Discipleship

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Discipleship

August 9, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Guest Services

by Brendon

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DTOTD – Seasons

Seasons come. Seasons go.

That is the phrase and saying that we say about life. Have you ever used that phrase in a conversation with anyone?

Sometimes, that can bring a sense of peace to those that are working through a hard time or maybe even someone who is a season of plenty.

The interesting thing about that phrase is that it also pertains to our discipleship process.

In a conversation yesterday, along with a few others from across the country, a conversation centered around serving and what it means and how it is beneficial to our becoming like Jesus.

In this conversation, I was struck by something that was said by the leader of the cohort. He said this, ” People must serve to be discipled.”

Strong statement.

However, that statement is one that I would truly stand by. But…..

That statement does not mean that if you have a season of life come about that does not allow you to serve or is not the right time, then that season is for you to step away.

Jesus came to this earth to show love and grace and truth and to serve others, ultimately to give his own life as a sacrifice for ours on the cross.

The Gospel of Mark states in chapter 10, ” The son of man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”

We continually see Jesus serving and teaching and serving and teaching.

But there is something about Jesus’ life that can sometimes get overlooked. That in reality might not be nearly as long as what we think about it, but there are times when Jesus need to have a moment of rest or retreat from the continual serving that He did.

Multiple times in the Gospel we see Jesus retreat to a quiet, desolate or place of loneliness to be alone with his heavenly father. He would go to be quiet and to pray and to reset his heart.

In our lives, we all have those seasons. Where we feel an immense pressure to serve or succeed or to do things. But in those seasons we also seem to feel the weight of serving more and more.

Jesus said this in Matthew 11: ” Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When you find yourself in a season where you are overwhelmed and feel an immense burden of responsibility……maybe it is time to take a season of rest.

I was once asked the question, ” Brendon, are you having fun with what you are doing?” The question came at a very weird time in my life, one that I was not ready for or expecting. However that question led to one of the darkest but yet life giving seasons of my life. The follow up to my answer, ” I think I am.” was this….” That’s good. Because if you are not having fun with what you are doing, then it might be time to take a step back and find the next thing God has planned for you.”

It takes a lot of courage and patience and prayer to follow that guidance to take a step away. Especially if you are taking a step back to reconnect with God in a way that you have not had time to do so.

But if you do find yourself in a season of stepping back, do not fill the time with other things.

Fill the time that you used serving, with a chance to run to Jesus and allow him to embrace you and give you the rest you need.

Season come. Seasons go.

Jesus’ peace and rest is always available.

July 18, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, HCC, Local, Outreach, packapack, School Outreach

by Brendon

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Story Teller Series

” For the son of Man, did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Over the past few years, I have been able to be blessed by meeting a lot of great people. People of all ages, backgrounds, upbringings, experiences and teachings. Some of these people have become friends, some acquaintances and some have become people that I am able to do life with.

We started the Story Teller Series last month as we got to meet a volunteer that took her role as a mom to the next level getting involved in a school partnership and has become a champion volunteer there. Today we get to dive into a story of someone the has been around Harvester Christian Church for a long time. The Hances, Darren and Suzanne….

No photo description available.

…. have been serving with Harvester for a long time. They have been able to become a critical piece in our Local Outreach ministry by serving in the schools, both inside and out. They have been part of the Pack-a-Pack initiative for many years and have become leaders for one of our local school partnerships. I was able to ask Darren a few questions about serving, more specifically about serving in our local school outreach teams and here is what he had to say:

1) Mark 10:45 states, “ for the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.” This is one of my favorite verses when it comes to serving. Do you have a verse that you come back to that keeps you grounded that you are serving for the Kingdom when you serve during Pack a Pack?

a. Darren – Galatians 6:2

b. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

2) How did you fall into serving with schools?

a. Darren H – HCC Connection Point, Small Group Serving, City wide serve days.

3) You and your wife Suzanne, have been serving with Pack a Pack for a long time…why do you continue to serve in such a selfless way?

a. Darren H – First, we are Commanded to serve others. I thoroughly enjoying serving the younger groups and connecting with future Followers of Christ.

4) Can you remember a specific time that stands out to you during an event or conversation where you felt you were in the right place for serving?

a. Darren H – All serving events have been special to me. Whether, local or abroad the opportunity to serve the Lord and Others is always humbling which provides a feeling of unity and community.

