Steps of a Disciple: Live by Example

Sermon Series
"Steps of a Disciple: Live by Example"
Luke 15: 1-10; 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
September 11, 2016

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and 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 people who need no repentance.

‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ - Luke 15: 1-10

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Timothy 1: 12-17


Jesus made the Pharisees nervous. The example of faith that he was setting was quite radical in his time. When Jesus would teach in the synagogues the Pharisees would scan the crowd to notice who was listening. When Jesus walked the streets the Pharisees paid attention to those Jesus interacted with.

Tradition held that Rabbis always sought the best of the best students to teach. The best were worthy of receiving such knowledge of God’s Law. But Jesus broke the mold for a Rabbi. He looked for students and followers who did not make the cut, were quite ordinary, and were rough around the edges. Jesus sat at the lunch table with the unlikely disciples, the tax collectors, the sinners, and anyone who had fallen short of God’s glory.

Luke recalls the Pharisees made quite a self-righteous comment about Jesus’ example: “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). I don’t think the Pharisees understood the example of faith Jesus was setting for others. While the Pharisees criticized him, I think they were actually questioning what motivated Jesus. Why did Jesus reach out to folks beyond the Pharisees’ righteous circle?

Jesus had a special place in his heart for the lowly. According to Luke, God promised to work through Jesus Christ to humble the proud and the powerful, to lift up those who had nothing to depend on but God alone, and to fill the hungry with God’s abundance (Luke 1: 51-53). God’s promise of steadfast love would do nothing less for every generation of faith (Luke 1:54-55).

The example that Jesus was setting pointed to God as a shepherd. This shepherd was keen to observe the patterns of his flock and especially to notice who was missing. The shepherd would leave the circle of the flock to go above and beyond his call. The shepherd was willing to search the pastures and wilderness to restore even just one sheep to the whole. And let’s not forget the shepherd was the low man on the totem pole. The Pharisees did not hold the shepherds in high regard. Jesus’ parable caused some friction with the Pharisees. While the Pharisees placed more value in the circle that confined the flock, God places more value in sacrificial love and grace that breaks down cultural norms.

A few weeks ago a simple photograph brought a mother to tears because social circles were on her mind. The snapshot told the story a school cafeteria lunch hour. Kids filled the seats with lunch boxes and school trays. A handful of Florida State University football players visited the elementary school that day, dressed in their uniforms, and they even went through the lunch line. The players took the opportunity to visit with the kids.

With his tray of pizza in hand, Travis Rudolph saw an empty table where one eleven year old boy named Bo was eating all alone. Travis approached the boy and asked if he could join him. This caught the eye of a school employee who must have been looking out for Bo, as the picture was shared with Bo’s mom. It didn’t take long for the picture to go viral.

That simple interaction was life changing for both Bo and his mother. Bo often eats lunch alone every day. Kids shun him as different because he interprets the world around him through autism. Bo’s mom worries daily about her son being left out of the circle of friendships. But Travis’s simple act of compassion towards the one child who sat alone is a true example to learn from.

When Travis later learned that Bo was autistic he shared in an interview, “It’s just heartbreaking that [Bo] is in that situation, but I’m praying for him. He’s a great kid overall. I would love to hang out with him anytime.” And Travis did hang out with Bo and his mom as they received a special invitation to attend a dinner with the Florida State football team. What radical hospitality.

This reminds me of something Mother Teresa once said, “We can’t all do great things but we can all do small things with great love.”

A week ago Mother Teresa was lifted up as an exemplary model of sacrificial love. The Roman Catholic Church canonized her as a saint of the church. From the young age of twelve Teresa wanted to be a missionary [1]. At the age of eighteen she left her Albanian home to serve in Calcutta, India. She ministered to orphans, the sick, and they dying. Her published diary says she vowed to “live in the convent with kindness; to come alongside the poor with gentleness; to have a kind presence with the sick; and lastly to smile at God” [2].

Mother Teresa had a deep devotion to serve God and the lowly, even when she did not feel God’s presence in the dark valleys of life. Over the years people would come from miles and miles to walk in her shadow to find greater purpose in their lives. When people tried to follow her on the streets and live by her example she would say these words:

Stay where you are, find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right there where you are – in your own homes and in your own families, in your work places and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere – wherever you go; you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society – completely forgotten, completely left alone.

Jesus Christ strengthens us to be inspired by others and to follow his example as a disciple. Our highest calling is to allow God’s grace to overflow from us to others in faith and love. Being a disciple is not just focusing on attending to our spiritual formation here within the walls of the church.

Do not get me wrong. It is so very important to gather as a community each week to tell God “Thank you!” and to be shaped by the songs, stories, and rituals of God’s love. It is important to be shaped by our Teacher and Savior.

But it is equally important for you and me to live out the example of Christ’s love where we are – in our homes, at the water cooler, on the sports field, and at the lunch table. Christ put on the thin skin of humanity in order to live out God’s example. From the beginning God has chosen to live in relationship with us. We know the fullness of God’s example with that one word in which we celebrate each Advent - “Immanuel” for God is with us.

God shows no favoritism. God embraces us all in a gracious hospitality and is always pursuing our hearts and minds to be captivated and changed by God’s amazing grace. Jesus’ example of faith demonstrates that God is at work to widen the circles that we have a tendency to draw saying who is in the circle and who is outside of the circle. God is at work chipping away that “us versus them” mentality to make room for all to see and experience glimpses of God’s truth.

The next steps of a disciple are to live by example – Jesus’ example. With each new day Christ calls us to follow a little bit more in his radical ways by extending God’s hospitality to others. Christ calls us to allow the Spirit to open our eyes and see who is not here. Who is losing connection with the body of Christ because of outstanding circumstances? Who is sitting alone at the lunch table and wishing that someone would express genuine care? Who has fallen on hard times and needs a hand up? Who has the community forgotten? And then Christ calls us to be ready and willing to go out into our community to extend God’s grace with a humble and grateful heart.

Living by Jesus’ example is not about turning faith or church or ministry into a success. A colleague once shared with me that we are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful. May we seek to be faithful as we take steps to grow as a disciple.

May it be so for you and for me. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sources Referenced:
[1] Mother Teresa: Come be My Light (New York: Crown Publishing, 2007). pp. 13-14.
[2] Mother Teresa: Come be My Light, p. 166.