Bob and Mary mentor many key leaders throughout much of Latin America who make disciples of Jesus. They sent this picture of eight baptisms in a Shuar community, where there were no known Christians. And three baptisms in a gang controlled area on the Ecuador Coast. God has provided another contact in Argentina. Noemi started a “church in the market” in Bolivia and it is growing with the participation of several vendors. Andres has been asked to train in both Thailand and Turkey.
Japan
David and Danielle mentor several key leaders in Japan including Tex and Mayumi who sent these pictures of late teens and early 20s coming to Christ in Okinawa.
Eight were baptized assisted by the pastor. Five (1st generation), who led the Eight (2nd generation) men and women to Christ.
Alaska
Our son and daughter-in-law, Wes & Tina, have a church of Jesus followers in their home. James, a Specialist in the Army who works with Wes, decided during their discussion on the story about the Ethiopian eunuch that he wanted to be baptized. So they found the closest lake on google maps and baptized him that day (even though it was well past 9pm).
US & Pakistan
I was recently on a Zoom call with other missionaries Jim and Justin are facilitating on the topic of leadership development. We are taking a close look at how Jesus has shaped us over the years to be His servants. There were four generations of disciples represented on the call.
San Antonio
Deb and I had the privilege of debriefing two young college students from their summer mission training. Alex and Morgan have been MAWLing them in the ways of Jesus all summer (Model, Assist, Watch, & Launch). Trenton and Jared are third generation disciples. Grant got to be the “cool uncle.” The “cool uncle” effect is when another disciple-maker reinforces what a primary disciple-maker has been trying to teach.
This month Deb and I will fly to Alaska for a family reunion and celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We praise God for His faithfulness throughout all the years. Thank You Jesus!
Please Pray…
1 Jn 5.19
We would be secure in our identity as children of God and not be worldly
2 Jn 1.3
We would experience mercy, peace, truth, and love in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit
3 Jn 1.4
We would see our children and our spiritual children walking in the truth
Jude 1.3
We would contend for the faith
Rev 1.8
We would see God for all He is and does
Rev 2.26-27
We will wisely invest now to co-rule with Him in the future
Rev 3.10
We would obey His commands and patiently endure
Rev 4.10
We would learn to worship God here on earth the way it is done in heaven
Rev 5.12
We would give glory and honor to the Lamb
Rev 7.16-17
We would look forward to the day we are with Jesus
Rev 10.6
We would be prepared to meet the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes
Rev 11.15
We would advance the gospel into the nations
Rev 12.9
We would resist the devil and be good spiritual warriors
Rev 13.10
We would endure suffering with perseverance and patience
Rev 14.13
Our deeds would honor the Lord and follow us as an offering to Him
Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered. Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.
My Thoughts
Sometimes we pit the new against the old and vice versa. But Jesus didn’t do that here. It wasn’t the age of the matter that made it right or wrong. It was truth. Jesus is principle based. Principles are very driven by truth. They are timeless. Both govern our actions. Truth has to do more with realities, where principles have to do with the application of truth based on these realities.
In modern philosophy we have made truth so subjective, our principles have become shaky as well. But if we were to read the Bible and did what the Pharisees did and equated only the “old” with “good” without considering truth and principle, we would be in just as much trouble with God as they were. Truth and principle have got to be our plumbline for both the old and the new.
The scribe was a very smart and often wise elder who taught the people based on the Scriptures. The Bible was their ultimate base for authority on truth and principle. A scribe that enters the kingdom of heaven is one who embraces the truths and principles of both the Old and New Testaments. And these truths and principles, according to Jesus, are pure gold.
So how does this apply to us as disciple makers? We are to be ‘Scribe-like.” We are to teach the disciples of Jesus both the old ways and the new ways of following Jesus based on the fundamental truths and principles of the Bible. We should be knee deep in the Book ourselves and instructing others to do the same. And it is not just about gaining and passing on knowledge. It’s just as important that we are actually applying what we learn
My Story
Right now our church is going through a set of Biblical conviction studies on the basics of the faith. Our first step is to find five verses from Jesus (the Gospels) on the topic. Then we find five more passages from the rest of the Bible. We then ask two questions;
WHY is mastering this particular topic so important?
What do the Scriptures say about HOW to practice this topic?
During our gathering we discuss our findings. The homework for the next meeting is to look at these verses and ask two more questions;
What are the principles and truths we find in these passages?
How will we practice(method) the principles and truths we discovered?
This exercise of studying the Bible as a church does several things;
We learn the principles and truths in the Word of God
We actually apply what we are learning
We discover the principles and truths are universal and timeless
We practice various methods to live out the principles and truths
We never put the methods before the principles and truths (Mark 7:1-13)
Here’s an example of my last conviction study on the Word of God
Our Action Plan
Now we’ll look at some ideas on how to help us as disciple-makers help others find principles and truths and distinguish between them and methods or forms.
Study Mark 7:1-13 and identify why Jesus was so upset with the religious leaders
Do a Bible study on a topic and identify principles, truths, and methods
Make a list of your tools and traditions and identify the principles and truths behind them
Ask this question; “Are we married to the method or to the principle?”
As disciple-makers, we need to encourage believers to actively study the Bible while discerning timeless principles from contextual methods. By emphasizing both understanding and application, it fosters a deeper, more practical way to live out our faith and we can adapt to different cultural contexts while remaining faithful to core biblical truths.
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, veremos el Evangelio de Mateo para ver cómo Jesús enfatiza que lo nuevo y lo viejo pueden ser buenos.
Así que comencemos
Mateo 13:51-53
Jesús les dijo: ¿Habéis entendido todas estas cosas? Ellos respondieron: Sí, Señor. Él les dijo: Por eso todo escriba docto en el reino de los cielos es semejante a un padre de familia, que saca de su tesoro cosas nuevas y cosas viejas.Aconteció que cuando terminó Jesús estas parábolas, se fue de allí.
Mis Pensamientos
A veces enfrentamos lo nuevo en contra de lo viejo y viceversa. Pero Jesús no hizo eso aquí. No era la edad del asunto lo que lo hacía correcto o incorrecto. Era la verdad. Jesús se basa en principios. Los principios están muy impulsados por la verdad. Son atemporales. Ambos gobiernan nuestras acciones. La verdad tiene que ver más con las realidades, donde los principios tienen que ver con la aplicación de la verdad basada en estas realidades.
La filosofía moderna ha hecho que la verdad sea tan subjetiva que nuestros principios también se han vuelto inestables. Pero si leyéramos la Biblia e hiciéramos lo que hicieron los fariseos y equipáramos solo lo “viejo” con lo “bueno” sin considerar la verdad y los principios, estaríamos en tantos problemas con Dios como ellos. La verdad y los principios tienen que ser nuestra plomada tanto para lo viejo como para lo nuevo.
El escriba era un anciano muy inteligente y a menudo sabio que enseñaba a la gente basándose en las Escrituras. La Biblia era su base última para la autoridad en la verdad y los principios. Un escriba que entra en el reino de los cielos es aquel que abraza las verdades y principios tanto del Antiguo como del Nuevo Testamento. Y estas verdades y principios, según Jesús, son oro puro.
Entonces, ¿cómo se aplica esto a nosotros como hacedores de discípulos? Debemos ser ‘como escribas’. Debemos enseñar a los discípulos de Jesús tanto las viejas como las nuevas formas de seguir a Jesús basadas en las verdades y principios fundamentales de la Biblia. Nosotros mismos debemos estar metidos hasta las rodillas en el Libro e instruir a otros para que hagan lo mismo. Y no se trata solo de adquirir y transmitir conocimientos. Es igual de importante que realmente apliquemos lo que aprendemos
Mi Historia
En este momento, nuestra iglesia está pasando por un conjunto de estudios de convicción bíblica sobre los fundamentos de la fe. Nuestro primer paso es encontrar cinco versículos de Jesús (los Evangelios) sobre el tema. Luego encontramos cinco pasajes más del resto de la Biblia. Luego hacemos dos preguntas:
¿POR QUÉ es tan importante dominar este tema en particular?
¿Qué dicen las Escrituras acerca de CÓMO practicar este tema?
Durante nuestra reunión discutimos nuestros hallazgos. La tarea para la próxima reunión es mirar estos versículos y hacer dos preguntas más:
¿Cuáles son los principios y verdades que encontramos en estos pasajes?
¿Cómo practicaremos (métodos) los principios y verdades que descubrimos?
Este ejercicio de estudiar la Biblia como iglesia hace varias cosas;
Aprendemos los principios y las verdades de la Palabra de Dios
De hecho, aplicamos lo que estamos aprendiendo
Descubrimos que los principios y las verdades son universales y atemporales
Practicamos varios métodos para vivir los principios y las verdades
Nunca anteponemos los métodos a los principios y las verdades (Marcos 7:1-13)
Aquí hay un ejemplo de mi último estudio de convicción sobre la Palabra de Dios
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora veremos algunas ideas sobre como hacedores de discípulos podemos ayudar a otros a encontrar principios y verdades, y distinguir entre ellos y los métodos o formas.
Estudiar Marcos 7:1-13 y determine por qué Jesús estaba tan molesto con los líderes religiosos
Hacer un estudio bíblico sobre un tema e identifique principios, verdades y métodos
Hacer una lista de tus herramientas y tradiciones e identifica los principios y verdades detrás de ellas
Pregunta esto: “¿Estamos casados con el método o con el principio?”
Como hacedores de discípulos, debemos alentar a los creyentes a estudiar activamente la Biblia mientras disciernen los principios eternos de los métodos contextuales. Al enfatizar tanto la comprensión como la aplicación, ello fomenta una forma más profunda y práctica de vivir nuestra fe, y nos permite adaptarnos a diferentes contextos culturales sin dejar de ser fieles a las verdades bíblicas fundamentales.
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away. So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
My Thoughts
Once again, Jesus doesn’t pull any punches, He tells it like it is. There are some who are in the kingdom and some who are not. In this age of inclusivism we hear a lot of rhetoric about God being so loving, He couldn’t send anyone to Hell. The problem is that they fail to recognize the other attribute of God that is as equally strong. And that is justice. God cannot allow sin in His presence. He must either see the sinner through the lens of Christ’s blood which was appropriated by a humble and penitent heart. Or, for those who reject His grace, He will cast away from His loving companionship. And He has given ample warning to everyone.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
Part of our job as disciple-makers is to deliver the message. That message, the gospel, includes both grace and justice. We cannot change the message or the rules because God has two more attributes that will never change; immutability, the unchangeableness of God. And truth, He cannot lie. There will be a judgment for those who do not turn to Him and repent.
My Story
As I’m writing this my alarm set for 10:02 am went off. I set it to remind me daily to obey Jesus’s command to pray for laborers in Luke 10:2;
And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
As I pray this prayer, I work around a map in my head or literally stand in front of a world map in my study. I pray for laborers to be sent to Oceana, all of Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, North America, and our living room. (I also lift up a prayer for the Japanese people who have a special place in my heart). I pray for two reasons. First, because I’m commanded by the Lord Jesus to pray for laborers to be sent into God’s harvest fields. And secondly, I want as few bad fish to be cast into the fiery furnace as possible. If I’m really that concerned about people going to Hell, I’m not going to try and change the message or the rules. I’m going to share the gospel and try to change the hearts of those who are headed to an eternity of destruction. In addition, I’m going to pray, recruit, and train as many disciples of Jesus to join me in this endeavor.
Our Action Plan
Now we’ll look at some ideas on how to help us as disciple-makers warn those who don’t know God of the coming judgment.
Inject Hell and judgment into your gospel presentation. (Jesus did)
Share the gospel often and train others to do the same
Join me in praying for laborers to be sent into the harvest daily at 10:02
The parable of the fishes serves as a sobering reminder of the final judgment, where the righteous will be separated from the wicked. As disciples, it is our duty to share the gospel truthfully, emphasizing both God’s grace and His justice, while fervently praying for more laborers to join us in this mission.
