MARKS OF DISCPLESHIP by Rev Alan Shaw

“Marks of Discipleship” Rev Alan Shaw 29th Aug 2010 Heb 13:1-8, 15-16

>>2> NCLS research shows that the number of Australians who identify as practising Christians attending church at least once a month has been declining since the 1950s. Anglicans in particular are a threatened species according to statistics.

? So how do WE go about being positive faithful Christian disciples in a society where we find ourselves increasingly in the minority & on the margins?

Our need to answer that question - as modern Christians trying to make sense of the Gospel in a rapidly changing world - gives us more in common than we might think with the original audience – 2nd generation believers who were struggling in their faith against increasing hostility & criticism from the wider society.

The Letter to the Hebrews was written as a pastoral letter of encouragement - around 80 years after Christ - probably to the church in Rome.

Whoever wrote Hebrews – some say it was Barnabas – or possibly Apollos – or Aquila & Priscilla – or some combination of these - clearly had an understanding of the very different Greek & Jewish mindsets & worldviews as the writings focus on the practical aspects of being a Christian which set us apart from the world.

>>3> Remember the powerful metaphor (Heb 12:1-2) where the Christian life is likened to a race or journey where we are cheered on towards the finish line by the cloud of witnesses – saints in the world & those gone before us?
Where Jesus is both our goal & our companion on the journey.

Today’s Hebrews passage identifies SEVEN essential marks or characteristics of discipleship – like landmarks - to help us navigate & not lose our way as we press on in our faith journey towards the goal.

1. >>4>The FIRST mark [13:1] - which forms the basis of all the rest - is LOVE. Depending which Bible translation we use – this love might appear as ‘brotherly’ love or ‘Christian’ love – or ‘mutual’ love – the English language is limited when it comes to this topic. The Greeks have several different words to express different kinds of love.

The original Greek word philadelphia used here describes the kind of love we share as brothers & sisters within a family. It implies loyalty – patience – kindness – forgiveness – acceptance – despite the minor challenges to harmony that are inevitable within any family.
Love in action is at the core of our Christian identity. The Bible has been called the greatest love story of all time – the story of God’s love for his people & their response to that great love.

John 3:16 summarises the motive behind Christ’s work on the cross for us – God coming in the flesh & becoming the greatest sacrifice for us - in the name of love.

Our small acts of kindness may seem insignificant compared to this – but nonetheless we are called to love others as God loves us.

And not just other Christians. We should not be so inwardly focussed in our church life that we wall ourselves off as members of some secret club trying to keep Jesus for ourselves.

>>5> 2. Which brings us to SECOND mark of Christian discipleship: HOSPITALITY [13:2]. In the 1stC hospitality was a practical virtue because inns were expensive - disreputable & often unsafe places. There were no Best Western or Flag motels or Ramada Inns – travellers were taken into the homes of friends & family as a gesture of respect & kindness.

Though our circumstances are different today, hospitality — paying attention to the stranger — remains a vital demonstration of Christian love.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming & inviting congregation here at St A’s. Hebrews reminds us that when we extend hospitality to others WE are also blessed as we may be “entertaining angels without knowing it" (13:2).

Perhaps the writer was thinking about Abraham (Gen 18) or Gideon (Jud 6) or Manoah (Jud 13). For these OT characters, hospitality led to good news, new beginnings - new life.
>>6> This call to extend hospitality to others is especially relevant as we look towards Come to Church Sunday on 12th Sept & how we will open our churches & our hearts to newcomers & those returning to church after an absence – perhaps nursing old hurts or attitudes from another time.

? What will they find as they walk through our gates & up the concrete slope to our front door?

? Will they be welcomed with warmth & genuine affection? Or will they be told matter-of-factly that they’re sitting in someone else’s seat? (This happened to me!)

>>7> 3. A THIRD mark of discipleship – the next landmark on our journey - is to show COMPASSION to those in distress. The writer gives 2 examples of crisis: those in prison & those being tortured (13:3).

Early Christians often found themselves imprisoned simply because of their faith. The community of believers became well-known for taking food & clothing to those who found themselves incarcerated.

Ultimately – as we are one body of believers – when one part suffers we all suffer. Just as Jesus our great high priest identifies with OUR hardships & shares OUR sufferings (2:14, 18; 4:15), so we should also identify with the hardships & sufferings of others.2

>>8> 4. The FOURTH mark [13:4] is PURITY: When we consider this word purity we immediately think about relationships & marriage.

