A Culture of Discipleship
“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” – Titus 2:1-8
Recently I had the great privilege of taking a visiting couple out to lunch to get to know them and share more about the church. As I asked how they have been connecting with the church, they immediately had praise for how welcoming everyone was, especially getting to go to one of your homes for lunch right after worship. Soon after they had a dinner invitation to another home.
That’s two meal invitations before I had the opportunity to sit down with them. It so delights my heart when you all beat me to hospitality. It speaks to the culture of hospitality and discipleship that Christ is building in this church.
Redemption City Church is not a professional business organization with a top-down ministry structure. It is not the paid professionals who do all the work of ministry, but every member of the church does ministry in your unique way, with your unique skillset. We teach each other. Older men teach younger men. Older women disciple younger women. Integrity, dignity, and sound speech permeate the body.
Pastors/elders have the great responsibility of discipling the members to be disciplers themselves. And whenever we see that you are inviting others to meals, you are inviting friends to worship, you are leading bibles studies, you are organizing activities, you are hosting people in your homes, you are counseling one another, it is both encouraging and humbling.
At the same time you show us elders that God doesn’t need us and he is using us. His Spirit works through every single one of you to accomplish his work. The work of this church doesn’t rise and fall based on the elders’ work alone. We aren’t the key to fruitfulness, the Spirit is.
And still the Spirit is working through us to do what he said he would do: build up the body so that it grows to maturity in Christ through mutual love toward one another.
We praise God for your faithfulness. You show us, each other, and our neighbors every week that God is mightily at work at Redemption City Church. Keep your hands to the plow, brothers and sisters!
With great appreciation,
Adam and the elders