Pez Malo – #79
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, veremos el Evangelio de Mateo para ver cómo Jesús advirtió a la gente del juicio venidero.
Así que vamos a comenzar
Mateo 13:47-50
“Asimismo el reino de los cielos es semejante a una red, que echada en el mar, recoge de toda clase de peces; y una vez llena, la sacan a la orilla; y sentados, recogen lo bueno en cestas, y lo malo echan fuera. Así será al fin del siglo: saldrán los ángeles, y apartarán a los malos de entre los justos, y los echarán en el horno de fuego; allí será el lloro y el crujir de dientes.
Mis Pensamientos
Una vez más, Jesús no anda con rodeos, dice las cosas como son. Hay algunos que están en el reino y otros que no. En esta era de inclusión escuchamos mucha retórica sobre Dios siendo tan amoroso que no podía enviar a nadie al infierno. El problema es que no reconocen el otro atributo de Dios que es igualmente fuerte. Y eso es justicia. Dios no puede permitir el pecado en Su presencia. Debe ver al pecador a través de la lente de la sangre de Cristo que fue apropiada por un corazón humilde y arrepentido. O, para aquellos que rechazan Su gracia, Él alejará Su amorosa compañía de ellos. Y Él lo ha advertido ampliamente a todos.
Porque las cosas invisibles de él, su eterno poder y deidad, se hacen claramente visibles desde la creación del mundo, siendo entendidas por medio de las cosas hechas, de modo que no tienen excusa. (Romanos 1:20)
Parte de nuestro trabajo como hacedores de discípulos es entregar el mensaje. Ese mensaje, el evangelio, incluye tanto la gracia como la justicia. No podemos cambiar el mensaje o las reglas porque Dios tiene dos atributos más que nunca cambiarán; la inmutabilidad, y la justicia de Dios. Y la verdad, Él no puede mentir. Habrá un juicio para aquellos que no se arrepientan y no se vuelvan a Él.
Mi Historia
Mientras escribo esto, sonó mi alarma programada para las 10:02 am. Lo configuré para recordarme diariamente que debo obedecer el mandato de Jesús de orar por los obreros en Lucas 10:2:
Y les decía: La mies a la verdad es mucha, mas los obreros pocos; por tanto, rogad al Señor de la mies que envíe obreros a su mies.
Mientras hago esta oración, trabajo alrededor de un mapa en mi cabeza o literalmente me paro frente a un mapa del mundo en mi estudio. Oro para que se envíen obreros a Oceanía, a toda Asia, Europa, África, América Latina, América del Norte y a nuestra sala de estar. (También elevo una oración por el pueblo japonés que tiene un lugar especial en mi corazón). Mi oración es por dos razones. Primero, porque el Señor Jesús me ordena orar para que se envíen obreros a los campos de cosecha de Dios. Y en segundo lugar, quiero que se arroje la menor cantidad posible de peces malos al horno de fuego. Si realmente me preocupa que la gente vaya al infierno, no voy a tratar de cambiar el mensaje o las reglas. Voy a compartir el evangelio y tratar de cambiar los corazones de aquellos que se dirigen a una eternidad de destrucción. Además, voy a orar, reclutar y capacitar a tantos discípulos de Jesús para que se unan a mí en este esfuerzo.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora veremos algunas ideas sobre cómo ayudarnos como hacedores de discípulos a dar advertencia del juicio venidero a aquellos que no conocen a Dios.
– Inyecta el infierno y el juicio en tu presentación del evangelio. (Jesús lo hizo)
– Comparte el Evangelio con frecuencia y capacita a otros para que hagan lo mismo
– Únete a mí para orar a las 10:02 para que los obreros sean enviados a la cosecha todos los días
La parábola de los peces sirve como un recordatorio aleccionador del juicio final, donde los justos serán separados de los malvados. Como discípulos, es nuestro deber compartir el evangelio con sinceridad, enfatizando tanto la gracia de Dios como su justicia, mientras oramos fervientemente para que más obreros se unan a nosotros en esta misión.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
My Thoughts
Do we really believe that the kingdom of God is so valuable that we would trade everything we own to possess it? I have to be honest, I don’t think I’m quite there yet. I want to be, but I’m not. And it’s not just about selling everything you have. It’s about trading every thought, every relationship, every motive, and dare I say, every breath for the rule and reign of God in our lives. Yeah, I’m not there yet.
But I don’t think any of us are. We want to be but we are a work in progress on this side of heaven and we’ll keep pressing toward that reality. But isn’t that the point Jesus is making. The kingdom is so valuable it’s worth striving toward the goal of surrendering everything for it. And so I see it as a continuous process rather than an arrived at destination (at least in this life).
Pursuing the kingdom is very much like the kingdom itself. There are parts of the kingdom we already realize. There are parts in which we are growing. And there are elements of the kingdom we won’t completely see and understand until it comes into its fullness at the end of the age.
For now, as disciples and disciple-makers, we are in the hunt, so to speak. We are looking for and striving to realize the true value and the implications of being completely surrendered and enthralled with the kingdom of God. In the meantime we take Jesus at His word and believe the kingdom of God is so valuable that we will spend the rest of our lives pursuing it.
My Story
I was reading Acts 1 and grappling with the fact that Jesus taught the disciples about the kingdom of God for forty days after His resurrection. That means that the kingdom was Jesus’s primary curriculum for three years and forty days. It was His main topic of discussion through His ministry. Now you would expect with that amount of time under the greatest Teacher to ever live that His students would have caught on. But their question in verse six reveals their absolute cluelessness.
“Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
They were still thinking ethnocentric. They hadn’t picked up on the scope of the kingdom being much broader than a people group or a territory. They had missed the grandeur and majesty of the King’s plan to bring everyone and everything under His benevolent rule.
But you know what? I’ve been studying the Bible for over forty years and I can’t say I’m any more illuminated than the small group of disciples seeing Jesus off to the right hand of the Father. Actually, I’m more than a little embarrassed to admit it too.
So I decided to spend the next 18 months studying the kingdom of God in earnest. I will be recording my findings here on my blog and hopefully I will get to take you on this journey with me.
I’d like to invite my readers to a Q&A session on July 27th at 9:30 am CST on Zoom. If you’d like to join in, click this link: Q&A
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas.
Take one example of the kingdom of God and do a Bible study with those you are discipling (eg. Who’s In & Out, What does the kingdom look like? What does it mean to “inherit” the kingdom?)
Develop a gospel presentation that mirrors Jesus’s “Gospel of the Kingdom”
Join me and others once a month to study the kingdom
The kingdom of God was one of Jesus’s most preached topics. He told us to pray daily for the kingdom to come. It would do us well to understand and pursue with all our might one of His most highly prized realities.
¿Vale la pena? – #78
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, veremos el Evangelio de Mateo para ver lo que Jesús dice sobre el valor de buscar el Reino de Dios.
Así que vamos a comenzar
Mateo 13:44-46
Además, el reino de los cielos es semejante a un tesoro escondido en un campo, el cual un hombre halla, y lo esconde de nuevo; y gozoso por ello va y vende todo lo que tiene, y compra aquel campo. También el reino de los cielos es semejante a un mercader que busca buenas perlas, que habiendo hallado una perla preciosa, fue y vendió todo lo que tenía, y la compró.
Mis Pensamientos
¿Realmente creemos que el Reino de Dios es tan valioso que cambiaríamos todo lo que poseemos para poseerlo? Tengo que ser honesto, creo que no he llegado allí todavía. Quiero ser parte, pero aún no lo soy. Y no se trata solo de vender todo lo que tienes. Se trata de cambiar cada pensamiento, cada relación, cada motivo, y me atrevo a decir, cada aliento por ser regido por el Reino de Dios en nuestras vidas. Sí, todavía no he llegado a ese punto.
Pero no creo que alguno de nosotros lo esté. Queremos serlo, pero somos un trabajo en progreso en este lado del cielo y seguiremos presionando hacia esa realidad. Pero, ¿no es ese el punto que Jesús está haciendo? El reino es tan valioso que vale la pena esforzarse por alcanzar el objetivo de entregarlo todo por él. Y así lo veo como un proceso continuo en lugar de un destino alcanzado (al menos en esta vida).
Perseguir el reino es muy parecido al reino mismo. Hay partes del reino que ya conocemos. Hay partes en las que estamos creciendo. Y hay elementos del reino que no veremos ni entenderemos completamente hasta que llegue a su plenitud al final de la era.
Por ahora, como discípulos y hacedores de discípulos, estamos en la caza, por así decirlo. Estamos buscando y esforzándonos por darnos cuenta del verdadero valor y las implicaciones de estar completamente entregados y cautivados con el Reino de Dios. Mientras tanto, tomamos la palabra de Jesús y creemos que el Reino de Dios es tan valioso que pasaremos el resto de nuestras vidas persiguiéndolo.
Mi Historia
Estaba leyendo Hechos 1 y lidiando con el hecho de que Jesús enseñó a los discípulos sobre el Reino de Dios durante cuarenta días después de Su resurrección. Eso significa que el reino fue el plan de estudios principal de Jesús durante tres años y cuarenta días. Fue su principal tema de discusión a través de su ministerio. Ahora, esperarías que con esa cantidad de tiempo bajo el Maestro más grande que jamás haya vivido, Sus estudiantes se hubieran dado cuenta. Pero su pregunta en el versículo seis revela su absoluta falta de idea.
“Entonces los que se habían reunido le preguntaron, diciendo: Señor, ¿restaurarás el reino a Israel en este tiempo?” (Hechos 1:6)
Todavía tenían un pensar etnocéntrico. No se habían dado cuenta de que el alcance del Reino era mucho más amplio que para un grupo étnico o un territorio. Habían pasado por alto la grandeza y majestad del plan del Rey para poner a todos y a todo bajo Su gobierno benévolo.
¿Pero sabes qué? He estado estudiando la Biblia durante más de cuarenta años y no puedo decir que esté más iluminado que el pequeño grupo de discípulos que vieron a Jesús subir hacia la diestra del Padre. En realidad, me da un poco de vergüenza admitirlo.
Así que decidí pasar los siguientes 18 meses estudiando el Reino de Dios en serio. Registraré mis hallazgos aquí en mi blog y espero poder llevarlos en este viaje conmigo.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora es el momento de la aplicación. Aquí hay algunas ideas.
– Toma un ejemplo sobre el Reino de Dios y haz un estudio bíblico con aquellos a quienes está
discipulando (Por ejemplo ¿Quién está dentro y fuera, cómo se ve el reino? ¿Qué significa
“heredar” el reino?).
– Desarrolla una presentación del evangelio que refleje el “Evangelio del Reino” de Jesús
– Únete a mí y a otros una vez al mes para estudiar el reino.
El reino de Dios fue uno de los temas más predicados por Jesús. Nos dijo que oráramos diariamente para que viniera el reino. Nos haría bien comprender y perseguir con todas nuestras fuerzas una de sus realidades más preciadas.
Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of Matthew to see how Jesus addressed the fact that counterfeits will be among us and what we should do about it.
Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
My Thoughts
Jesus explains a parable He had told the crowd earlier and it comes in handy for all disciple-makers, then and now. The bottom line is that there will be counterfeits in the kingdom and God will deal with them in the end.
So why is this so important? I’ve always thought this parable was about us not judging others. But Jesus isn’t talking about our judgment of others. If anything, He’s warning the angels not to judge too soon. No, Jesus is simply stating that God knows who the counterfeits are and will have His angels execute judgment at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way.
So what does this parable mean for us as disciples and disciple-makers? It means we are going to have to live with the fact that there are counterfeits in our midst. Some we will spot easily and some we won’t. What’s really interesting is that when Jesus told the parable to the crowd, He made this statement;
And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.(Matthew 13:28-29)
One has to wonder how removing the counterfeits could damage the real disciples!? How in the world could living with a bunch of posers benefit the real deal?