5) What are your dreams for serving through Pack a Pack? How do you hope to partner with God and impact the families you serve for the kingdom?

a. Darren H – My goals are not a dream, but reality as a part of the Christian faith. Just one of many commands from our Lord and Savior.

6) What has been your favorite part of serving with Pack a Pack over the past few years?

a. Darren H – The kids, parents, and teacher’s reactions. So many smiles, joys, and relief that there is a community of Christ followers who care about their needs.

7) What would you hope to communicate to others that might be on the fence about serving, whether in general or on a school team?

a. Darren H – Jump in and try it, you won’t be disappointed. Accept Christ command to serve others and bear their burdens. Be open and alert to opportunities to serve. Remembering that our Lord provides these opportunities every day.

Darren and Suzanne have done some amazing things over the years…but what I love most about them, is that they continue to serve others, no matter the cost or season of life they are in. Darren and Suzanne are grand parents and our very proud of their daughter and grand baby, but that love does not hinder them from continually serving those around them in unleashing the hope of Jesus however they can.

I love what Darren said in the last question, ” Jump in and try it..” I think that is an awesome way to look at serving, especially outside of the church walls. Some of us have never been in the position to serve outside the church walls and so we may not know what we like to do or what our passions might be….but to jump in and try it out for a season to see how it goes and what it looks like and how it feels….it just might be worth the jump.

So will you take the jump?? Will jump in and get involved with us? Maybe it is during Pack-a-Pack or maybe it is down the road……but don’t miss the opportunity to love others for their benefit.

June 27, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Local

by Brendon

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DTOTD – The Lost Art of _______

” Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, ” What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, ” he seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities’ – because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.” – Acts 17:18

There are a lot of things in our world that seem to be mystifying. Things that blow our minds as to why they happen, or where they happen or when they will happen next. There are also things in our world that shock us more than we can comprehend. Like when someone does something good for someone else, or someone helps someone else for no apparent reason. In the book of Acts, we see that the spread of the Gospel is a mystifying event. It is something that is so different to people that it draws them in to listen. It captures the attention of people that like to sit around and talk all day long. It attracts conversation with people of all sort of backgrounds and history and literacy rates.

In this current section of Acts 17, we see that Paul is by himself in the city of Athens, waiting for the other disciples and crew that were traveling with Paul to catch up to him after they made Paul flee from Berea, the last city they were in. Paul found himself with an urge and push from the Holy Spirit to talk with the people of Athens and all of a sudden Paul finds himself in the middle of one of the largest conversations he could have found himself in.

” So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said ” Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription ‘ TO the unknown God’. What therefore you worship as unknown , this is I proclaim to you…..” Acts 17:22 & 23

What I love about Paul and the way that he interacts with people of different cultures and cities and backgrounds, is that he takes the time to know them, before he introduces them to anything new. Sometimes it takes longer than others. But here we see that Paul finds himself in a surrounded space with people that literally sit and talk all day long about religion and gods and anything else they can muster up a conversation about.

There is no where to do that in todays world. If you track along with Paul and his missionary journey’s throughout the book of Acts, you will see that it is full of conversations that he is having with other people. Whether the people accept what he has to say is another question, but there is something that Paul has that seems to have been lost over time. Something that would really change the way that life could react and respond too if we all took the time to do this…

There is a lost art of listening to each other in our culture.

We live in a world that demands to be right and demands to be the best. No matter what it might be, whether it is a work promotion, adult recreational basketball league game, kids swim meet, or how good your lawn looks compared to your neighbor that you don’t particularly care for. We live in a world that demands a certain amount of callousness versus porousness towards one another.

What I love about the rise of Christianity and the spread of the Gospel, is that it was determined on the ability of the disciples to be bold in what they believed, which was that Jesus is the son of God and he died and rose again for the forgiveness of sins and that Jesus is coming back. But they also had the ability to listen to those people that were sent too. They did not take offense to each and every single person that said something against what they believed, they listened and either decided to move on like Jesus commanded them too back in Matthew 10. But they listened before they approached.

What would it look like if we took that approach in today’s world?

If we fully listened to another person or another party and instead of jumping at the first chance to we have to prove them wrong or to show our disdain to what they said, we listened all the way through the conversation and gave the other party some dignity even if we don’t believe everything they say.

The lost art of listening to each other could change the way we view everything.

