Dare to be a Disciple

Holding Only to Jesus' Teachings (Apache) 10.1.23

Pastor Gary Lupe
Being a follower of Christ is not about us. It is not our decision to accept Christ and follow him. It is not about who we are. It is not about our family who started this church and has always belonged to this congregation, even if their attendance was sparse at best. Being a disciple is not about how we define ourselves, our demands, our arguments. It is singularly about Jesus: the way, the truth, and the life. The way is Jesus. The truth is abundant in Jesus’ words. The life is lived in God’s gracious freedom from sin, eternal death, and the power of the devil. Hold on to Jesus’ teaching if you dare to be his disciple.
Sunday, October 1, 2023

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Dare to be a Disciple

Have you ever wondered how many people Jesus approached and said, “Follow me”? Remember those he called as he walked along the Sea of Galilee? The brothers Peter and Andrew heard and accepted his invitation leaving their fishing nets. Shortly after James and John walked away from their father in his boat to walk with Jesus. Not everyone was so eager to be a disciple of Jesus. The rich young man was curious to be with Jesus until he was told he needed to sell all his possessions. Another could not walk away from family without saying good bye. There is a cost involved with following Jesus. The Savior is aware of the challenges being a student of the Master Teacher brings. He often explained the hardships, hostility, and even hatred his students would encounter. Yet he continued to say, “Follow me.” In the weeks ahead Jesus invites us to do just that and dare to be his disciple.