I can think of five ways living with counterfeit Christians would be to our benefit;
God is testing us – As in the Old Testament, God used the counterfeits to test our desire and determination to search out the truth. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
To create self-examination – It challenges true believers to continually examine and strengthen their own faith, ensuring they remain rooted in authentic belief. (2 Corinthians 13:5)
It teaches us how to treat carnal “Christians” – It gives us an opportunity to heed the warnings given to us in Scripture for those we may doubt are really in the kingdom. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13, Matthew 7:15-23, 2 Timothy 3:5, Titus 3:10-11)
We learn more about the patience of God – He is waiting for them to turn and wants all people to come to repentance and be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)
We learn more about the absolute justice of God – In the end, God will pour out His wrath on those who do not receive His Son, repent of their sins, and enter the kingdom of grace. (Matthew 13:24-50, 25:31-46)
Certainly, we’ve all heard sermons using this passage to exhort us not to judge others. But there’s a polar opposite admonition here. Be on the alert for false teachers and carnal people who claim to be in the kingdom. The Scriptures warn us to steer clear of such people.
When I was a full time pastor, I taught a Sunday School class of about 30 older singles (Thirties to Forties). On more than one occasion a well spoken, well put together guy would find his way into the class and I would think to myself, “Now here’s a guy I’d like to disciple!” Only to find out weeks later he was just a wolf on the prowl for a single lady and didn’t have a spiritual bone in his body. And, by the way, there were some wolvettes too.
When we figured out who these people were and what they were doing, we had to warn the folks in the Sunday School Class and ask the predators to leave. It wasn’t easy and I’m sure there were mistakes made and feelings hurt. But, as disciple-makers, we are not only entrusted with the instruction of the flock but the protection of the flock as well. I learned how to spot the wolves and wolvettes early and how to ask questions that would expose them and run them off. Here’s a few of my lessons learned and what to look for;
Don’t be fooled by good looks
Don’t be fooled by super spiritual talk
Their knowledge is superficial
They twist truth and scripture to fit their own agenda
Their actions don’t match their words
Monitor what activities they tend to show up at
See if they avoid the leadership of the church
They refuse accountability and react defensively to criticism
They seek power and control rather than empowering others
They use emotions like guilt, shame, and fear to control others
They are experts at deception and manipulation
Ask “What brings you to our fellowship?”
Ask “Why did you leave your previous fellowship?”
They leave a trail of hurt people behind them
Our Action Plan
Have you ever run into a wolf or wolfette? Here’s some ideas to help you protect yourself and those you are discipling.
Be knee deep in the truth (the Word) and you’ll be able to spot the lie. (John 17:17)
Stay within your relational capacity so you know the condition of the flock. (Proverbs 27:23)
Know yourself and be open to critique and accountability. (1 Timothy 4:16, Proverbs 27:17)
Counterfeits will be among us by design. As disciple-makers we need to be able to respond appropriately and protect the flock.
Lidiando Con las Falsificaciones – #77
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, veremos el Evangelio de Mateo para ver cómo Jesús abordó el hecho de que las falsificaciones estarán entre nosotros y qué debemos hacer al respecto.
Así que comencemos
Mateo 13:36-43
Entonces, despedida la gente, entró Jesús en la casa; y acercándose a él sus discípulos, le dijeron: Explícanos la parábola de la cizaña del campo. Respondiendo él, les dijo: El que siembra la buena semilla es el Hijo del Hombre. El campo es el mundo; la buena semilla son los hijos del reino, y la cizaña son los hijos del malo. El enemigo que la sembró es el diablo; la siega es el fin del siglo; y los segadores son los ángeles. De manera que como se arranca la cizaña, y se quema en el fuego, así será en el fin de este siglo. Enviará el Hijo del Hombre a sus ángeles, y recogerán de su reino a todos los que sirven de tropiezo, y a los que hacen iniquidad, y los echarán en el horno de fuego; allí será el lloro y el crujir de dientes. Entonces los justos resplandecerán como el sol en el reino de su Padre. El que tiene oídos para oír, oiga.
Mis Pensamientos
Jesús explica una parábola que le había contado a la multitud antes y que es útil para todos los hacedores de discípulos, en aquel entonces y los de ahora. La conclusión es que habrá falsificaciones cerca del reino y Dios se ocupará de ellas al final.
Entonces, ¿por qué es esto tan importante? Siempre he pensado que esta parábola se trataba de que no juzguemos a los demás. Pero Jesús no está hablando de nuestro juicio sobre los demás. En todo caso, está advirtiendo a los ángeles que no juzguen demasiado pronto. No, Jesús simplemente está declarando que Dios sabe quiénes son los falsificadores y que Él hará que Sus ángeles ejecuten juicio en el momento apropiado y de la manera apropiada.
Entonces, ¿qué significa esta parábola para nosotros como discípulos y hacedores de discípulos? Significa que vamos a tener que vivir con el hecho de que hay falsificaciones entre nosotros. Algunos los detectaremos fácilmente y otros no. Lo que es realmente interesante es que cuando Jesús contó la parábola a la multitud, hizo esta declaración;
Él les dijo: Un enemigo ha hecho esto. Y los siervos le dijeron: ¿Quieres, pues, que vayamos y la arranquemos? Él les dijo: No, no sea que al arrancar la cizaña, arranquéis también con ella el trigo. (Mateo 13:28-29)
Uno tiene que preguntarse cómo eliminar las falsificaciones podría dañar a los verdaderos discípulos. ¿Cómo es posible que convivir con un grupo de farsantes pueda ser de beneficio para lo que son verdaderos seguidores?
Puedo pensar en cinco formas en que convivir con cristianos falsos sería para nuestro beneficio;
1. Dios lo pone como prueba: como en el Antiguo Testamento, Dios usó las falsificaciones para probar nuestro deseo y determinación de buscar la verdad. (Deuteronomio 13:1-3)
2. Para crear un autoexamen: desafía a los verdaderos creyentes a examinar y fortalecer continuamente su propia fe, asegurándose de que permanezcan arraigados en la creencia auténtica. (2 Corintios 13:5.)
3. Nos enseña cómo tratar a los “cristianos” carnales: nos da la oportunidad de prestar atención a las advertencias que se nos dan en las Escrituras para aquellos que podemos dudar que estén realmente en el reino. (1 Corintios 5:11-13, Mateo 7:15-23, 2 Timoteo 3:5, Tito 3:10-11)
4. Aprendemos más sobre la paciencia de Dios: Él está esperando que se conviertan y quiere que todas las personas se arrepientan y sean salvas. (2 Pedro 3:9).
5. Aprendemos más sobre la justicia absoluta de Dios – Al final, Dios derramará Su ira sobre aquellos que no reciban a Su Hijo, se arrepientan de sus pecados y entren en el reino de la gracia. (Mateo 13:24-50, 25:31-46.)
Ciertamente, todos hemos escuchado sermones que usan este pasaje para exhortarnos a no juzgar a los demás. Pero aquí hay una advertencia opuesta. Estén alerta por los falsos maestros y las personas carnales que afirman estar en el reino. Las Escrituras nos advierten que nos mantengamos alejados de tales personas.
Mi Historia
Cuando era pastor de tiempo completo, enseñé una clase de escuela dominical de unos 30 solteros mayores (aquellos entre treinta y cuarenta años). En más de una ocasión, un tipo muy elocuente y bien formado encontró el camino a nuestra clase y yo pensé: “¡Ahora aquí hay un tipo a quien me gustaría discipular!” Solo para descubrir semanas después que era solo un lobo al acecho de alguna dama soltera y él no tenía ni un hueso espiritual en su cuerpo. Y, por cierto, también habían algunas lobitas.
Cuando descubrimos quiénes eran estas personas y qué estaban haciendo, tuvimos que advertir a la gente de la clase de escuela dominical y pedirles a los depredadores que se fueran. No fue fácil y estoy seguro de que se cometieron errores y se hirieron los sentimientos de algunos. Pero, como hacedores de discípulos, no solo se nos confía la instrucción del rebaño, sino también la protección del rebaño. Aprendí a detectar a los lobos y las lobas temprano y a hacer preguntas que los expondrían y los ahuyentaran. Estas son algunas de mis lecciones aprendidas y qué buscar:
– No te dejes engañar por la buena apariencia exterior
– No te dejes engañar por la charla súper espiritual
– Su conocimiento es superficial
– Tuercen la verdad y las escrituras para que se ajusten a su propia agenda
– Sus acciones no coinciden con sus palabras
– Supervisa las actividades en las que tienden a aparecer
– Fíjate si evitan el liderazgo de la iglesia
– Se niegan a rendir cuentas y reaccionan a la defensiva ante las críticas
– Buscan poder y control en lugar de empoderar a otros
– Usan emociones como la culpa, la vergüenza y el miedo para controlar a los demás
– Son expertos en engaño y manipulación
– Pregunta: “¿Qué te trae a nuestro grupo?
– Pregunta: “¿Por qué dejó su enseñanza anterior?”
– Dejan un rastro de personas heridas detrás de ellos
Nuestro Plan de Acción
¿Alguna vez te has encontrado con un lobo o un lobo? Aquí hay algunas ideas para ayudarlo a protegerse a sí mismo y a aquellos a quienes está discipulando.
– Está sumergido hasta las rodillas en la verdad (la Palabra) y podrás detectar la mentira
(Juan 17:17).
– Mantente dentro de tu capacidad relacional para conocer la condición del rebaño. (Proverbios
27:23).
– Conócete a ti mismo y mantente abierto a la crítica y la responsabilidad. (1 Timoteo 4:16,
Proverbios 27:17).
Las falsificaciones estarán entre nosotros por diseño. Como hacedores de discípulos, debemos ser capaces de responder adecuadamente y proteger al rebaño.
Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be combining the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke to discover what Jesus said unlocks the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35; Mark 4:10-12, 21-25, 33-34; Luke 8:10, 16-18
As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but not to them. To those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though ever seeing, they do not see; though ever hearing, they do not hear or understand, otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”
Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand? No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light. In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear and how you listen. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you. For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has or thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
Jesus spoke many such parables and spoke the word to the crowds in parables to the extent that they could understand. He did not tell them anything without using a parable but privately He explained everything to His own disciples. So it was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
My Thoughts
Why did Jesus speak in parables? It seems He was only doing what the prophet Isaiah foretold long before the Messiah appeared. The prophet warned that even though people have eyes and ears, they wouldn’t see or hear what God was saying. But Jesus announces that a unique person would hear and see, those who were spiritually hungry and thirsty! To those who were seeking to understand, to those who were spiritually hungry enough to simply ask questions, He would open their eyes and ears to truths that had long since been a mystery.
He goes on to give an explanation that sounds much like a blessing and a curse;
For those who do seek to understand, more will be given. And for those who are spiritually lethargic, even what they have will be taken away.
I used to think that Jesus was intentionally muddying the waters to those who did not earnestly seek what He was giving. But it is their own lethargy that was blinding them to the light. Because Jesus plainly states that “no one lights a light and puts it under a bed or basket, but puts it on a stand for everyone to see.” In other words the truth is hidden in plain sight. The spiritually hungry see it because they want to see it. The mysteries are unlocked for them. Just like faith opens grace, spiritual hunger opens the truth.
He also includes the Biblical principle of “like measure.” Like measure is a truth that informs the hearer that “what they put into it, is what they will get out of it and more.” So if we put a lot into understanding the Word of God, we will not only get what our efforts desire but even more than what we deserve. If we are lazy and only put in the minimal effort to understand, we will reap little and even what we think we understand will be taken away. This principle of “like measure” is both exciting and scary at the same time!