Instead of seeing just the billboards or the ideologies being pushed through tv shows or books or memes or whatever media. Instead of seeing someone wearing something different than you and you immediately judging them, instead of jumping to conclusions of why someone went to a place that you would never go, instead of a blasting someone on facebook for supporting something….

what if we started an open-hearted conversation and listened to each other?

” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, ” We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed. among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” Acts 17: 32-34

Even the people of Athens that were intrigued at what Paul was teaching wanted to ‘ hear ‘ more about what Paul was talking about. And in the end, their ability to listen by Paul and their willingness to listen to the message of the Gospel, Dionysius goes on to lead the church of Athens and is now considered a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. There is a very large difference in a conversation between hearing and listening.

When you find yourself in a conversation, try listening, wholeheartedly. Better yet, the next time you spend time in prayer with God, try this…..

Just listen for his still and quiet voice.

June 1, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Outreach

by Brendon

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DTOTD – How do you stand out?

” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them ( Saul and Barnabas ) and sent them off….” Acts 13:3

My family moved into a new house about a year and a half ago. It was a needed move since we had 3 kids and a dog in a relatively small house. The house we moved into, was larger and has become our home. With projects going and new paint and new murals on the walls….made by the kids, with toys all over, with comfy chairs and a long comfy couch and a fireplace and a back deck that we use all the time. We love our home. Do you love your home? You probably have memories just like we do in your home or you have your favorite spot in the living room or your bedroom.

What if you were called to leave your home? Called not for a new job or a new opportunity or retirement or anything like that. But what if you were called to leave your home and enter the world as someone who is going to preach the good news of Jesus to anyone that will listen?

Would you?

Seems kind of crazy.

The book of Acts brings this thought to mind. In Acts 13/14 we see that Saul (Paul) and his ministry partner Barnabas are sent off on their first missionary journey. They were in Antioch, the birth place of the term Christian. They were there with there friends and possibly family, but in a time of prayer and fasting, Paul and Barnabas are lead off. The whole reason for their journey was for them to go into the Gentile cities, cities that were not primarily Jewish, to preach and open the hearts and ears of the Gentile people to the sacrifice and grace of Jesus Christ.

They were sent off for evangelism.

Evangelism is an interesting term. Because there are times when it is tied to only a certain type of person or rally or revival. Evangelism is the mission of telling people about Jesus. Whether it is in a home or in a stadium or a coffee shop. Evangelism is the encompassing term for the Great Commission of Matthew 28. It is what we as Christ followers are called to be a part of in our lives.

The problem with Evangelism, is that is requires you to stand out.

It requires for you to be set a part from others. It requires you to act differently. It requires you to look at the world differently. It requires you to talk with people differently. It requires you to listen to people differently. It requires you to love differently.

For Paul and Barnabas, it wasn’t hard for them to stand out. We see in these two chapters, Paul and Barnabas immediately found a way to stand out by trouncing into a Jewish synagogue in every city they went to and they stood up and preached the word of God boldly. In chapter 13 of Acts, we see that Paul & Barnabas are in the Pisidian Antioch, and when the time came for Paul to stand, he gives one of the most pointed messages I have read. It starts at the beginning and walks through the history of Jewish/Israelite people all the way to Jesus. Paul doesn’t stop with just the arrival of Jesus, he boldly calls out the people of the crowd that were a part of the Jews that lead Jesus to his death.

” And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.” Acts 13:28

Ouch. Paul goes on to tell the good news of Jesus by declaring how God raised Jesus from the grave and how Jesus’ death and resurrection leads to freedom.

” Let it be known to you therefore brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39

Paul and Barnabas in just these two chapters, traveled to at least 16 different cities.

How many of you could say that you have traveled to 16 different cities in one trip? Better yet, how many of us can say we have left our home state for the sake of Jesus at any point?

Evangelism requires you to stand out. Even to the point where your life might be in danger.

In chapter 14, we see Paul and Barnabas have began to leave a trail of emotion behind them as they continued to travel through these cities. They find themselves in Lystra, a city in Lyconia, and we see Paul and Barnabas preaching the good news of Jesus to the people there. Paul in Lystra see’s a man that is crippled, his feet didnt work from birth and was never able to walk. Paul looks at him intently and tells him to rise and walk, immediately this man is healed and in the wonder and amazement to the crowd, they begin to call Paul and Barnabas gods and want to sacrifice things to them. In quick haste, Paul pleads for the people to knock it off since they are just men and the power is in Jesus. But in this moment, the trail of emotion that Paul and Barnabas left caught up with them.

