Putting Your Joy in the Right Place – #152

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ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Rather Listen – Click here!

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of Luke for where Jesus told His disciples to place their joy.  

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

Luke 10:17–20

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

My Thoughts

When Jesus’ disciples returned from their short-term mission trip they were pumped! They had met their spiritual enemy face to face and crushed him. They even gave Jesus all the credit. They used Jesus’ name as instructed and the evil spirits fled. It was like a football team in the locker room after they had just pummeled the opposition 50 to zero and knew it was the coach that got them to the summit. There were highfives, chest bumps, and… well, I guess they didn’t have Gatorade back then. But you can just imagine the scene and how excited these disciples were.

Then the coach, Jesus, puts everything in perspective. He acknowledges the reality of their success. Satan didn’t stand a chance. The power of His players was so overwhelming nothing could stop them. Then He pauses for effect. “Nevertheless…” cheering, claps on the back, fist pumps all stop and all eyes are on Him. “the win over your opponent is not the biggest victory. Your real excitement should be placed in the fact that the Father and I know you and your names are engraved on the real trophy, heaven.” Silence erupts into chaos as the disciples roar and a chant breaks forth, Je-sus, Je-sus, Je-sus!

I’m sure it probably wasn’t anything like that…maybe. But I can only imagine if I were there and those words fell on my ears.

But let’s stop a second and consider what the Master said. All the suffering you’ve endured, all the good deeds you’ve done, all the prayers you’ve prayed, all the disciples you’ve made, Jesus acknowledges it all. But then He wraps His arm around your shoulders and says “But do you know what’s really exciting? The Father and I know you and you’re going to be with us forever.”

A good disciple maker can bring things into perspective. They can separate the good things from the most meaningful things without pitting them against each other. We need to learn and master this skill from Jesus. Too many times we get excited about the immediate and fail to point the disciples of Jesus to the ultimate goal. Or we fail to give credit for the advances that have been made and bring the highest value in like a sledgehammer. Let’s remember to highlight the good things but draw their attention to the most important, their eternal relationship with Him.

My Story

I had been mentoring a guy for about a year and he looked at me in exasperation and asked this question; “Isn’t Jesus enough?” He was obviously detecting my impatience with him as he struggled to reproduce in another person what I was doing with him. You know, meeting weekly, dropping knowledge, sharing life with him, serving him, loving him, modeling for him, etc… 

Now I was exasperated! I didn’t answer his question but my mind was fashioning a rebuke; “What do you mean is Jesus enough? Of course He is! But you need to get on the ball. You need to do what I’m training you to do. Get with it pal!” But instead of words, I just sat there speechless. He had checkmated me.

Now you need to know that my friend really needed to shore up some significant weaknesses. He had parried me with his question because he wanted me to get off his back but the reality was his walk with Jesus was in shambles. Jesus is enough but he was nowhere close to having his cup full of living waters. But even a broken clock is right twice a day and his question was a frontal assault on my priorities. Was I just trying to get this guy to jump through my hoops or was I trying to help him follow the Master?

That question; “Is Jesus enough?” has been a gauge for my mentoring relationships ever since. I’m constantly asking myself, “Am I making Jesus the goal in this person’s life or am I aiming at something good but less?”

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

  • Are you pointing people to Jesus or something lesser?
  • Is a relationship with Jesus and being with Him for all eternity enough?
  • Make it a point to talk about Jesus every time you get together.

Jesus reminds the disciples where they need to find their greatest joy without throwing a wet blanket on their other accomplishments. As disciple makers, this is an important skill to master; to bring attention to the highest value without diminishing their good deeds in the process.

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

| Gospel Sync | Kingdom Kernels | Discipleship Matters Podcast | Website | 

Poniendo nuestra alegría en el lugar correcto – #152

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Lucas para descubrir dónde les dijo Jesús a sus discípulos que debían depositar su alegría.

Así que, ¡comencemos!

Lucas 10:17-20

Mis Pensamientos

Cuando los discípulos de Jesús regresaron de su breve viaje misionero, ¡estaban eufóricos! Se habían enfrentado cara a cara con su enemigo espiritual y lo habían derrotado. Incluso le dieron todo el crédito a Jesús. Usaron el nombre de Jesús, como se les había indicado, y los espíritus malignos huyeron. Era como un equipo de fútbol en el vestuario después de haber aplastado al equipo contrario 50 a 0 y sabiendo que fue el entrenador quien los llevó a la victoria. Había palmadas en la espalda, choques de puños y… bueno, supongo que no tenían Gatorade en aquel entonces. Pero pueden imaginarse la escena y lo emocionados que estaban estos discípulos.

Entonces el entrenador, Jesús, pone todo en perspectiva. Reconoce la realidad de su éxito. Satanás no tuvo ninguna oportunidad. El poder de sus discípulos era tan abrumador que nada podía detenerlos. Luego hace una pausa para crear expectación. “Sin embargo…” los vítores, las palmadas en la espalda, los puños en alto se detienen y todas las miradas se dirigen a Él. “La victoria sobre su oponente no es la mayor victoria. Su verdadera alegría debe estar en el hecho de que el Padre y yo los conocemos y sus nombres están grabados en el verdadero trofeo: el cielo”. El silencio se convierte en un estallido de alegría cuando los discípulos gritan y un cántico surge: ¡Jesús, Jesús, Jesús!

Estoy seguro de que probablemente no fue así… quizás. Pero solo puedo imaginarme si hubiera estado allí y esas palabras hubieran llegado a mis oídos.

Pero detengámonos un segundo y consideremos lo que dijo el Maestro. Todo el sufrimiento que han soportado, todas las buenas obras que han hecho, todas las oraciones que han rezado, todos los discípulos que han formado, Jesús lo reconoce todo. Pero luego les rodea con el brazo y dice: “¿Pero saben qué es lo realmente emocionante? El Padre y yo los conocemos y estarán con nosotros para siempre”.

Un buen formador de discípulos puede poner las cosas en perspectiva. Puede separar las cosas buenas de las cosas más significativas sin enfrentarlas entre sí. Necesitamos aprender y dominar esta habilidad de Jesús. Demasiadas veces nos emocionamos con lo inmediato y no logramos guiar a los discípulos de Jesús hacia la meta final. O no damos crédito por los avances logrados y presentamos el valor más alto de forma abrupta. Recordemos destacar las cosas buenas, pero también llamar su atención sobre lo más importante: su relación eterna con Él.

Mi Historia

Había estado guiando a un joven durante aproximadamente un año, y un día me miró con exasperación y me hizo esta pregunta: “¿No es suficiente Jesús?”. Era evidente que notaba mi impaciencia, ya que le costaba replicar en otra persona lo que yo estaba haciendo con él: reunirnos semanalmente, compartir conocimientos, compartir la vida, servirle, amarlo, ser un ejemplo para él, etc.

¡Ahora yo era el que estaba exasperado! No respondí a su pregunta, pero en mi mente se gestaba una reprimenda: “¿Qué quieres decir con que si Jesús es suficiente? ¡Claro que lo es! Pero tienes que ponerte las pilas. Tienes que hacer lo que te estoy enseñando. ¡Espabila, amigo!”. Pero en lugar de palabras, me quedé allí sentado, sin habla. Me había dejado sin argumentos.

Ahora bien, deben saber que mi amigo realmente necesitaba fortalecer algunas debilidades importantes. Me había respondido con esa pregunta porque quería que lo dejara en paz, pero la realidad era que su relación con Jesús estaba hecha un desastre. Jesús es suficiente, pero él estaba muy lejos de tener su copa llena de agua viva. Pero incluso un reloj averiado da la hora correcta dos veces al día, y su pregunta fue un ataque frontal a mis prioridades. ¿Acaso solo intentaba que este chico hiciera lo que yo quería o intentaba ayudarlo a seguir al Maestro?

Esa pregunta: “¿Es suficiente Jesús?” se ha convertido en un indicador de mis relaciones de mentoría desde entonces. Constantemente me pregunto: “¿Estoy haciendo de Jesús el objetivo en la vida de esta persona o estoy apuntando a algo bueno, pero inferior?”.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:

  • ¿Estás guiando a las personas hacia Jesús o hacia algo inferior?
  • ¿Es suficiente una relación con Jesús y estar con Él por toda la eternidad?
  • Propónte hablar de Jesús cada vez que se reúnan.

Jesús les recuerda a los discípulos dónde deben encontrar su mayor alegría, sin restarle importancia a sus otros logros. Como formadores de discípulos, esta es una habilidad importante que debemos dominar: dirigir la atención hacia lo más valioso sin menospreciar sus buenas acciones en el proceso.

Escritura original – Sin inteligencia artificial ni añadidos artificiales.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #41 – Becoming Like a Child

Humility as the Gateway to the Kingdom of God

Kingdom Kernel Collection

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:1-6)

Introduction 

In Matthew 18:1-6, Mark 9:42-48, and Luke 22:24-30, Jesus responds to the disciples’ disputes about greatness in the kingdom of heaven. By placing a child before them, He redefines greatness through the lens of humility, declaring, “Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven”(Matthew 18:3). This essay analyzes the concept of becoming like a child, focusing on humility as the explicit attribute, exploring its linguistic roots, theological significance, and its revelation of Jesus as Messiah and King, whose lordship is real now and eternal.

 Key Words and Phrases 

“Converted” – στρέφω (Strong’s G4762 – strephō) means to turn or change direction, implying a transformative reorientation toward God’s kingdom, akin to repentance Acts 3:19.

“become like children” – παιδίον (Strong’s G3813 – paidion) denotes a young child, symbolizing vulnerability, dependence, and trust—qualities Jesus elevates as kingdom virtues.

“Humbles” – ταπεινόω (Strong’s G5013 – tapeinoō) means to lower oneself, reflecting humility as a posture of submission, contrasting worldly pride. In the Septuagint, tapeinoō describes God’s favor toward the humble Psalm 18:27.

The Messianic Model – Focus on Jesus’ Example

The Messianic Model is defined less by what Jesus said and more by what He did. His humility was not merely a teaching topic; it was the very fabric of His earthly existence. It began with the Incarnation, where the Almighty God emptied Himself to become a man, entering human history as a helpless child. This act of self-emptying (Philippians 2:7) set the trajectory for His entire life. He exhibited humility at every turn, culminating in the ultimate paradox: the Creator allowing His own creation to crucify Him. By choosing to die at the hands of those He made, Jesus demonstrated that true greatness is found in radical submission and self-sacrifice, embodied from the manger to the cross.

Key Theological Implications

This focus on humility is not merely a behavioral suggestion but a revelation of divine attributes. Scripture declares that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Jesus personifies this as the Servant-King who characterized His messianic identity through self-emptying obedience. He “humbled Himself” even to the point of the cross (Philippians 2:8), directly fulfilling Isaiah’s ancient prophecy of a suffering servant (Isaiah 53:3-5). In doing so, He aligned Kingdom values with God’s redemptive plan, proving that true exaltation comes only through humility (1 Samuel 2:7-8).

Contemporary Spiritual Significance

The humility of the King is not just a historical fact or a future hope; it is active right now. Christ reigns in the lives of believers who have been transferred to His kingdom through submission to His lordship (Colossians 1:13). The call to “become like children” serves as a prophetic pointer to Christ’s eternal reign, establishing a reality where the humble will eventually rule with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). This present reality challenges us to view our current spiritual state not as a ladder to climb, but as a position of service within His sovereign rule.

