Spiritual Disciplines: Developing Others

By Pastor Greg Byman
September 10, 2017
St Joe Community Church

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​By Rev. Greg Byman
The Spiritual Discipline of Developing Others
St. Joe Community Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Sunday, September 10, 2017, 10:00 am
 
Greg Byman
That was a joke. Woah.
2017 SJCC Men’s Retreat Testimonies
So, who organized this, to get going this year? Because I’ll let you describe what this was all about.
John KooglerWell, every year Highland Lakes Baptist Camp has a men’s retreat. And it's an awesome thing to go to. This year was no exception. And I actually, I'm not a note taker, but I took notes. So, you're going to hear a little bit from me. We had some new blood this year. Chris, Jerry and Bob and the “Very Reverend Bishop” Greg Byman.
(Laughter)
There's more to that but.... He was introduced as “Bishop Greg Byman” and he was our speaker on Saturday morning.
(Laughter)
And he did an awesome, job by the way, so if he does the same message today, the seven of us are going to sleep. My only complaint was that once again this year, there was no bacon. Why do you have a men's retreat and not have bacon? And of course, there's the cabin that we now know as, further to be referred to as the “snore chamber.” And I won't mention names that was the loudest Chris.
(Laughter)
But what I got from that, seriously, what I got from this, is what we already know as men, as Christian men, that iron sharpens iron. Men need each other. We need other men in our lives. More than that, we need Jesus in our lives. All the time. Not just to meet our needs, then put him in our pockets until we need him again. We need him 24/7.
We need to raise up other godly men. That doesn't mean just younger men. Young and old. I was 54 when I accepted Christ. Most of my mentors were younger than me. If you're breathing, it's not too late to know Christ.
And last, as Christian men, "who is watching you?” Who is looking at how you live your lives? Your friends? Family? Neighbors? Are you living as a Christian all the time, or just on Sunday, or just at a men's retreat, or just in Bible study? I was convicted to live my life in a way that reflects my faith. That was my commitment and that is what I learned from this retreat.
Chris MannMy name is Chris Mann and that’s very loud. This is my first men's retreat with the church. My wife and I became members this summer and I was particularly blessed by the first sermon and the second sermon. I think Dan Defries was the first? Is that right? And Greg was the second one, Saturday morning.
And kind of the averaging of their two presentations was…. It reminded me of…. I teach a class at once a once a year for Grace College and Seminary in public speaking and the first class I have, I teach, is not how to be a good speaker but how to be a good audience member. And the Christian audience member, I teach, is the one who comes prepared to worship. Now, regardless of what the subject matter is, that is important, but it’s a secondary issue. We can talk about nuclear science. You can talk about the Gospel, you can about basket weaving, but the Christian audience member comes prepared with an intentionality to learn. And he comes with a prepared intentionality to participate in a divine moment. The divine moment is something that you’re going to find out what that is, but the Christian comes with the anticipation in his own personal spirit, to worship and then you can actually become a good public speaker, which is what these students are coming to class for.
The first day, the presentation by Dan Defries, on the intentionality worship and Greg’s subsequent sermon really reminded me of the importance of the Christian coming to life prepared with intentionality prepared to actually engage the moment for a holy moment, and that was the value that I took away this from this this week, is that reminder that wherever I'm doing, whatever I'm doing, wherever I'm going, whoever I'm with, is an opportunity for worship. It's an opportunity to experience God's very real presence, and the wonder is that we get to find out in that moment what's going to happen. We want to prepare with a huge measure intentionality and engagement. So that's what I took away this weekend.
Jerry JonesI'm Jerry and I just found out that I'm standing next to a guy who teaches classes on public speaking. You learn something new every day, so….
We had three breakout sessions. One, my fault with the three was that there was not enough time. One that hit me the most, two that it me the most, were…. It was the last one. We talked about giving. And it wasn’t always about money. It was reflecting on God's grace to us, and what he has given to us, and how we can give back to him in ways that are not money. And reflecting what he has done for us.
And the middle one was about character and integrity. I wanted to be in there quite a bit longer because that subject has always drawn me. And as far as my walk with Christ, but there are three common myths, worldly myths, about the meaning of integrity. And the first one is integrity is just being honest. That's a myth. Balanced, compartmentalized, life. And the guy went into explain all this. And the third is just being natural. Be who you are. True to yourself. Or, if you're depending on your conscience, and your conscience is seared with the world, and now with the Word of God and prayer, you are being true to yourself. You’re not being true to Christ, and there is a big difference.
So that's... It was good. It was great. A real impact. They push a lot into a short amount of time. But it was a great weekend. It's great to hang out with these guys. We just sat around and, Friday night was great. We had some great campfire stories. And it was a good evening.
JimI didn't take notes. So, I relied on these guys to take notes but the Men's retreat has always been one of the things that I probably enjoyed most going to camp for. Simply because you're around like kinds of men. Doesn't matter what path you’ve taken in life. If you just stick out your hand, you probably hold hands with some of them. And the stories are not always pretty but they’re always honest. I just really appreciate being around men that can speak their heart. I always learn something there, in spite of what I show when I get back.
(Chuckle)
Especially on the way back but I always feel blessed being there, and I continue to feel the blessing of God, of what we learned this weekend and it was just.... And I agree with those guys, that the classes, we only got half the classes because some of the speakers talk a long time and….
(Chuckle)
…so that shortens the time…. I'm sorry. It was a great time, okay?
BobHello, I'm Bob. This is my first time for the men’s retreat. All I can say is it was it was a blessing. And nice worship, and fellowship with these godly guys. It was great, thank you.
BruceHi, my name is Bruce. I learned a lot down there while I was there. The key thing was discipline yourself for everything you do for the Lord. You need to know that. And like they say, the classes were way too short.
But I do have one question. Will the real Jack Koogler please stand up?
(Chuckling)
Greg BymanSo, Jack couldn't make it and so at the last minute he gave away his ticket to our Jack at the end of the of the row, here, Chris, and so we're grateful that.
Chris: (to Jack), Next year, you’re going to have to live down quite a reputation, Jack.
(Laughter)
Greg Byman: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was truly inspired by these guys their desire to just keep digging in and growing and learning and of course over the years, we've had family things, almost every weekend in the fall and this year was no exception, really, as it turned out. But I said, "No I’ll go with you guys, and I’ll just sneak in, and hang out with you guys, and have fun, and then on Thursday morning, I get a phone call that says, "our speaker canceled and he's in Florida. He's sick. And he's batten down the hatches, because they're getting ready by the hurricane.”
And so, the major speakers.... So, they divided up among three guys, and I happen to be one of the three guys they asked to divvy it up with, so when we went down there, I think they were asking for a discount, because they were expecting a different speaker.
(Laughter)
They didn't get one. But, in all seriousness, they pushed me to be there. They really did, and I what means a lot to me is that these guys value investing in themselves, becoming stronger, better men for God, and that, just that alone, is a highlight to see 150, 200 guys assemble in one place, in our state, from all different churches, in the state, and by the way, they don't.... Baptist churches can't figure out why we're called “St Joe Community Church.” No matter how much you say, “There's a St Joe township. St Joe River. And we just sort of did geography. They keep asking if we’re Catholic. And so, the first guy gets up and says, "Saturday morning we'll have Bishop Byman.”
(Laughter)
That is a name for a pastor, but I’ve never gone by that, and don't plan to, just to let you know that. It would be no different than what I already do, if you do call me that. So, whatever. But, no it's pastor, but anyway. Or Greg. Don't call me late for dinner.
So, I'm just thrilled that these guys and, each year, make an effort to get us all signed up, and go and learn and grow, so anybody have anything else you want to say?
