journey

Are you following Jesus?

Not long after I arrived at Wilkesboro Baptist Church, we began asking questions about our church. We asked of nearly everything, “Why are we doing this ministry, this program, or this event?” That season of evaluation resulted in a redefined mission and articulation of how we’re accomplishing that mission at WBC. 

The commission that Jesus gave his followers in Matthew 28 is to “make disciples.” While there are many things that happen in a church and many activities in a church, there is only one primary mission of the church: “making disciples.” You can think of it this way. Church can be successful at music, preaching, groups, events, programs, or studies. Church can make people feel welcome. Or churches can struggle in these areas. Over the years, I’ve observed churches and Christians ebb and flow in their spiritual lives. Sometimes churches grow in numbers and excitement. Sometimes they decline. Sometimes Christians grow in tangible ways. Sometimes they disengage from church and decline spiritually in observable ways. The Christian life is a journey. Ultimately, it is to be a journey of following Jesus. And if we fail at following Jesus (that is, making disciples), then I’m not sure we can count our personal lives or our churches as successful.

Long before I came to be the pastor at Wilkesboro Baptist, I had committed my life to be a disciple-maker. And over the last 10 years, we have attempted to structure our church’s programs and ministries around making disciples. Our mission at WBC is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus. We do this through four specific mission steps: worship, learn, serve, replicate. These steps form the focus of our programs and ministries.

This September 2025, our sermon series will be “Follow Jesus: Living a Life that Lasts.” This series is intended to be a reminder of our mission and our four mission steps: Worship (Sept. 7), Learn (Sept. 14), Serve (Sept. 21), and Replicate (Sept. 28). This study will explore deeply the Great Commission text in Matthew 28:16-20 along with complementary passages that explain and apply our mission. If you’re a part of WBC, we would encourage you to be here over the next month to be reminded of our mission and what it looks like to follow Jesus. If you’re not apart of WBC and you would like to follow along, you can find information about how to watch or listen here.

The aim for Christians is not merely to attend church or even to be members at a church, but to be followers of Jesus. So let me ask you this question, “Are you following Jesus?”

Earlier this year, I read Clint Grider’s book, Mind the Gap. Grider argues that churches need to not only organize for making disciples, but assess how they’re doing. His book suggested some helpful terminology in reflecting on the journey of following Jesus. As a result, we’ve developed 8 Journey Outcomes that derive from our four mission steps. You can think of these outcomes as applications or goals.

Journey Outcomes

  • Say or sing praise to God daily from Scripture and in prayer. #worship
  • Engage intentionally in gathered worship. (Gather weekly, sing joyfully, listen attentively, take notes, give generously). #worship
  • Listen to God daily through Scripture and personal worship. #worship/learn
  • Record what God is speaking to share with group/community. #learn
  • Be accountable to a person or group. #learn
  • Grow in Christlikeness (Be with Jesus in worship and Word, experience conviction and confession, love others). #learn/serve
  • Put others first by serving (serve at home, church, neighbors, nations). #learn/serve
  • Lead others to take their next step in following Jesus (lead others to worship, learn, serve, replicate). #replicate

Are these outcomes true in your life? What is the next step you can take to follow Jesus or to lead others to follow Jesus?

Facing the Adventure of Ministry During a Crisis

My two sons (9 and 6) love adventure stories just as much as I do. Pretending to be heroes, they wield (plastic) swords, defeat bad guys, and travel on heroic journeys.

At some point, though, we grow up. While we might never lose our sense of adventure or our joy in a good story, our age and responsibilities necessitate adult thinking. 

Often this means we set aside our pursuit of adventure and risk-taking for the everyday. After all, it’s the job that pays the bills, not the fantasies of books, video games, and make-believe.  

In the last several weeks, I’ve been rethinking this perspective. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been reading, studying, learning, and listening to all you can about COVID-19. 

Not only does the current pandemic feed our minds for personal information, but if you’re in any field of leadership, it’s also a necessity. We need to be informed and aware of what’s going on to make well-informed decisions. 

In this article, I’m intentionally trying to write a different perspective. I’d ask a bit of grace as well. 

When you read the perspective that follows, I’m not trying to minimize the hurt and suffering faced by so many. Rather, I’m offering a view that interprets the pandemic as a difficulty to overcome—a dangerous adventure. 

Here are just a few ways adventure stories can remind us how to get through this pandemic. 

WE’RE ON A JOURNEY WE DIDN’T ASK FOR OR SEEK OUT.

Think of the stories of Frodo Baggins, Harry Potter, or Luke Skywalker. None of us in leadership (Christian leadership in particular) sought out these leadership challenges. 

We didn’t create the environment for these stay-at-home orders, social distancing, or online church, but we find ourselves on this journey. 

We can’t change our situations. We’re responsible for what we do with what is in front of us, not for what we can’t control. 

THE SUCCESS OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY OFTEN DEPENDS ON THE DETAILS. 

I love a good turn in a story where a seemingly minor detail plays an important role in the entire plotline (Harry’s invisibility cloak, Indiana Jones’ whip, or Aragorn’s sword). 

Friends, we’ve been placed in an imperfect situation as imperfect people. We’re going to make mistakes and probably make wrong decisions. I already have. 

Without adding too much pressure, we must remember the details matter. Now, don’t stress out. I’m not suggesting our online media needs to be perfect or trying to add worry about imperfect communication strategies. 

I mean something more basic. The details that’ll get us through are these: spending time in the Word and prayer, listening to others, taking time to make a phone call, or pausing in your busyness to take a stressed-out child on a walk. 

When all is said and done, successful journeys often turn on the ability of the leaders to remember the details that matter. 

WE NEED OTHERS TO MAKE IT THROUGH. 

Luke Skywalker had Han Solo, Frodo had the fellowship for part of his journey and Samwise for all of it, and Harry had Ron and Hermione. 

But isolation is a real challenge these days. 

As a pastor, I’m heartbroken over the many who are suffering the negative effects of isolation and loneliness. And at another level, I’m saddened for leaders who are without any support or aid. 

Friends, you won’t make it through this alone. You need someone who’ll say, “You don’t have to be Jesus.” 

You need church leaders who’ll say, “Pastor, I’m praying for you. Tell me what you need, and I’ll do it.” 

You need others around you that you can depend on. In Philippians 2, Paul bragged on Timothy and Epaphroditus, two men who helped him make it through. 

I’m convinced that when all is said and done, those with a strong support system will be those who make it through healthy and strong. 

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR STRENGTH IS OUTSIDE OF US. 

Luke had the force, Harry had his mother’s love, and Frodo had Gandalf the wizard. Please refrain from your theological critiques. I’m not equating the outside influences in these stories with God. 

However, what I think is instructive is that popular psychology, liberal theology, and humanistic philosophy want us to look within ourselves to find our strength. But in nearly every great story, the hero has outside help. 

This says something. I’m preaching to the choir here, but we won’t make it through this pandemic without God. 

Your church members won’t make it without God: those who are delaying funerals, those who can’t visit aging parents in nursing homes, those who find working from home while educating children nearly impossible, those who can’t provide for their families because they lost their job and unemployment hasn’t come through yet, and on and on. 

You get it. We need the help of the only One truly outside the situation. 

And gloriously, the gospel teaches that Jesus came into our situation to experience our sufferings, to become our Savior, and to offer us hope. 

Christian leadership in this pandemic is an adventure. Thankfully, our Savior is the Hero who’s already faced His journey victorious, and His strength is there for us to make it through. 

Originally published here through Lifeway Facts and Trends.

Photo by Simon Matzinger on Unsplash