Creed

Well, Tan and I are actually in MI today and tomorrow doing a little house shopping. What that means for this little blog is that I don't have the time and space for a good chunky post. We do relish your prayers as we seek the home, neighbors, and school from which God would have us live out our lives as missionaries for His sake.

  I would however like to leave you with video to watch by my all time favorite, the late great Rich Mullins.

His song "Creed" has a lot to say about discipleship. Pay special attention to the oft repeated refrain - "I believe what I believe, it's what makes me what I  am, I did not make it, no it is making me. It is the very truth of God not the invention of any man."

 

You see, what we believe - the very truth of God in faith, is making us into the person that God created us to become. The knowledge of the truth of God - knowing what we believe is foundational to our growth in Christ. May we all grow in the substance and knowledge of our faith, and enjoy watching what God makes of us.

Be God's, Pastor Scott

The Science of Discipleship

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon." Psalm 92:12

It's been a long time since I was sitting behind a desk in a High School biology classroom.  I don't remember a lot of what good old Mr. Rand taught me about science - those amazing and intricate processes established by God upholding, under girding and propagating the delicate balance in His creation - but I do distinctly remember something...photosynthesis.

It could be that I remember the process of photosynthesis (at least in its most basic form) because it was the first real big and fancy word I ever learned as a kid.  So when Mr. Rand dropped this plant growing knowledge on me, I was all ears.

Basically, photosynthesis (for those of you who did not pay attention in biology class) is a process by which a plant grows at the cellular level.  The plant cells take in carbon dioxide and water and then use the energy given off by the sun to produce a chemical reaction whereby the cells divide and multiply while producing glucose and oxygen.  To put it in real basic terms - a plant will not grow unless it takes in carbon dioxide and water, and unless it receives the power to do so from the sun.  In addition, as the plant grows, it automatically produces glucose and oxygen - two important things that help other creations of God (um, people for instance) grow.  So, if a plant receives water but no sun it will not grow.  If a plant receives carbon dioxide and sun but no water, it will not grow.  All 3 things are necessary for plant growth.

So, if we are called to follow the example of the tree, and grow in discipleship while following Jesus - I suppose that means we ought to know the science of Christian growth.  Our process for growth is really quite similar to the process of photosynthesis - only the theologians call it sanctification (which is really just a fancy word that means growth in righteousness).  The Psalm above points out, flourishing growth will come to the righteous disciple.  As a tree needs carbon dioxide and water to grow, there are two things that the Christian needs as well to grow in righteousness, and those two things are the Word of God, and godly relationships.

The Word of God read, studied, learned, internalized, proclaimed, sung, and discussed to the point of being lived out in obedience, is one of the things that is necessary for growth as a disciple.  As Paul so eloquently instructed Timothy "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  2 Tim. 3:16-17

Godly relationships are also necessary for growth as a disciple of Christ.  Paul and Jesus both helped their disciples to grow by spending relational time with them.  This element for growth is based on the fact that God created us to be in relationship with Him and with other people in community.  Amazing growth happens in the lives of believers when they are invested in intimate, trusting and intentional relationships with other believers.

These two elements of godly relationships and the Word of God when combined together will provide the believer with all they need to ingest for this process of righteous growth to occur.  We can see evidences of these growth opportunities everywhere in the church: Bible studies, corporate times of worship, Mission trips, youth group, choir, mentoring relationships, etc.

Now here is the most important part of our discipleship growth process (sanctification) - just as the plant needs an outside energy source (the sun) for photosynthetic growth to take place, we too need an outside energy source for true spiritual growth to take place.

It is the Holy Spirit, God Himself, who empowers our ingestion of the Word of God, and godly relationships, to cause real growth in the life of the disciple.  Reading the Bible without the Holy Spirit's power will help you to perform super well in the Jeopardy Bible categories...but you will not grow.  Entering into relationships with other Christians without the Holy Spirit's power will make your calendar busier...but you will not grow.  Tapping into the Holy Spirit's power in discipleship means both invitation and intentionality - giving Him entrance into your Scripture intake and your relationships with the intention of expecting Him to cause you to grow.

The Word of God, and godly relationships empowered by the Holy Spirit produces righteous followers of Jesus...this is the science of discipleship.

I wonder how we might be able to grow and flourish together for the Glory of God!


Be God's, Pastor Scott

Make Like A Tree...