So, I just would have the like the privilege of praying for you guys right now. Father God, I just thank you for these men, and Lord, their feet is to the fire. What we learned on the mountaintop has to be played out and lived out in the valley, and so they've gone on a spiritual mountain, and they've grown, and they have gotten excited and we've learned some good things. And many people have dumped into our lives while we were there, and I thank you for that, but Lord now help them. Give them a special touch of the Holy Spirit, to be able to carry out those things which they've been convicted, that they need to get done, and to be a part of. Lord, I pray that you would just protect their lives, protect their hearts, their minds, and may they continue to be, as they already are, a great influence on our city and in their different spheres of influence on this church, particularly this church family, as others look up to them and watch their lifestyle, and want to be who you are, who they are, and follow Christ in their own lives. And I pray that they would, wherever they go, may the light of Christ shine brightly and more brightly because of their experience this weekend. I we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.
You may be seated…before you tell any more stories on me.
Jacob’s WellRight now, we have one other thing that's going to happen. And it would be that, Jacob's Well, would you come on up here right now? We're going to get you up here. You can see a little more. You're not afraid of the stage. I do, don't I? I’m a little taller up here. So, Tuesday, our leadership team considered a request from Jacob's Well for us to officially host them, or sponsor them, or be their sponsoring church, and they would become an outreach band under the banner, or the umbrella, of St Joe Community Church. And so, I just this is....
(Applause)
Praise God for that, yeah! But they would ask us, and that we would have the privilege of being a part of that, and their ministry. They go all over the place. And they serve in many states. And they have been serving for 19 years. And they even pose well. Look at this, I mean. Is this a Photoshop or what? I mean you know we've got a.... Yeah, that's just great. It looks like the jacket cover. I forgot your, hat? OK.
So, in all seriousness, they love the Lord. They love serving the Lord. And they love reaching the unreached, and particularly those that would feel so far from God, that they can't imagine that God would want them, or that a church would even want them. Am I saying this right? They have their own life experiences, and that they bring that passion to their music, to the lyrics. They have lead worship for us on a handful of times. They're going to keep doing that. Part of the covenant will be that they'll start adding and encouraging our music ministry here, but primarily, it's that they are being sent out by us when they go to their different retreats that they serve at, their festivals, sometimes their secular band concerts, sometimes they’re opening or working in a band environment, where they're the only Christian band and because of their genre of music, they were accepted, and they're even invited back. It's kind of weird, isn’t it? In that, you know, after they just go, JESUS, JESUS, and like, sound decibels that some of you might not ever be able to hear, but that's OK, it’s all good, and they do this, and then they go, "man, that was really good, comeback, you know like, and then somebody else is singing completely opposite of what they sang, because it's not the it's not a Christian venue, so it's like wow, what an opportunity. And what an opportunity for us to be a covering for them. For our staff, for me to be a pastor for them, and encourage them, in their walk, and so I just wanted to officially announce that that's what's going to happen in the coming days. They're actually going to play at noon, down at in front of Longe Optical, whatever you call it, right there in the parking lot. The whole corridor…. Where am I here? Thank you.
(Chuckle)
North is always that way, and I know that's never true, but anyway, north is there. And so, the whole road is going to be blocked off, they do this annually. And all the things are going to be starting to be assembled, and while that's happening, they're going to play, they already had a lot of bands. They said, "but if you'd be willing to play while we're setting up, that be cool. And so, they're going to do that. Yeah!
So, they're going to represent St Joe community church and place them some pretty strong lyrics for them to consider, and say, "By the way, there's concerts that happen right here. This is Jacob’s Well, and this what you get if Jacob’s Well is the band on those nights. And so, I hope and pray that for the coming years that we are able to do this, this is a tremendous season that God has opened up for us, and for them. And they want to go to Ecuador. I just want to know. They would like to go and help in Ecuador next year, and so the Greg keeps pushing that. That's going to happen, and so these guys.... So that's going to require obviously, I think.... [There’s] already a stirring, that there are some people that want to go to Ecuador next year, and not wait every two years like we do, and so they're.... We're looking.... There might be a team. And they'll be probably down on the coast. Down in a lot warmer climate, but great spiritual awakening taking place, where churches are being planted down in Ecuador with our missionary Dave and Deb Wilson.
So, any things you guys want to share? This is Tad, by the way. Tad plays drums for us on occasion. He's kind of in the rotation. John. John's a lumberjack by trade. I just had to say that. I don't know what.... You guys do all kind of stuff. I thought that was kind of cool. He’s a big power equipment guy. But he plays guitar and he has played for us before. Darrell, you heard his pipes this morning, sing out for us, and he helps our band out from time to time. He's a little bit on the keyboard as well right, right?
OK? Very little? OK.
And then and then we have my favorite name, Greg. Yeah, and Greg is the bass player, the vocalist, and overall, he kind of manages the band. Is that right? I was going to ask you guys to make sure. He says he does, but I don't know, he thinks he….?
(Laughter)
Well, John, you require your own manager, OK? He's the youngest of the bunch and so, I'm sorry that was…true. Anyway.
(Laughter)
Well we love all four of them. They really add a lot to our fellowship already. And looking forward. Anything you want to say? Anything, when I share about this covenant? So right now, I'm just, let's just, let's just pray for these guys as well, and what God's going to be doing here.
Father God It is a privilege to be a part of their lives and what they're doing. They have a reputation of going out and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, and for them to imagine and to think that that would match with what we're doing thrills my heart. Because that is what we're about. Sending people out. Helping more people beyond the people who are here, know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and so I pray that you would just continue to use their music ministry to bless thousands and thousands of people each year, that that you will use them to get into venues that normal Christian outreach ministries would never get into, and I pray that souls would be saved, that broken lives would find healing and hope, that addictions would be brought to a close, and lives. That that people that are dealing with P.T.S.D. and all kinds of other issues from past experiences, that they'll find relief and encouragement through the music ministry, as they have already done. May that continue to be, and may we be a conduit. A place where, when they do reach someone who might be in and around our region, that they might sense that this might be a place for them to come and heal and to find a spiritual family to belong to. And Lord, help us to be the church that we're supposed to be for them, to be encouragers, to be.... Provide them opportunities to just be the church family that they need to support what they do, and not be on their own. Like so many other bands they just kind of go off on their own, and do their own thing. These guys want to be part of the kingdom work of the local church. And I thank you that they're willing and desiring to do that. God, we pray, we look forward to what you're going to do in the years to come as we continue to partner together for the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's in Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Amen.
Scripture reading: John 14:5-14
Becky, you can come up here.
BeckyThe scripture this morning is from John Chapter 5:14.
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going? How do we know the way? Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on, you know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord show us the Father and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you and yet you have not come to know me? He who has seen Me has seen a father but how do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the father abiding in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me. Otherwise believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do because I go to the father. And whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name I will do it.”
Let's continue to worship and this is song is an older Hillsong worship song. The bridge is “All of my life/ In every season. / You are still God. / I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship.
So, let’s just open our hearts and let’s worship him through this song.
Song: The Desert Song. © Hillsong.
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
 
