Our call is to make disciples, not draw crowds. Are the people in our churches disciples of Christ who are growing in depth of godliness? Or are they simply spectators at an event? If it’s the latter, how do we prune the branches that are not bearing fruit? How do we correct course if we’ve been duped into growing an audience instead of making disciples? We must return and zealously guard the ordinary means of grace: the Word of God and prayer.

You see your name on the paper placard and pick it up, “table four.” You make your way to your seat and are delighted to strike up a conversation with the cousin you haven’t seen in six years.

While you’ve been to three weddings since the last time you’ve seen her, she missed them while she was away at college. You’ve been to plenty of weddings and while not unique in and of themselves, they’re always memorable and joyous.

Little do you know, this wedding will be different. A relative of Mary of Nazareth is about to do something miraculous.

Your stomach starts to growl as pleasant aromas waft out of the kitchen. But just as the waiter moves towards your table, the wine runs out. Everything gets quiet. Just before a panic break outs, some awestruck servants save the day with some of the best wine you’ve ever tasted.

How did these servants save the day? By obeying the simple and unremarkable commands of Jesus of Nazareth: they filled some stone jars with ordinary water, and God did the impossible. These servants are never named, and yet, their actions are recorded in Scripture (John 2:1-11) and are still discussed in churches to this day.

Vying for Attention

We live in a remarkable time. Due to modern technology, just about anyone can have a reach well beyond the walls of the local church. These remarkable times beg for remarkable ministries. The acceptable idol within the church of our day is novelty, and there is no shortage of churches desperate to explode in numbers by some newfangled tactic from the minds of men.

There is a strong pull to impress people; to draw a crowd, corral them into a church building, and call it a win for the “kingdom.” But is this the way of Jesus?

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