The Transformative Power of Humility

Humility is the catalyst that fundamentally alters a disciple of Jesus in both character and practice. In character, it shifts the heart from self-reliance to total dependence on God, mirroring the childlike humility Jesus commended. It dismantles pride, allowing the believer to find their identity securely in Christ rather than in worldly status. In practice, this internal reality manifests as tangible service. It moves a believer from seeking to be served to actively serving others, just as Christ did (Luke 22:27). This practical obedience—valuing others above oneself—is the evidence of Jesus’ Lordship in a person’s life. By living this way, believers not only prepare for their future rule with Christ (Revelation 3:21 ) but also become living invitations to His Kingdom today.

Conclusion

Ultimately, entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven hinges on an essential, non-negotiable step: we must “become like children” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus explicitly ties our very inclusion in His Kingdom to this radical conversion—a turning away from the pursuit of status and toward a posture of humble dependence. In a culture that idolized power, Jesus elevated the child—socially powerless and dependent—as the archetype of the Kingdom citizen. This implies that the requirement for entry is not strength, but trust. To enter His Kingdom and share in His reign, we must strip away the illusion of self-sufficiency and embrace the vulnerability of a child, fully relying on the grace of our Father and the example of our Servant-King.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story 

TThe Crux of the Climb

The Colorado sun sank behind Eldorado Canyon’s rugged cliffs, painting golden streaks across the granite where Charlie and Lorenzo climbed. The air was sharp with pine and dust as Charlie belayed his mentor, Lorenzo, who was tackling a tricky overhang. Lorenzo’s fingers clung to a narrow crack, his body taut with focus.

“You got this, Lorenzo!” Charlie shouted, feeding rope through the belay device. “Just have that childlike faith!”

Lorenzo’s foot found a hold, and with a smooth pull, he cleared the crux, grinning as he clipped the anchor. “Thanks for the hype, Charlie!” he called down, his voice bouncing off the canyon walls.

Later, sprawled on the tailgate of Lorenzo’s weathered pickup, they sipped water from dented canteens, the rock face looming like a silent witness. Lorenzo, wiping chalk from his hands with a rag, looked over at Charlie with a thoughtful smile.

“I appreciate the encouragement up there,” Lorenzo said. “But it got me thinking. You know the phrase ‘childlike faith’ isn’t actually in the Bible?”

Charlie paused mid-sip, his eyebrows knitting together. He sifted through memories—Sunday school, sermons, aimlessly thumbing through his worn Bible—but drew a blank. “Wait, really? I thought Jesus talked about kids and the Kingdom all the time.”

“He does,” Lorenzo nodded, his tone gentle. “But we often mix up our own sayings with Scripture. It’s like assuming the Bible mentions ‘three wise men visiting baby Jesus’ or Paul getting knocked off his horse—traditions we add to the text. Jesus doesn’t explicitly say ‘have faith like a child.’ He points to something even harder to swallow.”

Charlie leaned in, curious. “Okay, so what’s the real deal?”

“Humility,” Lorenzo said, his voice steady. “In Matthew 18:3-4, Jesus says, ‘Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ And then He drops the hammer: ‘Whoever humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest.’”

“So it’s not about believing hard enough?”

“Faith is crucial, obviously,” Lorenzo explained. “But in that context, Jesus was addressing disciples who were arguing about who was the greatest. He wasn’t telling them to be innocent or gullible. In that culture, a child had zero status. They were totally dependent on their father for survival. To ‘become like a child’ isn’t just about trusting; it’s about lowering yourself. It’s admitting you bring nothing to the table.”

Charlie nodded slowly, looking back at the cliff they had just ascended. “So, when I said ‘childlike faith’…”

“You were focusing on our determination to believe and that’s good,” Lorenzo finished for him. “But here, Jesus is focusing on the posture of the heart. It’s like climbing. You didn’t get up that wall by just believing you could do it. You also had the attitude, respecting gravity, trusting your climbing buddy, and realizing you’re small compared to the rock. That’s humility. It’s submitting to the reality that God is God and we are not.”

Lorenzo tapped the tailgate. “Jesus modeled this perfectly. He didn’t just have a positive attitude; His faith was demonstrated through humility. He ‘humbled Himself by becoming obedient’ to the point of death (Philippians 2:8). And that’s another aspect of the Kingdom. He redefined greatness. It’s not about how much you know or how strong you are—it’s about how low you’re willing to go to serve.”

Charlie gazed at the darkening canyon, the lesson sinking in deeper than the climb. “I guess I’ve been using a cliché without realizing what Jesus really said.”

Lorenzo smiled, clapping a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “We all do, kid. And look at you! Admitting your weakness! You got that child-like humility already. And that’s the climb. We study the Word to get the holds right, and we practice a little humility to keep from falling.”As they packed up, Charlie felt a shift. He realized that following Jesus wasn’t just about bold declarations of faith, but just as much about quietly, humbly walking with the Lord—mirroring the King who served (Mark 10:45).

Kingdom Kernel Collection

Seeing Jesus in 3D – #151

| Gospel Sync | Kingdom Kernels | Discipleship Matters Podcast | Website | 

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of Luke to see another essential side of disciple-making Jesus modeled.

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

Luke 10:10–16

But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

My Thoughts

For us pastoral types we might be thinking, “Woah, that seems kind of harsh, Jesus.” And for the prophetic types they’re saying, “Yeah, sic ‘em Jesus!” We kind of prefer to paint Jesus in the shades we enjoy and most value but we may end up seeing Jesus in 2D rather than 3D.

We’re not seeing the Lamb here. We’re seeing the Lion. This is part of who He really is! He will bring justice and judgment. He will hold people accountable. He will crush His enemies. He will bring the sword. And He’s not only giving us fair warning, He’s instructing His disciples to bring the warning as His ambassadors. We bring terms of peace and war at the same time. 

But what if I feel uncomfortable about telling people the truth about rebelling against the King? What if I’d rather get along with everyone and not make any waves? You’re probably operating out of your personality and gifting and we need you to do that. But if our goal is to become more like Jesus and obey His commands we are going to have to face the cold hard facts that not everyone is going to like us and we will eventually tick a few people off.

For us pastoral types, we may try to hide behind the banner of love to avoid this kind of rhetoric. But is it really love or do I just not like being in conflict or hurting people’s feelings? If the bridge is out and I kindly wave them on as though nothing were wrong, am I really loving them when they crash and burn at the bottom of the gorge? No, we have to say something even though it may be inconvenient, sound judgy, or hurt their feelings. Real love brings both grace and truth.

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

And for you prophetic types, I’ll pick on you later. 😀

My Story

Being more pastoral by nature and gifting I’ve had to learn how to be more prophetic. In fact I’ve had some prophetic friends in my life that really tick me off on occasions. But when the Holy Spirit gets a hold of me and said, “You know Chuck, they have a point.” I’ve had to go back and actually thank them for what I thought was a bit strong and hurt my feelings. These friends have been good for me. I have other friends who are more evangelistic, more instructive, or more apostolic than I am. They make me feel just as uncomfortable. They kind of rub me the wrong way only to find out through the Spirit or through the Word they were rubbing me the RIGHT way, in the direction of Christlikeness (Ephesians 4:11-13). 

But back to the prophets. I can think of three distinct times in my life where I’ve been asked a question that made me madder than a wet hen.

  • Chuck, what does that have to do with Jesus?
  • When’s the last time you shared the gospel?
  • Why does the gospel stop at the front gate of this army post?

You might be thinking to yourself, “Those questions sound pretty benign to me Chuck. What’s the big deal?”  Yeah, unless the person asking you the question caught you in some character flaw or deficiency that called you on the carpet. You’re caught in the open, naked and nowhere to hide. You go from embarrassment to anger faster than a sports car can go 0-60. Yeah, we’ve all been there. But if they’re right and we are humble enough to admit our failure, the prophet has done their job and a major transformation takes place. Being transformed into the image of Christ. 

 Rather than voting them off the island, let’s celebrate the prophets in our lives and learn to be a bit more like them. And in turn we will become a bit more like Jesus.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

  • Do you have some “Truth Tellers” in your life to sharpen you?
  • When was the last time you reproved or rebuked someone who needed it?
  • The next time you share the gospel, include the element of judgment.

Jesus is the Lamb and the Lion. He brings both truth and grace. If we are going to be like Him, we need to see Him in 3D. We take all of Him, not just the parts we like.

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

| Gospel Sync | Kingdom Kernels | Discipleship Matters Podcast | Website | 

Viendo a Jesús en 3D – #151

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy, analizaremos el Evangelio de Lucas para ver otra faceta esencial del discipulado que Jesús ejemplificó.

Así que, ¡manos a la obra!

Lucas 10:10-16

Mis Pensamientos

Los que tenemos una inclinación pastoral podríamos pensar: «¡Vaya, eso suena un poco duro, Jesús!». Y los que tienen una inclinación profética dirían: «¡Sí, dales su merecido, Jesús!». Solemos pintar a Jesús con los colores que nos gustan y valoramos, pero corremos el riesgo de verlo en 2D en lugar de en 3D.

Aquí no vemos al Cordero, sino al León. ¡Esto es parte de quién es Él realmente! Él traerá justicia y juicio. Pedirá cuentas a las personas. Aplastará a sus enemigos. Desenvainará la espada. Y no solo nos está dando una advertencia, sino que también instruye a sus discípulos a que transmitan esa advertencia como sus embajadores. Llevamos un mensaje de paz y de guerra al mismo tiempo.

Pero, ¿qué pasa si me incomoda decirle a la gente la verdad sobre rebelarse contra el Rey? ¿Qué pasa si prefiero llevarme bien con todos y no causar problemas? Probablemente estés actuando según tu personalidad y dones, y necesitamos que lo hagas. Pero si nuestra meta es parecernos más a Jesús y obedecer sus mandamientos, tendremos que afrontar la cruda realidad de que no le gustaremos a todo el mundo y, tarde o temprano, molestaremos a algunas personas.

Los que tenemos una inclinación pastoral podríamos intentar escondernos detrás de la bandera del amor para evitar este tipo de discurso. Pero, ¿es realmente amor o simplemente no me gusta el conflicto ni herir los sentimientos de los demás? Si el puente está caído y les hago señas amablemente como si nada pasara, ¿los estoy amando de verdad cuando se estrellan en el fondo del barranco? No, tenemos que decir algo, aunque sea incómodo, suene a juicio o hiera sus sentimientos. El verdadero amor trae gracia y verdad.

Porque la ley fue dada por medio de Moisés; la gracia y la verdad vinieron por medio de Jesucristo (Juan 1:17).

Y a ustedes, los de inclinación profética, ya les tocará su turno. 😀

Mi Historia

Siendo por naturaleza y dones más inclinado al ministerio pastoral, he tenido que aprender a ser más profético. De hecho, he tenido algunos amigos proféticos en mi vida que me han irritado mucho en ocasiones. Pero cuando el Espíritu Santo me tocó y me dijo: “Sabes, Chuck, tienen razón”, tuve que volver y agradecerles por lo que pensé que había sido un poco fuerte y me había herido. Estos amigos me han hecho bien. Tengo otros amigos que son más evangelizadores, más instructivos o más apostólicos que yo. Me hacen sentir igual de incómodo. Me incomodan, solo para descubrir, a través del Espíritu o de la Palabra, que me estaban guiando en la dirección correcta, hacia la semejanza de Cristo.

Pero volviendo a los profetas. Recuerdo tres ocasiones distintas en mi vida en las que me hicieron una pregunta que me enfureció muchísimo.

Chuck, ¿qué tiene que ver eso con Jesús?

