Making Progress

Last week I spent some time out of town. First I went to Albuquerque to go to a preaching workshop, and then I went to Denver for a meeting of people from the Native American congregations in the RCA.

Early in the preaching workshop each person their shared their name, where they were from , and how many times they had attended the workshop. There were some newcomers, as well as people who were present for the seventh time. And then we were reminded of the overall goal of the workshop, which was that we would "make progress" as preachers. Everyone there, including people who had preached for over 25 years, nodded in agreement. We all agreed that each of us had room to improve as we study, understand, and proclaim, God's word.

And then it was on to Denver, where the theme of our gathering had to do with "making disciples who make disciples." Behind that idea is the idea that all followers of Jesus are disciples, people who see Jesus as not just Savior and Lord, but also as the teacher who shows them how to live rightly as God's children. And with that there is also the idea that as we grow as disciples we also help other people to grow as disciples.

Being a disciple is not something that has a fixed end point. No one learns everything or does everything just right in following Jesus. But being a disciple is something that has much in common with the goal of the preaching seminar, which is that over time we should "make progress."

Writing to Timothy, Paul gave him some words of warning and then gave him these words that can continue to guide and encourage us today. In 1 Timothy 6:11 Paul writes:

"Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness."

When we read the book of Acts we can see the amazing transformation that Paul went through as he came to salvation and then followed Jesus for the rest of his life. As we read the letters he wrote that became part of the Bible we can see how much he learned along the way, and then how he passed that learning on to congregations that he knew were in need of it. And writing to Timothy late in his life, a man Paul had personally trained, he continued to provide Timothy with direction and encouragement as Timothy followed Jesus.

The words that Paul gave to Timothy continue to guide and encourage us today, as we follow Jesus here in Dulce. As we pursue, or seek to grow in the things Paul has listed, we grow as disciples of Jesus. We "make progress," bit by bit by bit. Sometimes the progress is rapid. Sometimes it is painfully slow. And sometimes it comes through experiences that we would rather never having had to go through.

But the end result is that we are shaped a little bit more to be like the One we serve, learning lessons that we can share with others along the way. May this next month, and every one that follows, be one where you "make progress" as a disciple of Jesus. Amen.

(Our kids are working on making a movie. In the picture above they are "making progress" in building the set and working out the scene.) 

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.