A moving, simmering pot

“While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. [Later, after Jesus left] They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?””

— Luke 24:15,32

Biblically, a follower of Christ is on a path to maturity—a journey toward stability, gratitude, and generosity. The journey requires us to take steps of faith. But there's also something mysterious going on. At every point, God is doing something deep inside us.

If you are a Getting Things Done, Inbox Zero kind of a person, you may need to carve out time to discern what's simmering beneath.

If you're a more reflective sort, it may be time to move—to take a step.

Jesus said: "Follow me, and I will make you..." (Matt. 4:19). We move and we are formed.

First, do the site work

Often we're told that building a faith structure begins with laying a good foundation. But really it begins (or should) with doing adequate site work. Whatever foundation we may lay, we have to first see that it sits on another foundation. And if we don't understand the nature of this existing foundation, ours will be unstable; our entire faith structure will be vulnerable to damage or collapse.

When I hear that someone's circumstances have caused them to question their faith;

When I see that someone's religion consists only of rote routines;

When I watch people put so much energy into dealing with fear and earning God's favor;

When I hear that a person's only concern is where they will go when they die;

And when I watch Christians suffer because of consistently bad decision-making;

I suspect they've set their foundation on top of a poorly-understood base.

Most people are smart. Most people can build a solid structure if they just know what the ground is like beneath. As leaders, we need to help people clear the land, take core samples, and study the True Foundation patiently and carefully. It's wonderful when we can do this right from the start. But whenever we're given the chance, let's commit our greatest energies to this.

Creating unsafe spaces

The world is noisy these days. It reminds me of open-air markets I've visited—to me, a cacophony; thousands of voices clamoring to be heard.

It's also what I imagine of the temple courts when Jesus overturned tables and cracked a whip. "MAY I PLEASE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?"

These days I'm grateful for leaders who carve out spaces to learn from Jesus—to hear what he actually said and to see how he went about the Father's business. Spaces for listening intently to the Holy Spirit he sent.

Beware, these aren't safe spaces. Here, every person is challenged to see differently.