Six ways I listen and follow Jesus’ teaching

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Matthew Laker

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” Matthew 7:24 (NLT)

Just how do we listen to Jesus’ teachings and embrace them in our life?

It was a Saturday night and I was sitting on our back steps and reflecting on life. I started to think about the sermon I would preach the next day. I was talking about the need to learn the ways of Jesus and embrace him in the everyday moments. I wondered to myself, just how do I learn the ways of Jesus.

Here are six things I wrote down in my journal of ways I go about learning the ways of Jesus and embracing in him my life.

These are in no order.

Six ways to listen and follow Jesus’ teaching

a. Time for self reflection

Life goes so fast we fail to slow down long enough to actually reflect upon our experiences and their impact in our life. It is during these moments that I am looking at my life in light of who Jesus is. I am not sure if I do this well yet, but am learning as I walk this journey.

b. Regular reading of and meditating on God’s word

It is no secret that one of the biggest catalysts we can have in growing our faith is a regular reading and meditating on God’s word. I have learned to not get so hung up on completing a certain amount of text, but picking up where I left off. For example I do use some version of a bible reading plan. However, if I miss a time, I just pick up either where I should be in the plan or where I left off. I am not concerned about completing it, as I am about spending time in God’s word.

c. Investing in others (serving)

There is no better way to learn the ways of Jesus than to help others learn the ways of Jesus.

d. Regular gathering with God’s people for teaching, worship, prayer and fun.

Community is a big part of our faith journey. Many struggle with it for many different reasons. However if I am honest, it is part of how I listen to Jesus and follow him.

e. Learning from Saints now and before.

This one is connected to the community one above. The example as well comes out of Hebrews 11 and I have found it useful. You can do this through reading the stories of those who have gone before and those who are now. You can do this meeting with other followers of Jesus and being intentional with your questions and learn from them.

f. Walk the path

This is literally about putting his words into practice. It is that easy and that hard. It is about how I use my time, what I read, how I react and in what I trust. It is not easy.

What about you? How do you go about learning the ways of Jesus and putting them into practice?

As I enter a New Season – One Tip for starting a new season

Posted on September 16, 2016September 14, 2016 by Matthew Laker

In the summer of 2016, I find myself starting a new season in life. This new season results in a new town, a new church, and a new job. This new season comes with the normal emotions of fears and anticipation of what is ahead. As I begin this season I am reminded of a question asked to Jesus. In a way, his answer is some great advice to remember when starting a new chapter of your life.

In Mark 12: 28-34 Jesus reminds us of the two greatest commands–that if we embrace them, no matter the season, they will help us enter, engage and experience the life we were created for.

For many followers of Jesus we know this teaching, most likely we have heard it many times. Sometimes we know what we should do but fail to take the steps in that direction. In any season, but especial as one begins a new season, getting back to core basics is needed. Sometimes in our life journey, we need to hit the pause button and remember the basics and then take steps to realign life where it has gotten off. For myself, as I start a new season, this is something I am keeping in front of me.

Jesus deeply values relationships. He values our relationship with him and he values our relationships with others. This is the simple truth of how nothing is more important than relationships.

A driving force for God’s people is placing value on relationships.

Recently I was talking with a young person in university and we were talking about the need to volunteer in order to help them gain work and life experience. I reminded her that the volunteer work will help her build relationship skills for any direction she finds herself in down the road.

We were made for relationships. A life without relationship is empty. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus speak about his dream for our life. That dream leads to us living a flourishing life, at its core, has us placing a high value on relationships.

As I enter a new season, or perhaps you find yourself entering a new season, remember that placing a high value on relationship will help you embrace, enter and experience the life you were created for.

As I begin this new season this is one value I am continuing to keep in front of me. It does not always mean life is easy, but the relationships we nurture bring great benefits to our life.

Two ideas for receiving Mentoring without ever meeting a mentor

Posted on June 24, 2016June 22, 2016 by Matthew Laker

Mentoring is a powerful tool in our life and it can help us grow in a number of areas. For some finding a mentor is a challenge. A few years ago I realized that there is a different type of mentoring available. I realized I could pull wisdom from people I have never met.

There are two tools I use to be mentored by people I have never met.

1) Books

We live in an incredible time where information is readily available. In my journey, I read books that are not just in my field of work but many outside of it. For example, reading a book from someone who is in a field that has crossover elements can be very helpful in your life.

Since 2010, I have increased my reading to about a book a month. I tend to read a lot on my kindle app now. I do this because I have no room on my physical book shelf anymore and I like the highlighting elements. I often take those and put them into my Evernote and it becomes searchable.

Check out books I have read this year here

I would also recommend your local library if you have one. These are hidden gems in our towns and cities that many do not take advantage of. My family started using the local library more to save money on buying books and space problems.

Books can be a great way to have a mentor without ever meeting with a mentor.

2) Podcast

When I started work in Ottawa I started listening more and more to a range of podcasts. As I would walk from here to there I would listen. At first, it was people from my field of work. Now I have increased the range of listening. I tend to favor leadership, business, and church related podcasts.

Podcasts and books need to serve as jumping off points. As you reflect upon what the authors are saying, allow that to stir thoughts about current situations and what you can and should apply.

On a side note, I started using the stitcher app which lets me listen to a range of podcasts all in one place.

Podcasts can be a great way to have a mentor without ever meeting with a mentor.

Mentoring is a powerful tool to help you grow and reach your goals. A physical person may not always be an option. Books and podcasts can be a good alternative as mentors instead of a physical mentor.

What great books have you read recently or podcast series do you follow?

In the last 5 years what books have been most influential to you?

Benefits of Creating a Personal timeline – Part 2

Posted on April 22, 2016April 19, 2016 by Matthew Laker

Creating a personal timeline

We love to listen to stories and watch stories. Understanding our own story can help you further enter, engage and experience the life we were created for.

What is a Personal Timeline:

A personal timeline is created when you put together a chronological order of events, people, and experiences in your life down on paper. The purpose is to reflect back upon your life in order to understand what has shaped you so you can take stronger steps forward.

Preparing stage

· Purchase or have ready a pen, notepad (or word processor), and three different colours of sticky notes.

· Set aside 20-30 minutes in order to give a thoughtful reflection on the course of your life.

The exercise – part one

· Break your life down into chapters. For example, you could take a sheet of lined paper for each chapter(10 years). You could, on a wall, place titles for the chapter sections (10-year sections).

· Now using one color of your sticky notes list out people who have had a significant impact on your life. Place them in the correct chapter. This is both negative and positive impact.

· Using another colour of your sticky paper put in circumstances of significance (celebrations, challenges, crises, jobs change, painful moments, events, mission opportunities, ministry etc.)

· Using the third colour of sticky notes, mark out God markers in your life. Significant moments of growth in your spiritual life or understanding God.

The exercise – Part A

This is a moment to step back and look from a bird’s eye view. There are a number of things you could do. If it is on the wall perhaps put it down on paper to help reflect later and remember.

During this time use these questions below to help reflect.

Questions to ask after creating a life timeline:

1. What jumps out at you from your life’s journey?

2. What are the threads woven (themes) through your story?

3. What lessons have you learned over the years?

4. How have the painful points directed your life? What have you gained or learned from them? Is there any redemptive value from the painful points that has contributed value to your life?

5. Looking at key decisions, were they fruitful or not? How do you define this? What made it a good or bad choice. How did you respond?

6. What do you have to be thankful for? Is there anyone you need to thank?

7. Where, or what, are the turning points in your life timeline?

8. What was the most pressing emotion in each season?

9. What has God been teaching you along the way?

10. How does your life reflect the mission-heart of God?

11. When were you most fulfilled in ministry? What factors contributed to it?

12. How has this experience helped you better understand who you are in Christ?

13. What has your thought life been like through each of the chapters of your life? How has that directed your life?

The exercise – Part three

Look into the future. Where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years? What do you expect the future to look like?

In order to get there, what habits do you need to start?

Have you consider writing out a life plan? [sh_callout callouttype=”standard” title=”” bordercolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.15)” bordersize=”1px” borderradius=”4px” backgroundcolor=”#fff” fontcolor=”rgb(24, 15, 221)” buttonenable=”enable” buttonbgcolor=”#DD4040″ buttonfontcolor=”#fff” btnbordercolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.15)” btnborderwidth=”1px” btnborderradius=”4px” buttontext=”How a life plan can Help” buttonlink = “http://matthewlaker.com/how-a-life-plan-can-help/” buttonTarget=”_blank” fliptext=”” flipcolor=”#555″ flipbgcolor=”#fff” flipbordercolor=”rgba(0,0,0,0.15)” iconenable=”image” iconfontcolor=”#fff” iconbgcolor=”#DD4040″ iconset=”fontawesome” iconfa=” fa fa-glass” iconspin=”disable” image=”http://matthewlaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/how-life-plan-can-help.jpg” imageheight=”100px” imagewidth=”250px”][/sh_callout]

Understanding our story can help us further enter, engage and experience the life we were created for.

Creating a personal life timeline can be one tool to help you enter, engage and experience the life you were created for.

Let me know how you do!

Generous with time, but Focused

Posted on April 1, 2016April 7, 2016 by Matthew Laker

In Mark 1:32-39 Peter learns the need to focus on his time. At this point, Simon, who later would be called Peter, does not know much about Jesus. After some time in the synagogue, they go to Peter’s house. After the sunset people begin to show up at Peter’s house and Jesus spends time that night healing people.

The next day, early in the morning, Jesus gets up and leaves to find a solitary place and prays. Peter is searching for Jesus and seems a little frustrated that he has left. Peter tells Jesus that everyone is looking for him. Let me summarize what is behind that statement: What are you doing here Jesus? All these people are at my house and you need to be there healing those people. There is some implication that Peter sees the Lord’s absence as unproductive and perhaps having the wrong priorities.

Jesus simply does not seem impressed by the large crowd and all the people wanting. Notice his statement in verse 38 “Let us go somewhere else….” The reason was to preach the gospel to other villages. You see Jesus was generous with is time but also focused. He knew what God the Father sent him to do and so prioritizes his life. Jesus that day did not heal everyone or do everything.

Peter would learn the need to prioritize his time. Peter would begin to learn to look at the needs through the eyes of the Father’s will. There are a lot of good things they could be doing.

There are a lot of good things you could be doing.

Jesus knew what God the Father called him to do. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to be good Christians and helping everyone and doing all kinds of good work that in the process, we miss Jesus and the opportunity to produce better fruit. Sometimes, like Peter, we have expectations, or listen to the expectations of others, and miss out on being and doing what God has called us to be or do.

What about you?

Are you just running through life with no direction; running from one urgent thing to the next? Have you filled your schedule so much that you look busy and are busy but have no margin and time to just be still and know God.

God is not in a rush.

In this season of your life, what is the Holy Spirit asking you to focus on? Where do you need to stop living for the urgent and live for the significant? Are you busy in work, or a location or circumstance, but God is calling you to be somewhere else?

This week ask yourself this question, how does Jesus want you to use your time?

There is no way Peter got this right away and he would have taken baby steps. What steps do you need to take to focus on what you should be doing?

In my life I do still live in the tensions and the only way I can align correctly is to have paused moments of reflection. Perhaps this is what Jesus was doing out there alone praying. He was being reminded of where he should be and who he was.

Series: Walking with Peter and Jesus