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
 
This is my prayer in the fire
And weakness or trial or pain
 
There is faith proved more worth than gold
So refine me lord through the faith
 
Chorus:
I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
 
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and he is here
 
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So fill my his promise ill stand
 
Refrain
 
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have reason to worship
 
And this is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empty again
The seed I receive I will sow
 
Song: One Thing Remains
By Brian Johnson / Christa Black / Jeremy Riddle
© Music Services, Inc.
 
Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains
This one thing remains
Your love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me (3x)
 
Because on and on and on and on it goes
Before it overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains
This one thing remains
Your love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me
 
Your love
In death, and in life
I'm confident and covered by the power of your great love
My debt is paid, there's nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love
Your love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me (3x)
 
Your love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me
It's a great love
It's a great love
Oh, it's a great love
Your love, Your love, Your love, Your love
It's a great love
Your love abounds
Your love abounds
All this stuff is shadow play
Your love, Your love, Your love, Your love
Your love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, and never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love
It's still alive in your love
Your love, Your love, Your love
It's your love, it's Your love
It never fails, it never fails, it never fails, it never fails
 
Sermon: The Spiritual Discipline of Developing OthersReferenced scriptures:John 14:5-14
Psalm 90:12
1 Cor 4:15-16
2 Tim 2:2
Dt 31:8
 
