The Heath Mullikin Project

Figuring it all out one day at a time

Jesus

Converting Converts into Disciples

Matthew 28: 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(NIV)

I saw some disturbing statistics this summer that crossed church district and denominational lines.  The number of conversions, baptisms, and new church members did not match in any way shape or form.  Many churches reported dozens of salvations to go along with less than 10 baptisms and new church members.  Luckily, I wasn’t the only person who saw the disparity in these numbers and district and denominational leaders called churches for a renewed commitment on baptisms and making disciples.

I recently read the blog of a controversial pastor who keeps score of the number of people he leads to Christ.  This number has grown to over 3000(according to his blog) while the church he pastors has about 60 attenders.  I have often wondered what happens to these people after he knocks on their door and leads them to Christ.  Still, another pastor(on the complete total opposite end of the spectrum of pastor #1) reports hundreds of salvations in weekly services and their church is known for their large baptisms of hundreds of people at a time and their commitment to evangelism.

I do agree with counting conversions.  I’m not one of those “numbers don’t matter” people, but have we turned people into Convert #972 instead of Disciple of Christ John or Jane Doe.  Will Jesus look out among us and ask,”Ok, who raised your hand to receive me?  Did you repeat what the pastor prayed exactly?  Were you brave enough to walk to the front?”  Do we have churches full of people who are gung ho to serve yet don’t know how to disciple someone?  Being on a parking team or helping take up the offering can be a step towards becoming a disciple of Christ, but it doesn’t mean you are a disciple simply by doing these types of things.

As a pastor, I feel my mission is to make Disciple-Making Disciples.  My end goal isn’t to have people plugged into different ministries so that the church has something to “offer.”  If we aren’t training our people to share their faith-not just their testimony for the purpose of salvations-but for the   reproducing their faith in others then are we really accomplishing the Great Commission?

I am striving now to clearly define what a disciple is for our church.  Our hope is that people will be Rooted in The Word, Relationships, and Service.  We are asking these 3 questions:

1.  Are you growing in knowledge and obedience to God’s Word?

2.  Are your relationships honoring God and helping you become more like Him?

3.  Are you actively serving the church and community?

Any church or pastor who is actively seeking to reach the lost should be commended, but we’ve got to start converting converts into disciples.  What do you think?  Am I completely off base here?

Episode 40-God Changes Everything

527151: In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

Ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time…several times? These memories leave you with an ill taste in your mouth, and nothing good seems to come from them. But what if the seemingly messy pieces of your life were actually strategically positioned by God? What if you’ve actually been in the right place at the right time every time? In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day will help you make sense of your past. You’ll begin to connect the dots to see clearly how God has been preparing you for future opportunities. With a God’s-eye perspective, you’ll soon be thanking Him – even for lions, pits, and snowy days.

Breaking the Sabbath-Part 2

Last week I started posting about my journey to observing the Sabbath every week.  The process of eliminating certain things from my life has begun so that my time is best utilized doing the things I was created to do.  I believe we live in a day and age where rediscovering the practice of the Sabbath is a necessity.  Understand that I am writing from the viewpoint of a pastor where Sunday is not a day of rest. It’s usually one of the busiest days of the week. The point of all of this is to have a set aside, holy, Sabbath day every week regardless of what it happens to be.
In Jewish law, there were 39 categories of activities that were prohibited on the Sabbath. Each category had subcategories and so on and so on. By Jesus’ time, the focus was more on these rules and regulations rather than God’s original commandment. These prohibited things from weaving to tying a knot to putting out a fire to picking the bones out of a fish. The original intent of these laws to to remind people of the things that they would do on a normal day and the Sabbath was all about taking a break from the norm. Over time, the rules and regulations grew to where most common folks could not keep up. The religious leaders of the time used their ability to adhere strictly to the law(and find loopholes when they couldn’t) to lord over the others. So, when Jesus says in Mark 2:27-28:

27Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

He is tearing down some major walls.  One, He is telling the people that they have lost sight of the true purpose of the Sabbath.  It was a lot of work to remember what you weren’t supposed to do on the Sabbath!  Two, He is chastising the religious rulers for using their man made rules and regulations to rob the common folk of their God given rights(dude, my toes are really hurting right now).  The Sabbath is all about liberation.  It’s not about being confined.  It’s about being set free.

