Practice

Today’s sermon is part 2 of a 5-week sermon series entitled Upstream: Counter Culture Discipleship. I hope that it will help us consider ways that we may be going with the flow of culture rather than the more challenging path of Christian discipleship. Today, we’re going to talk about practice.

I have a family member named Becca who is a teacher. She keeps a journal of funny things kids say. A few days ago a little boy in her class said: “Jesus tells us that it’s OK to be lazy. My dad said so.”

The call of Jesus is an active one. We aren’t merely called to be Christian but to do what Jesus teaches. I heard someone say this week that the world needs less professing Christians and more practicing Christians.

Upstream discipleship: not a lazy drift but a challenging course that produces counter-culture character.

Counter Culture Discipleship

I want to draw your attention again to Ephesians 4, picking up where we left off last week. As we read, Paul urges Christians to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” In verse 17, he returns to the way we are to walk, drawing a clear contrast with the surrounding culture.

Ephesians 4:17–19 ESV

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Don’t go with the flow of your surrounding culture (futile thinking, Godless living, indulgence without restraint, greedy pursuit of every kind of impurity).

Ephesians 4:20–24 ESV

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

That is not the way you learned Christ! You were taught to put off your old self and to put on the new self, created to be like God. And this is no mere external conformity—”renewed in the spirit of your minds.”

Ephesians 4:25–32 ESV

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

from lying to telling the truth

from uncontrolled anger to a self-controlled nature

from stealing to honest work and sharing

from harmful to helpful speech

from bitterness and wrath to compassion and forgiveness

Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

5:1-2 summarizes the section / captures the essence of counter culture discipleship (imitate God, walk in Christlike love)

It is not okay to be lazy in our Christian walk. We are called to be practicing Christians. Not becoming complacent with our progress, but up for the challenge of a more Christlike walk.

Christianity Lab

Lynn Harper recently designed a class that has had a remarkable impact. The class was built around a series of challenges that were principally rooted in the teaching of Jesus. They challenged and stretched normal routines in order to make people more like Jesus. I asked a handful of folks about what challenges were the hardest, made the most impact, and continued to affect their walk afterward.

Keith Swearingen

The main thing that has stuck with me from this class is that we are challenged from God to be more like him.

Hardest challenge: 4 day challenge with no music, tv or radio. [Sometimes we have to disengage to better engage.] I love music, so this was really tough. I’m just glad this challenge wasn’t during the NFL season. (Cowboys football)

Biggest impact was giving away money because it challenged him that spirit of judgmental-ism that is so easy to drift into.

Debbie Swearingen

Hardest Challenges: Do something nice for one of your enemies. I find myself stretched in many directions and giving a lot of myself to others so being asked to do something for someone who you feel doesn’t deserve you time or energy is hard.

She was also affected by the “Do not worry challenge”. I worry. After I became a mom I just worried more. During this challenge I was reminded to not worry and give it to God. I had a great week!

Continued impact: After the no-technology challenge, I reset and still don’t spend as much time on it as I did before the challenge. After the read Sermon on the Mount daily challenge we continue to read the Bible daily as a family.

Tommy Stevenson

The challenge I enjoyed the most was reading the sermon on the Mount for 7 days. I did it every morning (I think) before 5:30 and just made the day get off to a good start. I need to try to continue doing this.

One of the challenges was don't be quick to get angry. I did terrible because (maybe this is just an excuse) it seems like everyone texted after 11pm saying they were completed. I really didn't care who was done w/ what at that time of night. I have since learned how to silence particular groups on my texts.

Winston Stevenson

Enjoyed the final challenge - sell something of yours to donate (Really like this one; fun making money to give to others).

Hardest Challenge: DO not argue.

Bonnie Stevenson

No arguing or grumbling or complaining. This was hard because my family likes to argue and I have to argue back (lol but true); grumbling or complaining because things do not always go my way and usually when it rains it pours and I think things could be improved). Need to work on focusing on God and being content in all (the good and bad and the not perfect).