” But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.” Acts 14: 19

But what about us? We do not live in the same period of time that Paul and Barnabas lived. We do not have to walk from city to city, we can drive. We do not have to sail and risk open water, we can fly. We do not have to go into a synagogue to preach people, we have the internet. We do not have to worry about being stoned, because we live in a free country. So what do we have to risk in order to be a part of this evangelism?

What does evangelism look like in our life?

if evangelism requires us to stand out…how do we stand out as christ followers?

There are countless things we could say here. We could talk about how we use our phones or how we talk with people or how we communicate on Social Media or where we hang out.

The big question here, is whether your heart is in the place to talk about Jesus when it is not easy.

We live in a world where inclusivity is important. We all want to be known and we all want to be a part of something larger than just us. We want to be accepted for who we are and where we are. We want people to respect us and give us the chance to prove ourselves. We want the world to know who we are whether we have done something or not. We live in a world where social media posts almost outweigh anything else that we do in life. We live in a world where our homes, which should be a refuge, where we can rest and retreat and be together with family and friends, become hot spots for arguments and bickering and quarrels and heart ache.

How do we stand out?

When our words match up to what Jesus has called us to, to love Him and love others. When we act differently than even those closest to us that don’t know Jesus. When our social media posts look and sound different than those of the rest of society that rages with anger and divisive comments. When our hugs go beyond the normal ‘ hey how are you’. When our hearts constantly strive after this Jesus that died on a tree for you. When our conversations over coffee at our favorite coffee shop are open and bold for the love that Jesus has for you and for who you are with. When our homes look and sound different than the homes around you, not because we are better than them, but because the peace and grace that Jesus gives us each and every day is flourishing in every room in the house.

How do we stand out?

We stand out, when we live our faith boldly to those around us.

It’s not easy. It’s not natural. It’s not always going to work. But when we continue to do it, to stand up for what we believe and what Jesus calls us too, we begin to have a part in this thing we call evangelism.

Stop and read Acts 13 and 14.

Celebrate today what Jesus has given you in your lives. But also pray for the opportunity to tell or show someone else about the love of Jesus.

April 8, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC

by Brendon

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Holy Week

“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”

– John 16:25-30

In a moment when Jesus is giving his final words for not only the disciples to learn from, but also the final words we see given to us to be able to learn also, Jesus gives a plain thought for the disciples to understand and to hear. 3 years….that is how long the disciples were with Jesus and on the eve before Jesus would go to the Cross, the disciples feel as though they finally get what Jesus has been trying to tell them all along. There is another moment in scripture when Jesus speaks plainly to the disciples, it was early in the ministry of Jesus, you can see it in Matthew 13. Jesus finished teaching multiple parables in this chapter and the disciples question him of why he always speaks in parables. Jesus then takes the chance to speak plainly to the disciples and he explains 2 of the parables that he speaks.

In this moment though, I ask myself the question – would I be relieved to understand what Jesus is saying to me as a disciple or would I continue questioning what Jesus is saying?

Think about it. Jesus is now telling the disciples that He has come for a purpose from his Father in heaven and now he is getting ready to go back to heaven to be with his Father. The disciples, even though seemingly relieved that they understand what Jesus is saying, most likely have the doubts still creeping in as to whether they can really trust Jesus in this moment or is it the dream that they have been living in coming to a screeching halt.

Jesus finishes John 16’s conversation that leads into a prayer where we see Jesus in some of his most vulnerable moments and to be honest, some of the most hopeful words that we can read.

” I do not ask for these only, but also for THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” – Jesus, John 17: 20-21

Read those words again slowly.

Jesus is praying for you.

Jesus is setting the stage for what is to come, not what is current. In all of the emotions and situation Jesus found himself in, Jesus stopped and prayed for you. Something that stands out in these words of Jesus: The call to be one together.

In a world full of chaos and war and anger and fear and arguments and distrust, Jesus calls those who believe to be one just like He is one with the Father. That implies some things that we all need to take in to account when it comes to the way that we interact with those around us.

First, it implies that we will think the best of one another and not the worst. We have all been guilty of this at some point. We see someone and we let the external voices and situations sway our opinions of those people. Now, this is not an argument for kum-bya with every single person that we interact with. Given that we live in an imperfect fallen world, there is not expectation for us to be able to attain a good status with all people. Jesus was not able to do that, in fact, Jesus if you really think about it, spoke words of truth that scared people away.

