"How can I keep growing in an authentic walk with God that meaningfully impacts my life and my world?"
This has been the question we've been carrying over the last two posts.
Many people desire spiritual growth. Many want a deeper experience of God.
I believe these things are actually a lot more achievable than many of us realise. I also think they're achievable by a wider range of people than many of us realise.
Human wisdom and tradition have overcomplicated things that are actually quite simple. Challenging, but simple.
In my first post, I welcomed you to the blog and shared a bit of my personal journey. Then I unpacked wine and wineskins - my way of understanding a major obstacle to spiritual growth amongst groups who have been exposed to Christianity.
In today's post, I'm going to unpack the title I chose for this blog because it highlights some elements that I think are hugely helpful as we lean towards a spirituality that is life-giving and brings blessing to the people around us.
"The Shepherd's Path: Discipleship on the Open Road"
Walking with the Shepherd
Who or what do we tie ourselves to as we travel? Our church organisation? Our denomination? Our group?
These things, and how we feel about them, fluctuate with the seasons. God, on the other hand, is steady and consistent in His love for us, His invitation to us, and His work in the world. His pace may be different from what we want or expect, but He will lead us into spiritual growth, and He will involve us as He brings life and healing to people and places around us.
Who are we walking with?
The Shepherd's path to the Shepherd's destination
Where does the Shepherd's path lead? God's story tells of a massive sabotage very early on. God then rolls up His sleeves (metaphorically speaking) and gets to work restoring what was broken. He has a plan, and it's bigger than just my life or your life. It's bigger than just an evacuation project.
We have so many voices in our lives, trying to make us follow this path or that path. God has a path He is deliberately walking out, and He invites us to join Him.
What ultimately lies at the end of His path? Where is He going today? These questions stimulate growthful thinking and lead to good conversations.
Discipleship
"Disciple" means "student," but in a much more integrated way than most national education systems. A disciple doesn't just accumulate knowledge. They learn from the whole life of the teacher like a sponge absorbs water from the surrounding environment.
When I use the word 'discipleship' here, I'm picturing a fundamentally relational process of listening, trusting, and obeying God. His story uses this word to describe an ongoing process of growth, understanding, healing, and integration into God's family and His life. As we learn to walk with Him, the overflow of our lives starts to change—peace, love, joy, patience, self-control, and goodness all flow increasingly. This is not linear or perfect, but it's there.
Discipleship is also an ambiguous word. Are we doing it, or is it being done to us? The answer is both. It is something we are simultaneously participating in and imparting to others.
As we walk on our own discipleship journey of listening, trusting, and obeying, we help others do the same. As God invites us to participate in His work in OUR lives, He also invites us to join in the things He is doing in others' lives. To walk with the Shepherd is to engage in both spheres.
The Open Road
The open road is expansive. There are wide open spaces and amazing views of the landscape. There is a sense of freedom to discover—lots to explore! There is a lot to learn.
At the same time, there are potential threats and a sense of vulnerability. We're exposed to unpleasant weather and to dangers in the wild. There are no solid walls to protect us from danger or buildings where we can be comfortable.
For better or for worse, the open road is the only way to get where the Shepherd is going. We can't reach the destination in a building.
In addition, the 'Open Road' is the best possible place for the type of learning I just talked about. Travellers get to know each other well—warts and all. Is there a better place to really experience the Shepherd? To get to know ourselves?
It's very easy to hide in a building or the accumulation of intellectual knowledge - even from ourselves. Life shared on the open road is transparent and authentic. With the right travelling partners, this kind of transparency and authenticity are a rich breeding ground for spiritual growth and a deeper walk with God.
The idea behind the blog title is for us to get beyond the wineskins and zoom in on the wine itself—what is at the core of a healthy and growing spirituality? What does God actually want to invite us into? How can we say 'yes'? What does it mean for us to love Him and love others?
Onward!
These are some of the thoughts and convictions that have led to this blog. I'm not entirely sure where this part of the journey will lead; I just know I need to start.
I'm hoping for fellow travellers to interact with along the way. We don't have to agree on everything to enjoy each other's perspectives and contributions.
At some point, I also intend to give people the option of sowing financially into this blog.
Thanks for sharing this first step with me. If the path looks interesting, you can subscribe below.
Hi Scott, this beginning to your blogs idea left me wondering a bit more about the word building. You mentioned comfort and walls that keep us from interaction with others; the building as a place of isolation and nonactive Kingdom pursuits? I struggle to totally understand your concept of building. Maybe you’re going to write more a little bit more about the contrast between these two. In Eph. all of us in Christ is where “the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.” This building built upon the work of the law and the prophets and Christ himself as the foundation “…where God dwells by his spirit.”
Anyway, I look forward to the next one.