Miscalculations

On the morning of September 1, 1983, Korean Airlines Flight 007 took off from Anchorage, Alaska and set its course for Seoul, South Korea. Captain Chun Byung- set the wrong cordonance, less than a few degrees off course. A little over five hours into the flight, his small miscalculation put the airliner over sensitive Soviet airspace. Two Soviet Flagon Interceptors shot down the Boeing 747 over Sakholin Island. All 269 passengers were killed.

Life can be full of dangerous miscalculations. We neglect prayer, stop reading our Bibles or going to church, and without warning, we find ourselves in deep trouble. As a leader in the church, I am often bombarded with the constant worry of allowing miscalculations or even neglect to creep into the ministry at New Life.

Here are eight areas that we must not neglect.

1. We can’t neglect discipleship
2. We can’t neglect the call to evangelistic urgency
3. We can’t neglect the pursuit of personal holiness
4. We can’t neglect congregational unity
5. We can’t neglect the clear expositional teaching of God’s Word
6. We can’t neglect extravagant generosity
7. We can’t neglect genuine worship
8. We can’t neglect fervent prayer

We started off 2019 with a promise that discipleship was going to be a constant focus for our faith community. I remain committed to that vision and constantly think about how we live out the vision of making disciples.

I want to encourage you to find a prayer partner and get real about growing as a disciple. We have opened the space at church on Sunday evenings for the purpose of coming together and sharing life around the gospel. Sunday evenings are not the only time that you can meet during the week but it provides a great way to end the week and set the stage for a new week ahead.

When I think about a clear picture of a church coming together around the vision of discipleship I am reminded of Titus 2:1-5. This is a great passage that provides clarity for the task of making disciples. This passage is a reminder that the call to discipleship is also the call to make disciples. Read carefully the vision of discipleship that Paul gives to Titus:

But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips
nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:1-5