But I like how simple it is to use this principle to gain even more understanding. You just have to care enough to ask questions! That’s as simple as it gets! But over the years of making disciples I’ve found it very rare to find people who ask questions (let alone good ones). And this is key for us as disciple makers; We need to teach people how to ask questions! It takes intentionality, coaching, and patience. Most Christians are accustomed to monolog style of teaching. Discussion is quite foreign to them. That’s why we as disciple-makers need to be purposeful about training people to ask questions and thereby unlocking mysteries for themselves.
My Story
I had such a good mentor when I was a young believer. He taught me the art of looking at Jesus and imitating Him. One of the areas he pointed out to me was how much Jesus asked questions. Jesus would even answer questions with a question. It only makes sense that as we become more like Jesus, we become more like God the Father (Ephesians 5:1).
Think about it for a second. In Genesis 3, God asks four questions of Adam and Eve when they were hiding in the garden. That’s the Omniscient Creator, who knows everything, asking questions! My mentor impressed on me that if God the Father and God the Son are asking questions, I ought to condition myself to do the same. He would have me come to our times together with three questions ready to ask him. And in typical “Jesus Fashion” he would usually ask me a question to answer my question. He even had me asking questions of visiting missionaries and conference speakers.
If you ask the people I’m discipling today, “What is one of Chuck’s strengths?” They would probably say; “The guy asks a lot of questions!” And may I say with great excitement, enthusiasm and a little humility, “I’ve unlocked a lot of spiritual mysteries for myself and others in doing so.”
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas.
Develop a list of three sure fire question you would want to ask every disciple
Listen closely to those you are discipling. Are they asking questions?
Develop a plan to teach disciples to ask good questions
It’s an exciting prospect to know that Jesus is ready and willing to illuminate spiritual truths for us. Let’s come to Him as our Rabbi, eager and curious enough to ask questions and learn about the kingdom of God.
¡Bienvenido nuevamente! Hoy, combinaremos los Evangelios de Mateo, Marcos y Lucas para descubrir lo que dijo Jesús que desvela los misterios del reino de Dios.
Así que vamos a comenzar.
Mateo 13:10-17, 34-35; Marcos 4:10-12, 21-25, 33-34; Lucas 8:10, 16-18
Tan pronto como Jesús estuvo a solas con los Doce y los que lo rodeaban, los discípulos se acercaron a Jesús y le preguntaron: “Él respondiendo, les dijo: Porque a vosotros os es dado saber los misterios del reino de los cielos; mas a ellos no les es dado. Porque a cualquiera que tiene, se le dará, y tendrá más; pero al que no tiene, aun lo que tiene le será quitado. De manera que se cumple en ellos la profecía de Isaías, que dijo: De oído oiréis, y no entenderéis; y viendo veréis, y no percibiréis.Porque el corazón de este pueblo se ha engrosado, y con los oídos oyen pesadamente, y han cerrado sus ojos; para que no vean con los ojos, y oigan con los oídos, y con el corazón entiendan, se conviertan, yo los sane.”Por eso les hablo por parábolas: porque viendo no ven, y oyendo no oyen, ni entienden, de lo contrario, podrían volverse y ser perdonados.”
Jesús también les dijo: “Nadie que enciende una luz la cubre con una vasija, ni la pone debajo de la cama, sino que la pone en un candelero para que los que entran vean la luz. Porque nada hay oculto, que no haya de ser manifestado; ni escondido, que no haya de ser conocido, y de salir a luz.”
Pero bienaventurados vuestros ojos porque ven, y vuestros oídos porque oyen. Porque en verdad os digo que muchos profetas y justos desearon ver lo que vosotros veis, y no lo vieron, y oír lo que oís, pero no lo oyeron. Si alguno tiene oídos para oír, que oiga”. Continuó diciendo: “Presta atención a lo que escuchas y cómo escuchas. Con la medida que uses, se te medirá, y se te agregará aún más. Porque al que tiene, se le dará más. Pero al que no tiene, incluso lo que tiene o cree que tiene se le quitará”.
Jesús habló muchas de esas parábolas y habló la palabra a las multitudes en parábolas en la medida en que pudieron entender. No les dijo nada sin usar una parábola, sino que en privado les explicó todo a sus propios discípulos. Así se cumplió lo dicho por medio del profeta: “Abriré mi boca en parábolas; Diré cosas ocultas desde la fundación del mundo”.
Mis Pensamientos
¿Por qué habló Jesús en parábolas? Parece que solo estaba haciendo lo que el profeta Isaías predijo mucho antes de que apareciera el Mesías. El profeta advirtió que aunque las personas tengan ojos y oídos, no verían ni escucharían lo que Dios estaba diciendo. ¡Pero Jesús anuncia que una persona única escucharía y vería; aquellos que tenían hambre y sed espiritualmente! A los que buscaban entender, a los que estaban lo suficientemente hambrientos espiritualmente como para simplemente hacer preguntas; a ellos Él les abría los ojos y los oídos a verdades que desde hacía mucho tiempo habían sido un misterio.
Continúa dando una explicación que suena muy parecida a una bendición y una maldición;
A los que buscan entender, se les dará más. Y para aquellos que están espiritualmente letárgicos, incluso lo que tienen les será quitado.
Solía pensar que Jesús estaba enturbiando intencionalmente las aguas a aquellos que no buscaban sinceramente lo que Él estaba dando. Pero es su propio letargo lo que los mantiene ciegos a la luz. Porque Jesús declara claramente que “nadie enciende una luz y la pone debajo de la cama o de una vasija, sino que la pone en un candelero para que todos la vean”. En otras palabras, la verdad está oculta a plena vista. Los espiritualmente hambrientos lo ven porque quieren verlo. Los misterios se desbloquean para ellos. Así como la fe abre la gracia, el hambre espiritual abre la verdad.
Él también incluye el principio bíblico de “medida igual”. Como medida es una verdad que informa al oyente que “lo que ponen en ello, es lo que obtendrán de él y más”. Entonces, si ponemos mucho en entender la Palabra de Dios, no solo obtendremos lo que nuestros esfuerzos desean, sino incluso más de lo que merecemos. Si somos perezosos y solo hacemos el mínimo esfuerzo para entender, cosecharemos poco e incluso lo que creemos que entendemos nos será arrebatado. ¡Este principio de “medida similar” es emocionante y aterrador al mismo tiempo!
Pero me gusta lo simple que es usar este principio para obtener aún más comprensión. ¡Solo tienes que preocuparte lo suficiente como para hacer preguntas! ¡Eso es tan simple como parece! Pero a lo largo de los años de hacer discípulos, he encontrado muy raro encontrar personas que hagan preguntas (y mucho menos buenas). Y esto es clave para nosotros como hacedores de discípulos; ¡Necesitamos enseñar a la gente a hacer preguntas! Se necesita intencionalidad, entrenamiento y paciencia. La mayoría de los cristianos están acostumbrados al estilo de enseñanza monólogo. La discusión es bastante extraña para ellos. Es por eso que nosotros, como hacedores de discípulos, debemos tener el propósito de capacitar a las personas para que hagan preguntas y, por lo tanto, desbloqueen misterios por sí mismos.
Mi Historia
I had such a good mentor when I was a young believer. He taught me the art of looking at Jesus and imitating Him. One of the areas he pointed out to me was how much Jesus asked questions. Jesus would even answer questions with a question. It only makes sense that as we become more like Jesus, we become more like God the Father (Ephesians 5:1).
Piénsalo por un segundo. En Génesis 3, Dios hace cuatro preguntas a Adán y Eva cuando se escondían en el jardín. ¡Ese es el Creador Omnisciente, que lo sabe todo, haciendo preguntas! Mi mentor me inculcó que si Dios el Padre y Dios el Hijo están haciendo preguntas, yo debería condicionarme a hacer lo mismo. Me haría venir a nuestros tiempos juntos con tres preguntas listas para hacerle. Y en la típica “moda de Jesús”, por lo general me hacía una pregunta para responder a mi pregunta. Incluso me hizo hacer preguntas a los misioneros visitantes y a los oradores de las conferencias.
Si le preguntas a las personas que estoy discipulando hoy, “¿Cuál es una de las fortalezas de Chuck?” Probablemente dirían; “¡El tipo hace muchas preguntas!” Y permítanme decir con gran emoción, entusiasmo y un poco de humildad: “He desbloqueado muchos misterios espirituales para mí y para otros al hacerlo”.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora es el momento de la aplicación. Aquí hay algunas ideas.
– Desarrolla una lista de tres preguntas seguras que le gustaría hacerle a cada discípulo
– Escucha atentamente a aquellos a quienes está discipulando. ¿Están haciendo preguntas?
– Desarrolla un plan para enseñar a los discípulos a hacer buenas preguntas
Es una perspectiva emocionante saber que Jesús está listo y dispuesto a iluminar verdades espirituales para nosotros. Vengamos a Él como nuestro Rabino, lo suficientemente ansiosos y curiosos como para hacer preguntas y aprender sobre el reino de Dios.
Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be combining the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke to learn how to avoid the mistake of taking too much ownership of our ministries.
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure. Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, ties up the strong man, and then he divides up his plunder.
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. But the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.” Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come. Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
My Thoughts
Jesus is bringing a full court press against the religious leaders of His day. They had accused Him of being in league with the Devil. And now Jesus is exposing them for their real motives. He is getting after the heart. He begins by explaining His plan of attack against Satan by comparing him as a strong man to be disarmed and plundered. Jesus is stronger and has overcome him. He continues by describing the Pharisees real allegiance to Satan by ascribing the works of God to the Devil and actually committing the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And finally, Jesus reveals that the fruit of their spiritual debauchery is rooted in an evil heart. They are an orchard of bad trees. The religious leaders were completely out of alignment with God.
As disciple-makers (spiritual leaders), we have to ask the question, “How did they get so far off target?” Well, several times the Scripture describes these men as envious (Mark 15:10), jealous (Acts 5:17-18, 13:45), petty (Matthew 23:23), and hypocritical (Matthew 23:1-15). They were trying to protect their turf and their reputation. (John 11:45-57).
I have discovered over the years there’s a fine line between trying to protect the flock and protecting ourselves. We may step across that line when we feel like our reputation, our methods, or our influence is being questioned or down right threatened by other disciple-makers. And then all of a sudden, things like envy, jealousy, pettiness, and even bitterness creeps in and Voilà! We go into full on self preservation mode just like the Pharisees.
So how do we stay on the right side and not slip into the dark side? Here’s some things to consider;
All sheep belong to God. Hold them in an open hand.
Stay humble
Stay teachable
Know Thyself
Know the difference between a wolf and a big sheep
Stay in the Word
Be a team player
Protect but do not Possess
Die to yourself
There is an appropriate level of preservation and stewardship of one’s self and ministry. But like I said, there can be a fine line between doing what is right as a disciple-maker and being a spiritual jerk. Watch out for the warning signs (envy, jealousy, pettiness, bitterness) when associating with other servants of the Lord.
My Story
I was reading John chapter 17 and I noticed something interesting. Jesus is praying to the Father and states that the men (the 11 remaining Apostles) were given to Him by the Father. I thought that it was incredible that even the Son of God received His ministry from the Father. Jesus became a steward of the little flock that was entrusted to Him. He acknowledges that these men were a gift from God when He says; “They were Yours and You gave them to Me.” (John 17:6).
Now if men had to be given to the Son of God, I thought, where do the men and women I’ve been entrusted with come from?! The same! They are a gift from God. He places them in my hand, so to speak, to shepherd in His ways. But I also realized that I needed to keep an open hand because I may only be their mentor for a season. Then He may give them to someone else to “water” what I “planted.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). I called this my “Open Hand Policy.”
