There is a story about an unemployed clergyman who needed income. Since I am going to be unemployed shortly I thought that I would use this story this morning. He was finally hired on a temporary basis by the local zoo keeper. It seems the zoo gorilla had died and there was no money to immediately replace the gorilla. So they dressed the minister up in a gorilla costume and he really got into the part. He was jumping and swinging and making faces at the children, until one day he was swinging too high and went over the wall into the lion’s cage.  

The lion immediately got up and started walking toward him. The man in the gorilla costume shouted, “No, no, I’m not a gorilla, I am really a human being. I am a minister.” To which the lion replied, “Shut up, you fool. I am an unemployed minister too.” 

I may be unemployed in a few days. But I hope to be still growing, learning and still fruitful. Paul wanted his congregations to be growing and learning and fruitful. So, to one of his churches he wrote these words: 

Finally…we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus Christ that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God…you should do so more and more. 

If I were to write such a letter to you today, what might it mean?

What would lie behind such a statement today? I am going to make what is called the hermeneutical arch this morning. To take the text out of its original setting and set it down in this moment. What is the essence of what I hope you have learned from me that will please God? I submit to you that this is not necessarily new; however, it exceptionally important. 

DISCIPLESHIP IS THE MAIN THING 

Always remember that discipleship is the main thing. A clergy friend in Arkansas tells of receiving a phone call early one Sunday morning. A women’s voice said, “I want to place an order for ribs, hush puppies, and one pound of coleslaw.” Replied the minister, “I think you have the wrong number.” The woman’s voice came back, “Isn’t this the place with the special on ribs and all the fix’ins?” Again the minister said, “M’am, I think you have the wrong number.” To which she replied, “Well what do you sell? What business are you in?”  

I have said this often and I say it again today. We are about discipleship. Jesus spoke and demonstrated many things. Jesus was about compassion, about forgiveness, about the use of possessions. Jesus spoke and demonstrated love for everyone, total inclusiveness and non-violence. He talked about a prayerful life, a simple life and a God centered life. He did all of this because he was about forming disciples. 

For me that trumps everything else in the Bible. Jesus is the revealed word of God. Jesus is God’s self and purpose revealed. Jesus reveals the way in which God intend for us to live, the way God intends us to be, and the way God intends for us to think. 

It is very clear to me that Jesus saw discipleship as more important than doctrine. The ancient church said, “Doctrine is important.” Jesus said, “Come, follow me.” Some voices in the church today say “Doctrine is important.” Jesus still says, “Come follow me.” Several Presbyterian churches in our area are in the process of withdrawing from the mother denomination because of doctrinal issues. Jesus still says, “Come, follow me.” A number of United Methodist believe doctrine is the most important thing in the church today. Jesus still says, “Come, follow me.” How you live is more important to God than exactly what you believe.  

One of the strong features of the United Methodist church and of Christ Church is that you grow toward a relationship with Jesus and walk with Him. The finer points of doctrine are often fuzzy. They will always be so. 

John Wesley once wrote: 

The distinguishing marks of a Methodist are not his opinions of any sort. His assenting to this or that scheme of religion, his embracing any particular set of notions, his espousing the judgment of one man or of another. All are quite wide of the point. Whosoever, therefore, imagines a Methodist is a person of such or such opinion is grossly ignorant of the whole affair.[I]  

Later when Wesley was asked what the Christian life would look like, he wrote something called the General Rules. You can still read them today. May are dated and seem somewhat archaic. One that I really like still seems to apply. It is the one that says, “Do not speak evil of magistrates or ministers!”  

Following Jesus is what it is about. When one of our grandsons was a small child, he didn’t talk much. Instead he did a lot of pointing. When the pointing didn’t work, he would grab my finger and pull me. He would take me away from my reading. He would pull me away from the dinner table while I was eating. He even woke me up once when I was sleeping. Jesus wants to do that with us. He says, “Follow me.” 

Is what you believe important? Of course it is. Can you believe just anything and still be a Christian or a United Methodist? Of course not. But the first priority is living in such a way as pleases God. Living as followers of Jesus. 

Have you heard the phrase, “Just do it!” Jesus may have been the first to coin that phrase. 

Twenty five years ago the “in” word of the church was something called “Faith Formation.” Gradually it has changed slightly. Today it is called “Christian Formation.” Do you hear the difference? It is subtle but distinct. Be about Christian formation. Be about discipleship. It is a whole new language. 

Two mice were out walking one morning when they rounded the corner and were confronted by a huge tom cat. Just as the tom cat was about enjoy the mice for breakfast, one of the mice barked at the cat. 