Amen, let’s praise God for that. What a wonderful promise we have. God’s love never fails. You may be seated.
Deuteronomy chapter 31 is where we’re going to be today. If you will turn in your bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 31.
As the men said, we're going to actually look at a passage…. As I was preparing, I actually prepared it pretty quickly, since they called me kind of late in the process. The message I was thinking of, I was thinking, "you know, I really want our church to hear this message.”
So, Jerry gave me permission. So, thank you Jerry.
No, I said, "you know what, I'm just going to go ahead and share what we shared Saturday morning and adapt it to our congregation because it is a story for the church not just for a church men's retreat.
This morning, as I think about this passage of Scripture, and as I think about the discipline of developing other people, I want to just preface to say that as the men heard, that there are so many other disciplines of our life that we must learn. The discipline of prayer. Learning to pray in a biblical way. Bible reading. Bible Study. Bible.... However, you would want to say it. What it takes to actually get into God's word and understand what it means?
Why develop others?The discipline of sharing our faith. How many people within the last year have heard your testimony in some tiny or a large shape or form? Have you helped someone, lately, discover what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ? We must be disciplined to tell the good news. We can just go on. The discipline of fasting, and how do we practice fasting, particularly from food, but also from other things. Social media. Fasting from, you name it. Something in your life that you regularly do, that if you were to not do it, you would truly miss it. It would be something that you would have to train yourself, or discipline yourself, not to partake in, so that you can focus more on God. You can focus more on what God would have you do during that time. You could dedicate that time to praying more, and to realizing that your body is not in control of you. We must be in control of our bodies.
And so, prayer and fasting is a discipline. But this particular discipline of developing other people around us actually amps up the game for all of us, because it makes us aware of how undisciplined we are, or how disciplined we are, in all of those areas I just mentioned.
I shared this illustration years ago. I shared it Saturday morning. That we used to have a car, that I would suggest, would not be something I'd put my wife in. It was kind of one of those cars, that, it ran well. Mostly. And if something went wrong, with it I usually had a little tool set with me, that, if I could just do a little tinkering with it, I could figure out how to get it going again. Or, if it the battery is going down a little bit, it was a stick shift, I knew how to get it rolling a little bit, and hop in, and pop the clutch and get it started. Right? Well, that's not something I would really get my wife to try to do, over the phone. My car's dead. And that was back, actually, when we didn't have the availability of cell phones, and so I would not have trusted her in that car. I would not have wanted to put her in that kind of a situation. But I didn't mind it, because, you know, I was a guy, and the car was paid for, and that's what you did, right? But it wasn't the kind of car that that I would put my wife in.
Or, if I was going on a long trip and I was depended upon to be the driver for that group, I would not have put people in that car with me. I would have asked to use the nicer car. And hope that she didn't have to go anywhere in the other car when I was using it.
And so that's kind of the way it is with our faith. Sometimes we think we can cut corners with our faith.  We’re like, “Well, I won't have my Bible time this month.”
So, you know, like you just start skipping and skipping and you just don't get into reading God's word, and you just expect on Sunday morning to get all the word that you need, and that's sort of like, how many of you go out, eat one meal a week? No, you eat a meal every day, and we need God's word every day in our lives, so don't expect that this morning is your only meal, spiritually, you need to be a self-feeder. You need to learn how to feed yourselves because your Bible study, if you go to a Bible study, and I hope you do, and your Sunday morning isn't enough.
But some of you think, "well I can cut corners and get away with that.” Or, "I'm going to cut corners and I'm not going to be really praying a lot for my needs.” I'm just sort of like haphazardly, "go as it is and hope for the best.”
The reality is that that may be working for you, but would you give that faith to someone else and say, "this is a trustworthy faith. The way I'm living my life is the way you ought to live your lives. And you'll have great results.”
And reality is you may not want to do that. And yet that's exactly what happens. You and I know that generational influence has an influence on addiction, and has an influence on behavior, and responsibility. And as goes a parent, so go the children.
Indeed there is a cyclical violence schedule in Fort Wayne, and if you talk to the Fort Wayne Police Department, and you talked individuals that are involved, especially in the gang units, there was a spike in the early and the late 90s of homicides. We had the record homicides in 1995, ‘96 or ‘97, somewhere in that time period. And it was Stop the Violence Center, and Turnae Jordan, was a big part of helping us rally around the cause of stopping the violence. And it did die down, and praise God, through many different venues including spiritual efforts like prayers for the children, God did a tremendous work to bring the numbers down. I believe God was a part of that, and then obviously the dedication of so many people and other agencies and our police force and others to be a part of breaking apart the evil and retarding the evil that was prevailing upon our city.
But then we saw a rise in it, in the last handful of years, of violence again, and that number that we saw that was a record in the previous years, we have been set to almost break that in the most recent years, and one man told me, he said, "well actually it's the children growing up of the ones that we arrested back in the 90s.”
