Greetings, 

If you are a follower of Jesus, if you trust that He is who He says that He is, if His death, burial and resurrection have transformed your life, then hopefully you have heard that there is more for you. There is more to this Christian life than salvation alone. Salvation is the beginning of your life as a disciple. What does being a disciple really look like in this northwest culture? 

Discipleship is not something that comes naturally to most northwest Americans. Generally, northwesterners are self sufficient, independent and sophisticated. They don’t believe that they require anyone to guide, teach or lead them. After all, anything that we want to know is demonstrated on YouTube or Pinterest. 

Discipleship begins with believing the powerful words of Jesus, that He is the way, truth and the life and that no one gets to the Father except through Him. That message should so move you that you choose to follow Jesus’ teachings, obeying what he has called you to do. That calling is to be an imitator of Christ. To love God so much that you can’t help but to tell others about His love for them. It is to love people so much that you want to see them have peace with God in their hearts. So you tell them, show them and help them to see Jesus for who He is! Not a cheap knockoff, or a “good person,” but a genuine disciple, lover and imitator of Christ. 

A disciple is only a disciple if they follow the leader in word and deed. Discipleship is living out the hope that is in you. It should be natural, but unfortunately it is not. 

Discipleship appears irrational in this culture. It doesn’t make sense to have people in your home, speaking truth into each other's lives. Discipleship is a long walk, uphill, on a narrow path. It is not always exciting or fun, it is often full of pain and suffering. But discipleship is always worth it. When you get to be a part of life transformation in a person, it is powerful. 

Count the cost, disciple, be encouraged, steadfast and patient, knowing that your “...suffering produces perseverance and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

We need each other and all of the beautiful gifts that the Lord has blessed us with to show this culture the beautiful and powerful life of a follower of Jesus! 

Love ya,

Chris