Second, it implies that we understand what Jesus is saying when he says we are together as he and the father are. In fairness, that is a lofty goal and one that really isn’t attainable. Because of our imperfection and the fall and the inherent sin that we have inside of our hearts, it makes it incredibly difficult for us to do this by our own strength or behaviors. I believe what Jesus is trying to get across in this situation is not that we can be one, but we can all be one in our abiding in Jesus as Jesus abides in the Father. This IS something that we can all work towards. Knowing that Jesus abided in his Father to give him strength and love and grace and power and direction, we too can look to Jesus as one to gain strength, love, grace, power and direction. As one, we can be with Jesus, and Jesus can be with us, just as Jesus was with the Father and the Father with him.

Finally, it implies that there is someone that will teach, preach or communicate the words of Jesus to us. This is something that we all have the ability to do, especially when we abide in Jesus and Jesus abides with us. Our purpose and mission on this earth while we are here is to be part of the reconciliation process of God’s creation, bringing those that will hear the words of Jesus and believe in them to create an everlasting relationship with Jesus. But that means that we as a whole, have a part in accomplishing or executing that purpose. Yes, the first calling of our being is to abide with Jesus. We are called to learn from Jesus, pray to Jesus, spend time with Jesus and love Jesus. The second calling however is to love our neighbors as ourselves. There is not much better than doing our best to love our neighbors by, showing Jesus’ love to them, serving them in love, forgiving them in love, helping them through a crisis in love. We have the ability to shares God’s love through his son Jesus in so many different ways, that it can almost feel overwhelming.

Whatever the means that we find the ability to share the love of Jesus with those around us, so that we can help the world believe in Jesus, we should. Even when it is hard, even when it seems impossible, even when the outcome is not what we hope for.

Just like Jesus taught in Matthew 13, the seeds are sown into the soils by those who are not afraid to speak the love of Jesus together.

On this the last post of Holy week, know that as Jesus is beaten, flogged, mocked, spat on and then eventually hung to a tree, Jesus do so for you and me. If we believe this message and accept this grace and love that Jesus offers to all that will believe, we have the ability and purpose to tell others about it.

Pray today that God will open up a space or a chance for you to share the love of Jesus with someone.

Also pray for the courage to speak boldly.

April 6, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Jesus, Local, Outreach

by Brendon

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Holy Week

” When He had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place he said to them, ” Do you understand what I have done to you?” – John 13:12

The Upper Room would have been a site to see. In John 13 we see Jesus with his disciples for a final meal not just together but for the last meal that Jesus will have on earth. It is filled with emotion. The crowds are closing in on Jesus and the ministry that He has started is getting ready to come to and end and the baton will be passed on to the people in the room he is eating with. We saw yesterday that Jesus got up from his place at the table, got down with a basin of water, and washed each of the disciple’s feet. There was a significance to that washing of the feet because Jesus took on the place of a servant to the disciples even though he was sitting at the head of the table. It was also significant because Jesus was setting the stage for his final true command for the disciples to carry on after he ascends into heaven.

” You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet. For i have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. ” – John 13:13-17

The disciple’s heads must be spinning at this point. They just had their teacher, and their rabbi gets down and wash their feet. The way a servant should. But now Jesus gets back to his place at the table he looks at them and tells them they need to wash each other’s feet. That Jesus’ example should be followed in the realm of serving those around you. What does serving have to do with this whole scene? What is Jesus trying to accomplish here in showing the disciples what it means to serve one another? Jesus answers this question this way:

” When he had gone out, Jesus said, ” Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at one. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you, Where I am going you cannot come. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as i have loved you, you also are to love one another. BY THIS all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. ” John 13:31-35

If we love one another, we will serve one another. If we serve one another, that means we love one another, which will show the world that we are Jesus’ disciples. Jesus in this moment, knows that the betrayer has left and that Satan has filled the heart of one of the men that followed Jesus. So Jesus with the rest of his disciples answers maybe the question in which the disciples were asking after Jesus washed their feet and told them they also must wash one another’s feet to serve them. Jesus gives us the way people will know that we know Him. By the way we love one another. Jesus loves us so much, that in just a few short hours after this intimate moment with his closest people, He would be falsely arrested, brought to a crooked trial, beaten until almost dead and then would have to carry his own object of death to be nailed to it. Jesus shows us how to serve and how to love one another when He does not turn away from the end of his mission of restoring a relationship that was broken so long ago. When we serve one another, we are being the hands and feet of Jesus. When we get down from our high place at the table and learn what it means to serve all those around us, then we are showing the love of Jesus to them.