The next generation. What they saw their parents do, they did. And we're reaping the consequences of people who have raised young people to do evil. And I want to reap the consequences or the blessings of young people being raised by godly people and they become godly. Praise God? Yes, I want to see a wave of spirituality occur because we as adults are stepping up to the plate, and are actually developing the people under us to be like Christ, even as we are struggling and striving and disciplining ourselves to be like Christ. That we are moving, are leading a movement in our city, and then our homes, and our workplace, and our society, and our neighborhoods, to really raise up the banner of Jesus Christ in such a way and that we're inviting others to join us in the process of becoming more like Jesus Christ. That even when we are throwing shovels of dirt, like we need to do, by the way, is a nice little pile up there that needs to be spread out, we need to put some over here, we need this mulch it out, to put some seed, and straw and all of that, even when we do a project like that, that were rubbing shoulder to shoulder with people, that were trying to show them how the attitude of Christ prevails even when you're on a hard work project like that. That we're working together. Rather in a way that honors Jesus Christ, we're showing them a better way. We're showing them a better way when we get upset with each other, and we do, when we get on each other's nerves, and we do, I love to be a backseat driver, so thank you John for driving to the Men’s Retreat this weekend, and not kicking me out on the way down, as I'm telling you how to drive, that we are honest about where we are but we don't want to stay there. We actually want to get better, and we do practice forgiveness, and we practice grace. Instead of hardship legalism and ostracism. And when we are actually messing up, we're willing to fess up.
Developing others: It’s biblicalThat's developing others and helping others become more like Christ. You see, developing others is actually biblical. This isn't something that, you know, like, you hear the word “coaching” today. “coaching” and “leadership networks” is a big deal. “mentoring.” That's a big deal. Developing others.
Good old-fashioned discipleship is what I'm talking about. Discipleship is, "I'm being disciplined. And I'm helping you be disciplined. And we're all being discipled to be more disciplined to be more like Jesus Christ.”
But the world didn't get that notion. This was a God thing. And it happened way back when Deuteronomy was written, they said, that God inspired Moses to say, "you're supposed to write these on the doorpost. You're supposed to talk about them during the day. That your kids are supposed to know what it means to follow the one true God, and you are to keep telling the stories of how he’s worked in your life.”
I can go on and on of all the stories. And then you flash forward and you see that Moses is actually being commanded, and he actually developed Joshua. And the text today is going to be, how did Moses actually develop Joshua for the task of moving forward beyond Moses?
Why develop others: It’s challenging.It's biblical. It's also challenging, as I also told you. As you noticed, that when you share your life with someone else, you're an open book, and some of you don't want to be an open book. Because you don't like what others might read when they read your book. You've got habits. You've got hang ups. You've got hurts. You've got a way of living that you never show up on Sunday morning, because you're a nice little shiny Christian when you come here. You're a nice little shiny Christian when you go here and there, and when you get outta here, you have lifestyles and you have attitudes and you have rumbling ways of living that you would never want people to see.
Now, that’s probably not true for anybody. Maybe a few. I don't know. But I'm just saying that we all live in this moment of hypocrisy. When we get in a crowd, we look a lot better than we really are. We have a little halo effect. And it's challenging when we say, "I'm willing to open myself up and let someone walk with me. That means they get to see the real you. And I hope that really, that has lowered in our church, and that the quotient of being that kind of a person is actually lower here than anywhere else, because of our motto, that we say that we're real people and that means that we are the warts and all, we're still sinners saved by grace, growing in our salvation, and story, and becoming more like Christ, and we haven't arrived there yet. Real church. We're willing to talk about it. We're willing to say where we aren't. We are willing to say, "I was here, and now I'm here, but I want to be there, and God by His grace, is growing me, but I, oh a wretched man that I am," Paul says.
And we serve a real God. Real people. Real Church. Real God. That's our motto. So, I'm hoping that that the challenge isn't as hard for us. In fact, I would venture to say that it would be easier for us to say that we're going to let people read our book in this church because we have that attitude at St Joe that that's the kind of people we're going to be. Amen?
Why develop others: It’s fulfilling.OK. But it's also rewarding and fulfilling. We develop others because you know what, at the end of the day, it's exciting to see somebody that we are with, and walking with, to actually be doing the right things in their lives, and experiencing the blessings in their lives of living for Jesus. It is fun to watch. And it is no more fun to watch, than it is to watch your own children start to grow up in the Lord.
Who is watching you?Two examples. My son is at college is pursuing places where he can find spiritual encouragement, and be challenged to grow in his faith, through different faith groups on the campus. He immediately sought out a church. He doesn’t have a car, but he walked 20 minutes to get to that church, and he's hoping that he’ll get enough friendships that they can get a ride when it starts snowing in Boston. So, pray for that.
But he is committed to growing in his faith. And that is such a blessing, because we prayed for that, before he was even born, that he would make good decisions on his own someday, to live for Christ, beyond our home. And he's not done yet. He's got a long way to go before we really know that God has really got a hold of his life, but I'm excited for the sort of news of what is going on.
My second story is Grant. He's not here today but he said something in the car that caught my attention. One of his friends in school is slipping away into the dark side of life, at high school, and Grant said to me, "you know what? It was better when his stepdad was there, but since his parents split up, he has gotten worse.”  Grant went on to say, "but he always complained about how strict is dad was, and how his dad would always be asking a question, and make him come home, and would actually be on his case for being stronger. And kind of getting on him for exercising, and actually being on the wrestling team, and he says now that they've split up, he's so he makes fun of them. He says, “Man, he’s not here anymore and I'm so glad that he's not strict in my life anymore.”  Grant finished by saying, "but if he were to look at his life, he's actually worse off because his step dad is not there anymore. He doesn't have anybody discipline him.”