Showing hospitality - inviting someone over that doesn't go to church. (We get busy in our own lives and if my house does not look as good as I would like it to - Laundry, dishes, clean, picked up; I am self conscious) and concern for my families safety if it is a stranger and We were sick a lot this spring. [many excuses]

This is not a one time lab and then put away the supplies (nice, neat, clean up and done; That would be much easier). This is a college horticulture lab that keeps growing and you have to keep tending it and with all things growing there are problems with weeds and soil and weather and water and then you get into many parables related to all those things. Thankfully God is tending me!!!!!!!!!! I really need Him in my lab, I am still a work in progress.

Mike Gray

Not complaining about anything!Easiest was encouraging 5 people a day.

I had the privilege of delivering the money we raised to a family who was greatly blessed by it. In doing so, the man who was the go between for me went with me and commented that it was such a blessing to see folks (our class being the hands and feet of Christ rather than just talking about it. The family was stunned and thankful that someone who didn’t know them would do what we did.

Yes, generally I need to be intentional about putting the principles of Christianity into may actions and not just “go back to regular life” when I leave worship. Also don’t complain and spend less time on personal devices and more with people.

Claudia Aragon

Which challenge made the biggest impact on you? How so?

I try to read the Bible daily and follow a reading schedule with a daily devotional. However, the challenge of reading the Sermon on the Mount daily for a week, had a tremendous impact. I have read it before, but reading it daily brought it to a different light. I always heard, “you are what you eat, what you read, what you listen to,” etc. The first day of reading was just like a daily reading, the second day it began to sink in, and by the time Saturday came, so much analyzing of the chapter and my daily life had taken place and I realized I need to reevaluate my daily living. In my opinion these chapters can be used as a foundation for our Christian life.

Has anything from the class stuck in your thinking or practice?

The challenge which was very difficult for me was the No Technology for 4 days, this meant no music, no social media or technology, and no television. I love to come home and vegetate and watch TV, especially when I have started a good series. This challenge made me realize how much time I waste especially watching television.

Every challenge left me thinking about how my life is lacking in some areas and were very insightful when it comes to self-evaluating. Due to this class, I have decided to watch less television and spend less time on social media, (Facebook can become addicting). I have been putting this into practice and I have noticed how I am accomplishing more with my time. My mom recently became very ill and I know she would rather be outside and spending time with family than wasting her precious time watching TV. Life is for living and I know each day is a gift from God and I need to spend it wisely.

McKensi Chance

The hardest challenge for me was the compliment challenge because Mike assigned it the week of spring break so I wasn’t able to complement people other than family.

The challenge that made the biggest impact on me was the no complaining one. It made me realize that I can complain a lot and helped me complain less and have more a positive mindset through that week and even now.

Ever since we had the “try not to worry challenge” it stuck with me and every now and then when I’m freaking out about college or what I’m gonna do later in life I stop and think that I shouldn’t worry about my future or even tomorrow and that I should go through each day with my mind on what’s going on that day.

Vance Morrison

The hardest challenge was going a week without TV, Radio and non-work related computer use. Found out those are habits that are take lots of time from each day. Learned that there is much more time to be productive, actually engage with people and de-stress when not tethered to an electronic device.

Biggest impact challenge was not complaining for a week (had to list three positive things if you caught yourself complaining ) I use the “tell me three things you are happy about” statement to get conversations back to a more positive slant. Complaining and griping are habits-being positive and happy is a habit I now chose.

As a person of faith-I have to choose to do specific things to make time or free up money for quality and worthwhile things. Doing that can open your eyes to God working in people’s lives all around us and our own lives are better through selfless acts of service. Thinking something is not the same as doing something.

Greta Morrison

Hardest challenge was the penny challenge. We were to encourage someone and move the pennies from one pocket to the other. 1 Thess 5:11 “encourage one another and build one another up.” … to move that penny was a challenge.

True religion isn’t fulfilled by sitting in a pew every service. True religion is being like our Father in all aspects. In loving, encouraging, giving, serving, befriending, sharing, trusting, loving those who don’t love us, and even in being content and not complaining.

Conclusion

Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Let’s not just talk about it; lets practice it—even as it challenges our normal habits and comfortable routines.