When we love one another, we serve one another. When we serve one another, we show the world that we are Jesus’ disciples because we love the way he loved us.

Today, on the night before Jesus dies for us on a tree, think about the love He has shown you not just from the cross, but also throughout your walks in life.

April 5, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Jesus, Local

by Brendon

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Holy Week

” Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13:1

My son Grahm got out of bed last night, about 3 minutes after Amanda and I walked out of his room, came down to the living room where we were and just stood for a few seconds before asking a question that sparked a thought. Here is what Grahm asked:

” Dad, why dont you just watch the last episode to see who wins and then chose whether you watch the whole thing or go back and watch the whole season? “

Interesting thought from the almost 8-year-old sage. Why don’t we find out what happens at the end and then chose if we want to go to the beginning? I don’t think Grahm knew that he would be asking a question that defines what we see here in John 13, but he did.

Imagine Jesus at this moment in John 13. He has come to the moment in time that He was sent here for. Jesus knew the end was near. Jesus knew his betrayal, beating and death was close. So Jesus does what He needed to do, he takes his closest friends into a room and spends his last moments with them eating and celebrating the Passover. Then Jesus did something that no one thought he would do or even should do.

” Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things to his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and top wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘ Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ” What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, ‘ You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ” If I do not wash wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, ‘ Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ” The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ” Not all of you are clean.” ” John 13:3-11

Let’s just take a moment to understand the situation that Jesus and the disciples are in. Jesus is the only one in the room that knows what is about to happen and what he is about to endure. Jesus is the only one in the room that knows what the Devil is doing inside of one man’s heart. Jesus is the only one to know that the person that will start and lead the Church here on earth is actually going to deny knowing him 3 times in the coming hours. Jesus knew……that anyone that would hear and believe what is about to happen to him, is worth it.

The act of washing the disciple’s feet is one that Jesus should never have done. It was the job of a servant or a slave. Like Jesus mentions, the only thing that most people would need to clean is their feet because they didn’t have shoes or anything to keep the dirt from coating their feet. So Jesus not only did something that was probably absolutely disgusting, but Jesus is continuing to teach and lead the disciples in a way that makes them continue to unlearn what they have always known or done.

As we move through Holy Week, according to John, the story now shifts from what Jesus did or was doing to where Jesus is going. Jesus is going to start the last hours he would be here on earth. He would be going towards a wild and raucous crowd that would eventually lead him to his crucifixion. Jesus knew he was going towards a tree that he would have to carry through the streets of Jerusalem up to a rock shaped as a skull. Jesus knew the hour had come for him to sacrifice His life for all those that will believe in Him.

Holy Week does not just remember what Jesus did in the moments leading up to his death and resurrection…..

Holy Week reminds us that Jesus had you in mind.

Holy Week reminds us that in the moments leading to Jesus’ death – he had you in mind.

Holy Week reminds us that Jesus has you in mind, because his Spirit is now here with us.

Holy Week is Holy Week because Jesus knew He was going to die and He chose to follow through.

Jesus shows us in washing his disciple’s feet, that he will do anything for you, including getting down and dirty to make you clean.

April 4, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Jesus, Local

by Brendon

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Holy Week

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Brendon

” And Jesus cried out and said……” John 12:44a

Preachers. Some love them and some loathe them. There are different types of preachers all throughout the world and history. There are loud preachers, soft talkers, yellers, fire and brimstone, health and wealth and so many other ways to describe a preacher.

Jesus was a preacher. He was a very famous preacher, some might say arguably the best preacher of all time. I mean take a look at the sermon on the mount, some say if you want to know Jesus and what he was all about, read his sermon on the mount message. Seems to be the trendy thing right now…..I love reading Jesus’ teachings/preaching, I wish very greatly that I could ‘hear’ his sermons at some point or wish there were iPhones when he was alive there could be a secret society of people that keep all of his sermons that they were able to capture from wherever and whoever they could……ok, wishful thinking.

” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘ Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to who has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ Therefore they could not believe. Again Isaiah said, ‘ he has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them’. Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man rather than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:36b-43

Here we read a few things, first off we read that Jesus in the last moments with a crowd… hides himself from them? Why does he do that? Why in the last moments he has in a public place would he hide himself? Not a scholar by any means, but when you think about the weight that had to be on Jesus’ shoulders in this moment, after coming right out and saying that he is going to die and that he had to be lifted up on a tree…and knowing all of the things had had shown and done and healed in front of these people he was surrounded by and they still did not believe…..anyone would need a moment to breathe. Second, we see that this also fulfills another prophecy about Jesus that was written in the book of Isaiah. Another sign that the crowd did not realize at the time. Lastly, we see that there is fear amongst the people that did believe so they didn’t do anything with their belief. Imagine believing in something but because of the fear of what another group would do or say or ban you from doing……so you keep it hidden for no one to see and you never act upon that belief…..that sounds oddly familiar.

Then we read the last collection of words that Jesus gives before He celebrates the Passover with his disciples and those closest to him and his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion.

” And Jesus cried out and said, ” Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does keep them, I do not judge him, for I did not come to the world to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment – what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father who told me.” John 12:44-50

Can you take a moment and read those words again and let them sink in……..breathe these words in…….

To be honest, I had a question about this text, and when asked it started an over an hour-long conversation about the entire Gospel of John. There is a lot in here to unpack, but let’s keep it simple.

First off, Jesus cries out. As a preacher, emotion is one thing that can be a great thing but also can be a hindrance. Because sometimes a preacher uses to much emotion that it takes away from the potential words he will say. On the other hand, emotion can evoke emotion in someone else which will allow what is being said to stick with the listener(s). So right off the bat, know that if Jesus was up in front of you or a group of people or He was preaching at church this Sunday and he was closing with these words…..His voice would be slowly getting louder and louder and louder until he might sound like he is yelling, but this is the main thing!

Second, Jesus here clarifies and cements why he is here. Jesus was sent to this place to save the world and not judge it. Jesus doesn’t discount or disregard the notion of judgement, but He, Himself came to this world to give the chance for saving to take place. There are lots of big philosophical words we could use, but simply put, Jesus came because the one who sent him Loves his creation and Jesus came to prove that to those who will hear the words and walk with Jesus the rest of their life.

Finally, Jesus wants us to know where He was sent from and who sent Him. Jesus and the Father are one, and Jesus is the majestic representation of the omniscient God that created everything through and with Jesus. Jesus wants us to know that He did not come from anywhere but the heavens and that the one in heaven is the one who has given him the strength and power and mission to bring all those that will believe to know and be known by the Father that Jesus knows.

If you do anything else today….rest in these words and know that Jesus desires to know you and for you be known. Jesus desires to walk with you as light in the darkness so that you may also become a light in the darkness. Know that Jesus is with God as the Holy Spirit is with us. Know that when you believe the words that Jesus says, you have a power in you that is released for you to be light in a dark world for all people to see.

Jesus. The reason for Holy Week.

March 29, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Jesus, Local

by Brendon

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Rejoice Greatly – Mary Ann Miller

O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

I’ve been going thru a Lent devotional this past month, authored by Alicia Britt Chole. She has a flair for drawing out unusual perspectives on different events in the Gospels. Day 14 and 15 discussed Jesus entering Jerusalem the week before His death- what we call the “triumphal entry”. I can’t stop thinking about it. This was no Hollywood event- no paparazzi or limos, no flashes of cameras or cell phones in the air, no red carpet (except greenery and old cloaks!) or reporters with microphones. But yes: fans/ admirers/ followers/ disciples/ friends/ devotees/ the curious/ skeptics/ religious hoity toities/ and the haters. Protesters? Not that we know of.

What I am struck with is: when Jesus looked at the crowds, what did he see and feel, emotionally? All knowing and looking into each person’s heart and mind- does He feel anguish or disgust or sympathy? Or just plain LOVE? He knew of their soon to be betrayals and hypocrisy. But look at them…right now those humans are in the middle of heavy adoration and worshipping without abandon, similar to King David’s style! Almost as if they became kids again, not caring who saw them or what other’s thought. OK, some in this crowd didn’t share this sentiment! Jesus, saw it for what it was. He had just wept entering the city gates, concerning the fate of the Holy City, and also had an intense weight on His shoulders, about this future week. He would not let the suffering in His heart consume Him. He- was- present. Like time was standing still, He was taking it all in. “Ah, yes, this what My Father pleasures in”. Like warm sunshine and fragrant plant scents on a spring morning. Your senses wake up. YES…all the feels! But somehow He didn’t hang on to that for Himself. He reflected it back to the One who sent Him, deserving the praise and worship. His life briefly flashing before His eyes…oh, the culmination of gratitude of these 33 challenging years on earth. Then refocusing. PRESENT in the moment.