He says, “Actually someone on your life like that is actually a good thing. My son actually said that!” I'm like, "You're right, Grant, yeah!” Now he's driving the car, so I'm riding, I'm like, “yeah!” He says, "I think it was actually a good thing that, even though he didn't like him, it was a good thing, that he was in his life.”
That's a blessing to me. It means that he actually is grabbing a few things that we've been talking about around the house.
And the mentoring process of raising up our kids as actually kind of working. He's not perfect. I'm not perfect. OK? He'll be better when I get better. I know that, but the reality is it's a blessing, and when you have someone in your life who is growing in their faith, and you've been a part of the development of them it's fulfilling.
And if you've never been a part of helping someone get stronger in their faith, you're missing out on one of the biggest blessings of all. Aside from helping someone actually finding Jesus as their Savior and Lord. That is the biggest blessing of all, to see them come to know Jesus, and to lead them to know Jesus as their savior. But growing in their faith is, I guess, really equal because they're one in the same process of becoming a Christian and growing in Christ. That whole process is so fulfilling to be part of it.
See, the question really isn't if you're going to do this, the question is how are you going to do it? Because who is watching you? All kinds of people are watching you. You've got people watching you from every angle you never thought.
Now if anybody's paranoid in this room, you just amped up your paranoia by a hundred thousand percent. Forget all the cameras that Fort Wayne keeps putting up in every place you go to and there's a camera on you. There are people watching your life. And the question is What are they watching and what are they seeing? Are they seeing a person living for Jesus and struggling through the process and willing to be open about it or are they seeing someone that's hiding and refusing to make a difference in their life?
How to develop others: Example of MosesSo how do you do it? I want to read Deuteronomy and we're going to wrap up with a couple of points, and be done this morning.
Joshua and Moses are up in front of all this crowd of people and in chapter 31 verse 1 it says that,
Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel saying, “I am now one 120 years old. I can no longer act as your leader. The Lord has told me, "You will not cross this Jordan.” The Lord your God is the one who will cross ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you and you will drive them out. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the Lord has said, The Lord will deal with them as he did Sihon and Og, and the kings of the Amorites in their land when he destroyed them. The Lord will deliver them over to you and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Don't be terrified or afraid of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Moses then summoned Joshua said to him, in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land the Lord swore to give their fathers, and you will enable them to take possession of it. The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
– Deuteronomy 31:1-8Remember your dashReally quickly, let's look at what happened here. First of all, Moses was very honest about where he was in his life. And so, one of the first things that we need to remember is we need to remember our dash. The dash is that little dash that represents the distance between your birthday and your reported date of death. And it is short.
He said, “I'm 120 years old now. It's time for me to quit.”
How many of you are over 120? All right, so nobody can quit yet. All right, so this is good. You're still good. Still got plenty of time here. You don't need to hand everything off yet.
No, seriously. He knew he only had so much time. And Psalm 90:12 it says,
Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. – Psalm 90:12
“Teach us to number our days.” Why does it take a crisis for us to be so careful about our days? Why does it take a bout with cancer? Why does it take to heart attack? Why does it take a tragedy for us to be jolted out of the reality that we don't have long on this earth?
I pray this morning, you'll just take seriously, if you're 20 years old, or you're 60 years old, or somewhere in between, or somewhere beyond or below, that you'll take seriously every day of your life. And fill it up to the max for Jesus Christ. And then you'll realize that you only have a short amount of time to help others know what you already know about God.
Stay Humble: Moses didn’t finish his original visionWe've got to stay humble. Moses said, "you know what? The Lord told me you will not cross this Jordan.” He had a lifelong dream and goal of going to the promised land. And he's not going to get there. Now he was already told that he wasn't going to lead them to the promised land. He'd broken some…. He had messed up.
And you say, "wow, all he did was he struck the rock twice, and water came out, and God said he was supposed to just speak to it. And he didn't. You think, "that one little thing, he blew it? And God wouldn’t let him in? And that's like one little thing, and God didn't let him do something big?
Stay humble: God’s vision is bigger than your lifetimeAll I'm going to say is when you're a leader, your standards are higher. But we don't. They know the ins and outs of why God chose to do that but he did and Moses had to face the fact that that which he had planned to do and hope to do and it dreamed about doing. He was not going to be allowed. And so, this vision that he had to go do that was bigger than his lifetime and he was going to have to give that vision away to someone else because ultimately, you know who was leading them? Not Moses. God. God was leading the Israelites to do something.
And at the end of the day, this pastor isn't leading this church. God is leading this church to do something. Get me out of the way if I'm in the way. What ministry you're doing Jacob's Well what they're doing whatever you're doing in this church for God, God is doing. Not you. He's working through you but you're doing it it's not about you.
And sometimes we stub our toe and we're not able to move forward the way we're supposed to and when we mentor other people we've got to be honest well bout ourselves we have to face our failures in front of them. We have to face our failures and realize that we are not perfect. We may not be able to finish the vision that we believe that God gave us. That we've got to pass it on the someone else because of some things that we may have done to not allow that to happen in our lives and we got to trust God's plan not ours. “If the Lord wills, then will do this and we will do that.”