It wasn’t very long before my new found “Policy” was tested. A guy we just moved into Deb and I’s home was immediately invited to another disciple-makers home for life-on-life discipleship. Without notice, the guy, up and moved out. You can imagine the feeling we were having at that moment. “Wait a minute! That’s my sheep!” Actually, no. All sheep belong to Jesus. We are just the under-shepherds. Envy, jealousy, pettiness, and bitterness are not options when you realize you don’t “own” the sheep. Oh, I could have tightened my grip on what I thought was rightfully mine but I’ve found it is very painful when God has to pry your fingers away from someone He wants to give to some other disciple-maker. Keep an open hand with God’s sheep!
Our Action Plan
Now we’ll look at some ideas on how to help us as disciple-makers avoid the pitfall of the Pharisees;
Do I have the “Open Hand Policy” with God’s sheep?
Do a study on how the Body of Christ disciples people and not just one individual
Point people to Jesus as their Master Shepherd
Take a moment to pray and give those who have been entrusted to you to their rightful Owner. Root out any envy, jealousy, pettiness, and bitterness you may have with other brothers and sisters. Now we are in proper alignment with the Master Shepherd and can steward the flock appropriately.
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, combinaremos los Evangelios de Mateo, Marcos y Lucas para aprender cómo evitar el error de apropiarnos demasiado de nuestros ministerios.
Así que comencemos
Mateo 12:29-37, Marcos 3:27-30, Lucas 11:21-22
Cuando un hombre fuerte, completamente armado, guarda su casa, sus posesiones están seguras. De hecho, nadie puede entrar en la casa de un hombre fuerte para robar sus posesiones a menos que alguien más fuerte lo ataque y lo domine, le quite la armadura en la que confiaba el hombre, ate al hombre fuerte y luego se reparta su botín.
»El que no está de mi parte está contra mí; y el que conmigo no recoge esparce. Por eso digo que a todos se les podrá perdonar todo pecado y toda blasfemia, pero la blasfemia contra el Espíritu no se le perdonará a nadie.A cualquiera que pronuncie alguna palabra contra el Hijo del hombre se le perdonará, pero el que hable contra el Espíritu Santo no tendrá perdón ni en este mundo ni en el venidero.
»Si tienen un buen árbol, su fruto es bueno; si tienen un mal árbol, su fruto es malo. Al árbol se le reconoce por su fruto. Camada de víboras, ¿cómo pueden ustedes que son malos decir algo bueno? De la abundancia del corazón habla la boca. El que es bueno, de la bondad que atesora en el corazón saca el bien, pero el que es malo, de su maldad saca el mal. Pero yo les digo que en el día del juicio todos tendrán que dar cuenta de toda palabra ociosa que hayan pronunciado. Porque por tus palabras se te declarará inocente y por tus palabras se te condenará».
Mis Pensamientos
Jesús está ejerciendo una presión judicial contra los líderes religiosos de su tiempo. Lo habían acusado de estar aliado con el Diablo. Y ahora Jesús los está exponiendo por sus verdaderos motivos. Está persiguiendo el corazón. Comienza explicando su plan de ataque contra Satanás comparándolo como un hombre fuerte que debe ser desarmado y saqueado. Jesús es más fuerte y lo ha vencido. Continúa describiendo la verdadera lealtad de los fariseos a Satanás al atribuir las obras de Dios al Diablo y cometiendo el pecado imperdonable de blasfemia contra el Espíritu Santo. Y finalmente, Jesús revela que el fruto de su libertinaje espiritual está arraigado dentro de un corazón malvado. Son un huerto de árboles malos. Los líderes religiosos estaban completamente desalineados con Dios.
Como hacedores de discípulos (líderes espirituales), tenemos que hacernos la pregunta: “¿Cómo se desviaron tanto del objetivo?” Bueno, varias veces las Escrituras describen a estos hombres como envidiosos (Marcos 15:10), celosos (Hechos 5:17-18, 13:45), mezquinos (Mateo 23:23) e hipócritas (Mateo 23:1-15). Estaban tratando de proteger su territorio y su reputación. (Juan 11:45-57).
A lo largo de los años he descubierto que hay una delgada línea entre tratar de proteger al rebaño y protegernos a nosotros mismos. Podemos cruzar esa línea cuando sentimos que nuestra reputación, nuestros métodos o nuestra influencia están siendo cuestionados o directamente amenazados por otros hacedores de discípulos. Y luego, de repente, cosas como la envidia, los celos, la mezquindad e incluso la amargura se arrastran y ¡Allí está! Entramos de lleno en modo de autoconservación al igual que los fariseos.
Entonces, ¿cómo nos mantenemos en el lado correcto y no caemos en el lado oscuro? He aquí algunas cosas a tener en cuenta;
– Todas las ovejas pertenecen a Dios. Sujétalos con las manos abiertas.
– Mantente humilde
– Mantente enseñable
– Conócete a ti mismo
– Conoce la diferencia entre un lobo y una oveja grande
– Permanece en la Palabra
– Sé un jugador en equipo
– Vas a proteger pero no a poseer
– Muere a ti mismo
Hay un nivel apropiado de preservación y mayordomía de uno mismo y del ministerio. Pero como dije, puede haber una delgada línea entre hacer lo que es correcto como hacedor de discípulos y ser un déspota espiritual. Está atento a cualquiera señal de esto (envidia, celos, mezquindad, amargura) al asociarte con otros siervos del Señor.
Mi Historia
Estaba leyendo el capítulo 17 de Juan y noté algo interesante. Jesús está orando al Padre y afirma que los hombres (los 11 apóstoles restantes) le fueron dados por el Padre. Pensé que era increíble que incluso el Hijo de Dios recibiera Su ministerio del Padre. Jesús se convirtió en administrador del pequeño rebaño que le fue confiado. Él reconoce que estos hombres fueron un regalo de Dios cuando Él dice; “Eran tuyas y me las diste“. (Juan 17:6).
Ahora, si los hombres tuvieran que ser entregados al Hijo de Dios, pensé, ¿de dónde vienen los hombres y mujeres que me han confiado? ¡Igualmente! Son un regalo de Dios. Él los pone en mi mano, por así decirlo, para pastorearlos en Sus caminos. Pero también me di cuenta de que necesitaba mantener la mano abierta porque puede que solo sea su mentor por una temporada. Entonces Él puede dárselas a otra persona para que “riegue” lo que yo “sembré”. (1 Corintios 3:6-7). Llamo a esto mi “Política de las Manos Abiertas”.
No pasó mucho tiempo antes de que mi nueva “Política” fuera probada. Un chico al que nos acabábamos de mudar a mi casa y de Deb, fue invitado inmediatamente a otro hogar de hacedores de discípulos para el discipulado de vida – en vida. Sin previo aviso, el tipo, se levantó y se marchó. Te puedes imaginar la sensación que estábamos teniendo en ese momento. “¡Espera un minuto! ¡Esa es mi oveja!” En realidad, no. Todas las ovejas pertenecen a Jesús. Nosotros solo somos los pastores inferiores. La envidia, los celos, la mezquindad y la amargura no son opciones cuando te das cuenta de que no eres el “dueño” de las ovejas. Oh, podría haber apretado mi agarre sobre lo que pensé que era legítimamente mío, pero he descubierto que es muy doloroso cuando Dios tiene que apartar tus dedos de alguien que quiere darle a algún otro hacedor de discípulos. ¡Mantén las manos abiertas con las ovejas de Dios!
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora veremos algunas ideas sobre cómo ayudarnos a nosotros, como hacedores de discípulos, a evitar la trampa de los fariseos;
– ¿Tengo la “Política de las Manos Abiertas” con las ovejas de Dios?
– Haz un estudio sobre cómo el Cuerpo de Cristo discipula a las personas y no solo a un individuo
– Señala a las personas a Jesús como su Maestro Pastor
Tómate un momento para orar y entregar a aquellos que te han sido confiados a su legítimo Propietario. Arranca de raíz cualquier envidia, celos, mezquindad y amargura que puedas tener con otros hermanos y hermanas. Ahora estamos en la alineación adecuada con el Pastor Maestro y podemos administrar el rebaño de manera apropiada.
When a visionary goes beyond the God given message and the recipients start to feel oppressed and manipulated by the constant drumbeat of the dream, people can be over-catalyzed. The weariness of an “overly catalyzed” soul resonates deeply with me. I have stood on both sides of this dynamic. At times I have overstepped my bounds as a visionary. And I’ve also been the recipient of a constant campaign of an ardent champion for the cause. I understand the fatigue and disillusionment that it can cause. While the catalyst plays a vital role in any community, excessive zeal can lead to unintended consequences.
In the ever-evolving landscape of faith communities, visionaries play a crucial role. Their passion, creativity, and ability to inspire change are essential for growth and transformation. However, like any powerful force, visionary leadership can become a double-edged sword. When overused or misdirected, it can lead to unintended consequences. In this blog post, we explore seven dangers that visionaries should be aware of and actively avoid in over-catalyzing their people.
1. Being Presumptuous with the Will of God
Visionaries often walk a fine line between divine inspiration and personal ambition. While it’s essential to seek God’s guidance, presuming that every idea or vision aligns perfectly with His will can be dangerous. Over-catalyzing visionaries may rush ahead without proper discernment, assuming that their plans are unquestionably God-ordained. The result? Missteps, missed opportunities, and potential harm to the community we serve.
The sin of presumption can be clearly seen in 1 Samuel 13. King Saul has rallied the troops to fight against the Philistines. The prophet Samuel had instructed the king to wait seven days and he would make appropriate sacrifices for Saul and his army. On the seventh day, when Samuel delayed and the army started to dissipate, Saul took it upon himself to offer the sacrifices which is strictly forbidden. As soon as he finished, Samuel showed up and rebuked Saul. Saul’s excuse;
“When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.” (1 Samuel 13:11-12)
In the same way a catalyst can feel compelled and overstep their responsibility and/or authority. They begin to presume God is going to do things that may not be in accordance with His will. This is a very dangerous assumption on the visionary’s part and undermines the confidence of God’s people.
Solution: Be steeped in the Word of God and pray for discernment. Seek wise counsel and remain open to correction. Humility and a willingness to adjust course are vital.
2. Exaggerating the Results
Visionaries thrive on big dreams and audacious goals. However, when the pursuit of impact overshadows the actual outcomes, problems arise. Over-catalyzing visionaries may inflate their achievements, creating unrealistic expectations. This can lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and a loss of credibility.
When the Apostle Paul was encouraging the newly planted church in Galatia he also added this sobering admonition; “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22). Paul didn’t sugar coat and soft pedal the bad news along with the good news.
There are two sides to the coin of vision casting. The first is the exciting possibilities of what God can do. The second is the reality that God has a plan and we must obey His will no matter the outcome. The visionary needs to express both possibilities and the need to trust the sovereign hand of God for the results.
Solution: Celebrate progress, but remain grounded. Honesty about both successes and setbacks builds trust and authenticity.
3. Stretching the Word of God
The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It holds the blueprints for God’s plan and people. It gives us both direction and hope. However, Over-catalyzing visionaries may twist Scripture to fit their agenda. Whether misinterpreting passages or cherry-picking verses, this approach is misleading and undermines the integrity of the vision. It can also harm those who follow blindly.
While we cast vision for others, we dare not do what the Apostle Peter warns others had done to Paul’s writings and other Scriptures;
… just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:15-16)
For example, I’ve heard and even used the tactic myself of trying to speed up the return of Christ by completing the Great Commission. In other words, let’s get busy sharing the gospel so that we can reach every people group on the planet and go home to heaven. It sounds noble and we whip the disciples into a frenzy. But the fact is WE never finish the job, an angel does.
And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. (Revelation 14:6)
The visionary must align him or herself squarely with the Scriptures. We cannot afford to add or subtract in order to make our case stronger. The power rests in the truth and the Word of God is able to stir the heart without embellishment or contrivance.
