“It takes disciples to make disciples, and Jesus had spent three years teaching his disciples what it meant to be one…. In short, you had to live under the reign of God if you wanted to go preach about the reign of God.” (Christopher Wright. The Mission of God’s People. 243.)

Wright is saying that it takes a transformed life (though not a perfect one) to proclaim the one who can transform life.  I am increasingly convinced that Paul was talking about this power of a transformed life when he wrote the Corinthians, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power….” (1 Cor. 2:4 emphasis added). This is seen not only by the context (“Jews demand signs,” but Paul isn’t giving them that!), but also by his use of the similar language in writing the Thessalonians.

It takes a transformed life (though not a perfect one) to proclaim the one who can transform life.

“Our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thess. 1:5-6)

What power accompanied the Gospel message when it came to the Thessalonians? Might it have been the power of the transformed lives of Paul, Silas, and Timothy? I believe so. Those lives were certainly bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Their lives were conformed to the wisdom of the cross.

Our lives must be transformed by the message—a message which Jesus came preaching to turn people’s lives upside-down.[1] Technically, he came to turn them right-side-up, since their lives were already upside-down. Over 35 years of preaching, I’ve learned that many people don’t go to church hoping their lives are turned right-side up, but rather to have their upside-down lives affirmed.

Are You Looking for a Transformed Life?

Early in his writing career, prolific Christian author Philip Yancy says, “I nearly despaired of the usefulness of any writing about faith…. It seemed to me at the time that Christians were reading primarily for the experience of nodding agreement, ‘Yes, that’s true,’ whereas great literature makes us stop and ponder: ‘I’ve never imagined it that way before.'” But Yancy came to realize through another author (Frederick Buechner) that “faith was an act of discovery, not a packet of orthodoxy dispensed from on high.”[2] In other words, to read or listen with faith is to seek to discern how God is calling us to be transformed.

Late in my preaching career, I nearly despaired of the usefulness of preaching for it seems at times that Christians are primarily coming to church for the experience of nodding agreement, to say, “Amen.” Many do not come to hear from the One Who came from heaven to turn their world upside-down (only because it is, in fact, already upside-down and needs to be righted).

Many people don’t go to church hoping their lives are turned right-side up, but rather to have their upside-down lives affirmed.

The Challenge of Living Right-side Up

All of this means that this call to be disciples (followers of Jesus) who make more disciples will be challenging and, at times, discouraging. Discouraging because transformed lives are transformed in the crucible of life together. Life together involves sifting. We are being sifted. This means that trials come to sift us (and Jesus prays that our faith will not fail). And it means some will be sifted out, and that’s hard.

Life together involves sifting.

Maybe these words of Jesus are helpful when we experience such challenging and discouraging times:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. (John 15:18-21)

Maybe that same sentiment is captured in the shorter statement from the Beatitudes:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:11-12)

Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, the good news that God’s reign had begun, and it calls us to change how we think and live. It should never surprise us that it upsets some people, even ourselves at times. Yet I do find myself surprised nonetheless. However, for those that respond to Jesus’ call to change how we think and live, there is a power that will make a difference in the Gospel’s impact in those who encounter it in us.

[1] “Repent (change how you think and live) for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.” (Matt. 3:2; 4:17)

[2] Philip Yancy, Soul Survivor, chpt. 11.

Photo by Randy Jacob on Unsplash.