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Discipleship: A Mind Transformed by The Word

Romans 12:1-2

April 10, 2005

1. We are spending these six weeks of Easter learning to be better disciples; after all, God did not raise Jesus from the dead just to float around in the clouds! God raised Jesus so everyone would know his life is the one to emulate. Just before he ascended, Jesus gathered his disciples together and said, "Go and make more disciples." "Get movin’!" Here we are! Last Sunday we learned the most important element, the most basic key to being a disciple is having a heart for Christ alone. "The life that is well-lived must be organized around the sure and certain belief that Jesus alone is the Giver of Meaning to human existence." Did any of you start organizing your life around Jesus last week? Probably not! It’s hard, isn’t it! It’s hard to live for Jesus!

2. Where do we even start? How do we begin to live for Jesus? Glenn McDonald, in his book The Disciple Making Church, suggests we can begin at the top–by transforming our minds. Transform implies a major change in form, in nature, or in function. For instance, an ugly frog is transformed into a handsome prince by the kiss of a beautiful maiden; a barren wasteland is transformed into a beautiful park by the time and energy of a reclamation project; a slum is transformed into a well-maintained apartment building by the vision of a philanthropist. So, for McDonald to say we can better disciples by transforming our minds suggests our minds are not what they could be, and with love, time, energy and vision, could become what God has in mind for us – what is good, and acceptable, and perfect.

3. How can we tell if our minds need to be transformed. What might our "pre-transformed minds" look like? When it comes to being a disciple, how do our minds resemble an "ugly frog," or a "barren wasteland," or even a "slum"? Since we cannot see inside a person’s mind, we must get our clues from what comes out of their minds – by listening to their words. Any time a person says "I’m fine the way I am, thank you. I know all I need to know about Jesus," or "I don’t know much about the Bible. Every time I try to read it, I fall asleep;" or "I can make my own decisions. There is nothing in the Bible that can possibly influence me;" or "I have studied the Bible. I have read through it 10 times and can quote chapter and verse!", those people need a the kiss of a beautiful maiden, or the time and energy of a reclamation activist, or the vision of a philanthropist!

4. I’m going to ask some hard questions, but let’s don’t embarrass ourselves by raising our hands. Who among us thinks we’re fine the way we are, and know all we need to know about Jesus? Who among us doesn’t read the Bible because we fall asleep every time we try? Who among us doesn’t think the Bible contains information that could influence a decision we’re trying to make right now? And who among us has read through the Bible at least 10 times and can quote chapter and verse? Even though we didn’t raise our collective hands, think I detect a bit of discomfort. All of us could know more about Jesus and more about the Bible. Right? I suspect every one of us, including me, could do with a bit of transformation.

5. How can we go about being transformed? The image of moving to a new place comes to mind. What if we were beginning a new chapter in our lives by moving to a new place. Where would we begin? Let’s try Tulsa. What if we were moving to Tulsa, coming from a different part of the country. As our plane flew closer, we could see some of the prominent features from our seat by the window: Keystone Lake, the Arkansas River, downtown buildings, the golden gleam of what used to be The City of Faith. If we arrived at night, we could see the bright lights from a mall parking lot, or a stadium, or a baseball field. Those places might intrigue us so much that we would want to get a closer look as soon as we landed. We certainly couldn’t get any sense of what Tulsa is about by jumping out of the plane at 12,000 feet, pulling the parachute cord, and stay forever wherever we happened to land. No, we would need to circle around, spot several interesting places, and go from there.

6. Using this kind of process, anybody could go from total stranger to staunch supporter of any city. We wouldn’t have to, of course. We could decide to be unhappy about the whole thing. If we worked for a company that relocated to Tulsa, and we chose to move with them rather than having to look for another job, we could just exist in this new city where we have to live, never learn its history, never investigate its notable places. We have that choice; we really do! But we also could decide to like it, and with a little time we could come to appreciate what beauty there is here. Now listen carefully! If that happened, if we changed from "not knowing about Tulsa and not liking it very much, either" to "knowing were all the best places to eat and visit are," we would be "transformed." There may still be a lot to learn about Tulsa, but our very natures have been changed, from one here against your will to one who is a virtual ambassador for Tulsa.

7. Tulsans and church members have the very same options. We may be part of this congregation because we were born into it, or because someone insisted they come, or because it seemed like the right thing to do. And once we’re here, we can be reluctant disciples or enthusiastic disciples. Christians can be transformed the same way Tulsans are transformed – deliberately and intentionally. McDonald says transformation happens by immersion, being plunged into something that completely surrounds or covers us. What if we reluctant Christians were immersed in God a few minutes a day? My goodness! What possibilities!

8. But we’re not there yet. We need some practical help. You’ve all heard the words: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. I don’t know who coined that catchy little advice trio, but it certainly applies to transformation. STOP what you’re doing for 15 or 20 minutes each day; hit the "off" button for whatever noise is surrounding you, and welcome silence into your life. Then LOOK at one portion of the Bible. I tweaked "The Bible’s Top Forty" that Glenn McDonald dreamed up and published in his book, and made a page for you to take home (see below). It is very hard to read the Bible, at least, I think it is. I have never been able to read it straight through, especially in the King James or Revised Standard Version. The very best Bible to read is the Hebrew and Greek. No translation can hold a candle to the original! But, since usually only the pastors know Hebrew and Greek, I recommend the NIV. It’s a bit easier; but Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase The Message is probably the best to get a sense of the story. It’s fun to read, and a great way to deepen your understanding of God’s presence with the people. Stop the noise around you. Look at one of these passages from the Bible. Then LISTEN to what God is saying to you. Reflect on the portion of the Bible you just read.

9. Having a mind transformed by the Word probably may not be as romantic as a beautiful maiden’s kiss [or in my case, a handsome prince’s], but it will certainly be as exciting as having a barren area reclaimed, and as useful as having a run-down apartment building renovated. The Bible is not only a book to be studied! It is a book to be lived! Get movin’!

The Bible’s "Top Forty" Stories

29. Jesus’ Description of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 25)

30. "Palm Sunday," Last Supper, Trial, Crucifixion (Mark 11-15)

31. The Empty Tomb (Luke 24, John 20)

32. The Holy Spirit Fills the Disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2)

34. Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love (Romans 8)

35. Live is the Greatest Spiritual Gift (1 Corinthians 13)

36. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5)

37. Rejoice in the Lord Always (Philippians 4)

38. Faith Hall of Fame (Hebrews 11)

39. Why We Should Love Each Other (1 John 3-4)

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