Disciple Making: A Life Worth Imitating

I love to learn. I really do. I read all the time, I ask questions to people who are artisans in their craft. I am fascinated by people who are experts in their field. I intend to keep on learning until I die, which I hope is not anytime soon. Then, when I die and get to heaven I will be filled with both wonder and questions. We will have all eternity to continue to learn and think God’s thoughts after him.As disciples of Jesus we are called to be life-long learners as well, that is what a disciple is: "…someone who is continually learning to become more like Jesus in all areas of their life.” How do we do that? How do we learn to be more like Jesus? I can tell you this, it has to be more than just getting more information. I pondered this for many years and of course the answer was in the Bible all along and also embedded in all real learning I ever had.To really become more like Jesus we need people who, in flesh and blood, not only tell us but show us what it means to follow Jesus well. We need truth to take flesh and blood and say, “Imitate me as I imitate Jesus.” All true learning and knowledge is hard to come by. It also takes doing things you don’t want to do. That is why to really be a disciple of Jesus there needs to be people who take abstract concepts and show you what they look like in flesh and blood, in a real human life. This is discipleship, this is disciple making.This Sunday I will argue that if you are a follower of Jesus you are not only his disciple, but you are called to be a disciple maker. I am going to argue that it should be part of your weekly rhythms and Habits of Grace. I am going to press the point, that we have to create space to allow people into our lives so they can see what a real sinner saved by grace looks like.Blessing,Jim Hey, if you are looking for something to do tonight I invite, no I implore you, to come and see one of my heroes, Mia Scarlett, and see what she has made of the world in taking in orphans and children falling through the cracks in Romania. Tonight at 6:30pm at the Germantown Great Hall there will be dinner, a silent auction, and Mia will speak about her work in Romania. The cost is $60 for one person, and $100 for a couple.