You and I—and all those who follow Jesus—are works of God, saints on earth. Redeemed by Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and Sanctified by the Holy Spirit, who creates faith and works through Word and Sacrament in God’s holy people, we are living saints who seek to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. In Christ we are also those God has called “blessed,” and our lives reflect His life as we are guided by Him. We are saints alive, joined with all in faith who have gone before us, and joined with all here who serve our Lord, of “every nation, tribe, people, and language” as together we follow the Lamb who shepherds us. Have you ever thought of yourself as a “saint” in the way God has declared you to be in Christ? How does God’s perspective of you and me being connected with every saint of every nation, tribe, people, and language shape the way you see Christ’s church globally? How does that shape our calling as God’s saints at Prince of Peace/Príncipe de Paz? And how will you share His blessings this week?
At the heart of being Christian, there is this core concept of following Jesus. The disciple follows his or her master, imitating the master and learning along the way. The church is in the disciple-making business, connecting people to Jesus and leading them in the process of walking in His ways. This discipleship process is never completed for any of us in this life—we are continually learning and growing as we follow Jesus until He brings us to our heavenly home.
• What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus, a Christ-follower?
• What are the core marks of those who follow Jesus faithfully? What does being a disciple look like?
• How are disciples shaped and formed as they continue to walk with Jesus?
And we always remember that God’s design is not to make us out to be “cookie-cutter Christians”—rather, discipleship is a process, a life-long learning adventure. It is, at its core, the art of following Jesus every day, knowing that Jesus has promised to be with us always, expecting that we will “bear much fruit” as we remain in Him and He remains in us.
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