So, what sets you free?  What makes you feel like you’re alive?  The Sabbath isn’t about being reminded that you’re human.  It’s about being reminded that you’re divinely created in the image of God.  In a day and age where we spend so much time “working for the man” the Sabbath is that weekly reminder that we are God’s “workmanship” and created for a higher purpose(Ephesians 2:10).  Part 3 next week, but while you’re waiting check out these posts from Eric Ebbinghaus, Tim Stevens and Dr. Martin Labar.  Eric is a fellow Wesleyan Youth Pastor who is currently taking his students through the 10 commandments.  Tim recently posted on a digital detox his family was taking.  Dr. Labar is a former professor at Southern Wesleyan University and one of the finest and funniest men I know.  Do yourself a favor and subscribe to their blogs.

Currently Reading:

775563: A Blueprint for Discipleship: Wesley"s General Rules as a Guide for Christian Living A Blueprint for Discipleship: Wesley’s General Rules as a Guide for Christian Living

By Kevin Watson

Watson offers a concrete and practical approach to Christian discipleship that is distinctly Wesleyan. His approach builds on the foundation of the General Rules-do no harm, do good, and practice spiritual disciplines-combined with the exercise of small-group accountability. Watson shows that John Wesley’s method of discipleship is both simple and profound, and can help you develop a faith that affects every part of your lives.

Breaking the Sabbath-Part 1

Last week I posted some Action Steps I was taking to be a better man and do everything with excellence.  As I have been taking a good hard look at my life I realized that most of the issues of stress and ineffectiveness I face stem from my failure to faithfully observe the Sabbath.  In his DVD, “Everything is Spiritual”, Rob Bell talks about the rhythm of creation and the significance of God taking a break from that rhythm and pattern on the 7th day.  Here’s what it says in Exodus:

Exodus 20:9-11 (New International Version)

9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

It’s one of the 10 commandments, and I fear it’s the one I break most often as a pastor.  I am on this journey to discover everything I can about the Sabbath and balance that with what Jesus said in Mark:

Mark 2:23-28 (New International Version)

23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

25He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

27Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

This is not a debate or discussion about whether or not to take a Sabbath or if failing to do so consistently has been harmful to my health, marriage, and spirit.  What I would like to see happen is for a discussion to take place about how you’re making this happen?  How are you unplugging for a day?  What boundaries have you placed in your life to help you celebrate this holy time?  What day is your Sabbath?  Is there a day of the week when your church offices are closed so everyone can have a Sabbath?  As for me, here’s where I am starting:

1.  Commit to one day a week where I am totally unplugged technologically.

2.  Make sure that I don’t follow my daily routine other than have my son at school by 7:55 am on that day.

3.  Discover and rediscover hobbies that God can use to restore my soul.

4.  Do everything I can to insure that my wife is able to have a Sabbath as well.

5.  Study the roots, beginnings, and traditions of the Sabbath to see how God has used this holy day to renew and restore his people throughout history.

What about you? What steps are you taking or are you already having an effective Sabbath day?  More to come later.

Currently Listening

Currently Reading
Wowability: How to Achieve It and Why It Matters

Currently Watching
Everything Is Spiritual

Where Purpose Begins

One of the goals of this site is to introduce people to Jesus Christ.  I believe that it is only through a relationship with him that we can truly discover who we were created to be.  For people who “don’t go for that sort of thing” or are looking for other ways to find fulfillment the resources here will still be helpful to you.  However, if you’re here and you’re searching for something more than this life has handed you-welcome to the Revolution.  Purpose begins when we realize and recognize that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.(Ephesians 2:10, NIV) You will never find peace, joy, and contentment if you are not pursuing these things.  So, what does that even mean?  Have a relationship with Jesus?  Where does this dude live?  Dr. Martin Labar does a better job than me explaining all of this in his “How to be Saved” post. Dr. Labar is a retired professor from Southern Wesleyan University where he taught in the Science department.  He is a true man of faith with a dry wit and an encouraging spirit.  He was “chasing his lion” before it was even cool.