Closer and Farther

Pastor Luke McFadden teaches us that as followers of Jesus, we are called to live in a rhythm of drawing closer to God and going farther in faith. He illustrates this through the biblical story in Luke 6:12-16, where Jesus spent a night in prayer before choosing his twelve apostles.

We learn that this rhythm reflects two essential spaces in our Christian life:

The Cell (Drawing Closer)

• Jesus demonstrated the importance of pulling away to pray, extending prayer time, and prioritizing prayer over other necessities
• We are invited to seek God especially during crucial decisions, transitions, and dilemmas
• Like disciples, we are called to draw close to Jesus as learners and apprentices

The Coracle (Going Farther)

• As disciples of Christ, much like the original apostles (messengers), God sends us forth to share the Good News
• Jesus pushes us into uncomfortable situations that require faith
• We are designed to step out in faith when Jesus calls us to something challenging
• This might mean sharing our faith, apologizing to someone, or simply doing what feels uncomfortable

Pastor Luke shares personal examples of this rhythm: his brother's prayer life before becoming a missionary, the founding of his church in Waukegan, and meeting Wilson James, a man who accepted Christ and became instrumental in their church's growth.

When we feel out of rhythm, we can be encouraged that Jesus seeks us out, just as He called Matthew (a tax collector) and Peter (an exhausted fisherman). Because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we can flow into this rhythm of grace rather than striving through our own efforts.

Pastor Luke invites us to recognize the "invitations" in our lives - important decisions, daunting transitions, or difficult dilemmas - as opportunities to draw closer to God in prayer and to step out in faith when prompted, even when it makes us uncomfortable. Those who accept these invitations to enter the cell and step into the coracle never regret it.