¿Cuándo fue la última vez que compartiste el evangelio?

¿Por qué el evangelio se detiene en la entrada de este cuartel militar?

Quizás estés pensando: “Esas preguntas me parecen bastante inofensivas, Chuck. ¿Cuál es el problema?”. Sí, a menos que la persona que te hizo la pregunta te haya descubierto en alguna falla o deficiencia de carácter que te haya puesto en evidencia. Te sientes expuesto, vulnerable y sin dónde esconderte. Pasas de la vergüenza a la ira más rápido que un coche deportivo de 0 a 100 km/h. Sí, todos hemos pasado por eso. Pero si tienen razón y somos lo suficientemente humildes como para admitir nuestro error, el profeta ha cumplido su función y se produce una gran transformación: ser transformados a la imagen de Cristo.

En lugar de excluirlos, celebremos a los profetas en nuestras vidas y aprendamos a ser un poco más como ellos. Y a su vez, nos pareceremos un poco más a Jesús.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Tienes en tu vida personas que te digan la verdad para ayudarte a crecer?

¿Cuándo fue la última vez que reprendiste o amonestaste a alguien que lo necesitaba?

La próxima vez que compartas el evangelio, incluye el elemento del juicio.

Jesús es el Cordero y el León. Él trae tanto la verdad como la gracia. Si queremos ser como Él, necesitamos verlo en tres dimensiones. Debemos aceptarlo tal como es, no solo las partes que nos gustan.

Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

The Person of Peace – #150

| Gospel Sync| Kingdom Kernels| Discipleship Matters Podcast| Website| 

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of Luke to see what kind of person Jesus anticipated His disciples would find when He sent them out with the gospel message. 

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

Luke 10:4–9

Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house. If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ 

My Thoughts

Last time we talked about what it takes to help disciples to be Committed, Competent, and Confident messengers of the gospel. This time we’ll focus on the “Target Audience” for the gospel.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus never twisted anyone’s arm to listen to Him? In fact, most of the time He spoke in parables that left the crowds scratching their heads. But it was the inquisitive that would follow Him back into the house and begin asking questions; “Ah, Jesus…what in the world were You talking about back there?” And then the Master Disciple Maker would say something like “To you the mysteries of the kingdom of God have been given!” (Mark 4:10-12). 

Jesus wasn’t looking for people who just wanted to hear the message (a good sermon). He was looking for people who wanted to understand and receive the gospel. They were spiritually curious enough to go below the surface and get to the meaning for life. These were the kind of people Jesus was looking for and these were the same kind of people He told the disciples to look for. 

If you look closely at the instructions, you begin to see the principles and profile of the “Person of Peace.” The ones who would be receptive. 

DisciplesPerson of Peace
They would bring a message of peaceThey would receive the message of peace
They were to take nothing with themThey would provide food and lodging
They would stay at that houseThey were willing to be host for a few days
They would heal their sickThey would receive healing
They would bring a message of the kingdomThey would receive the message of the kingdom

I’m afraid we have gotten this turned upside down in modern evangelism. We are waiting on the people to extend peace to us before we share THE message of peace with them (i.e. build the relationship before we share the good news). WE come bearing gifts and purchasing the hearer’s attention and thus muddying the waters of true motives. We practice “drive by” gospel shares and have no real time or possibility to see if understanding and repentance was a part of their reception. Our visit is given no opportunity for God to work His power in their lives through miraculous provision through prayer. And we bring a message of “God’s Acceptance of the way you are” and no talk of His rule in their life (i.e. the need to repent).

Am I stepping on any toes here? I certainly stepped on my own! Hey, anything about Jesus is better than nothing about Jesus. But this has been a good review of how Jesus found receptive people, instructed His disciples to find them, and how we should, in turn, try to find the same. 

Now before we get “lost in the sauce” of the method, let’s focus on the principles. 

  • As God’s ambassadors we bring His peace not a superficial message of “I’m ok and you’re ok.”
  • Trust God for receptivity by going needy and He will provide through those He has prepared. 
  • Stay long enough (when possible) to answer questions, insure understanding, and demonstrate love. 
  • Pray for them and expect God to answer your prayers on their behalf.
  • Talk about God’s kingdom. Yes, speak to His mercy and grace, but include His Lordship and a need to repent and bring oneself under His reign. 

My Story

I used to sit at Starbucks every morning with a little sign that said, “How Can I Pray for You?” One day a gal came up, plopped down in the chair across the table, and just poured her guts out. Her life was an absolute mess and quite frankly I was a little taken back by her honesty and vulnerability with me as a stranger. I prayed for her and she was comforted. But I hadn’t shared the gospel with her yet because I was a little nervous. Basically, I chickened out with my first real “person of peace.”

The next week she came back on the same day, at the same time, and she was feeling better but had more requests. This time I prayed for her and then shared the gospel. She said she attended church on and off. (Note to self: Church attendance may mean interest but not necessarily a disciple of Jesus. As you share the gospel you will hear “I go to church…” a lot. That’s good but that’s not the question you’re asking.) I then asked her if she would be interested in Deb and I coming to her home and reading the Bible together. Bold right?! But to my surprise, she was very eager to have us come to her boyfriend’s apartment and study the Bible with her, her brother, and her two kids. 

Did you catch all that messiness in the last sentence? And believe me it was. In the end, she, her brother, and her oldest child came to Christ and were baptized. I have a friend who says; 

“Don’t expect a ‘House of Peace’ to smell like fresh baked bread and popery. It’s more like stale beer and cigarettes.” 

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas;

  • First, share the gospel and look for people who are actually interested
  • Aim for a quality discussions that may last anywhere from five minutes to several weeks
  • Train those you are discipling to slow down and practice the principles of finding a “person of peace”

It’s one thing to train someone to share the gospel and it’s another to actually know what you’re looking for. Jesus demonstrated this by the way He taught and interacted with people. He taught His messengers to expect and concentrate on the receptive. And then He pointed them in the right direction to share the good news with these kinds of people. This should greatly inform our approach to evangelism.

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

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La Persona de Paz – #150

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Lucas para ver qué tipo de persona esperaba Jesús que sus discípulos encontraran cuando los envió a predicar el mensaje del Evangelio.

Así que, ¡manos a la obra!

Lucas 10:4-9

Mis Pensamientos

La última vez hablamos de lo que se necesita para ayudar a los discípulos a ser mensajeros comprometidos, competentes y seguros del evangelio. Esta vez nos centraremos en el “público objetivo” del evangelio.

¿Alguna vez has notado que Jesús nunca obligó a nadie a escucharlo? De hecho, la mayoría de las veces hablaba en parábolas que dejaban a la multitud perpleja. Pero eran los curiosos quienes lo seguían a la casa y comenzaban a hacer preguntas: «Jesús, ¿de qué estabas hablando?» Y entonces el Maestro formador de discípulos decía algo como: «A vosotros se os ha dado a conocer el misterio del reino de Dios» (Marcos 4:10-12).

Jesús no buscaba personas que solo quisieran escuchar el mensaje (un buen sermón). Buscaba personas que quisieran comprender y recibir el evangelio. Tenían la suficiente curiosidad espiritual como para ir más allá de la superficie y encontrar el significado de la vida. Este era el tipo de personas que Jesús buscaba y este era el mismo tipo de personas que les dijo a sus discípulos que buscaran.

Si observas detenidamente las instrucciones, comienzas a ver los principios y el perfil de la “Persona de Paz”. Aquellos que serían receptivos.

Discípulos

Traerían un mensaje de paz

No debían llevar nada consigo

Se quedarían en esa casa

Sanarían a los enfermos

Traerían un mensaje del reino

Persona de Paz

Recibirían el mensaje de paz

Proporcionarían comida y alojamiento

Estarían dispuestos a hospedarles durante unos días

Recibirían sanación

Recibirían el mensaje del reino

Me temo que hemos invertido esto en el evangelismo moderno. Esperamos que la gente nos ofrezca paz antes de compartir con ellos el mensaje de paz (es decir, construimos la relación antes de compartir las buenas nuevas). Llegamos con regalos y compramos la atención del oyente, enturbiando así las verdaderas motivaciones. Practicamos la evangelización superficial y no tenemos tiempo ni posibilidad real de ver si la comprensión y el arrepentimiento formaron parte de su recepción. Nuestra visita no da oportunidad a que Dios obre su poder en sus vidas a través de la providencia milagrosa. Y transmitimos un mensaje de “La aceptación de Dios tal como eres”, sin hablar de Su autoridad en sus vidas (es decir, la necesidad de arrepentirse).

¿Estoy ofendiendo a alguien con esto? ¡Ciertamente me ofendí a mí mismo! Bueno, cualquier cosa sobre Jesús es mejor que nada sobre Jesús. Pero esta ha sido una buena reflexión sobre cómo Jesús encontró personas receptivas, instruyó a Sus discípulos para que las encontraran, y cómo nosotros, a su vez, debemos intentar encontrar a personas similares.

Ahora, antes de que nos perdamos en los detalles del método, centrémonos en los principios.

Como embajadores de Dios, traemos Su paz, no un mensaje superficial de “Estoy bien y tú estás bien”.

Confía en que Dios te guiará hacia personas receptivas, acércate a ellas con humildad y Él proveerá a través de quienes ha preparado.

Permanece el tiempo suficiente (cuando sea posible) para responder preguntas, asegurar la comprensión y demostrar amor.

Ora por ellas y espera que Dios responda tus oraciones en su nombre.

Habla del reino de Dios. Sí, habla de Su misericordia y gracia, pero incluye Su señorío y la necesidad de arrepentirse y someterse a Su reinado.

Mi Historia

Solía ​​sentarme en Starbucks todas las mañanas con un pequeño cartel que decía: “¿Cómo puedo orar por ti?”. Un día, una chica se acercó, se sentó en la silla de enfrente y me contó todos sus problemas. Su vida era un completo desastre y, francamente, me sorprendió un poco su honestidad y vulnerabilidad conmigo, una desconocida. Oré por ella y se sintió reconfortada. Pero aún no le había compartido el evangelio porque estaba un poco nerviosa. Básicamente, me acobardé con mi primera verdadera “persona de paz”.

La semana siguiente, regresó el mismo día, a la misma hora, y se sentía mejor, pero tenía más peticiones. Esta vez oré por ella y luego le compartí el evangelio. Me dijo que asistía a la iglesia de vez en cuando. (Nota mental: Asistir a la iglesia puede significar interés, pero no necesariamente ser discípula de Jesús. Al compartir el evangelio, escucharás mucho “Voy a la iglesia…”. Eso está bien, pero esa no es la pregunta que estás haciendo). Entonces le pregunté si le interesaría que Deb y yo fuéramos a su casa a leer la Biblia juntas. ¡Qué atrevida, ¿verdad?! Pero para mi sorpresa, estaba muy entusiasmada con la idea de que fuéramos al apartamento de su novio y estudiáramos la Biblia con ella, su hermano y sus dos hijos.

¿Notaron todo el lío en la última oración? Y créanme, lo era. Al final, ella, su hermano y su hijo mayor aceptaron a Cristo y se bautizaron. Tengo un amigo que dice:

“No esperes que una ‘Casa de Paz’ huela a pan recién horneado y popurrí. Es más probable que huela a cerveza rancia y cigarrillos”.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienes algunas ideas:

Primero, comparte el evangelio y busca personas que estén realmente interesadas.

Busca tener conversaciones de calidad que puedan durar desde cinco minutos hasta varias semanas.

Enseña a quienes estás discipulando a tomarse su tiempo y a practicar los principios para encontrar a una «persona de paz».