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; ² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."  Psalm 1: 1-3

In Back To The Future II, local bully Biff, was so annoyed with Marty McFly, that he sneered through his teeth at him "why don't you make like a tree...and get out of here."  Bully Biff, not the most clever of bullies, got his metaphor mixed up.  If he really wanted McFly out of his sight he should have said, "why don't you make like a tree...and leave."

At the risk of sending each and every reader of this blog away immediately in an offended huff, I would like to ask you to - Make Like A Tree.

If you're still reading, please know that these are not really my words of request, but the Bible's.  In the beautiful and familiar words of Psalm 1, the Psalmist sings that the way to be blessed (or to enjoy God's special favor and grace) is to make "like a tree."  If you choose to live your life like that of a healthy, fruitful tree, you will prosper in all that you do.

For me, this image of the healthy and fruitful tree is an apt one for the life of Christian discipleship - something which is really not as complicated as people often make it out to be.  Discipleship, like the life of a tree is really quite simple.  God created trees to grow and reproduce - that is all they do.  All of the energy of this living creation goes solely to the God given mandate to grow, and in so doing, to make other trees (that will also grow).  For a tree then, to grow and reproduce, is a non-negotiable.  They have no say in the matter.  A tree that is not growing and reproducing, is dying.

Jesus, in the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 18-20), gives all Christians the express mandate to "make disciples."  What this mandate really is, is a mandate to grow, and in so doing, make other disciples (that will also grow).  To follow Jesus in faith...to identify oneself as a Christian...to live ones life as one who is glorifying God is to not only grow as a disciple, but also to produce other growing disciples.  Do you see what this means?  Like the tree then, spiritual growth and fruitful spiritual reproduction are non-negotiables for the follower of Christ.  Every single believer needs to be actively involved not only growing in their faith walk, but also working towards being a maker of disciples.

The big difference between the tree and the disciple in this non-negotiable mandate, is that while the tree has no say in the matter, we certainly do.  In fact, do we not often use our gift of free will to choose not to grow?  Do we not often choose to use our energies and talents on things that will actually stunt our growth and hurt us?  Do we ever choose to invest time in other people with the aim of helping them grow in their faith?  Unlike the tree, we must make the choice to engage in this process that we were hard wired and redeemed to do.

We need to make the choice to make like a tree.



Be God's, Pastor Scott

In my next few blog posts, I would like to take a closer look at what it means to "make like a tree."  Hope to see you back for more!

Hit The Ground Running

Greetings Friends!

The phrase "hit the ground running" has come to mean getting off to a brisk and successful start. I am not sure what the origins of this idiom are, but I am quite sure that I understand the physics behind it - at least with regards to "hitting the ground."

For those of you who have ever worked out on one of those ghastly creations known as the treadmill, you too understand. The treadmill is essentially moving ground. If your feet were to hit that device and not be in motion, you would either fall flat on your face, or be sent hurtling through the back wall. In order to not experience epic treadmill failure, your running pace must match the pace of the treadmill as soon as your feet make contact. In other words, you must "hit the ground running," or hit the back wall crashing.

I hope to get off to a brisk and successful start in my ministry at Corinth as the Pastor of Discipleship. In order to do that, not only do I need to get prayed up, but I also need to prepare myself to match the pace of ministry that is already spinning at Corinth. God is richly blessing the ministry of Corinth with much fruit. Many positive things are happening as the Spirit is being poured out amongst you. To continue on with the metaphor - God is spinning the treadmill at Corinth at a quick pace, and if I want to get off to a brisk and successful start, I would like to do all I can to match the pace that God has already established.

Until I can come and live amongst you in personal community, I would like to prepare myself to "hit the ground running" with the creation of this little weekly blog space. Not only should it provide opportunity for you to get to know my ministry passions, motivations and heart a little bit, but it should also provide you with a little insight into who I am and how God is shaping me. I am also prayerfully hopeful that through it, God will give my some insight and direction for myself as I seek to come alongside your Ministry team and contribute to what God is doing and wants to do.

This will be a blog about Discipleship - about what that is, about what it looks like, about how and why as a follower of Christ you need to be engaged in it. I will endeavour to contribute a post once weekly. Please do feel free to join in on the conversation and reply to any of the posts. Perhaps we can build some relationships this way.

Until next week then, keep up that exercise regimen :)


Be God's, Pastor Scott Nyp

PS - please do check out my lovely wife Tanya's new blog that she has created as well specifically to give you some insight into our family and what we are all about.  http://tanyanyp.blogspot.com/