ascending, he told them that the plan to take over the world is simple - do with people what I did with you - make disciples.This Sunday we take our offering for Future Thriving to raise money to build additional parking. Why? Why sacrifice that money? Why give an extra $100.00, $1,000.00, $10,000.00, or even more? Why? For me it is simple - to have the opportunity for me and all of you who are part of the St. Patrick tribe to sit in Starbucks, or Square Beans, or at your work, office, or school, and have the kind of conversation I had with the young man in Starbucks this week. It is real simple for me - more parking is more people that will become new/better disciples of Jesus.So, this Sunday, at our Future Thriving Celebration, I will talk about what is at the core of what we do - develop disciples to develop more disciples! I am so jazzed that I can’t see straight! Nothing is better than sitting with someone and seeing the lights come on as they “get” the gospel! After we worship, we do what comes naturally to a broken people who know they are delighted in by the God of the universe - we will give thanks and feast. A high day. A holy day. A day to make a big fuss about Jesus. Hope you’ll join us.Blessings,JimP.S. If you haven’t signed up for the feast and what you will bring please hit this link and it will take you to a sign up page. The church is smoking hams so there is no need to bring meat!!