Una cosa es enseñar a alguien a compartir el evangelio y otra muy distinta es saber realmente qué buscar. Jesús demostró esto con la forma en que enseñaba e interactuaba con la gente. Enseñó a sus mensajeros a esperar y a concentrarse en las personas receptivas. Y luego los guió en la dirección correcta para compartir las buenas nuevas con este tipo de personas. Esto debería influir enormemente en nuestro enfoque de la evangelización.

Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #40 – Marriage, Divorce, and Celibacy

The Divine Design: Marriage, Divorce, and Celibacy in Matthew 19:3-12

Kingdom Kernel Collection

Introduction

In Matthew 19:3-12, Jesus addresses the Pharisees’ question on divorce, grounding His response in God’s original design for marriage while introducing celibacy as a kingdom-oriented choice. Amid first-century Jewish debates over divorce, particularly regarding Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Jesus clarifies that Moses’ allowance for divorce was due to the condition of human hearts, not God’s intent. The phrases “become one flesh,” “divorce,” and “made themselves eunuchs” reveal Jesus as Messiah and King, restoring divine purpose and illuminating the redemptive, eternal Kingdom of God.

 Key Words and Phrases 

“Become One Flesh” – Drawn from Genesis 2:24, “become one flesh” (v. 5) uses Hebrew basar echad (H1320, basar for flesh; H259, echad for one), denoting a profound physical, emotional, and spiritual unity. In Greek, Matthew employs sarx mia (G4561, sarx; G3391, mia), emphasizing composite oneness, akin to the Trinity’s relational nature. This union reflects Christ’s covenant with His Church Ephesians 5:25-32. Jesus’ command, “let no man separate” (v. 6), asserts His kingship, restoring creation’s design and foreshadowing the eternal bond with His Bride in the Kingdom.

“Divorce” – The Greek apolyō (G630, “to release” or “send away”) defines divorce (v. 7). Citing Deuteronomy 24:1, the Pharisees reference Moses’ provision. Jesus clarifies that Moses permitted divorce due to sklērokardia (G4641, “hardness of heart,” v. 8), reflecting human sinfulness, not God’s original intent. By restricting divorce to porneia (G4202, immorality, v. 9), Jesus reestablishes divine standards, showcasing His authority as Messiah to interpret the Law and His redemptive grace for broken relationships.

“Made Themselves Eunuchs” –  (v. 12) employs eunouchizō (G2134), indicating voluntary celibacy for kingdom purposes. Historically, eunouchos (G2135) referred to castrated or celibate individuals. Jesus presents celibacy as a gift (dedotai, G1325, “given,” v. 11), mirroring His own life and total devotion to God. This anticipates the eschatological reality where marriage ceases Matthew 22:30, emphasizing undivided service to the King.

 Messianic Model – Focus on Jesus’ Example

By clarifying God’s intent against Moses’ concession due to hardened hearts, Jesus reveals His present and future lordship. As King, He upholds marriage as a reflection of His covenant with the Church, addresses divorce as a response to human weakness, and honors celibacy as a kingdom calling. These teachings display God’s faithfulness, mercy, and holiness, aligning with His redemptive plan through Christ. The “one flesh” union mirrors Christ’s unity with believers, divorce highlights His hatred of disunity and destruction of broken relationships, and celibacy His sufficiency. His lordship empowers believers to embody these callings now, awaiting their fulfillment at His return.

Conclusion

Matthew 19:3-12 calls Christians to view marriage and celibacy as kingdom vocations under Christ’s lordship. By distinguishing God’s intent from human concessions, Jesus urges believers to reflect His covenantal love. Disciple-makers must guide others to honor both paths, fostering a community that embodies the Kingdom’s eternal nature. Jesus reigns now, transforming lives, and will consummate His eternal Kingdom.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

One Flesh, One Purpose

The gym hummed with the rhythm of clanging weights and the steady thud of sneakers on treadmills. Rabecca adjusted her grip on the dumbbells, her breaths sharp as she powered through another set. At twenty-nine, her lean frame reflected discipline, but her eyes carried a quiet restlessness. She glanced at the clock—6:15 PM, June 17, 2025—then at Penny, her mentor, who was spotting her with a steady gaze.

“Ten more, Becs,” Penny said, her voice warm but firm. “Focus.” Rabecca’s arms burned, but it was her heart that felt heavier. She’d been wrestling with a question that no workout could sweat out: Should I settle? The guy she’d been texting, Mark, was kind, successful, but divorced. Her friends urged her to “be realistic,” but the thought of compromising her dream of a God-ordained marriage gnawed at her.

As they moved to the stretching mats, Rabecca’s thoughts spilled out. “Penny, I’m almost thirty, and I’m still single. Mark’s great, but he’s been divorced. Said he’d messed up the relationship but he’s changed since then. I keep wondering if I’m being too picky, if I should just… lower my standards.”

Penny sat cross-legged, her gray-streaked braid swinging as she leaned forward. “Becs, let’s talk about what Jesus says in Matthew 19. You know the part about marriage and divorce?” Rabecca nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. “Jesus quotes Genesis—‘the two shall become one flesh.’ It’s not just about bodies uniting; it’s a soul-deep bond, a reflection of Christ and His Church. God designed marriage to mirror His covenant love, not to be a fallback plan.”

Rabecca’s shoulders slumped. “But what about divorce? Mark’s ex left him. Jesus said divorce was allowed because of ‘hardness of heart,’ right? Doesn’t that mean it’s okay sometimes?”

Penny’s eyes softened, but her tone held conviction. “Jesus clarified that Moses permitted divorce because people’s hearts were stubborn, not because it was God’s best. Divorce is a concession to human brokenness, not the ideal. You’re not just looking for a husband, Becs—you’re seeking God’s design, a man who’ll pursue that ‘one flesh’ unity with you under Christ’s lordship.”

Rabecca stretched her hamstrings, her mind racing. “What if that man never comes? I don’t want to be alone forever.”

Penny smiled, her face radiating quiet strength. “Jesus also talked about those who choose to be ‘eunuchs’ for the sake of the Kingdom—people who embrace singleness to serve God fully. It’s not a consolation prize; it’s a calling, just like marriage. Think of Jesus Himself—single, yet complete in His devotion to the Father. Right now, your singleness is a gift to live kingdom-minded, to grow in His likeness, serving others without distraction.”

Rabecca’s eyes stung, not from sweat but from a stirring within. She thought of Jesus, the King who lived fully for God, whose love was enough. “So, I keep praying for the right man, but… also use this time to be more like Him?”

“Exactly,” Penny said, standing. “Whether married or single, your life can reflect Christ’s commitment and love. Pray for a husband who shares that vision, but don’t settle for less than God’s design. And while you wait, let your singleness shine for the Kingdom—mentor kids at church, lead that Bible study. Be like Jesus, Becs, in every choice.”

As they left the gym, Rabecca felt lighter. The weight of her fears hadn’t vanished, but a new resolve burned within—to pursue Christ’s heart, to trust God’s timing, and to live her singleness as a testimony to the King’s present and eternal reign.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

The Scariest Discipline – #149

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of Luke to see how Jesus multiplied His efforts to reach the lost. 

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

Luke 10:1–3

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 

My Thoughts

This is the second wave of messengers Jesus is sending into the harvest. It has multiplied from twelve to seventy-two. He essentially gave them the same instructions He gave the twelve (Matthew 10:1-23, Luke 10:1-16). This is a pattern of the Master Disciple Maker. I would assume had Jesus spent more time in an earthly ministry, the pattern would have continued to multiply more and more laborers in the harvest. 

But not surprisingly, we see the pattern being multiplied anyways by His disciples. Why should we not be surprised? Because disciples become like their Master. And if the Master shared the gospel and sent others to do the same, then surely we can expect His church to emulate His practices, right? 

One has to ask the question; “If the sending pattern was so prevalent in the early church, why is it so conspicuously absent today?” I think it all comes down to fear. Today the followers of Jesus lack competence and confidence to share the gospel so they don’t. Or they are so worried about what others may think of them, they fear looking like a weirdo. 

We as disciple makers can address this fear in three very intentional ways.

First we can build a Biblical case that living for Christ will automatically put disciples out of step with the world. If they are living the Christian life and have any kind of witness at all they will be considered “weirdos” by those outside the faith. Hopefully we will be considered kind, truthful, and wise weirdos but weirdos nonetheless (John 15:19, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 John 2:15-17).

Secondly, we need to train them to share the gospel. It’s not good enough to preach a sermon and expect the flock to overcome their fears and jump into the harvest fields. Most Christians have heard many such sermons. They have been told many times, “You need to be a witness!” We need to help them through what to say and how to say it. We start small with a simple testimony and help them advance to answer hard questions. Training ensures the student is able to perform the task, not just know it.

And lastly, we need to take them out and show them how it’s done. Modeling is an essential part of training any skill. Jesus spent a lot of time healing, casting out demons, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom before ever sending His disciples to do the same. Consider these two passages in Matthew;

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:23)

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. (Matthew 9:35)

For five chapters Jesus did the exact same thing over and over again. He modeled what He was going to commission His disciples to do. How long a period of time that is I’m not sure but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the author chose to emphasize the element of “showing” before the command of “going.”

If we expect those we are discipling to be Committed to sharing their faith, we need to train them building Competence and Confidence.

My Story

I used to hate witnessing. My knees would knock and my palms would get sweaty just thinking about it. Partially because I was not competent and confident in what I was doing but mostly because I was concerned about my reputation. I felt like people were put out by my “sales pitch” or they thought I was weird or they would be so violently opposed to the message that they would punch me in the nose. You would think as a full time Christian worker I would have dealt with these fears. But, nope! They lingered even when I was “getting paid to share the good news.”

Several things changed all of that. First, conviction. I was asked “When’s the last time you shared the gospel?” I went from anger to conviction under the Holy Spirit because I knew the example and command of my Lord. The question was “Am I willing to obey Him?”

Secondly, as I shared the gospel, I was pleasantly surprised at how many people kindly listened to what I had to say. Most people were polite and allowed me to express my faith in Jesus. Most non-Christians did not convert but they didn’t punch me in the nose either. I was shocked at how kind drug dealers, prostitutes, and bikers were when I approached them. As far as people who already knew me, they were pretty accepting as well by kind of acknowledging “Oh that’s what makes you tick!”

And lastly, I got some really good training on how to share a simple and short gospel presentation that gave me the opportunity to share with a lot of people. With so many reps under my belt, I grew more and more competent which led to greater confidence. It’s actually something I look forward to doing. Deb and I share “on the go” so to speak but we also have a weekly time set aside where we intentionally share the gospel so we stay in the harvest and keep our skills sharp. This has made all the difference in the world (literally). 

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

– Are you obeying Jesus’ command to share the good news?

– Are you teaching or training others to share the gospel? 

– Take those you are discipling into the harvest and model sharing the gospel.

– Click here for a simple model for training others to share the good news.

Jesus expressly said that His mission was to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). As His disciples, becoming like Him, we should not only feel the urgency of being sent but also the desire to train and send others. This was His way to engage a lost and dying world, and it should be ours as well. 

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

La disciplina más aterradora – #149

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Lucas para ver cómo Jesús multiplicó sus esfuerzos para alcanzar a los perdidos.

¡Comencemos!