“…if the Lord will…” we will go give cotton candy away today and we will have conversations with people and will help them find and follow Christ and will bring them into the Body of Christ.
“if it is the Lord's will” we'll do that today, but it is not us this doing that, it's God's that is doing this and it's he’s compelling us to go out and do that and be a part of that secular festival that's going to take place up the street later today.
Leverage every seasonBut it's not about us. And we've got to leverage every season. Leverage every season.
He says that, "I’ve taught you and I’ve told you what to do you're supposed to do this.” The Lord will deliver them over and you must do in verse five exactly as I have commanded you. In the season of his life, he led them out of Egypt, he led them into the beginnings of going into the Promised Land, and then they chose not to go there and so God said well, “Only a few of you are going to go. Moses, Caleb and Joshua, and the rest of you are going to die.”
Leverage every season: Keep teaching and modelingAnd Moses continues on, and then he makes his mistake and  God says, "you're not going either.” But the reality is, through the wilderness, he was teaching them, he didn't give up dumping into their lives. He recapped all of that when he got through at the very end of his life and at the end of the generations that were passing away, and he continued to disciple and to lead and to be the man that God wanted him to be, and every season of his life. When you're a dad, you're a dad to a toddler, your dad to a grade school or two, and then a teenager, and then you become almost this leader-adviser and then when they're out of the house, you're no longer in charge of them, you're just an advisor. And as some of you know, as empty nesters, your advisors when asked. Or you lose the relationship with your kids, because when they, and especially when they get married, leaving and cleave.
That means, you don't have anything to say about what happens in that household anyone, because they're responsible before God, not you. Now you hope that they'll ask for advice and encouragement, and you hope and pray that your advice is the right kind of advice.
But every season is important. Just because a kid leaves the house doesn't mean you stop being a parent. You know that. You still have opportunity to influence them.
And by the way, you're influencing them by the way you're living your life today, so that when they get to your time in life, they'll be living at the way they're supposed to live it, the way you've been living it.
If you blow your retirement time not living for God, and living for yourself the whole time, well, by the way, that's not Biblical. You got to live for Jesus, and you don't put God on the shelf just because you've stopped some society’s method of economic opportunity.
Leverage every season: Everyone needs someone to care for themYou see, everyone needs someone. I want a verse here that really hit us hard this morning. 1 Corinthians 4:15-16 says,
“For you have 10,000 guides in Christ, but you can't have many fathers. Now I have fathered you in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Therefore, I urge you be imitators of me.”
That hit me this this week, was, I was preparing this. That verse, I was looking for the one about be imitators of me and then I read it in the context.
You know that is so true for us today. 10,000 people want to tell you what to do but how many people want to actually get in your life and walk with you through the trenches? 10,000 people want to say on the radio how you ought to live your life and they are great teachers, and I know guys and gals, you get on the Internet, you get your podcast, and you hear all kinds of things and great teachers, greater than I am, and that's not self-appreciating. I’m just saying there is some really awesome people out there that are teaching the Word of God. And I draw from those people when I'm studying for my sermons.
But they are not mentors and fathers. How can David Jeremiah mentor you from California? He can teach you. But he is not your spiritual father. You need a spiritual father in this family to walk alongside. You need a mother in Christ if you're a lady, who is helping you to become like Christ and asking you questions, and encouraging you, and actually praying for you by name. And being with you and walking alongside of you. You can have 10,000 teachers but not many people who are dumping into your life and encouraging you.
Developing others: the spirit-directed Christian can be someone to someoneHow many here are followers of Christ? Let's just be real honest. How many here have put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord? All right. I don't care what age you are in the faith, you can be someone to someone else. All you've got to be is one step ahead of them, one page, in the Bible ahead, of them one discipline ahead of them and growing in your faith. That's all it takes. Just study up. You can almost be equal with them. But it would be nice if you're just a little bit ahead of them so they see how to do it in their life.
And how do you do that? You find someone who's a little bit ahead of you. You need someone to look to. Someone to walk alongside and someone to bring along with you. And that's going to solve this. So many people teaching us but not enough people helping us grow.
Publicly Affirm OthersAnd then finally, and next last two things here, we need to publicly affirm. You need to publicly help people know that you bless them, and you encourage them, and you believe in them. We did that with Jacob's Well today as our new church outreach band. We did that with these men down here who came back from the men’s retreat. They are growing in their faith and we believe in them and we affirm them and we want everybody to know that they are good examples to follow for the Lord Jesus Christ. And you need to do the same for people in your life.
Our church worship band, I would take any one of these musicians, as I’ve gotten to know them, and get to know Hannah better, and as she's come alongside of us, and I would say, "I'm grateful that they are representing Christ on the stage on Sunday morning.”
And Craig and Michelle are in our small group, and I would say that we would affirm one another, that we're trying to grow and be like Christ, and we go to ball games together. That we're not the ones doing the filthy language, because we're just trying to live out. Now, we laugh at what's going on out there. We see all these things going on. We're human beings but we're trying to represent Christ in our school district. And it's a good accountability to be alongside of them because I sometimes get mad at the referee too at a high school football game. I’m just saying.
