Fun with the One

The Gospel Sync | #25 | John 2:1–12

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Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John and answering the question; “Should disciples of Jesus be having fun?” 

So let’s dive in.

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

The Gospel – John 2:1–12

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They don’t have anymore wine.” Jesus said, “Woman, why does this concern us? My hour hasn’t come yet.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars set there for the Jewish custom of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. And He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it came from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!” 

Jesus performed the first of His signs at Cana in Galilee. This was the way He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.

Some Thoughts 

Before we get into an argument over grape juice and fermented wine, I’d rather focus on the fact that Jesus was a guest…at a wedding…with His disciples…having fun. WHAT? Jesus having fun? We often see Jesus and His band of monks as some serious kill joys that wondered about and their only food was lemons and grapefruit. I don’t think so. I mean really? Twelve men with the Creator of the Universe and they never smiled or even laughed? Remember these were ordinary men; fishermen, tax collectors, rebels, etc… Just putting that group of wildly diverse rabble together must have been a laugh in itself. But the unique thing about this was Jesus and His disciples attended and it was a joyous celebration together. Now to be sure there was no debauchery, lewdness, or drunkenness on the part of the disciples and their Leader that is so typical of today’s parties. But it was a party nonetheless. My point is, as disciple makers, it’s important to celebrate, have fun, let your hair down with the people you’re mentoring. Its real life and life doesn’t always have to be like eating dry cornflakes. Have fun and have it with the folks you’re discipling. 

My Story

When I was a young believer my mentor used to take us on a ski trip once a year. Those were some great times! We would jump in our cars and drive all night and half the day to get to the mountains in Colorado. With little to no sleep we would immediately hit the slopes and ski for the rest of the day. Usually, we had a guest speaker in the evening but we were so worn out many of us were hanging on to consciousness by a thread. Kind of like Eutychus falling out of the window while Paul was preaching (Acts 20:7–12). I feel sorry for the poor guy trying to talk to a bunch of Ski Zombies but at least he didn’t kill any of us. Those were some fun times. The fellowship, the road trip, the conversations, the mountains, the skiing, it was all spiritual because we were the church having fun together in the name of Jesus. Those times along with many other activities were pure genius. It’s like it was the grease of discipleship. My mentor was discipling like Jesus. 

I’m getting older now and fun looks a lot different but I still think it’s an essential part of ministry. God created fun and we should be enjoying it with those we are discipling.

Our Action Plan

So what can we do to inject more fun in our ministries? Here’s a few suggestions;

• Find the funnest person in your church and have them plan an activity
• Ask the question; “How often does our church laugh together.”
• As a disciple maker, when will you intentionally plan to have fun with your peeps?

Full disclosure: I’m breathing a sigh of relief because our church planned a fun retreat for the end of the month. 🙂 Keep pressing into the things that transform people into Christlikeness. Believe it or not, fun is one of them.