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You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and in Portland, and to the end of the earth. [...] So don’t just stand there gazing up into heaven. There’s a whole world out there that’s looking for hope and healing and a chance to start over, so let’s go! Go and tell your friends and family and co-workers and classmates that Jesus is who they’re looking for! The mission hasn’t changed: Go and make disciples. And so they did. And the movement hasn’t stopped since! What does it look to be a disciple of Jesus and to make disciples in everyday life? The Tales of Discipleship series is all about answering that question.

This is the beginning our Fall sermon series: TALES OF DISCIPLESHIP The purpose of the series: to help us get a clearer picture of what it might look like to go and make disciples in our lives – our respective relational spheres - by looking at the everyday, normal examples of discipleship that have been given to us throughout the book of Acts. Our hope is to inspire faith and action, as well as dispel any notion that discipleship is something reserved for only the most advanced believers, or those who have some extra special gifting or desire. Everyone who desires to follow Jesus is called to be a disciple and to make disciples. This is Christian mission 101. This is Jesus’ commission to church – then and now.

JESUS SATISFIES.  He invites us to live lives that are full of rich, lasting, increasing contentment; lives that are abundant and overflowing with peace and joy and goodness and everything that would cause us to exclaim, I have more than enough! My life’s not problem-free.  It’s not always easy. It’s certainly not effortless. But my life is marked by long, lasting, rich seasons of deep satisfaction. I have eaten all that I want, and I still have leftovers.  Could you imagine?! Satisfaction in Jesus... HOW does it work?

Pastor Casey Olsen, from Grace City Eugene, talks about the preeminence of Jesus, and the freedom that comes from a life centered around God.

It’s virtually the same story that gets told over and over again. It’s the narrative arc of the Bible. And it’s the story that was ultimately realized in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus -     the man who is God with us.  It’s the story of the priestly king, the Creator himself, who interceded for his own people… Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them! They don’t know what they’re doing! And then, he freely offered himself - the only one among us who was actually innocent -    he offered his own life as a sacrifice for us all, for the sins of the world.  And as he did, he cried out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit! And then… The floodgates of mercy broke open! And all who receive His great gift of grace will be saved.  And not just for a time, but forever!

Have you ever heard of the ‘upside-down kingdom’? Jesus would often describe to his disciples what the kingdom of heaven was like, what it would look like to live as citizens of that kingdom, and how they should always remain fully awake and alert, in eager anticipation of the king’s return.  This is the part of the story that foreshadows that… The return of the king, and his upside-down kingdom, as the end of the rebellion has finally come. It’s a wonderful, challenging, and beautiful vision. And if understood rightly, it should leave us all joining in with the saints of old, as we say the ancient prayer together… Come Lord Jesus! Come!  Come dwell in our hearts. Come dwell in our homes. Come dwell in our motives. Come dwell in our hopes. Come dwell in our dreams, and in our fears, in our hoping, and in our tears.  Because we can’t build the Kingdom of Heaven apart from you.  Although, God knows we’ve tried.  WHEN THE SHEPHERD-KING RETURNS, WHAT WILL THE KINGDOM LOOK LIKE?

In the wake of his sin, instead of David suffering the lawful penalty of judgement, the innocent son died for him. And… Another child was born - the boy named Peace and Beloved of God; the child through whom God’s great story of forgiveness and redemption would continue to be told.  And yes, the ramifications of David’s choices would still be felt for at least three or four generations. But those affects would soon be dwarfed by the thousands of generations that would come after that; by those who would bask in mercy’s triumph over judgement and evil and some day even death itself.

If God’s not served by human hands, then what are we doing when we serve God? God commands us to serve Him, but not because He needs our service. God doesn’t need you to serve Him. God doesn’t need you. But He does desire you. Because God loves you. And because it’s His nature to enjoy loving union with people – the way He’s always enjoyed loving union with the Son and the Spirit in Holy Trinity. Therefore, if God commands you to serve Him, it’s not for Him, but for you, for your benefit, for your joy, for your peace, and for those around you. He desires to bless you, and... It’s not about you.

Have you ever been on a long journey in life, when one day you wake up and can’t quite remember why you started in the first place? SOUL DRIFT: When the truth of the gospel and your actual lived-out experience begin drift apart. Jesus will often interrupt a moment to address the soul drift that happens in our lives.

THIS IS A PORTRAIT OF A MAN WHO HAS NOTHING TO PROVE, NO FEAR OF REJECTION, NO FAÇADE TO UPHOLD, NO REPUTATION TO PROTECT, NO EGO TO SHIELD David is simply free – free from the opinion of others and bound by his great love for the God who has been so good, mighty and faithful towards him his entire life so far. And... The context of David's mighty worship is the 'fear of the Lord.' What does uninhibited worship and the fear of God have to do with each other? Everything, as it turns out.

I believe, in many ways, we as a society have forgotten how to grieve well.  Obviously, we are all very aware of the reality of pain and regret and disappointment. I think it’s fair to assume that everyone is familiar with feelings of loss and sorrow. But I think it’s also fair to say that many of us are lacking the ability and awareness to process these emotions in a way that’s actually healthy and whole – with patience and grace and honesty and courage.  Which is one of the many reasons why I’m so grateful for the Scriptures... Because the Bible is so brutally and wonderfully honest about the reality of pain and sorrow in our world – and the Scriptures offer us wisdom – an ancient path, not just to ‘move past’ our pain, but to meet God in it, and to experience – truly experience – comfort, healing, gratitude and hope.  When was the last time you remember grieving well? Not when was the last time that you felt deep sorrow? But in your sorrow, when was the last time you can recall grieving well?

The life of David – the man after God’s own heart – is the tale of the merciful king. And the tale of the merciful king is the story of God. It seems like no matter how you break it down, the life of David simply keeps leading us back to Jesus – the King without a crown, the Lamb of God, the Lord of the cross. ---------------- HOW CAN WE PRACTICE LIVING AS AMBASSADORS OF THE MERCIFUL KING? AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE KING WHO’S FAMOUS FOR HIS MERCY?