How can I be like that? He had way more reasons to worry about the future than us, but He was in the moment. Basking in it, letting it fill His being. He knew this would not strengthen or recharge Him. Aloneness with God would do that.

I think this “activity” is about “non activity”. “Be”ing not “do”ing. The person I want to be, Lord, will take some effort. Father, help us all to worship without abandon (even if it makes us feel uncomfortable), to be in Your presence, giving You honor, respect and glory. Hosanna! You Lord, are my strength and my song; You have become my salvation. (Psalm 118:14) You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 118:28-29)

*personal commentary by a Jesus follower, Mary Ann Miller

February 23, 2023

in Church, Discipleship

by Brendon

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Serving is hard. Posted on May 14, 2019 by Brendon

In life you hear a lot about serving. Serving here, serving there, serve when, serve now. Not a bad thing at all. But there is a larger aspect of this idea of serving that has come to light in recent days over conversation with friends and family. The larger question that we have to ask ourselves is: Why are we serving, or better yet, how do we serve for not just ourselves?

It is an interesting distinction when you begin to think about those two questions. Because on the one hand, we could all give the correct sunday school lesson answers that we gave when we were 6. But why does it seem to get harder and harder to serve when we grow up? Ok maybe some of us haven’t ‘grown up’ but our age in number has gone up.

Over the past few days, through some conversation and study there are few things that lead me to these questions:

To be frank, serving was never something that I got when I was growing up. When serving opportunities came around, I joined not really caring about the serving but because all of my friends were going and I wanted to be with them and have a good time with them. The serving was the backside of the reason for serving. However as I have grown and have begun to understand what it was that Jesus meant when he states in John 13:15, that his example is there for us to follow. It still seems blurry at times of WHY serving is so important.

John 13 is a passage that everyone has probably heard whether in story or in a sermon somewhere. But John 13 is one passage that can outline and shape the way we look at serving:

John 13:1-17 is the story of Jesus, in his last week of life coming to a table with his disciples as they are about to partake in the holy supper for the Passover feast. At the beginning of the night, before anything even happened, Jesus noticed that the room was prepared but there was nothing or no one to wash the feet of those reclining at the table. So Jesus, the Son of God gets up, takes off his outer garments (because cleaning feet is not clean or neat – it’s messy) and grabs a towel and a basin and begins to wash each and every one of his disciples feet. To the amazement of the disciples as they watched this happen, they really didn’t know what to say or do. Jesus at the end of this even states – ” You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” It was a perplexing moment in time that left people speechless and even the ones that did speak just spoke, with no thought.

A few moments later, after he calls out the disciple that is going to betray him, Jesus takes to the stage again for a swan song lesson and a command to his disciples and anyone else that was there with them.

John 13: 33-35 – Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

A new command I give to you – to love one another.

So if we are going to be disciples of Jesus and if we are going to say that we follow Jesus – then we ought to love one another the way that Jesus loves us.

Peter was one of the ones that were in the room with Jesus when this timeless situation took place. He was actually one that really just didn’t know what to say and just started talking. He was always like that, Peter even took off a guards ear because he was zealous to protect Jesus.

Peter went on to lead the church from the beginning in the book of Acts and he continued to raise up disciples and became an elder in the church. Peter also wrote letters that are in the scriptures. One of those passages take this a little idea of serving and the questions of why do we serve and how do we serve without worrying about us a step further.

1 Peter 5:5 – ……And all of you, serve each other in humility for ” God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

So why do we serve? Because Jesus told us to serve others the way he served us.

How did Jesus serve us? We see in John 13 that taking on the role of a slave or house keeper, that he humbled himself before everyone else and washed their feet.

How do we serve not just for our own needs? We humble ourselves like Jesus and put others before us.

The outcome – we become disciples of Jesus that listen and follow the new command that Jesus gave to his disciples in the upper room.

When we gather together to serve, when we serve each other in our homes, when we serve our kids, when we serve our wives, when we serve our neighbors, when we serve our parents, when we serve the annoying neighbor or grouchy lady in the grocery store…….

We will be loving others the way Jesus loved us by humbling ourselves and serving everyone out of the love that we have from Jesus in our lives.

Humility leads us to love one another. Loving one another leads us to serving those all around us.

Discipleship

From the HCC Outreach Team: