Mark 1: 14-20

Today we ordain and install elders and deacons in our church. You people have been on quite a journey with Jesus Christ. It is a journey of faith. Now you are here at this time and place to take the next step. You are the right people with the right stuff! Recall how you got here? "Somebody from the nominating committee got to me." Well, sort of. In many ways you are just like those first disciples. They heard Him say, Follow Me. They did, and you did. Now you might be saying, "I’m not the right person, and I don’t have the right stuff." Right! Now get on with Him! Don’t second guess our Lord. He’ll take care of giving you the right stuff for ministry with us. Consider five qualities He sees in you...and in every one here who has heard His voice - Follow Me.

His People are Recruitable. Good news breaks out! Repent and believe the gospel! Jesus strides along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, looking for the right people. He sees fishermen. Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. The response? They left all and followed! Four recruits joined our Lord Jesus Christ. Interesting way to recruit. No headhunters. No ads in newspapers. No info-mercials to inform, entice and enlist. He calls..they follow. Somehow they longed to hear a call to something more in life. In that man, they knew something good was going to happen. They did not know what it would be, but they did not want to miss out!

I hope all of you feel that way about our Lord. He calls and you know something good is going to happen. Look back over your life. He knew all about your frailties, tempers and false dreams. He knew about you and still called you. Any regrets? Do you see His life in you? YES? Then you know, His people are recruitable.

Teachability developed slowly in the disciples. Just after Jesus fed over 9000 people two different times, His disciples were slow to pick up on who they were with.

While crossing the lake Jesus warned them, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees... and they began to discuss the fact that they had no bread. (Mk 8.15) Jesus spent three years with His disciples. He did not give them the full load of His message that first day. He simply invited them to take the first step. That same invitation comes to each of us today. He invites us to take those first steps of obedience. As we do, He teaches us on the way. He continues to look for the right people with the right stuff.

There are many churches unable to do great things for God, because they are not teachable. They are still doing things the way they did them forty years ago. Friends, the world is changing so quickly. These changes are hitting Central Church, too. We need new ways of doing ministry. We need to find new ways to reach people. That could mean that many of your friends will feel uncomfortable. MY CHURCH...YOU CAN’T CHANGE MY CHURCH! But you know if you are one of His. You are thrilled to be with Him. That makes for a teachable disciple...just like you! His people are teachable!

His people are Decisive People. Immediately! That word leaps from the pages of Mark’s story of Jesus Christ. Immediately, they left their nets...Matthew left his tax office...and others joined Him in much the same way. Procrastination is the thief of time and the graveyard of opportunity. That old saying touches the truth. Tomorrow...I’ll do it then. And insurance agent picked up his phone. He heard, "Can I insure my house?" "Why, of course, you can. We’ll set up a time and I’ll come out and look at your house." The prospective client asked, "Can I do this over the phone?" "No," the agent replied. "I’ll have to come there to see it first." "Well, you’d better hurry. The house is on fire!" Some issues are too important to put off. Decisions have to be made.

Two conflicting voices vie for our attention when we hear the call of Christ. "Look before you leap. Don’t get involved too much. You can do more later." But the other voice urges us to trust and obey His call. We can’t have it both ways. The rich young ruler could not follow our Lord, because he had too much to lose. (Mk 10) His people are the right people, because they decide to do things for our Lord! He didn’t let them down! He won’t let you down. His people are teachable and decisive.

His People are People of Character. He develops men and women of honor. Character. Those first disciples were characters. We are also! We all have little quirks and odd parts of our own personalities that make us unique. Sometimes we are difficult to live with. The disciples were not perfect. We know that. A silly story about Jesus at His last supper makes us smile, but not too broadly. Jesus observed His men. There was Judas about to betray Him, and down the table set Peter who would deny Him. And close at hand was Doubting Thomas. He called over the head waiter, "Please...separate checks."

Yes, the disciples then disappointed Him. They lacked understanding. They were also frustrating. But He knew that, except for Judas, He would be able to entrust His kingdom to these ordinary people whom He had called. "If you are looking to hire someone, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. If they don’t have integrity, the other two will kill you." (Buffett) When you say "Yes" to Jesus Christ, He exchanges our nature for His. He builds His character and integrity He wants for His kingdom. He is the One who makes us honorable. Trust Him as you step His way.

His People are People of Courage. Maybe this is another reason Jesus started with workers rather than clergy. He wanted men tested by wind and waves, not people sheltered by the Temple. Jesus wanted men and women who could look persecution and even death in the face and not flinch. What happened?

In the modern church something seems lost. "The sin of this present generation of Christians may be that we play it safe. We are the one-talent person whose sin was not laziness, but fear. He feared losing what he had. There are times in the life of every Christian when we must go for broke!" (Mooneyham, World Vision) Another great preacher, Peter Marshall, said, "Church members in too many cases are like deep sea divers encased in their suits designed to go very deep. They march bravely to pull out plugs from bath tubs."

I would love to have the reputation of Acts 17.6, for our church. These men and women who have upset the world have come here also!