Matthew 4: 4

4 But he answered, “ ‘It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Yes, it was not long ago that you heard that scripture during worship. Quite often your pastor not only preaches, but is preached to during worship. Many times it is through the music, sometimes when the youth do the readings, and this time during sermon prep. This scripture continues to speak loudly to me. It speaks as I read scripture daily, when I continue to prepare sermons, when I am at meetings or volunteering, and in the silence I strive to find each day.

God speaks through His Word. He speaks when we read His Word, when we hear it spoken by ourselves or others, through devotions we read, through conversations we have with others, and the encounters we have.

I am still thinking about the conversation I had with William (the homeless man) that came to the Valentine dinner. Did he encounter Jesus while he was here? Did he sense love and compassion? Were there other things I should have said to him?

Four months ago, I may not even have revisited this encounter with William. But then, Lee Hughes and I became certified Discipleship Coaches after six weeks of training. I personally learned that I needed to spend more time with unchurched folks so I have put myself in those places where I can do that. But God, and Doug Estep, brought William here to the church and so I continue to ask the questions and use the coaching strategies to hone being the best I can be with future encounters.

Please read Lee Hughes' testimony about Discipleship Coaching in this newsletter. Future newsletters will include the experiences with coaching from others.

Discipleship Coaching is simply taking a 5-minute survey and then scheduling a 30-minute coaching session with Lee or me for next steps. It took me from the huge concept of connecting with unchurched people to a first, baby step, of volunteering a couple of hours a week where unchurched people are. The second step has been asking and learning about meaningful connection while there.

Michael Beck, Fresh Expressions, says in his devotional, Passio Dei, about Jesus and the disciples when they see him transfigure, “As disciples, it is not our job to create programs where we can transform people into what we think they should be like. We merely create a communal space where the Holy Spirit transfigures people fully in the people God created them to be.

Awakening the innate goodness that’s already there. Are we following Jesus through a transfiguring journey of grace? Is the first thing we notice about people their innate goodness and sacred worth? Do we spend time on the mountain soaking in our belovedness and down in the valley helping others find theirs?"