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We are in it for the Long Haul

Now we consider the last of the GCC values in the refreshed purpose and values statement the elders recently approved.  It is worded as such:

We are in it for the long haul

We see following Christ and loving one another as a long journey. We aim for the long run commitment in our relationship with Christ, our families, and one another. We resist the quick fix and the easy path in favor of long faithfulness.

I think of this value as a further outworking of the purpose of making “lifelong followers of Jesus Christ”. It’s much easier to make short term followers of Jesus than lifelong followers. All we have to do is focus more on decisions for Christ than discipleship. We have a show of hands at the end of an emotional sermon about believing and following Jesus, and we add the hands raised to the statistics of decisions for Christ.

Discipleship is by nature a lifelong following of the teaching of Jesus Christ. Discipleship for sure has emotional and moving moments - the occasional big breakthrough in life where the light and glory of Jesus Christ shine through in big ways. Long haul discipleship prepares you for the days when the boss yells at you and the dog bites your hand when you get home. Long haul discipleship makes you a person who is saturated in Scripture and faithful in prayer. Long haul discipleship teaches you not to be independent and lonely in your Christianity, instead you become interdependent and a part of a family that helps live life for Christ in the ups and downs.

The exciting thing about this approach is it frees you up to be honest about how messy things are today. The goal isn’t to be well and fixed right this very second. If things are kind of up and down, I can ask for help. I can learn from others who have walked with Him through difficulties. I can settle down, think about where I am, and seek grace to grow.

Our elders are thinking about this long-haul discipleship with our children and youth ministry. How can GCC help build into our children and youth some things that help their faith last a lifetime? What additional tools do they need? What challenges will their generation face, and what can Grace do to help equip them in every way for those challenges? Our next youth director will be both someone we feel can help with that, and who will provide leadership to help us build stronger disciples out of our ministry.

The “discipleship” part of “discipleship through relationship” is very important for the long haul.  Relationships that lead us to the basics of a good day to day relationship with Christ are important. The best ones have an “edge” to them where we encourage and exhort one another to more.

Tag preached from this text on Sunday, and it’s good to read it again. Paul had been in it for the long haul. His faith in Jesus Christ had sustained him through terrible opposition and many difficult circumstances.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:10-17, ESV)

I am praying that each of us may become better equipped in the coming year, that we might live out all our days following Jesus!

In it for the long haul,

Don

Don Ward

Senior Pastor

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