Solution: Study the Bible diligently, seek context, and interpret it faithfully. Let the Word shape your vision, not the other way around.
4. Ignoring Some of the Gifts and Contributions of the Body
Visionaries often see the big picture, but we mustn’t overlook the diverse talents and gifts within their community. Over-catalyzing leaders may bulldoze over others’ contributions, inadvertently stifling creativity and collaboration. Unity suffers when individual voices are drowned out.
The catalyst may be tempted to single-out certain gifts or individuals to see the vision through. Certainly, it’s going to take committed disciples of Jesus to see the work of God advance. But they come with all kinds of gifts, talents, and abilities. As Paul outlines in his letter to the Ephesians;
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
The visionary must take into account that the church, in its wholeness, will be God’s approach to fulfilling His vision.
Solution: Cultivate a culture of inclusivity. Recognize and appreciate the unique strengths each member brings.
5. Beating a Dead or Limping Horse
Visionaries are passionate about progress, but relentless pursuit can lead to burnout. Over-catalyzing leaders may push others and themselves beyond healthy limits. Like a rider flogging a tired horse, we risk exhaustion and diminishing returns. And then there are those who could care less about our vision and we relentlessly continue our campaign, thus beating a “dead horse.” But the over-catalyzing visionary’s motto is “No horse is too dead to beat.” We need to learn how to discern that we’ve reached a stopping point and push the pause button. Even Jesus knew when to say when;
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12)
In some cases the catalyst has gone too far and pushed too hard with willing participants. And this is where the savvy to know when to stop is essential. We can bend ‘em but not break ‘em.
Solution: Balance ambition with self-care. Rest, recharge, and recognize that sustainable growth requires pacing.
6. All Talk, Little Action
Visionaries excel at casting vision, but implementation matters. Over-catalyzing leaders may become enamored with ideas, neglecting practical steps. Promises of results without personal practice, modeling, and coaching erode trust and credibility. In the Army we wanted to make sure that we would never order anyone to do something we hadn’t done or wouldn’t do ourselves. Although this may be an unrealistic standard in every case, it was expected by leadership and subordinates alike in most situations.
Jesus chided the religious leaders with this statement;
“They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” (Matthew 23:4)
Jesus on the other hand, lived out His vision before the people. He modeled day-in and day-out the practical steps to reach the goal. Like Jesus, the catalyst must be willing to do the hard work we expect others to do to fulfill their vision.
Solution: Pair vision with action. Set achievable goals, create action plans, and execute them diligently with your people.
7. Unrealistic Expectations of God and His People
Visionaries often dream of miraculous breakthroughs. However, expecting constant supernatural interventions beyond what God wills can lead to disappointment. Over-catalyzing leaders may forget that God often works through ordinary means and gradual processes too. Those under the influence of a visionary that always has his head in the clouds can be perceived as chasing rainbows and unicorns instead of the will of God. We can become demanding and frustrated with the people we lead. This can only spell disaster if left unchecked. We must be grounded in the Word and will of God. We could even venture in the realm of the false prophets.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires (2 Timothy 4:3)
As catalysts, we shouldn’t make promises that are not ours to keep.
Solution: Embrace faith without demanding constant fireworks. Trust God’s timing and appreciate the everyday miracles in the mundane.
There’s an old saying: “It takes one to know one.” You’ll notice that I have implicated myself in this article. I’ve committed all seven of the pitfalls. Deb and I were discussing this one day, and she provided a great illustration. She likened the catalyst to salt. Most recipes call for a pinch of salt to enhance flavor. However, if we use too much salt, it can ruin the dish. I confess to occasionally being a bit too salty. So as you read this, and if you feel any conviction, rest assured that the author is also repenting alongside you.
Visionary leadership is a gift, but it must be wielded with wisdom. By avoiding these pitfalls, visionaries can catalyze positive change without fleecing the flock. Let us honor the role of catalysts while remaining grounded in the Word and will of God.
Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said. “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?” “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
My Thoughts
Do you think Simon got the “punchline” of the story Jesus told? I doubt it. It seems the woman was a notorious sinner. She humble herself and comes to Jesus with a lavish gift of repentance. She is acknowledging her sin and Jesus says “He who is forgiven much, loves much.”
And here’s the punchline Simon missed; Who of us has not sinned much? Who of us can stand before God and say with a straight face, “Well, I wasn’t that bad.” No, I think if we were standing in the Judge’s presence, Simon and the rest of us would quickly fall to our knees and confess our absolute depravity. We would clearly see our need for His forgiveness and comparisons would not even enter our minds.
But this is what religion without relationship does to people. We forget that there is nothing we could do to merit our salvation. We begin to compare ourselves to other “sinners” and use them to elevate ourselves. Pretty soon we are thinking God loves us because we are so “good.” We have no need for grace and mercy and extend very little to those around us.
But as disciple-makers, not only are we carefully watching for self-righteousness to rear its ugly head in our own lives, we are guarding against it in those we mentor as well. Jesus had to deal with this in His own crew several times.
Who was the greatest? (Luke 22:24-30)
Wanting to call down fire on a town. (Luke 9:51-56)
Stopping others from casting out demons. (Luke 9:49-50)
And the list goes on. As disciple-makers we have to spot it and call it out before the poison of self-righteousness sets in.
My Story
I have friends I love and respect dearly but there’s one thing that annoys them about me. I refuse to quit calling myself a “sinner.” Now, I usually include “saved by grace.” But that doesn’t matter. It still bothers them that I include being a “sinner” as part of my identity. I understand where they are coming from. They are accentuating the fact that they are new creatures in Christ and have left the old life behind. They are no longer slaves to sin and as children of God they have a new identity. They don’t want to be associated with the old life that no longer exists in their justified state.
But in my mind, maintaining the moniker of being a sinner is a state of reality. I sin every single day (much to my chagrin). And I believe I’m in good (or not so good) company. Recognizing this does not rattle my confidence in my identity in Christ. In fact, it intensifies it!
When I admit “I’m a sinner saved by grace” it brings two things in to clear focus;
I have sinned much
Therefore, I’m forgiven much
And what does Jesus say about those who are forgiven much? They love much! To me, admitting the fact that sin is still a very real part of my daily struggle and that Jesus loves me enough to die for all that wickedness within me, makes grace all that much more amazing. Reminding myself I’m a “sinner” also keeps me humble. I’m not as tempted to play the comparison game.
As a disciple-maker, I want to own my condition and make sure everyone I mentor knows I’m under no illusions that I’m any better than them. I also want them to know they are no better than anyone else either!
So I stand with the Apostle Paul under the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ when he says;
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15 KJV)
I have been forgiven much and I love the Forgiver much!
Our Action Plan
Now we’ll look at some ideas on how to help us avoid self-righteousness and model humility for the people we are discipling.
Study 1 John together with a special focus on what John says about sin
Admit your short-comings to those you are discipling
Spend a special time of confessing your sins to one another (James 5:16)
Self-righteousness is a very dangerous sin in itself. Let’s learn to recognize it in ourselves and those we disciple and nip it in the bud.
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, veremos el Evangelio de Lucas para ver cómo Jesús aborda el tema de la justicia propia.
Así que comencemos.
Lucas 7:36-50
Uno de los fariseos rogó a Jesús que comiese con él. Y habiendo entrado en casa del fariseo, se sentó a la mesa.Entonces una mujer de la ciudad, que era pecadora, al saber que Jesús estaba a la mesa en casa del fariseo, trajo un frasco de alabastro con perfume; y estando detrás de él a sus pies, llorando, comenzó a regar con lágrimas sus pies, y los enjugaba con sus cabellos; y besaba sus pies, y los ungía con el perfume. Cuando vio esto el fariseo que le había invitado, dijo para sí: Este, si fuera profeta, conocería quién y qué clase de mujer es la que le toca, que es pecadora.
Entonces respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Simón, una cosa tengo que decirte. Y él le dijo: Di, Maestro.”Un acreedor tenía dos deudores: el uno le debía quinientos denarios, y el otro cincuenta; y no teniendo ellos con qué pagar, perdonó a ambos. Di, pues, ¿cuál de ellos le amará más?” Respondiendo Simón, dijo:” Pienso que aquel a quien perdonó más.” Y él le dijo: Rectamente has juzgado.
Y volvíendo a la mujer, dijo a Simón: “¿Ves esta mujer? Entré en tu casa, y no me diste agua para mis pies; mas esta ha regado mis pies con lágrimas, y los ha enjugado con sus cabellos. No me diste beso; mas esta, desde que entré, no ha cesado de besar mis pies. No ungiste mi cabeza con aceite; mas esta ha ungido con perfume mis pies.Por lo cual te digo que sus muchos pecados le son perdonados, porque amó mucho; mas aquel a quien se le perdona poco, poco ama.” Y a ella le dijo: Tus pecados te son perdonados. Y los que estaban juntamente sentados a la mesa, comenzaron a decir entre sí: ¿Quién es este, que también perdona pecados? Pero él dijo a la mujer: “Tu fe te ha salvado, ve en paz.”
Mis Pensamientos
¿Crees que Simón entendió la “conclusión” de la historia que Jesús contó? Lo dudo. Parece que la mujer era una pecadora notoria. Ella se humilla y se acerca a Jesús con un generoso regalo de arrepentimiento. Ella está reconociendo su pecado y Jesús dice: “Al que se le perdona mucho, mucho ama”.
Y aquí está la conclusión que Simón se perdió; ¿Quién de nosotros no ha pecado mucho? ¿Quién de nosotros puede pararse delante de Dios y decir con cara seria: “Bueno, yo no era tan malo”? No. Creo que si estuviéramos en presencia del Juez, Simón y el resto de nosotros caeríamos rápidamente de rodillas y confesaríamos nuestra absoluta depravación. Veríamos claramente nuestra necesidad de Su perdón y las comparaciones ni siquiera entrarían en nuestras mentes.
Pero esto es lo que la religión sin relación hace a las personas. Olvidamos que no hay nada que podamos hacer para merecer nuestra salvación. Comenzamos a compararnos con otros “pecadores” y los usamos para elevarnos. Muy pronto pensamos que Dios nos ama porque somos tan “buenos”. No tenemos necesidad de gracia y misericordia y nos extendemos muy poco de ésta a los que nos rodean.
Pero como hacedores de discípulos, no solo estamos vigilando cuidadosamente si la justicia propia asoma su fea cabeza en nuestras propias vidas, sino que también nos estamos protegiendo contra ella a aquellos a quienes asesoramos. Jesús tuvo que lidiar con esto en sus propios discípulos varias veces.
– ¿Quién fue el más grande?
– Querer provocar fuego sobre una ciudad.
– Impedir que otros expulsen demonios.
Y la lista continúa. Como hacedores de discípulos, tenemos que detectarlo y denunciarlo antes de que el veneno de la justicia propia se establezca.
Mi Historia
Tengo amigos a los que quiero y respeto mucho, pero hay una cosa que les molesta de mí. Me niego a dejar de llamarme a mí mismo un “pecador”. Ahora, por lo general incluyo “salvados por gracia”. Pero eso no importa. Todavía les molesta que incluya ser un “pecador” como parte de mi identidad. Entiendo de dónde vienen. Están acentuando el hecho de que son nuevas criaturas en Cristo y han dejado atrás la vieja vida. Ya no son esclavos del pecado y, como hijos de Dios, tienen una nueva identidad. No quieren ser asociados con la vieja vida que ya no existe en su estado justificado.
Pero en mi mente, mantener el apodo de ser un pecador es un estado de realidad. Peco todos los días (muy a mi pesar). Y creo que estoy en buena (o no tan buena) compañía. Reconocer esto no hace tambalear mi confianza en mi identidad en Cristo. De hecho, ¡lo intensifica!
