The One

So He told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:3-7

How does God do ‘ministry’? What is His focus? How do we do ministry? What is our focus? Is it on the individual … the one? Or is it on the crowd, the numbers, the bigger the better? Is real ministry focused on growth of numbers or is it concerned with the single individual? How is real discipleship supposed to work? One on one? In a small group setting? With lots of real world interaction and work outside of ‘spiritual’ religious settings? With conversations? With questions? 

Did Jesus instruct us to go out and build a big ministry / Church?

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20

How does our current institutional Church system ‘make disciples’ or does our system just make ‘club’ members? How much are those that attend your ‘fellowship’ — given attention… individually? Currently our system isn’t geared to the ‘one’ individual, it is geared to a passive ‘audience’. So if the ‘spiritual leaders’ in your Church aren’t involved in one on one discipleship how are they fulfilling the calling Jesus gave ALL followers of Him? Oh.. they are above that calling… right? Oh…they’re  too busy to be involved one on one. We’ve built a wonderful ‘social club’, a ‘land cruise ship’ where the good times roll. Where membership has ‘perks’.

What are the ‘perks’ of being in the ‘club’ with Jesus?

And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23

But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. Luke 21:12-27

Does this sound like your ‘Church’ / club? Are you being challenged to ‘take up your cross daily’? Have you even asked your spiritual leadership what that actually means? Have you ever been encouraged by them to ask the Holy Spirit what that means for you? Are they walking with you through your challenges? Are they encouraging you personally to grow? Are they actually interested in listening to what you have to say? Are they encouraging you to follow the challenges the Holy Spirit is giving you .. personally? Do they even know your challenges? Do they even really care? The ones that do ..are rare, and are most likely leaders of small groups. Most are too busy and concerned with the  ‘feeding the machine’ / business of the … Church. Was that the example Jesus gave us? Are we to imitate Him? How important is the … one single individual? Read Luke 15 and the parables Jesus teaches about the … single one.

Don’t forget the value of the … one person. Don’t be discouraged that you only have a handful of people in your “ministry”. Be focused on the individual right in front of you. Listen to them. Pray for them. Love them. All the while conversing with the Holy Spirit in your mind .. following His lead and suggestions.

What is the value of the one? How does Jesus value them?  Disciple them.