I want to bring the football refs some glasses, once in a while.
(Chuckle)
Sometimes I don't like the coach.
Oh, now we're getting somewhere.
And you can follow right into the frenzy of the crowd, but if you've got other Christian friends that you're hanging out with, suddenly the dynamic of how you're living for Christ. You notice what you're doing a little more carefully. And you need people in your life. And you affirm them, and you help them, I just affirm them, they're friends of ours that help us to be better parents, better citizens, better people. Where we live.
He says to mostly test him. He's openly blessing him and he's passing the baton. He's saying, "Joshua it's your turn. Go.”
We do this a lot at the mission trips. They'll say, "Pastor, we need to get a team up to go over and share Christ with that person over there. And I’ll say yeah, go! That's it.
“Aren’t you coming with me?”
“Hmm, no. Your turn.”
And Katie Minick goes, “<Gasp.>” But she stepped up. And she's talking about her faith. And she's growing.  
“You can do this, Katie it's all good. You can do this.”
We've got to pass the baton. It's not about us. And the more you give away, the more you'll have to do. I have a list a mile long in my office. If you don't have a thing to do around here. Or if you give away a job I’ll find something else for you to do.
2 Timothy 2:2 really is the thing. Teach others, who will then teach others, who will then teach others, who then teach others. That was Paul talking to Timothy.
Point them to GodAnd finally, this morning, point to God. I want to close down with this.
Deuteronomy 31:8. Let's read that together out loud.
The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
I want our music team to come back up here to get ready for our last song as I conclude. This verse right, here I want us stare at, because Moses was not giving him himself. Moses was not giving him.... He gave him some plans, but that the end of the day, the plan was, trust God.
God was going with them over the Jordan to conquer into the Promised Land.
God is the one who is going with you when you're living your faith for God, when you're venturing out into territory you've never to ventured into before.
Some of you are venturing into new jobs. Some of you venturing into fatherhood or motherhood for the first time. Some of you are venturing into senior adulthood. Some of you venturing into lifestyle changes because of your physical struggles. Some of you are in situations where you're about ready to break out into the world as an adult, or you're learning how to be an adult in a new fresh way and you're trying to get over maybe an addiction, and you're learning the new way of living without the crutch that you had that was destroying your life and people around you.
And you are going out not because you're doing it by yourself.
The Lord is the one who will go before you in that new territory.
The Lord is the one who will be with you and he will not leave you or for sake you and you do not need to be afraid and you do not need it need to be discouraged.
And when you are helping someone find and follow Christ and when you're mentoring and encouraged and developing them in their faith you're saying to them, "God is with you and if I disappear tomorrow God is with you. If I drop dead tomorrow, my children need to know that it is not me that's leading them, it is the Heavenly Father, that is their father forever. He is the one who goes with them, and I don't have to be afraid.
When I go out of town on trips, and when I go overseas or whatever I'm doing or if I'm just out on the street, and there's all kinds of accidents that take place on a daily basis right here Fort Wayne, that if something were to happen to me that they know that God is with them it's not me that's with them. We give away God every day.
Who is watching you?The question is how are you doing that? Are you showing that God is someone to be feared and that you should be afraid and discouraged? Or are you showing people that you don't have to be afraid or discouraged? How you live your life will change the people around you.
How will you start developing others?My prayer this morning is that you’ll step up and start developing others for the sake of Jesus Christ. You'll start growing up in your faith and you'll start be in the man or the woman of God that he's intended for you to be, that we might be stronger, better, a faithful witness, but generations to come, they'll say, "we laid a foundation on Jesus Christ and others build upon that, and they were a little build well, because we did it with gold and precious metals, not wood, hay and stubble.”
Let’s stand to our feet. Let's sing this last song. I don't know what that means for you this morning. It might mean that you say, "you know what? I need to find of faith in Christ because I'm leading people and I'm leading them to hell, because I'm not following Christ.”
It might be that you just need to step up your game and say, "I'm willing to be a greater witness for Jesus Christ and I got to stop playing games with God. I need to stop playing games and being somebody I'm not here at church and being somebody completely different. I need those two to match. So that I can live with full potential that God has for me.
PrayerFather God, help us to make the decision you’ve called us to make, and may we make it with boldness, knowing that you are with us, and that you are guiding us and leading us. It is in Jesus’ name that I pray, amen.
Song: Lord, I Need You
By Matt Maher. © Capitol Christian Music Group
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart
 
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
 
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
 
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
 
To teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
When I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, you’re my hope and stay
 
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
 
BenedictionJimI wanted to say this earlier. Being at the retreat this weekend with the guys that I spent there with, and listening to the pastor speak while I was there. I'm really kind of glad Greg decided to follow God into the ministry. It's all I can tell you. He's been a great friend and a good mentor, and I can't see his head growing but, I think you'll be OK with that.
Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you Lord for all that you've done for us this week. We just praise you and glorify you. We ask that you be with us, Father God, going through this week. Guide us and direct us, Father, in a path that you want to take and just continue to teach us, Father God. We thank you for this building, Father, for us to worship in. We just thank you for everything, Father God.
God, we are your people. We praise you. We thank you in Jesus name, amen.