Are Feet Beautiful?

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Are Feet Beautiful? Submitted by Jim Garner

Let's be real honest, feet are helpful and necessary but they are not so beautiful. We don't usually think much about them as long as they are working correctly for walking, sports, exercise or being fitted with the latest trendy sneaker or popular flat/heel. At the same time, I have family and friends who like to pamper themselves occasionally and get a good foot massage or occasional pedicure. But overall, feet are not too popular!

However, I think it's interesting that there are several stories in the Bible that place a great importance on feet. It’s not that feet are the main subject but God uses them as an illustration to teach a Christian truth and priority. There are two main examples of this I would like to highlight.  

First, in John 13 we are taught to follow Jesus’ example and serve others by washing their feet (John 13). We might have thought at some point while reading this passage, “Couldn’t Jesus have used another example besides feet?” Truth is, feet just aren’t that popular, and get really dirty and smelly. But that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? People wore sandals back then and would get really dirty feet while traveling. People welcoming guests into their homes or for banquets would have servants who would typically wash the guests’ feet. But Jesus showed his humility and the reason he used the title so often of “Son of Man” by taking a towel and water to wash his disciple’s feet at the last supper they shared together. Read John 13:12-15…

¹² “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

But the importance of feet did not stop with the story of Jesus and disciples. You might say their significance even “stepped” up a notch. Check out Romans 10 where we learn that feet were not only about teaching service but can be beautiful. What? Nope! I’m not kidding you! Feet can and should be beautiful but there’s a process for this to happen that every one of us as believers should be a part of in our lives. Check out what Paul said in Romans 10:13-17…

¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written,  “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,  “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

It's right there in the Bible. Feet can be beautiful if people do one thing. We must "preach the good news" of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's not our job to save them. We are just all called as followers of Christ to share the life-changing message of the Kingdom of God that has impacted our lives. We are called to go and take Jesus to the world. It’s backed up in so many other Bible passages (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) Only Jesus can change a life and this world. It's our responsibility to get off our "blessed assurance" (as an old pastor used to say) and get on our “beautiful” feet to go share the gospel. There's no greater time than now!

Fishers of Men

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. Mark 1:16-17

Fishers of Men

As Jesus called each one of His disciples there was only one thing they knew for sure...they were going to follow Jesus.  There was no course syllabus, there were no identifiable outcomes, and there was no “double-your-money-back guarantee.”  All they knew was they trusted Him and were willing to go where He was leading.  

Peter, Andrew, James and John were by vocation fishermen.  The day Jesus came calling they were busy with the ordinary things that kept them in business…casting or caring for their nets. It was what they were comfortable with. I doubt they ever dreamed of leaving the family business.  But when Jesus came calling to be the leader of their lives, all of a sudden, their business was not as important. They dropped their nets and followed. 

When we follow Jesus, where does He lead us?  One place he will lead us to is people...
Mark 1:23 there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; 
Mark 1:30 Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. 
Mark 1:34a And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons;

When we follow Jesus He leads us not to another place but to a another person.  Jesus says I will make you...I will cause you...to become fishers of men.  

Christ will lead us out of our comfort zones into new areas of ministry in the body of Christ. Jesus "yearned" to touch people. He was passionately consumed with the needs of others and He leads whoever follows Him to also "yearn" to reach out to people in their plights.

Jesus leads those who follow Him to touch the lives of people. These first followers were led immediately to begin confronting and meeting needs of others. If we fail to make people the business of Jesus we fail to follow our Leader. Being in the way with Jesus always leads to people. Jesus also leads us to people who will pray and learn and serve alongside us.  What would have brought a tax-collector, some fishermen, and others of the twelve together had it not been for Jesus?  

The promise of God to be with us when we go and to speak through us when we speak is all that is required for boldness.  Many an individual who thought they could never speak in public teach the Word of God today with boldness.  Many who felt they could not face people who were sick are praying and counseling cancer patients.  Many who thought missions was for missionaries are today on mission for Christ.  Jesus as the Leader of our lives has a distinct purpose to it…"I will make you become fishers of men."  

Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.  Matthew 4:22

Go and Make Disciples

 Monday, February 3, 2025

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always to the end of the age. Matthew 28: 16-20 (CSB)

Go and Make Disciples

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus and what does that discipleship demand of us?

Yesterday Pastor Jim spoke about our next core value, holistic discipleship:

Our Fourth Core Value is… Holistic Discipleship - We value disciple-making as the primary purpose of Jesus’ call on the church. Therefore, being and making disciples in all areas of life is the central focus of who we are as a local church.
(Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 1:15-17; Lk. 9:23; Jn. 8:31-32; Col. 1:28-29)

A disciple is one who has trusted Jesus by faith, is following and being transformed by Jesus, and is on mission for Jesus by leading others to do the same. To be a disciple of Jesus is a whole life transformation that takes place beginning in our hearts. As we are transformed in our relationship with him, we can begin to help others be transformed by discipleship.  

Jesus modeled many things for us and one of those things is how to disciple people. The masses did follow Jesus at times, and He taught them, but He knew that true and lasting growth happens when we have a close relationship with one or two people we can really focus on and pour into. Teaching to the masses doesn’t build disciples. Disciples are made by a close, intimate investment in a few people. 

Jesus spent a lot of time with his disciples, teaching them and doing life with them. He was getting them ready to continue to make disciples after he was gone to heaven. His last words to them (and us) before he ascended into heaven were giving us a very specific and important job to do – go and make disciples. Jesus made disciples by choosing a small group of men who would lay the foundation for His future kingdom. As that small group went out and discipled small groups, and they discipled small groups, the Gospel would be spread. 

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He was not concerned with the number of people that had followed Him, His confidence was in the disciples who would carry out His command to make disciples. They were eleven disciples who would minister under His authority, multiplying the spreading of His story by eleven. That was just the start. How many disciples did the eleven make that made disciples, that made disciples, etc… Amazing when you think about it! 

This process of making disciples will happen naturally in our lives if we look for it. It happens naturally in that we find ourselves in relationships that could be an opportunity to disciple someone. Then we must be intentional about it. Make time. Plan for and pray about your time together. Life rubs up against life when you spend intentional time together, sharing, being vulnerable, holding each other accountable, and discussing life around the truth of God’s word. Then God begins to work – rebuilding lives from the inside out. This is discipleship. 

Who is God laying on your heart? Who can you pour into and come alongside, encouraging, equipping, investing in them, and challenging them to grow in Christ? The goal is to make disciples that will then go and make disciples. Jesus’ command for the body of Christ was to make disciples, who will make disciples, who will make disciples. This is how His story has been passed on and how it will continue to be passed on.

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future “Holistic Discipleship

Core: Setting the Foundation for the Future

“Holistic Discipleship”
Matthew 28:16-20 (CSB)

 

- "All who are called to salvation are called to discipleship. No exceptions. No excuses”- Bill Hull

- Key Truth: “Our values will determine how we think, what we believe, and how we live."

NSBC Vision- “Leading every generation toward a fully-formed life with Jesus.”

Our Fourth Core Value is… Holistic Discipleship - We value disciple-making as the primary purpose of Jesus’ call on the church. Therefore, being and making disciples in all areas of life is the central focus of who we are as a local church.
(Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 1:15-17; Lk. 9:23; Jn. 8:31-32; Col. 1:28-29)

Main Question: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus and what does that discipleship demand of us?

1.        The call to discipleship. 
(Matthew 28:18-19a)

NSBC Definition of a disciple-  “A disciple is one who has trusted Jesus by faith, is following and being transformed by Jesus, and is on mission for Jesus by leading others to do the same.”

 

2.        The scope of discipleship. 
(Matthew 28:19b)

3.        The goal of discipleship.

(Matthew 28:20)

We should teach for three key reasons:

         a. Information

         b. Transformation

         c. Replication

After the Message: Read Romans 10:14-15; 12:2. Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so, are you growing as His disciple? Are you being transformed more and more daily by the power of the Holy Spirit into the image and character of Christ? If so, are you pouring your life into someone else to help them grow toward “a fully-formed life with Jesus”? 
If you would like to be discipled or would like to help disciple others, text GROW to 72318.