The cat was so startled he turned and ran. Where upon the mouse turned to his friend and said, “In times like these, it nice to know a second language.” 

“Finally, brother and sisters…” learn the language of discipleship. Someone has said, “God loves each of you just as you are, and God loves you too much to let you stay that way.” 

THEN DEMONSTRATE THE DISCIPLESHIP

The next thing to do is demonstrate the discipleship. Our world is hurting and hungry for a new way to live. The war in Iraq drives on. Immigration is debated in the halls of Congress. Inclusiveness is not necessarily a positive word today. We argue about whether or not we can feed the hungry. There are issues of the environment and the place of Casino slots machines to fix government. The world is waiting to be shown a demonstratively different way to live. 

The world is not necessarily evil. There is an abundance of evil in the world, but the world itself is not evil. However, the way of the world is tempting and alluring. The world is about speed and success. The world is about acquiring and accumulating. The world is about luster and good looks. The world is about possessing power and winning.  

Paul mirrors Jesus when he says, “Do not be molded by the world.” Hear the full passage which is written by Paul. “Do not conform outwardly to the standards of the world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change…Then you will know what is good and pleasing to God, and is perfect.” (see Romans 12:2 RSV and TEV) 

Live a demonstratively different discipleship. 

Jesus said, “I have come to show you the truly abundant life.” He might have added, “Now go and demonstrate that life before others.” 

William Sloane Coffin once said, “The most remarkable words of Jesus may be, ‘You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world, you are the leaven in the loaf.’” You and I are light for the world, salt for the world, leaven for the world. 

Henri Nouwen wrote a book some years ago called Living Reminders.  You and I are to be demonstrably living reminders of Jesus. 

In recent days there have been references to America as a City set on a hill. That phrase of course comes from the 5^th chapter of Matthew in The Sermon on the Mount. But it also comes from a group of Puritans who landed in New England in 1620. These Pilgrams were a branch of the Puritans determined to live accordingly to Biblical commands. In so doing they hoped to build a city upon a hill. There were to be beacon to the rest of the world. 

The Pilgrams of 1620’s signed something called the Mayflower compact. One version of this compact reads something like this: 

We pledge to walk together

In the ways of truth and affection,

As best we know them now

Or may learn them in days to come.

That we and our children may be fulfilled

And that we may speak to the world

In words and actions

Of peace and goodwill.[II] 

Our text calls us to demonstrated discipleship. Then add one more word. 

DURABILITY 

Finally, let your demonstrated discipleship be durable. Let is be the highly trained center of your life. No matter what happens you know the one who holds you and calls you forward. 

I lost a good friend to Leukemia this week. He was member of this church some years ago. He was only in his mid-60’s when he died. He struggled mightily with the disease and spent many weeks in the hospital. He knew the odds for his survival were not good.  Most notably, however, he exhibited a remarkable durability of faith. He was one of the most unafraid of dying persons I have ever known. He was absolutely sure of his place in God’s eternity. He was absolutely unafraid of death. He was absolutely sure of how he was to walk until the end. He was absolutely willing to share this without hesitation to who ever spoke to him. He had durably demonstrative discipleship. 

Such durability doesn’t just happen. It has to be cultivated and fed and nurtured along the way. It must be nurtured in the good and easier times. It must be kept in reserve for the difficult and challenging times. 

Years ago I had a very old Volkswagon Beetle. It was a basic car. There was nothing automatic and nothing fancy. In fact it didn’t even have a gas gauge. Instead it had a reserve tank with about one gallon of gas. When the main tank gave out, and the engine began to sputter, you reached down with your foot and kicked the lever 90 degrees to the right. Immediately, a gallon of extra fuel would go into the main gas tank and you could  get to a gas station. 

One of the interesting things about that was that you had to kick the lever back after you filled up again. Otherwise you wouldn’t have that reserve tank the next time you were low on gas. 

I have often thought about that car as a parable for the Christian journey. Sometimes the fuel of faith runs low. But God’s mercy is bountiful. And God provides that extra when it is needed to bring us back. However, we must nurture and take care of the “reserve.” 

“Finally … we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God…you should do so more and more.” 

Live a life that honors the message and call of Jesus. Live a life that gives praise and is pleasing to God. 

That life will not be exactly the same for any two of you here today. But it will bring peace and joy to your soul and it will bring a rich legacy of hope and witness to our world. 

Finally, brother and sisters live a durably demonstrative discipleship.