Lucas 10:1–3

Mis Pensamientos

Esta es la segunda oleada de mensajeros que Jesús envía a la mies. El número se ha multiplicado de doce a setenta y dos. Básicamente, les dio las mismas instrucciones que a los doce (Mateo 10:1-23, Lucas 10:1-16). Este es un patrón del Maestro formador de discípulos. Supongo que si Jesús hubiera dedicado más tiempo a su ministerio terrenal, el patrón se habría seguido multiplicando, aumentando cada vez más los obreros en la mies.

Pero, como era de esperar, vemos que el patrón se multiplica de todos modos a través de sus discípulos. ¿Por qué no deberíamos sorprendernos? Porque los discípulos se parecen a su Maestro. Y si el Maestro compartió el evangelio y envió a otros a hacer lo mismo, entonces seguramente podemos esperar que su iglesia emule sus prácticas, ¿verdad?

Cabe preguntarse: «Si el patrón de envío era tan frecuente en la iglesia primitiva, ¿por qué está tan notablemente ausente hoy en día?». Creo que todo se reduce al miedo. Hoy en día, los seguidores de Jesús carecen de la competencia y la confianza para compartir el evangelio, por lo que no lo hacen. O les preocupa tanto lo que los demás puedan pensar de ellos que temen parecer extraños.

Nosotros, como formadores de discípulos, podemos abordar este miedo de tres maneras muy intencionadas.

Primero, podemos argumentar bíblicamente que vivir para Cristo automáticamente pondrá a los discípulos en desacuerdo con el mundo. Si viven la vida cristiana y dan algún tipo de testimonio, serán considerados «extraños» por quienes no comparten la fe. Con suerte, seremos considerados extraños amables, veraces y sabios, pero extraños al fin y al cabo (Juan 15:19, Romanos 12:2, 1 Corintios 1:18, 1 Juan 2:15-17).

En segundo lugar, necesitamos capacitarlos para compartir el evangelio. No basta con predicar un sermón y esperar que la congregación supere sus miedos y se lance a los campos de la mies. La mayoría de los cristianos han escuchado muchos sermones de este tipo. Se les ha dicho muchas veces: «¡Necesitan ser testigos!». Necesitamos ayudarlos a saber qué decir y cómo decirlo. Comenzamos con algo sencillo, un testimonio simple, y los ayudamos a avanzar para responder preguntas difíciles. La capacitación garantiza que el estudiante sea capaz de realizar la tarea, no solo de conocerla.

Y, por último, necesitamos acompañarlos y mostrarles cómo se hace. El modelaje es una parte esencial del aprendizaje de cualquier habilidad. Jesús dedicó mucho tiempo a sanar, expulsar demonios y predicar el evangelio del reino antes de enviar a sus discípulos a hacer lo mismo. Consideremos estos dos pasajes de Mateo:

Jesús recorría toda Galilea, enseñando en sus sinagogas, proclamando el evangelio del reino y sanando toda clase de enfermedades y dolencias entre la gente. (Mateo 4:23)

Jesús recorría todas las ciudades y aldeas, enseñando en sus sinagogas, proclamando el evangelio del reino y sanando toda clase de enfermedades y dolencias. (Mateo 9:35)

Durante cinco capítulos, Jesús hizo exactamente lo mismo una y otra vez. Modeló lo que luego encargaría a sus discípulos. No sé cuánto tiempo duró este período, pero no creo que sea una coincidencia que el autor haya decidido enfatizar el elemento de “mostrar” antes de la orden de “ir”.

Si esperamos que aquellos a quienes discipulamos se comprometan a compartir su fe, debemos capacitarlos, desarrollando su competencia y confianza.

Mi Historia

Antes odiaba testificar. Me temblaban las rodillas y me sudaban las palmas de las manos solo de pensarlo. En parte porque no me sentía competente ni segura de lo que hacía, pero sobre todo porque me preocupaba mi reputación. Sentía que la gente se molestaba con mi “discurso de ventas”, o que pensaban que era rara, o que se opondrían tan violentamente al mensaje que me golpearían en la nariz. Uno pensaría que, como trabajadora cristiana a tiempo completo, ya habría superado estos miedos. ¡Pero no! Persistieron incluso cuando me “pagaban por compartir las buenas nuevas”.

Varias cosas cambiaron todo eso. Primero, la convicción. Me preguntaron: “¿Cuándo fue la última vez que compartiste el evangelio?”. Pasé de la ira a la convicción bajo la guía del Espíritu Santo, porque conocía el ejemplo y el mandato de mi Señor. La pregunta era: “¿Estoy dispuesta a obedecerle?”.

En segundo lugar, al compartir el evangelio, me sorprendió gratamente la cantidad de personas que escucharon amablemente lo que tenía que decir. La mayoría fue educada y me permitió expresar mi fe en Jesús. La mayoría de los no cristianos no se convirtieron, pero tampoco me golpearon en la nariz. Me sorprendió la amabilidad de los traficantes de drogas, las prostitutas y los motociclistas cuando me acerqué a ellos. En cuanto a las personas que ya me conocían, también fueron bastante receptivas, como si dijeran: “¡Ah, así que eso es lo que te motiva!”.

Y por último, recibí una excelente capacitación sobre cómo compartir una presentación del evangelio sencilla y breve, lo que me dio la oportunidad de compartirlo con mucha gente. Con tanta práctica, me volví cada vez más competente, lo que me dio mayor confianza. De hecho, ahora es algo que disfruto hacer. Deb y yo compartimos el evangelio “sobre la marcha”, por así decirlo, pero también tenemos un tiempo semanal reservado para compartir el evangelio intencionalmente, para mantenernos activas en la obra y perfeccionar nuestras habilidades. Esto ha marcado una diferencia enorme (literalmente).

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí vienen algunas preguntas e ideas:

– ¿Estás obedeciendo el mandato de Jesús de compartir las buenas nuevas?

– ¿Estás enseñando o capacitando a otros para que compartan el evangelio?

– Lleva a quienes estás discipulando a la obra de evangelización y muéstrales con el ejemplo cómo compartir el evangelio.

Jesús dijo expresamente que su misión era «buscar y salvar a los perdidos» (Lucas 19:10). Como sus discípulos, al ser semejantes a Él, no solo debemos sentir la urgencia de ser enviados, sino también el deseo de capacitar y enviar a otros. Esta fue su manera de alcanzar a un mundo perdido y necesitado, y también debería ser la nuestra.

Escrito de forma natural, sin inteligencia artificial ni añadidos artificiales.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #39 – The Gospel of the Kingdom to the End – Matthew 24:14

Preaching the Same Gospel Jesus Preached

Kingdom Kernel Collection

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

Introduction

In this essay we will discover Jesus’ prophecy of the gospel of the kingdom being preached to all the nations before His return. We will discuss how Jesus started this multiplicative chain reaction to facilitate global evangelization, the message He used, and the people He chose to spread His message. We will also look at the tension between urgency and sustainability. 

Key Words and Phrases 

The gospel of the kingdom – When Jesus and His disciples preached “the gospel of the kingdom,” He had yet to be crucified and resurrected. Although these two events are essential elements of the gospel, Jesus’ gospel was the gospel of the hour. Basically, it was that God’s love was on display through the sending of His Son, the awaited Messiah King to redeem His people from their sins. It was a gospel that was preached at the time, and then later inaugurated by Jesus Christ’s redeeming work on the cross and demonstration of His sovereignty by His resurrection, but would be completely manifested in the final consummation of His kingdom at His return, when salvation and judgment are fully revealed and all things are brought under His headship. God’s expectation for response to this gospel message was to “repent and believe.” (Mark 1:14-15) In other words, trust that the awaited King has arrived and align our lives with His ways. The ways of the kingdom. This gospel of the kingdom is much like the kingdom itself; preached as a very present reality and yet waiting for future fulfillment. 

In the whole world – Whole – ὅλος (Strong’s G3650 – holos) all, whole, completely. World – οἰκουμένη (Strong’s G3625 – oikoumenē) the inhabited earth or the portion of the earth inhabited by the Greeks, in distinction from the lands of the barbarians or the Roman empire, all the subjects of the empire or the universe. In this particular case, as Jesus is looking to the end and includes “all nations,” the whole inhabited earth fits the translation best. 

As a testimony to all the nations – Testimony – μαρτύριον (Strong’s G3142 – martyrion) to be testified, testimony, witness. Nations – ἔθνος (Strong’s G1484 – ethnos) a tribe, nation, people group. This is the word in which we derive “ethnic” from. 

Then the end will come – End – τέλος (Strong’s G5056 – telos) the end, the last in any succession or series, eternal. In context Jesus is talking about His return and the end of mankind in this present realm. (Matthew 24)

 Messianic Model – His Gospel was the Gospel of the Kingdom

As stated earlier, this was the gospel Jesus preached. He preached it in many ways, from the parables, to the Sermon on the Mount (Kingdom Values), to private sessions with His disciples explaining the kingdom of God. It was His primary message from the beginning (Matthew 4:17) and the end (Acts 1:3). He not only preached it, He lived it. He is the kingdom of God personified. When the religious leaders asked about the kingdom, He could truly say “behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21) He lived and preached the gospel of the kingdom to His death (and after His resurrection) and expects us to do the same until He returns.

Key Theological Implications

When we talk about the gospel in context of the kingdom as Jesus did, it becomes more than just the forgiveness of sins (although this is an essential part of the gospel). The gospel Jesus preached was about the realm and rule of an almighty, all knowing, completely sovereign Divine King that stepped into human history as a man. He came not only to redeem us of our sins but to exert His authority over all who receive Him and become His subjects and co-regents. He also showed us an example of what it looks like to live as a steward made in God’s image and what kingdom work and character look like. In the present, mankind has a choice to make Him Lord and inherit eternal life but one day every knee will bow and call Him Lord. (Philippians 2:10–11)

Contemporary Spiritual Significance

One of the essential elements missing from the gospel that is preached today is the Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. If Jesus is not Lord, there is no reason to be sorry for my sins and ask for forgiveness. There is no need to repent, to change my thinking and way of life to align with His design. We are left with a subjective emotional response that acknowledges Jesus as a good moral teacher but not someone who has all authority in my life (let alone all creation). We must preach the gospel Jesus preached and lived and died for or we are not preaching the gospel at all. Usually, when people refer to a false gospel, they are talking about adding a merit system (works) to what is being preached. This is what the Apostle Paul was fighting in Galatians. But the other end of the pendulum swing is a gospel that fails to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord through discipleship (a willingness and effort to bring my life under subjection to His rule). Both ends of the spectrum are just as dangerous and just as false. 

Another facet of proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom is a sense of urgency as people are perishing by the thousands daily. We have the model of the Master and His self-proclaimed mission “to seek and to save that which is lost.” (Luke 19:10) We should be sharing with everyone in our relational network and those who cross our paths. However, this is a lifetime pursuit. We need to accept that we have capacity issues and must steward the ministry God has given us. This will take time. Being motivated by guilt or thinking that your efforts alone will usher people into the kingdom are both faulty thinking. We are co-laboring with God and He does the heavy lifting. 

I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

The Transformative Power of the Gospel of the Kingdom

Many people who see themselves as Christians lack transformative power in their lives because they see Jesus as a Savior but not as Lord. The Bible is quite clear on the evidence of new life in Christ;

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:6)

This is not just intellectual acknowledgement or something to happen in the future. It is a reality that our lives are being conformed to as we exercise our faith in Christ. (Romans 2:12, 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18)

Not only are we seeking to understand the gospel of the kingdom for salvation but we are to preach the same to help others come into the kingdom of God. Alignment with His Word and ways happens as we both seek to comprehend and proclaim it on a regular basis.

Conclusion

As we follow Jesus’ ministry we can see that not only did He preach and teach the gospel of the kingdom, He lived it.  Now we are His messengers to a lost and dying world in this generation. It is our responsibility to proclaim it in its purity and sense of urgency and stewardship of our efforts for a lifetime or until His return. As we make disciples who embrace His call to spread the good news of the kingdom, we will see global evangelization become a reality. And when the end comes may we be found living a life worthy for our King. 

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

In the Living Room of Lot 27

The rain had come early that evening, tapping the tin awnings of the Willow Pines Mobile Home Park like a quiet reminder that everything in this world was temporary. Inside Lot 27—a double-wide that smelled faintly of coffee, old hymnals, and last night’s fried tortillas—a small circle of folding chairs framed the living room. The carpet was worn where countless feet had traced the same hopeful path week after week.

Mary, their leader, set her Bible on the low table between a half-dead succulent and a stack of napkins someone had folded into triangles. The others filtered in: Hector from Lot 32, limping slightly from decades on the maintenance crew; June from the corner unit, her hands always shaking a bit from nerves she never confessed; Darius from across the lane, tall, quiet, carrying the weight of a man who had recently learned his son wanted nothing to do with him.

And then there was Allison—youngest in the group, barefoot, sitting cross-legged on the sofa with a notebook balanced on her knees. She was the one who had asked the question last week, the one nobody had quite known how to answer.

Tonight she repeated it, her voice soft beneath the patter of rain.

“So… if Jesus hadn’t died yet, how could He preach the gospel?”
She glanced around, almost apologetic. “I mean, isn’t the gospel the cross?”

The room fell still. Outside, a dog barked twice, then silence again.

Mary leaned back in her chair, fingers steepled. “Let’s talk about that.”

The others shifted uncomfortably. The question had lodged in all their minds, scratching at old assumptions.

Hector broke the silence first. “I always thought the cross was the gospel. Forgiveness, washed clean, and all that.” His voice trembled with the exhaustion of someone who had prayed that cleansing over his grown children for years without seeing it take root.

June nodded vigorously. “Same. The idea of the kingdom… I don’t know. Sounds like something for heaven later. Not for right now.”

Darius said nothing at first. Then, quietly: “But Jesus preached something before He died. He preached it with authority.” He stared at his hands. “Maybe we’ve just trimmed Him down to the parts that feel safe.”

Allison’s pen hovered in the air.

Mary watched them each, sensing not confusion but hunger—people who wanted Jesus, but weren’t always sure what that meant beyond asking Him to rescue them at the end.

“Let’s look at what Jesus actually said,” she murmured.

She opened her Bible to Mark 1 and read slowly, deliberately:

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”

The word kingdom seemed to hang in the air like incense.

“The gospel Jesus preached,” Mary said, “wasn’t less than forgiveness—but it was more. He was announcing that God’s long-promised King had arrived. That His rule—His ways, His authority, His love—was breaking into the world right now.”

She looked at Allison. “It was the gospel of the kingdom. The gospel of the hour. The King is here—align your life with Him.”

Darius inhaled sharply, as if something inside him had just clicked into place.

“But He hadn’t died yet,” Allison repeated, searching for clarity.

“No,” Mary said. “Not yet. But His coming was already good news. His cross and resurrection would inaugurate the fullness of redemption—but even before that, He was calling people to turn from their broken kingdoms and step into His.”

She paused, letting them digest the weight of it.

“Jesus wasn’t just telling people what He would do for them. He was inviting them to become like Him.”

A gust of wind rattled the thin windows. June hugged a blanket around her shoulders.

“But how do we live that?” she whispered. “Here? In this place?”

Mary smiled—not condescendingly, but with the gentle confidence of someone who had seen the kingdom come in trailer parks, hospital rooms, addiction groups, and quiet prayers whispered in the middle of the night.

“The same way Jesus lived it,” she said softly. “By surrendering every part of ourselves to the King who loves us. By letting His rule begin inside us long before He returns to rule the whole world.”

She pointed to Darius. “Forgiving someone who’s wounded you—that’s the kingdom.”

To Hector. “Serving people who never say thank you—that’s the kingdom.”

To June. “Learning to trust God with your fears—that’s the kingdom.”

And then to Allison. “Choosing to obey Jesus because you love Him, not because you’re afraid of messing up—that is the kingdom.”

Allison’s eyes glistened. For years she had asked Jesus to forgive her but had never realized He also invited her to follow Him, to imitate Him, to carry His character into every conversation and corner of her life.

To become like Him.

“But it’s overwhelming,” June said. “The whole world… nations… testimonies… urgency…” She gestured vaguely, as though swatting away invisible pressure.

Mary nodded. “There is urgency. Jesus said this gospel—the gospel of the kingdom—would be preached to all nations before the end. Every people group. Every corner of the inhabited earth.”

She leaned forward, voice low and steady.

“But urgency doesn’t mean frantic striving. Jesus didn’t call us to save the world in one night. He called us to be faithful. To plant. To water. And to trust God with the growth.”

Hector exhaled with relief, like a weight sliding off his shoulders.

The rain softened. A warmth—not from the rattling heater vent, but something deeper—settled over the room.

For the first time since the group began meeting, they were not just learning about Jesus.
They were imagining what it would mean to live the life He lived.

To speak and act and forgive and love as He did.
To embody the kingdom—not later, but now.

Allison finally spoke, her voice a quiet flame.

“If Jesus preached the kingdom before the cross… then maybe following Him means more than waiting for heaven. Maybe it means letting Him reign in me tonight.”

Mary’s smile widened.

“That,” she said, “is the beginning of becoming like Jesus.”

The clock on the wall ticked softly. Someone’s coffee grew cold. The dog outside barked again, then fell quiet.

Mary folded her hands.

“Friends… the King has come. And He’s coming again. Between those two arrivals is our whole life. What will we do with it?”

No one answered with words. But around the circle, small signs of surrender bloomed—Hector’s jaw unclenching, June’s shoulders relaxing, Darius lifting his gaze for the first time all night.

And Allison, scribbling one final line in her notebook:

Let His kingdom come—in me first, and then through me.

The rain stopped.

And inside Lot 27, the gospel of the kingdom continued its quiet, unstoppable spread—one surrendered heart at a time.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

A Gate, a Shepherd, and a Lamb (Part 3) – #148

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see the last of the three metaphors Jesus refers to Himself as in John 10. 

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

John 10:17–21

The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?” But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

My Thoughts

And now we come to the last of the three metaphors. But this one is hidden in plain sight. It is the Sacrificial Lamb. Jesus has been painting a picture about His identity and purpose. He starts with calling Himself the Gate of the sheep pen. He is the only legitimate passage to God, the only way. Then in transition, He calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He is the only One who can lead the sheep in and out of the Gate. And now He alludes to Himself as the Sacrificial Lamb in an even more mysterious way. 

“The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.“

He actually alluded to this earlier in verse 11.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Tucked away in Jesus’ discourse with the religious leaders is the most significant event in human history, God the Father and God the Son collaborate in His sacrificial death for the redemption of mankind. 

Earlier in the Old Testament, God the Father actually institutes a foreshadowing ceremony called the Passover to point to what Jesus is saying here.  Before the last plague inflicted on Egypt the Children of Israel were instructed to kill a lamb and paint the blood on the doorposts and lintel of their dwellings. This was a sign for the Destroyer to “pass over” them when slaying the first born of every creature in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-27). They were commanded to keep it as a perpetual ceremony to point them to THE Lamb of God who ultimately shed His blood and would pass over their sins. Unfortunately, many in Israel then and today missed the full intent of this prophetic observance. 

This was the message of many prophets throughout history and John the Baptist put it most clearly.

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

That brings us to the role of the disciple maker. It’s our responsibility to help people see the significance of Jesus being that Passover Lamb. We bring the gospel message and train others to preach the death, burial, and resurrection of the Christ. We teach them how to live in a never ending state of passover rather than just practicing a ritual once a year. As disciple makers we point to a life in Christ that is guided, protected, and empowered by the Blood of the Lamb.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (Revelation 12:10-11)

My Story

As a soldier I saw a lot of blood even though I was never really on the frontlines, so to speak. But I saw enough in training and accidents where it became kind of “normal.” I went from being a little queasy at the sight of the red stuff to “such is life.” I even watched our Physician Assistant in the Ranger Battalion surgically remove a piece of metal jammed into my knee cap. So I had become pretty accustomed to the sight of blood. 

Until…my four year old son, Charles William Wood III, cut himself so bad we had to take him to the emergency room. The sight of that blood, the blood of my son, made my head spin and I almost couldn’t drive because I thought I was going to pass out. I don’t want to use the word “faint” because it sounds kind of wimpy. But I have to admit, at the time, I was feeling pretty wimpy. The sight of my son’s blood was not “normal.” It was gut-wrenching!

I can only imagine what God the Father was feeling as His Son’s blood was being spilled out for you and I. It’s not the sanitized kid’s version of the torture and crucifixion. It’s watching the horrifying nauseating reality of a loved one’s life drain from them. That’s how much God loves us and I am compelled to tell others His story about the sacrificial Lamb.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

  • What other insights from the Old Testament point to the sacrifice Jesus makes on the cross?
  • How are you as a disciple maker helping people connect the dots between the Old and the New Testaments?
  • Help those you are discipling prepare a Discovery Bible Study on the Passover and its significance to us as followers of Jesus.

Jesus points to the Old Testament often to shed light on His identity and purpose. This makes it important to have a handle on both the Old and the New in order to see Jesus clearly and plumb the depth of His richness. As disciple makers, we should encourage those we mentor to read and study the whole counsel of God. 

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Una puerta, un pastor y un cordero (Parte 3) – #148

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver la última de las tres metáforas con las que Jesús se describe a sí mismo en Juan 10.

Así que, ¡comencemos!

Juan 10:17-21

Mis Pensamientos

Y ahora llegamos a la última de las tres metáforas. Pero esta está oculta a plena vista. Es el Cordero Sacrificial. Jesús ha estado describiendo su identidad y propósito. Comienza llamándose a sí mismo la Puerta del redil. Él es el único camino legítimo hacia Dios, la única vía. Luego, en la transición, se llama a sí mismo el Buen Pastor. Él es el único que puede guiar a las ovejas dentro y fuera de la Puerta. Y ahora alude a sí mismo como el Cordero Sacrificial de una manera aún más misteriosa.

La razón por la que el Padre me ama es que doy mi vida para volver a tomarla.

De hecho, ya había aludido a esto anteriormente en el versículo 11:

Yo soy el buen pastor; el buen pastor da su vida por las ovejas.

Escondido en el discurso de Jesús con los líderes religiosos se encuentra el acontecimiento más significativo de la historia de la humanidad: Dios Padre y Dios Hijo colaboran en su muerte sacrificial para la redención de la humanidad.

Anteriormente, en el Antiguo Testamento, Dios Padre instituyó una ceremonia prefigurativa llamada la Pascua para señalar lo que Jesús está diciendo aquí. Antes de la última plaga infligida a Egipto, a los hijos de Israel se les ordenó matar un cordero y pintar la sangre en los postes y el dintel de las puertas de sus casas. Esta era una señal para que el Destructor los “pasara por alto” al matar a los primogénitos de todas las criaturas en Egipto (Éxodo 12:1-27). Se les ordenó que la guardaran como una ceremonia perpetua para que recordaran al Cordero de Dios que finalmente derramaría su sangre y perdonaría sus pecados. Desafortunadamente, muchos en Israel, tanto entonces como ahora, no comprendieron el significado completo de esta observancia profética.

