This is a sermon preview for the first week of our Watchword series. You can see FBCM's current watchword and goals at fbcmuncie.org/about-us
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"Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. 'Do you understand what you are reading?' Philip asked. "'How can I,' he said, 'unless someone explains it to me?' So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him." - from Acts 8:26-40
"Discipleship" is a word like "abide" or "discerning" - while they do appear outside of church contexts, they are very much "church-y" words. Because of that, those inside the church might hear the word so often as to not think about their meaning. And those less familiar with church might be confused on what it means.
Discipleship, to be a disciple, is to be an apprentice. An apprentice learns the master's ways.
As we explore our church's Watchword "Not To Be Served, But to Serve" (Mark 10:45), that being followers of Jesus means learning his ways is vital. We're walking through four episodes in the book of Acts, a history of the early church. There, Christians are called followers of the Way (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14). But this way is not a program: like a diet or exercise regime one follows. We are following, and becoming like, God who is revealed in Jesus. As Jesus said in the Gospel of John: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6). That is why we call discipleship, in our church's shorthand, "The Way."
Our 2024-2025 Goals, as we learn what it means "Not To Be Served, But to Serve" come in Four Categories:
Worship - As the Body of Christ
The Way - Discipleship Seeking Understanding (this week's sermon!)
Witness - Inviting Others to Know Christ
Work - Acts of Mercy & Gifts for Service
This week, we're seeing how following the Way, or Discipleship, is never a purely individual undertaking. We see that in our passage this week. From the very beginning, learning the way of Jesus requires being with Jesus himself, and learning how to read and understand the scriptures with his people.
When the angel of the Lord tells Philip to go along the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, he comes along an Ethiopian Eunuch reading from Isaiah. He asks if he understands what he is reading. The response he receives is instructive.
"'How can I,' he said, 'unless someone explains it to me?' So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him." (v.31)
Just like Jesus taught his disciples how to read scriptures. broke bread with them, and was recognized by his disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24:13-35), here Philip does the same. The Good News is not discovered by individuals by themselves. It is revealed to us. The way of discipleship is undertaken as part of, and alongside, the people of God.
We learn how to read the scriptures together.
We learn what it means to follow Christ together.
We follow the one who is the way together.
Questions for Reflection
When have you had the scriptures opened up to you by others in a way that helped you understand and experience the goodness of God in a deeper way?
What lingering questions about faith linger for you? Who in our church could you read out to search the scriptures together?
Does thinking of the idea of discipleship as an apprenticeship change how you understand Jesus' call to discipleship?
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