And we should honour marriage & be faithful to the vows we publicly profess as couples entering that sacred state.
Christian marriage is actually a threesome – with God as the third party – echoes of the holy trinity. This places a huge responsibility on those who would enter it. And the implications for those who don’t respect the sanctity – the purity of marriage are serious & eternal.

Such faithfulness & purity of relationship sets us apart from the culture in which we live & strengthens the bonds of the community. Marriage is by definition a very public act of commitment. Infidelity is therefore no private matter. Its effect ripples outwards impacting on a wide network of family members & friends & beyond bringing hurt – shame – disappointment – broken trust – broken hearts.

>>9> Even when we consider purity at an individual level – it’s still about relationship. From puberty onwards most of us wrestle with hormone-driven physical desire fuelled by the increasingly insistent advertising & film industries.
[Some of us still remembers those days....]
Sex is everywhere – in your face. Especially aimed at young people.

?How do we tame or channel this raging animal called desire & lust?

Especially in Christian circles this topic of purity is much more openly discussed these days. The bottom line is that once we’re in relationship with God - temptation becomes a shared burden. We can draw strength & assurance from that knowledge.

We can be confident too that even Jesus – in taking on human form – experienced the full range of emotions & physical temptations that have faced humans since the beginning of time.

>>10-11> 5. CONTENTMENT with what we have is the FIFTH mark of discipleship (13:5). Worldly ambition & materialism are not characteristics of God’s kingdom. As co-heirs of the kingdom with Christ we share the riches the world simply can’t provide.

This is not to say we should not enjoy the fruits of our labour & what this world has to offer. God provides so that we can enjoy this life to the full – God gives us exactly what we need even when we may not see it that way.

Our recent teaching series on giving & stewardship reminded us that everything we think we own is really God’s anyway – simply on loan to us. As we learn to trust in God's promises of presence – provision & protection we no longer need to worry about such things as though our lives depended on it.

And v5 reminds us of God’s promise that he will never leave us or abandon us - no matter what situation we find ourselves in - we are never alone.

Through his Holy Spirit, God is always present as our helper – advocate & guide - so we need not worry about things God the Creator has his hand on – which is everything ! [13:6]

>>12> 6. The SIXTH mark of discipleship = LOYALTY & CONSTANCY. Holy Scripture reveals how God has shown his loyalty& constancy to his people over & over again. We are likewise called to stir up these qualities within us as we remember those who have spoken the word of God to US & generations of believers before us.

Let us be inspired & encouraged as we reflect on the heroes of our faith outlined in Heb chap 11 – that Honour Roll of OT Superheroes - along with those of the NT & many others since who are held as examples of faithfulness (13:7).
The supreme model of faithfulness is Jesus [12:1-3], who "is the same yesterday - today & forever" [13:8].

>>13> 7. The SEVENTH & final landmark on our discipleship journey is PROPER WORSHIP - in particular, PROPER SACRIFICE. The new covenant under which we live demands that we are to make an offering of praise & thanksgiving to God in response to the blessings we have received.

First [v15] we are called to offer a sacrifice of praise as we confess the name of Christ as Lord.
But acceptable sacrifice moves beyond simply worship & confession. As WE have received grace we are compelled to extend such grace toward others through doing good & by sharing what we have [v16].

We honour our generous God by living with open hands. We must not cling to our resources in order to feel secure in the face of uncertainty. Instead, we share what we have as divine gifts entrusted to us as stewards of God's blessings.
Just as we say together the prayer at the end of our Anglican Prayer Book liturgy for the Second Order of Holy Communion – “Father, we offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice through Jesus Christ our Lord....” [APBA p.144]

? Do we know what we are asking here when we say this?

? Or are we simply rattling it off by rote as we think ‘Great! Communion’s over - almost time for morning tea.’

We’re actually offering – committing ourselves to God as living sacrifices as we seek to live & work to His praise & glory. In other words our worship to God must not become simply empty words & hollow rituals - but extend beyond our gathering here today into every area of our lives.

In our love for each other & for the strangers God brings to our door - in our care for those in crisis - we are worshipping God.

In our sharing of our resources that reflects our trust in God rather than in our own abilities & possessions, we are worshipping God.

In our faithfulness to our covenants & to the example of those heroes who have gone before us, we are worshipping God.

Only then can we truly know the peace of God that passes all understanding.

PRAY: LL forgive us when we think & act small. Help us to be encouraged by the stories of the many heroes of our faith that come to us through your word. Give us vision that we may see beyond the limited possibilities that imprison us. Give us courage to step beyond the safe & the known into the fullness of the kingdom life as living sacrifices - where every waking moment becomes an act of praise & thanksgiving. We ask IJN. AMEN.