Este fue el mensaje de muchos profetas a lo largo de la historia, y Juan el Bautista lo expresó con mayor claridad:

«He aquí el Cordero de Dios, que quita el pecado del mundo» (Juan 1:29).

Esto nos lleva al papel del hacedor de discípulos. Es nuestra responsabilidad ayudar a las personas a comprender la importancia de que Jesús sea ese Cordero Pascual. Llevamos el mensaje del evangelio y capacitamos a otros para que prediquen la muerte, la sepultura y la resurrección de Cristo. Les enseñamos a vivir en un estado constante de Pascua, en lugar de simplemente practicar un ritual una vez al año. Como formadores de discípulos, señalamos una vida en Cristo que es guiada, protegida y fortalecida por la sangre del Cordero.

Entonces oí una gran voz en el cielo que decía:

«Ahora ha llegado la salvación, el poder, el reino de nuestro Dios y la autoridad de su Cristo, porque el acusador de nuestros hermanos ha sido derribado, el que los acusaba día y noche delante de nuestro Dios. Y ellos lo vencieron por medio de la sangre del Cordero y por la palabra de su testimonio, y no amaron sus vidas hasta la muerte.» (Apocalipsis 12:10-11)

Mi Historia

Como soldado, vi mucha sangre, aunque nunca estuve realmente en la primera línea de combate, por así decirlo. Pero vi suficiente durante el entrenamiento y en accidentes como para que se volviera algo “normal”. Pasé de sentirme un poco mareado al ver sangre a pensar: “Así es la vida”. Incluso vi al asistente médico de nuestro batallón de Rangers extirpar quirúrgicamente un trozo de metal que se me había incrustado en la rótula. Así que me había acostumbrado bastante a la vista de la sangre.

Hasta que… mi hijo de cuatro años, Charles William Wood III, se cortó tan gravemente que tuvimos que llevarlo a la sala de emergencias. La vista de esa sangre, la sangre de mi hijo, me hizo sentir mareado y casi no pude conducir porque pensé que me iba a desmayar. No quiero usar la palabra “desmayarme” porque suena un poco cobarde. Pero tengo que admitir que, en ese momento, me sentía bastante débil. La vista de la sangre de mi hijo no era “normal”. ¡Fue desgarrador!

Solo puedo imaginar lo que sintió Dios Padre al ver la sangre de su Hijo derramada por ti y por mí. No se trata de la versión edulcorada para niños de la tortura y la crucifixión. Se trata de presenciar la horrible y nauseabunda realidad de ver cómo la vida de un ser querido se escapa. Así de grande es el amor de Dios por nosotros, y me siento impulsado a contarles a otros su historia sobre el Cordero sacrificial.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Qué otras enseñanzas del Antiguo Testamento apuntan al sacrificio que Jesús hizo en la cruz?

Como formador de discípulos, ¿cómo ayudas a las personas a conectar el Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento?

Ayuda a quienes estás discipulando a preparar un estudio bíblico de descubrimiento sobre la Pascua y su significado para nosotros como seguidores de Jesús.

Jesús se refiere a menudo al Antiguo Testamento para arrojar luz sobre su identidad y propósito. Por lo tanto, es importante comprender tanto el Antiguo como el Nuevo Testamento para ver a Jesús con claridad y profundizar en la riqueza de su mensaje. Como formadores de discípulos, debemos animar a quienes discipulamos a leer y estudiar toda la Palabra de Dios.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #38 – The King’s Expectation to Multiply – Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27

As Co-Regents We are Expected to Multiply the King’s Resources 

Kingdom Kernel Collection

 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 25:14-30)

Also read Luke 19:11-27

Introduction

The Parables of the Talents and Minas both point to the King’s expectations for His Co-Regents to multiply what they have been given for the sake of His kingdom and glory. In this essay we will look at both the rewards of wise investment and the consequences of inaction. We will also investigate the potential “resources” the Master has entrusted to us and how to multiply them. 

 Key Words and Phrases 

“For it is just like…” – In the context of Matthew 25 Jesus first starts with a different parable; “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins…” Jesus is explaining the kingdom. The Parable of the Ten Virgins emphasizes the need to be ready for Christ’s return by being vigilantly prepared. Jesus continues to talk about the kingdom of God in the Parable of the Talents using the pronoun “it” to refer back to the kingdom He is still describing in parabolic fashion. 

“They supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately…” – Luke sets the stage for Jesus’ Parable of the Minas with this statement. He uses it as a transition and explanation on why Jesus is telling the parable. The parable of the Minas is both instructive of “when” the kingdom will be coming and “what” we should be doing as we wait for its arrival.

Talents – τάλαντον   (Strong’s G5007 – talanton)  A sum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and according to the changes in the laws regulating currency. A talent of gold in Israel weighed about 200 pounds (91 kg) So ten talents would be worth approximately $120,320,000 at today’s US rates (Sep 2025).

Minas – μνᾶ   (Strong’s G3414 – mna)  In the NT, a weight and sum of money equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100 pounds, a pound equalled to 10 1/3 oz. (300 gm) So ten minas would be worth approximately $60,028,800 at today’s US rates (Sep 2025).

“Each according to his own ability…” – This is an interesting distinction Jesus makes between the two parables. In the Parable of the Minas, each is given the same amount (Ten Minas). In the Parable of the Talents, each steward is apportioned an amount based on their abilities or managerial skills.

 Messianic Model – Focus on Jesus’ example

Jesus’ parables of the Talents and Minas cover two basic principles; Stewarding God’s kingdom resources and being ready to give an account for that stewardship on a moment’s notice. Jesus modeled both of these principles in an exemplary manner. He was always ready to do what the Father wanted done when He wanted it done. Jesus had perfect compliance and stewardship and His timing was completely synchronized with the Father. 

Jesus’ Complete Obedience to the Father (Matthew 26:39; John 6:38; 8:29; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8) 

Stewardship According to the Father’s Will (John 4:34; 12:49; 17:4) 

Jesus’ Perfect Synchronization with the Father (John 2:4; 7:6; 7:30; 12:23; 13:1) 

 Key Theological Implications

Understanding our identity and purpose is essential to making any sense of these two parables. They emphasise God’s expectation for us to steward and multiply what He has given us. We must go back to the beginning for our first clues.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28)

We were designed from the very beginning to be “like” God, created in His image. This is our identity. As we look further at His plan we see it also includes a creative element (be fruitful and multiply) and a stewardship element (fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over). This is our purpose. Of course once sin entered the picture, we were subject to confusion and abuses that derailed our understanding and application of our identity and purpose. Every event in history either proves our absolute failure to embrace God’s intentions for us or examples of people totally dependent on Him to bind, nurture, and direct His poor fallen people. 

This can be seen in the Old Testament from the Tower of Babel to the flood to the waywardness of God’s chosen nation (Israel) and the murders of His spokesmen. We need go no further than the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ in the New Testament. We have mismanaged the creation and God’s kingdom from the start.

Part of Jesus’ mission was to restore our original identity and purpose. From “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) to His definition of discipleship, “A disciple is not above His teacher but when he is fully trained he becomes like the teacher” (Luke 6:40). He became everything we were meant to be and provided a model for what being a good steward looks like. 

Jesus’ parables remind us that we are God’s stewards and we have been entrusted with His creation. God expects us not only to maintain what has been created but to “be fruitful and multiply” what He has given. This extends from the relationships in our lives, our property, our gifts and talents, our personalities, our time, even down to every breath we take. We are to have dominion and multiply all that He has given us for the sake of His glory. This is the way of the King and His kingdom.

 Contemporary Spiritual Significance

As we survey all that God has entrusted to us and align ourselves with the example Jesus set during His time on earth, we are challenged to make good on the gifts God has given us. We are to be good stewards with the realm and capacity He has provided and even bring increase to what we have. When we align ourselves with God’s original intentions, we obey His first commands and reap incredible benefits at the same time.

The Transformative Power of Being Fruitful and Multiplying

God’s design for us was meant to help us thrive under the responsibility to create, manage, lead, and nurture. We were placed in a supreme place of significance in His creation with a purpose. Our identity as image bearers reflects the very purpose of God. Alignment with these principles and activities makes life adventurous, fulfilling, and meaningful. Drifting from the original mandate and design of God causes us to become unmoored and confused as to why we were created and what we were meant to do. Jesus finished the work He was given. (John 17:4) Paul finished his work. (2 Timothy 4:6-8) In the parables the servants finished their work and received praise and reward from the Master; “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” Now we too are challenged to finish the work set before us. (Ephesians 2:10)   

Conclusion

Jesus is describing not only the King’s expectation in these two parables but gives direction for the kingdom’s citizens. We are to be faithful stewards of the gifts He had given and to multiply them for His glory. Obedience brings great praise, reward, and more responsibility. Failure has disastrous consequences. 

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

Ducks, Devotion, and Discipleship

The decoys bobbed like dark apostles in the pre-dawn gray, their silhouettes sharp against water that held the last of the night. Chad watched them through the brush screening, his breath condensing in small clouds that disappeared into the Louisiana cold. Beside him, Burt sat rigid as a heron, his shoulders hunched forward.

They’d been out here since four-thirty, wedged into the blind Chad had built on the property his grandfather left him—a slip of wetland that flooded reliable every winter, pulling pintails and teal down from the sky. The coffee in Chad’s thermos had gone lukewarm an hour ago. The two hadn’t spoken in forty minutes.

“So,” Chad said finally, his voice low and gentle. “You want to tell me what’s actually going on, brother?”

A flight of coots chattered past, too far out. The eastern sky was starting to leak orange at its edges.

Burt’s hands worked the stock of his shotgun, thumb tracing the checkering pattern over and over. The silence stretched until it felt like something physical between them.

“I’m not ready,” Burt said finally, his words barely audible.

“For what?” Chad asked, though he already knew.

“What you’re asking. Discipling someone.” Burt’s voice was tight. “Danny asked me two months ago if I’d meet with him weekly. I keep putting him off.”

Chad waited, letting the question form itself.

“Because what if I mess it up?” The words came faster now, pressure releasing. “What if I tell him something wrong, or I can’t answer his questions, or—what if he ends up worse because of me? I’m barely keeping my own head above water most days. How am I supposed to pull someone else up?”

Chad poured himself another cup of coffee, the thermos cap catching the growing light. He took a sip, let the warmth settle.

“There’s this parable,” he said. “The talents. You know it?”

“Yeah.”

“Walk me through it.”

Burt exhaled slowly. “Rich man goes on a trip. Leaves money with three servants. Different amounts—five talents, two talents, one talent. First two double what they’re given. Last guy buries his in the ground.”

“Why’d he bury it?”

“He was afraid.”

“That’s right.” Chad’s voice carried no judgment, just invitation. “Master comes back, and that servant’s got his excuses ready. ‘I knew you were a hard man,’ he says. ‘I was afraid of losing it, so I kept it safe.'”

Burt was quiet, watching the water.

“And the master calls him wicked,” Chad continued softly. “Not for lacking ability—for lacking action. For choosing fear over faithfulness.”

A crow called from the tupelos behind them, harsh and certain.

“But here’s what I want you to hear, Burt. Really hear.” Chad shifted to face him more directly. “The master didn’t give everyone the same amount. It wasn’t about equal distribution—it was according to ability. The guy with five talents could handle five. The guy with two? That was his measure. Even the one-talent man had exactly what he could steward if he’d just tried.”

Burt’s face had gone pale in the growing light.

