Message: “Discipleship and Stuff” from Rev. Ken Green

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples,” Jesus said. We are followers of Jesus who hold to His truth, who live out His teaching, who experience in Him true freedom. As Christ-followers who are Lutheran, we observe today as the 498th anniversary of the Reformation, the religious movement that shook the world with the rediscovery of God’s Word as the only source and authority in matters of faith and Jesus as the only way to God. In the 21st century God’s Word yet abides as His truth, shining light in the darkness of this world and through which the Holy Spirit is at work to transform lives. And God has given to us as His people the privilege and responsibility of sharing His Word of salvation with those around us, for the Gospel is the power of God. How has God’s Word shaped your life as a follower of Jesus? What would it look like for all Christians to take seriously the power of God and the work of the Spirit through His Word? How has God used you to share that life-giving Word with others as you live in the freedom that you’ve found in following Jesus?

Scripture References: John 8:31-36

More Messages from Ken Green

From Series: "The Marks of Jesus' Disciples"

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.