Cuando admito que “soy un pecador salvado por la gracia”, esto pone dos cosas en claro;
– He pecado mucho
– Por lo tanto, se me ha perdonado mucho
¿Y qué dice Jesús acerca de aquellos a quienes se les perdona mucho? ¡Aman mucho! Para mí, admitir el hecho de que el pecado sigue siendo una parte muy real de mi lucha diaria y que Jesús me ama lo suficiente como para morir por toda esa maldad dentro de mí, hace que la gracia sea mucho más asombrosa. Recordarme a mí mismo que soy un “pecador” también me mantiene humilde. No estoy tan tentado a jugar el juego de la comparación.
Como hacedor de discípulos, quiero ser dueño de mi condición y asegurarme de que todos los que asesoro sepan que no me hago ilusiones de que soy mejor que ellos. ¡También quiero que sepan que tampoco son mejores que los demás!
Así que estoy con el apóstol Pablo bajo la gracia del Señor Jesucristo cuando dice;
Este mensaje es digno de crédito y merece ser aceptado por todos: que Cristo Jesús vino al mundo a salvar a los pecadores, de los cuales yo soy el primero. (1 Timoteo 1:15 NIV)
¡He sido perdonado mucho y amo mucho al Perdonador!
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora veremos algunas ideas sobre cómo ayudarnos a evitar la justicia propia y modelar la humildad para las personas a las que estamos discipulando.
– Estudie 1 Juan juntos, enfócate especialmente en lo que Juan dice acerca del pecado
– Admite tus defectos a aquellos a quienes estás discipulando
– Dediquen un tiempo especial a confesar sus pecados unos a otros (Santiago 5:16)
La justicia propia es un pecado muy peligroso en sí mismo. Aprendamos a reconocerlo en nosotros mismos y en aquellos a quienes discipulamos y cortemosle hasta la raíz misma.
My daughter-in-law is a gifted artist. We recently toured her in-home studio and there was a particular abstract style I really liked. The characters, although nondescript, exhibit different personalities. The earth tone she used made me reflect on what I would imagine ancient Palestine to be like. Then an idea popped into my head. “Why not commission her to do a painting of Jesus and the Twelve?” I would love the style and study the individual apostle and match them with the actual Biblical character as I reflected on their personalities. So not only did she put her skills to work but our granddaughter, Ava, helped as well! Here’s the wonderful piece of art they painted for me. Now to study and draw out the Master and His twelve Apostles. Here’s a brief description of how I will tackle each character in the painting;
Outline for each character
Short description
Why I chose that particular character in the painting
Longer description
What I admire about the character
Scripture references used
Jesus is at the center of all the disciples but I will save the best for last and why I chose this particular character to represent Him. A list of the Apostles is given in Matthew’s Gospel.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. (Matthew 10:2-4)
We have a lot of information about a few Apostles, a little on a few more and almost none on the rest. I’m going to stick to information found in the Bible and let you research the archives on tradition on your own. I hope you find this interesting and informative as we reflect on the Biblical descriptions of those who literally changed the course of history and use Jessica and Ava’s painting to open the windows of our imagination.
One last note before we start in earnest; I’m going to use a writing style that will be both understood and enjoyed by my nine year old granddaughter. Ava, I hope you enjoy my description of your painting.
Thank you so much Jessica and Ava!
Simon Peter: The Bold and Impulsive Disciple
Simon Peter was a fisherman by trade, casting his nets into the Sea of Galilee. But when Jesus came into his life, everything changed. Jesus saw something special in Simon and gave him a new name: Peter, which means “rock.” Peter was a mix of boldness and blunders, making him one of the most colorful characters among Jesus’ disciples. I picked this character to show Simon Peter because, if you squint your eyes a little, it seems like his mouth is wide open. Peter was a talkative guy who sometimes got himself into hot water. He’d say things that made people cheer and other times made them scratch their heads.
Peter had moments of great insight and moments when he stumbled. One day, Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was. Peter boldly declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus commended him for this revelation, saying that it came from God Himself. Peter was like a super hero, standing on the rock of faith.
But then, just moments later, Peter’s impulsiveness got the better of him. When Jesus explained that He would suffer and die, Peter objected, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” Jesus responded sternly, calling Peter “Satan” because he was not thinking about God’s plan but human concerns.
Peter also witnessed a remarkable event on the Mount of Transfiguration. There, he saw Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. Excited, Peter suggested building three shelters for them. It’s as if he couldn’t contain his awe and enthusiasm. Peter’s journey was a rollercoaster of faith, doubt, and passion—a reminder that even flawed individuals can play significant roles in God’s story.
I really like Peter because he was a brave person. Although he made plenty of mistakes, he was not afraid to try new things and follow Jesus. He was willing to lead even if people didn’t understand him. I think this is what Jesus noticed and why He picked Peter to lead the other apostles.
(Matthew 4:18, 10:2, 16:16-23, 17:1-9, Mark 3:16, 8:29-33, 9:1-8, Luke 9:19-36)
Andrew: The First Follower
Andrew was the brother of Peter. But before he met Jesus, he was already seeking spiritual truth. He had been a disciple of John the Baptist, which shows his hunger for God even before encountering Christ. One day, John pointed at Jesus and declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Andrew and another disciple immediately started following Jesus. He was one of Jesus’ first followers. That’s why I picked the character just to the right of Jesus to represent Andrew.
Andrew wasted no time. He found his brother, Peter, and introduced him to Jesus. Imagine the excitement of following a great teacher! Both Andrew and Peter were fishermen, working together in their family business. They lived in a place called Bethsaida, and their family was tight-knit—they all shared a house, which even included Peter’s mother-in-law.
When Jesus called, Andrew and Peter left everything behind. They dropped their nets and followed Him. Andrew was part of some private discussions with Jesus, like when Jesus explained the end of the world. But he wasn’t as chatty as his brother Peter. After Jesus’ resurrection, Andrew was among those who received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
What I admire most about Andrew is that he took Jesus’ initial invitation seriously. Jesus had said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Andrew lived up to that promise. He was always bringing people to Jesus.
Andrew’s story reminds us that we don’t need to be perfect to play a significant role in God’s plan. Sometimes, it’s the quiet ones who make the biggest waves.
(Matthew 4:18; 10:2, Mark 1:16, 29; 3:18; 13:3, Luke 6:14; John 1:40, 44; 6:8-9; 12:22. Act 1:13-2:4)
James: The son of Zebedee
James was also one of the twelve Apostles, which means he was part of a group chosen by Jesus to help spread His teachings. I chose this figure in your painting because he seems to have a strong face. Like someone who is determined to be faithful to Jesus.
James had a brother named John. They were like two peas in a pod! They were both fishermen, just like their dad, Zebedee. One day, Jesus came along and said to James and John, “Follow me!” It was like an exciting adventure. Jesus wanted them to be fishers of men, which meant they would help bring people closer to God. James and John left their fishing nets behind and followed Jesus everywhere.
On one occasion Jesus healed a sick girl. She was the daughter of a man named Jarius. James watched in wonder as Jesus touched her and made her well. It was another miracle!
James and John were known as the “Sons of Thunder.” Maybe they were called that because they were bold and full of energy! One time they asked Jesus if they could sit next to Him in His kingdom. The other disciples got a little upset because they thought it was very arrogant. Truth be told, they were probably mad because they didn’t ask first.
After Jesus rose from the dead, James saw Him! Can you imagine the joy? James became even bolder. He told everyone about Jesus, even when it was dangerous. Sadly, James was the first Apostle to die for his faith. But he knew that Jesus was worth it.
I like James because he was loyal to Jesus even when it cost him his life. He was committed to his teacher and friend Jesus.
(Matthew 4:21, 10:2, 17:1, 20:20, 26:37; Mark 1:19-20, 3:17, 5:37, 9:2, 10:35, 41, 13:3, 14:33; Luke 5:10, 6:14, 8:51, 9:28, 54; John 21:2; Acts 1:13,12:2)
John: The Apostle of Love
John was the younger brother of James, another special friend of Jesus. He wrote some important books about Jesus, like the Gospel of John and a few letters called Epistles. John loved to talk about loving God and other people. Because of this, people started calling him the “Apostle of Love.”
I picked the character that stands right next to Jesus. His robe is white, covering his heart. It’s like he’s saying, “I love Jesus with all my heart!”
But how did John become so close to Jesus? Well, it all started when Jesus met John by the Sea of Galilee. John was a fisherman, and Jesus invited him to join His special group of followers. John, along with his brother James, became part of Jesus’ inner circle. They saw amazing things together, like healing miracles and even a special prayer in a garden.
John and James were sometimes called the “Sons of Thunder.” Why? Well, they were a bit like firecrackers—full of energy and passion! John had to learn from Jesus how to love people the way He did. Once, they wanted to bring down fire on a village that didn’t welcome Jesus. He corrected John and told him that He came to save people, not destroy them. Another time, they stopped people from casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus told him, “Don’t do that. If people use my name for good, they can’t be against me.” John made his share of mistakes but Jesus was patient with him and taught him how to love people better.
At a very sad moment, when Jesus was crucified (which means He was killed on a cross), John was there. He stood by Jesus’ side, along with some other women, including Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus trusted John so much that He asked him to take care of Mary. Even though Jesus had brothers, John was the one who looked after Jesus’ mom.
I like to remember John as the Apostle who learned to love from Jesus before he was called the Apostle of Love. His courage, love, and commitment to Jesus shine brightly in the pages of the Bible. So, whenever I look at your painting, I see John, and think about love, bravery, and a heart for God and people.
(Matthew 27:56, Mark 1:19-20, 3:17, 5:37, 9:2; 14:33, John 13:23, 19:26-27, 20:2-8, 20, 21:7, 20, 24; 1 John 1:1-4; Revelation 1:1-2, 9)
Philip: The Friendly Apostle
Philip was a special person chosen by Jesus to be one of His messengers. I picked the character who is standing at the end, looking friendly with his long hair and a beard like your dad’s.
Jesus walked a long way to find Philip. He already knew some other friends—John, Andrew, and Peter. But Jesus wanted Philip to be His friend too. When Jesus asked Philip to join Him, Philip said yes right away! He was great at making new friends.
Later, Jesus gave Philip and the other friends a special job. They had to go around helping people who were sick or scared. Their message was simple: “God loves you and His kingdom is here!” Philip saw Jesus do amazing things, like making blind people see and even bringing dead people back to life!
One day, there were lots of hungry people listening to Jesus. Jesus turned to Philip and asked, “Where can we get food for all these people?” Jesus already knew what He would do, but He wanted to see how Philip would respond. Philip said, “We don’t have enough money to buy food for everyone. Even if we did, it wouldn’t be enough.” But then Jesus did something incredible. He took a little bit of bread and fish and made it multiply until there was plenty for everyone to eat. He fed 5000 people with just a small amount of food!
As Jesus’ time on earth was ending, some Greek guys came to Philip. They wanted to talk to Jesus, but they weren’t Jewish, so they didn’t know if they could. Philip was kind and helpful. He took them to Jesus, connecting them with the amazing teachings of Jesus.
And that’s why we remember Philip as the friendly guy at the end of the picture—always ready to help and connect people with Jesus!
(Matthew 10:1-3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14, John 1:43-46, 48; 6:5, 7; 12:21-22)
Bartholomew: The Hungry Apostle
Bartholomew was one of Jesus’ special friends. His name means “son of a farmer.” I picked the character who looks like he’s wearing a brown robe, looking a bit like he has dirt on him from working in the fields. Maybe Bartholomew was a farmer, or maybe not—we’re not sure. But let’s explore some stories about him and the other friends of Jesus.
Once, Bartholomew and the others were very hungry. They walked through a field of wheat and picked some to eat. But some people who thought they knew everything about God got upset. They said to Jesus, “Your friends are breaking the rules! They’re not supposed to work on the day of rest!” Jesus stood up for his friends and said, “You don’t really understand God’s rules or how to love people.”