“I’m not asking you to be me,” Chad said. “I’m not asking you to teach seminary classes or lead a ministry. I’m asking you to be faithful with what God’s already given you. One talent. One guy. One hour a week.”

“But what if—”

“What if you fail?” Chad’s tone was kind. “Brother, the failure’s already happening. That talent’s already in the ground.”

The words landed soft but solid.

“You know what the master told that servant?” Chad continued. “‘At least you could’ve deposited it and earned interest.’ The bare minimum would’ve been better than nothing. Meeting with Danny once a week over coffee—just showing up, being honest about your own struggles, pointing him toward Jesus when you can—that’s not nothing. That’s something. And something beats a hole in the ground every time.”

Burt’s eyes were wet. “I just don’t want to let him down.”

“So don’t let Jesus let him down.” Chad’s hand found Burt’s shoulder. “That’s what discipleship is. Not you being perfect. You being faithful to what you’ve got. You being willing to multiply what God’s given you, even when it feels small.”

Movement on the water—a small raft of teal, still too distant.

“Jesus finished the work He was given,” Chad said quietly. “Not anyone else’s work. His. And He did it perfectly, so we could do ours imperfectly and still hear ‘well done.’ That’s grace, brother. You get to steward what you’ve been given, and Jesus covers the rest.”

Burt nodded slowly, something loosening in his posture. “I want to be like that. Like Jesus. Finishing what I’m given instead of running from it.”

“Then start with Danny,” Chad said simply. “Text him this afternoon. Set up coffee for this week. Don’t wait until you feel ready—you’ll never feel ready. Just be faithful with the one.”

The sky had turned from orange to pale blue, darkness retreating to the treeline.

“Okay,” Burt said. “Okay. I’ll text him today.”

A whistle of wings—sudden, close. Both men looked up as a pair of mallards cupped their wings and dropped toward the decoys, their approach steep and committed. Chad’s hand moved to his call, but he didn’t blow it. The birds were already coming, already convinced.

They landed in a splash of white water, settling among the decoys like they’d always belonged there.

“Legal light in two minutes,” Chad whispered.

They waited together in the blind, two men with different measures but the same call, watching the sky fill with possibility as morning broke clean and cold across the Louisiana marsh. The decoys rocked gently in the wake of the real ducks.

Burt checked his safety, and for the first time in weeks, his hands were steady.

And Chad watched the sky, praying silently that his friend would find the courage to multiply what he’d been given—one conversation, one get-together, one faithful step at a time.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

A Gate, a Shepherd, and a Lamb (Part 2) – #147

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see what Jesus says about being the Good Shepherd.  

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

John 10:11–16

 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

My Thoughts

As we continue to explore Jesus’ metaphors about Himself we come to His moniker of the Shepherd. But not just any shepherd, the Good Shepherd. What makes Him so good? Four distinct characteristics. First, His sheep know His voice. In verses 3-4 of chapter 10, He says,

 “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

A true disciple of Christ hears and knows the voice of the Savior. They follow Him. They flee from other voices.

Secondly, He lays His life down for His sheep. The hired hand will run at the first sign of danger because the sheep don’t belong to them. Not Jesus, He proved His sacrificial love by the way He lived and by the way died. 

Third, He knows the sheep. He knows them as well as the Father knows Him and He knows the Father. How well do they know each other? Completely! How does it feel to be known and understood to the nth degree?

And lastly, He gathers the whole flock. He says, 

“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well”

This is what He came to do, “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And it’s all the lost people, not just the Jews but Gentiles alike. And not just in one particular place but the entire globe (Acts 1:8).

When Jesus says He’s the Good Shepherd, He is not exaggerating. He has an accurate assessment of His identity and purpose.

What does this mean for us as disciple makers? Well, simply put, we are not THE Good Shepherd, He is. We hate to admit it but we’d probably cut and run when the flock is assaulted. So it’s essential that we keep pointing people to Jesus as THEIR Good Shepherd and help them follow His lead and look to Him for ultimate protection. 

My Story

When you ask me what my spiritual gifts are, shepherd comes up as one of the top. I have a compassion for people and want to see them taken care of. I like to pray for people and I try to think the best of them and paint them in a good light. But there is a weakness that comes with the gift of shepherding and that is letting your shepherding get in the way of The Good Shepherd. You can start to think that you are the answer to everyone’s problems and over estimate your abilities to be the solution. 

This has some significant consequences. The first error in thinking this way is that you begin to lead the sheep astray. People start making you their “Holy Spirit” and depending on you to answer all the questions and fix all their boo boos. This is a huge mistake for a disciple maker. So I’ve trained myself to ask the questions, “What did Jesus say? Or “What do you think Jesus wants you to do?” This keeps me in the right place of authority, an under-shepherd.

Another thing that I have learned is that you can’t shepherd people adequately by just preaching at them. You have to roll up your sleeves and get down into the messes of the flock’s lives. Making disciples takes a “hands on” approach. You can’t very well take care of the sheep if you have no clue what’s going on in their lives (Proverbs 27:23). Being with them and asking a lot of questions helps you be a better shepherd.

Lastly, I’ve learned that I can’t shepherd everyone and solve every problem. I have capacity issues. But you know what? So did Jesus! He was confined to time, space, and energy just like us and He had to rest, steward relationships, and even say “no” when it was appropriate. Not even the Messiah had the ”messiah complex.” Remember, burn out is not a badge of honor. It’s a character flaw.

So disciple makers, shepherd wisely. Know your limitations. Know your lane. Point them to THE Good Shepherd.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

  • Are we becoming a Jr. holy spirit to those we are discipling?
  • What are some indicators that we are interfering with what the Good Shepherd is doing?
  • Ask those you are discipling “What does Jesus want you to do?”

Are we pointing people to Jesus as THE Good Shepherd? Or are we getting in the way of an intimate vibrant relationship He wants to have with His own sheep. Let’s keep reminding them and ourselves that there is only one Good Shepherd. 

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Una puerta, un pastor y un cordero (Parte 2) – #147

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver lo que Jesús dice sobre ser el Buen Pastor.

Así que, ¡comencemos!

Juan 10:11-16

Yo soy el buen pastor. El buen pastor da su vida por las ovejas. El asalariado no es el pastor, ni las ovejas son suyas. Cuando ve venir al lobo, abandona las ovejas y huye. Entonces el lobo las ataca y dispersa el rebaño. El hombre huye porque es un asalariado y no le importan las ovejas. Yo soy el buen pastor. Conozco a mis ovejas y mis ovejas me conocen, así como el Padre me conoce y yo conozco al Padre. Y doy mi vida por las ovejas. Tengo otras ovejas que no son de este redil; también a ellas debo traerlas, y oirán mi voz. Entonces habrá un solo rebaño y un solo pastor.

Mis Pensamientos

Mientras continuamos explorando las metáforas que Jesús usa para describirse a sí mismo, llegamos a su título de Pastor. Pero no cualquier pastor, sino el Buen Pastor. ¿Qué lo hace tan bueno? Cuatro características distintivas. Primero, sus ovejas conocen su voz. En los versículos 3 y 4 del capítulo 10, dice:

“Las ovejas oyen su voz; él llama a sus ovejas por su nombre y las saca. Cuando ha sacado a todas las suyas, va delante de ellas, y las ovejas lo siguen porque conocen su voz. A un extraño no lo seguirán, sino que huirán de él, porque no conocen la voz de los extraños.”

Un verdadero discípulo de Cristo oye y conoce la voz del Salvador. Lo siguen. Huyen de otras voces.

En segundo lugar, da su vida por sus ovejas. El asalariado huye al primer signo de peligro porque las ovejas no le pertenecen. No así Jesús; demostró su amor sacrificial con su vida y con su muerte.

En tercer lugar, conoce a las ovejas. Las conoce tan bien como el Padre lo conoce a Él, y Él conoce al Padre. ¿Qué tan bien se conocen? ¡Completamente! ¿Cómo se siente ser conocido y comprendido a la perfección?

Y por último, reúne a todo el rebaño. Dice:

“También tengo otras ovejas que no son de este redil; a esas también debo traerlas.”

Esto es lo que vino a hacer: “buscar y salvar a los perdidos” (Lucas 19:10). Y se refiere a todos los perdidos, no solo a los judíos, sino también a los gentiles. Y no solo en un lugar en particular, sino en todo el mundo (Hechos 1:8).

Cuando Jesús dice que es el Buen Pastor, no exagera. Tiene una evaluación precisa de su identidad y propósito.

¿Qué significa esto para nosotros como hacedores de discípulos? Bueno, en pocas palabras, nosotros no somos EL Buen Pastor, Él lo es. Nos cuesta admitirlo, pero probablemente huiríamos cuando el rebaño sea atacado. Por lo tanto, es esencial que sigamos señalando a Jesús como SU Buen Pastor y que les ayudemos a seguir su ejemplo y a buscar en Él la protección definitiva.

Mi Historia

Cuando me preguntan cuáles son mis dones espirituales, el de pastor es uno de los primeros que me vienen a la mente. Siento compasión por las personas y deseo verlas bien atendidas. Me gusta orar por ellas e intento pensar lo mejor de cada una y verlas con buenos ojos. Pero este don de pastoreo conlleva una debilidad: dejar que nuestro papel de pastor se interponga entre las personas y el Buen Pastor. Podemos empezar a creer que somos la solución a los problemas de todos y sobreestimar nuestra capacidad para resolverlos.

Esto tiene consecuencias importantes. El primer error de este modo de pensar es que empezamos a desviar a las ovejas del camino correcto. Las personas comienzan a vernos como su “Espíritu Santo” y a depender de nosotros para que respondamos a todas sus preguntas y solucionemos todos sus problemas. Este es un grave error para quien se dedica a formar discípulos. Por eso, me he acostumbrado a preguntar: “¿Qué dijo Jesús?” o “¿Qué crees que Jesús quiere que hagas?”. Esto me mantiene en el lugar de autoridad que me corresponde: el de un subpastor.

Otra cosa que he aprendido es que no se puede pastorear a las personas adecuadamente solo predicándoles. Hay que arremangarse y adentrarse en las dificultades de la vida del rebaño. Formar discípulos requiere un enfoque práctico. No se puede cuidar bien de las ovejas si no se tiene ni idea de lo que ocurre en sus vidas (Proverbios 27:23). Estar con ellas y hacerles muchas preguntas ayuda a ser un mejor pastor.

Por último, he aprendido que no puedo pastorear a todos ni resolver todos los problemas. Tengo mis limitaciones. ¿Pero saben qué? ¡Jesús también las tenía! Él estaba limitado por el tiempo, el espacio y la energía, al igual que nosotros, y tenía que descansar, cultivar sus relaciones e incluso decir “no” cuando era necesario. Ni siquiera el Mesías tenía el “complejo de mesías”. Recuerden, el agotamiento no es una medalla de honor, sino una debilidad de carácter.

Así que, formadores de discípulos, pastoreen con sabiduría. Conozcan sus limitaciones. Manténganse en su lugar. Señalen a las personas hacia EL Buen Pastor.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Nos estamos convirtiendo en una especie de “mini Espíritu Santo” para aquellos a quienes discipulamos?

¿Cuáles son algunos indicadores de que estamos interfiriendo con la obra del Buen Pastor?

Pregúntales a quienes discipulas: “¿Qué quiere Jesús que hagas?”.

¿Estamos guiando a las personas hacia Jesús como EL Buen Pastor? ¿O nos estamos interponiendo en la relación íntima y vibrante que Él desea tener con sus ovejas? Recordemos, tanto a ellos como a nosotros mismos, que solo hay un Buen Pastor.

Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com