Week Seven -- The Cost of Discipleship

I feel like I say this after every week of teaching, but this was literally the most impacting week of teaching I've ever had! Last week we had Dean Sherman, and this week we had his son, Troy. I have 43 pages of notes, which I wish I could somehow share with you. But I'll try to condense the main points. :)

Troy's teaching on "The Cost of Discipleship" was based out of 1 Corinthians 4.

He talked about how easy it is to "pick at rotten fruit." By this he means we generally choose to focus on sin instead of good things when we look at other people. But really, we need to get to the root of what's wrong or else we'll just strengthen the spirit of religion. And it's so easy to focus on the sin in other people's lives instead of calling out the good. What are we so focused on that makes us actually blind to the beautiful things? I want to be a person who calls out the good so much that when I tell someone I need to talk to them, their assumption is that I want to say something positive! When we condemn someone for their sin, what we do is encourage other people to "keep the mask on." I never want to be guilty of discouraging transparency. If I'm the one bringing the conviction, I'm failing that person. I have to let the Holy Spirit bring conviction or else the change won't last! Change through shame is never effective.

One main point of the week is that it's not a matter of if but when you'll be hurt by people in leadership. "The Christian army is the only army where the soldiers shoot each other." Jesus was killed by, not the pagans, but the religious!

Often the very things that you think might be disqualifying you from leadership might actually be the reason God's calling you to it. What you do doesn't define you, it's what you do with what you've done. Troy talked about how he's had moments where he fell on his face before the Lord and asked Him, "Why are you using me?" And He responded with, "Because of what you're doing right now." What you do with failure is everything!

There's nothing more unfair in life than leadership--look at Jesus! If there was anyone who earned a great, easy life, it would be Him! But instead He was brutally beaten and crucified for loving people and living a life of service. Suffering is always a part of leadership. The reality is we are called to a ministry of obedience, not success. If you're drawing value from your work, you'll compromise and burn out. If you need to see results, you're compromising. 

Work and serving should be the natural overflow of abiding in the Vine. He wants us to be obedient out of love. Servant-hood is not just "important" in leadership, it's everything!

Another point that hit me hard was that the higher you get in "position," the more you're going to have to seek out discipleship. If you get to the point where people stop approaching you, something is wrong. We should never be unapproachable. We have to choose to surround ourselves with people who will tell us the hard truth. Surrounding yourself with people who tell you what you want to hear instead of what you need to hear is evidence of pride.

I wish I could do this week's of teaching justice, but that will have to do. If you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you personally. :)

Blessings!

LC