Another time, Bartholomew witnessed a miracle at a wedding. Jesus and his friends were at a party when they ran out of wine. Jesus’ mom asked for his help. At first, Jesus hesitated, but then he decided to do something amazing. He took eight big pots of water and turned them into wine. And guess what? It was the best wine ever! The person in charge of the party was so surprised that they told everyone how special the wine was.
Bartholomew was part of these incredible moments with Jesus. He learned about love, kindness, and miracles. Even though we don’t know much about him, we remember Bartholomew as a friend who walked, ate, and drank wine with Jesus.
(Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:1-19, John 2:1-12, Acts 1:13)
Thomas: The Brave but Doubting Apostle
Thomas was a special friend of Jesus. He followed Jesus everywhere, like a loyal companion. Thomas had two remarkable qualities: he was very brave, and he loved asking questions. I chose the character that looks like he has a white patch over one eye. Maybe it was hard for him to see clearly. Sometimes he felt confident and strong, but other times he worried and wasn’t sure.
One day, Jesus wanted to visit His sick friend Lazarus. But the other friends warned Jesus that it was dangerous because some bad people wanted to hurt Him. Despite the risk, Jesus decided to help Lazarus. Thomas boldly said to the others, “Let’s go with Him. If we die, we die!” He wasn’t afraid at all.
Later, after Jesus died and miraculously came back to life, He appeared to His friends. But Thomas didn’t believe them. He insisted, “Unless I see the marks on His hands and touch them, I won’t believe.” Thomas needed proof. Then, one amazing day, Jesus stood before Thomas. He showed Thomas the scars where He was hurt. Thomas saw that Jesus was truly alive again. It was a moment of wonder and faith.
What’s great about Thomas is that he’s like many of us. Sometimes we’re brave and faithful, just like Thomas when he stood up for Jesus. Other times, we doubt and worry. But in the end, Jesus showed Thomas that He was real and that He loved him—even when he had questions.
(Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, John 14:5, 20:24-28, 21:2)
Matthew: The Radically Changed Apostle
Matthew was one of Jesus’ friends. He used to collect money from people for the bad guys who ruled the land. People did not like him because he took more money than he should. I picked this guy on the far right because he was the last person you would think Jesus would choose. He also had many friends who did bad things. But Jesus loved him and his friends just as much as the other disciples.
One day, Jesus asked Matthew to come with Him. Matthew said yes and left everything behind. He invited Jesus and his friends to his house for dinner. The religious leaders were mad at Jesus for this. They thought they were better than Matthew and his friends. They did not want to be around them. But Jesus told them that He came to help people who needed Him, not people who thought they were perfect. He said, “People who are well do not need a doctor, but people who are sick do; I did not come to invite good people, but bad people.” This reminds us that we should love everyone and tell them about Jesus.
I admire Matthew for his loyalty and for giving up his old life to follow Jesus. He was probably the richest and most comfortable of Jesus’ friends. But he was ready to give it all up for Jesus.
(Matthew 9:9-10, 10:3, Mark 2:14-17, 3:18, Luke 5:27-32, 6:15)
James: The son of Alphaeus
James was one of the twelve friends of Jesus who helped him spread God’s message of love. He was also called James the younger because he was younger than another James who was also Jesus’ friend. He was not the same as Jesus’ brother who also had the same name. I picked the friend who is next to the last one on the right. We don’t know a lot about him and the Bible only talks about him a few times. Sometimes it’s really about his mom who also loved Jesus. Since there is not much to say about him I will tell you some amazing things that he and the other friends saw.
The first thing was when Jesus walked on water. Jesus had just finished telling many people about God and it was getting dark. He told his friends to get in a boat and go to the other side of the lake. But Jesus stayed there to talk to God in his heart. Later that night the friends saw something scary on the water. They thought it was a ghost coming to their boat. But it was actually Jesus walking on the water. He told them not to be afraid and got in the boat with them. They were all so amazed!
Another thing was when a man with a very bad skin problem came to Jesus and asked him to make him better. The friends were all very scared because the skin problem could spread to anyone who touched the man. But do you know what Jesus did? He actually reached out and touched the man and made him better. Jesus was not scared and trusted that God could make him better.
I like James because he got to see some amazing miracles that Jesus did. Can you imagine hanging out with Jesus and seeing some of the things James did?!
(Matthew 10:3, 27:56, Mark 3:18, 15:40, 16:1, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13)
Thaddaeus: The Curious Apostle
Thaddaeus, also known as Judas (not the same as Judas Iscariot), was one of Jesus’ close followers and messengers. In your painting I chose this character because he has a unique way of standing next to Jesus—his head is slightly tilted, like he is curious about everything.
Now, let’s explore why Thaddaeus is interesting. When Jesus told stories called “parables,” Thaddaeus was always eager to learn. These parables were like mysterious messages, waiting to be understood. But not everyone got them right away.
Thaddaeus loved asking questions. And guess what? Jesus loved answering them! He said, “To you, my friends, I reveal the mysteries of God’s kingdom. But those who don’t ask questions get stories in riddles.”
So, every time Thaddaeus wondered, “Why did Jesus say that?” or “What does this mean?” Jesus patiently explained. Thaddaeus felt like he was unwrapping precious gifts.
After Jesus came back to life (yes, that’s a whole other adventure!), Thaddaeus and the other disciples had another question. They asked Jesus, “Are you going to make our land better now? Will You get rid of all our enemies?”
Jesus smiled and replied, “My dear friends, it’s not for you to know exactly when things will change. But listen carefully. You’ll receive a special power from God—the Holy Spirit. And you’ll become my messengers, spreading love and good news everywhere—from our hometown to faraway lands.”
So, Thaddaeus was always asking questions and being curious. He became a special messenger of Jesus with his heart full of love for God and people.
Remember, my granddaughter, asking questions is like an amazing key unlocking the best mysteries and secrets. Keep asking lots of questions but keep a simple faith. Maybe you’ll discover some of the secrets of the Kingdom of God too!
(Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 1:10-12, 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; John 14:22, Acts 1:6-8, 13)
Simon the Zealot: The Apostle Who Loved His Enemies
Simon was also a special friend of Jesus and helped spread His teachings. But Simon didn’t agree with the way Jesus treated His enemies. I picked this character because it looks like his hair is sticking straight up like an angry cat. Let’s find out more about him!
Simon belonged to a group called the “Zealots.” They were like under-cover soldiers who fought for what they believed in. They had a strong faith in God and were very patriotic. These Zealots didn’t like the Romans, who ruled their land. They wanted their country to be free and peaceful.
Simon used to be really angry at the Romans. He thought they were bad and wanted to get rid of them. But then something amazing happened. Jesus came into Simon’s life. Jesus taught everyone about love, kindness, forgiveness, and even love for their enemies. He said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who treat you badly.” This was a big deal because most people didn’t think that way.
One day, some religious leaders tried to trick Jesus. They asked Him, “Should we pay taxes to the Roman Emperor?” Jesus was clever. He asked for a coin and said, “Whose picture is on this coin?” They said, “It’s Caesar’s.” Jesus replied, “Give Caesar what belongs to him, and give God what belongs to God.” It was like saying, “Be a good citizen, but also remember to love God.” That had to blow Simon’s and everyone else in the crowd’s minds.
I like Simon because he listened to Jesus and changed his ways. Instead of hating the Romans, he started loving everyone. He even taught others to do the same. Simon’s devotion turned from anger to love. He became a hero in a different way. Simon the Zealot learned that love is stronger than hate.
(Matthew 5:43-44, 10:4, 22:20-21, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:1, Acts 1:13 )
Judas Iscariot: The Apostle of Betrayal
Judas Iscariot is a name you might have heard before. He’s famous for something not-so-great: betraying Jesus. But let’s start from the beginning.
Jesus had a special group of followers called the Twelve Apostles. They were like his closest friends and helpers. Judas was one of them. Imagine being part of this special team, traveling with Jesus, and learning from him! Judas was a bit different from the others. He was probably more sophisticated (fancy word for “fancy”) and not from the same place as the rest. But here’s the thing: Judas was pretending. That’s why I chose this character. It looks like he’s wearing a mask. He acted like a good friend of Jesus, but deep down, he had other plans.
One day, Judas made a secret deal with some important religious leaders. He agreed to help them catch Jesus. Can you believe it? The person who followed Jesus, saw his miracles, and listened to his teachings was now going to betray him! The religious leaders gave Judas 30 pieces of silver (that’s like getting paid for doing something bad). Imagine having a bag of shiny coins, but they felt heavy with guilt. Judas led the leaders to Jesus. And how did he do it? With a kiss! Imagine your friend coming up to you and giving you a friendly kiss, but secretly planning something hurtful. That’s what Judas did.
Even when Judas betrayed him, Jesus didn’t get angry. He called Judas “friend.” Jesus loved everyone, even those who hurt him. He showed us how to love our enemies, just like he taught. After the betrayal, Judas felt terrible. He tried to give back the silver coins, but it was too late. He couldn’t undo what he had done. Judas’ story reminds us that actions have consequences. It’s important that we stay true to God, our family, and our friends. And even when someone we think is our friend betrays us, we should follow Jesus’ example of kindness and forgiveness.
(Matthew 10:4, 26:14-16, 47-50, Mark 3:19, 14:10-11, 45, Luke 22:3, 47-48, John 6:71)
Jesus Christ: The Son of God
I’ve saved the best for last, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. I chose the character in the middle. He is not only at the center but He appears to be in front of His followers. He is also called the Son of God because God sent Him to earth with a special mission. Let’s explore His story!
God loved us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to Earth. Jesus was born in a miraculous way. And just like you, Jesus grew up as a child, playing and learning.
When Jesus turned 30 years old, He left His job as a carpenter and began traveling through places around Galilee and Judea. His message was exciting: God’s kingdom is near! People were curious. Was Jesus a king? But Jesus was different—he healed the sick, showed kindness, and taught important lessons.
Long before Jesus arrived, God had told special messengers called prophets that a Messiah (a chosen One) would come to save His people. People thought the Messiah would fight against their enemies, the Romans. But Jesus surprised everyone. He said He came to save them from God’s judgment for the wrong things they had done.
Jesus had a group of close friends called the Twelve Apostles. They learned from Him and helped spread the good news about God’s love. These are the men you and mom painted in this wonderful painting.
Sadly, some religious leaders and the Romans didn’t like Jesus’ message. They arrested Him and hung Him on a cross. But here’s the amazing part: God knew this would happen. He wanted Jesus to take the punishment for all our wrongs. Jesus died on that cross to pay the price for our mistakes so we wouldn’t have to. But He didn’t stay dead! In three days He rose from the dead and proved He is King over all creation.
The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” This means that if we believe in Jesus and follow Him, we can have eternal life with God.
I love Jesus so much because He took on the punishment I deserved and is a great example for how to live life. I’ve been His follower for over 40 years and although it hasn’t been easy, it has been extremely rewarding. I love telling others about Him.
And that is the story of Jesus and His Twelve Apostles that you and your mom painted. Thank you so much for helping to create this. It hangs in my office so I can look at it everyday. This is to remind Nana and I that we are God’s special messengers of Jesus and His love. I hope one day you will become one too.
(Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:18-25, 4:23, 9:35, 21:5, 23:3-4, Mark 6:3, 15:1-47, Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20, 40, 3:23, 24:1-12, John 3:16, 12:15, Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, Revelation 17:14, 19:16)
Andrew: The First Follower
James: The son of Zebedee
John: The Apostle of Love
Philip: The Friendly Apostle
Bartholomew: The Hungry Apostle
Thomas: The Brave but Doubting Apostle
Matthew: The Radically Changed Apostle 
James: The son of Alphaeus
Thaddaeus: The Curious Apostle
Judas Iscariot: The Apostle of Betrayal
Jesus Christ: The Son of God
ToBeLikeJesus 