There is a cultural shift taking place. Making discipleship the primary function of church educational ministries is a growing trend, with the goal of establishing Christlikeness as the primary measure of Christian maturity and spiritual formation.
Christlikeness is conforming to the character and priorities of Jesus that he modeled for us when he walked this earth. The pursuit of conforming to the image of Christ can prove challenging because it requires us to die to self. Jesus modeled this. He emptied himself completely as God and became a man who became a servant who obeyed the Father even to death on a Roman cross to pay the ransom that saves us.
Jesus explained we should not seek to be served, but to serve. We are to give prayer the same priority Jesus did as he sought the Father constantly for help and guidance. He commands us to live our lives for the benefit of others. We are to serve and give sacrificially without expecting anything in return, thereby laying up treasures in heaven.
As we study the examples of how Jesus responded to each situation in life, we are to copy it. Jesus modeled for us all that He expects of us as his people. Jesus had no pride. He lived and served others in ways that would humiliate and enrage a proud person. Jesus went to the cross without a word as a sheep to the slaughter. He uttered no threat, no complaint, and he never tried to defend himself.
We must understand that Jesus lived as a role model for us. Jesus trusted the Father completely as the author of his life and he kept a perfect faith that his Father was in control and could be trusted. Jesus not only taught us to love our enemies; he demonstrated what this looks like as he asked the Father to forgive those who murdered him unjustly.
Knowing it would be impossible for us to become Christlike in our flesh, Jesus gave us the same power to overcome sin and evil that he possessed. Jesus is God but became a man in a human body, with the Holy Spirit abiding in him, and living in a deep and personal relationship with God the Father. Jesus gives us the same tools he had when he walked this earth. His relationship with God the Father becomes ours when we surrender our lives to him in faith and repentance. His Spirit is given to us as well to enable us to overcome sin and to equip us to walk in Christlikeness.
Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, but it shall not be so among you. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
Jesus said to them again, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)
The Apostle Paul made it clear that his goal was for “Christ to be formed” in those he had led to Jesus and discipled. (Galatians 4:19)
Christlikeness is conforming to the character and priorities of Jesus that he modeled for us when he walked this earth. The pursuit of conforming to the image of Christ can prove challenging because it requires us to die to self. Jesus modeled this. He emptied himself completely as God and became a man who became a servant who obeyed the Father even to death on a Roman cross to pay the ransom that saves us.
Jesus explained we should not seek to be served, but to serve. We are to give prayer the same priority Jesus did as he sought the Father constantly for help and guidance. He commands us to live our lives for the benefit of others. We are to serve and give sacrificially without expecting anything in return, thereby laying up treasures in heaven.
As we study the examples of how Jesus responded to each situation in life, we are to copy it. Jesus modeled for us all that He expects of us as his people. Jesus had no pride. He lived and served others in ways that would humiliate and enrage a proud person. Jesus went to the cross without a word as a sheep to the slaughter. He uttered no threat, no complaint, and he never tried to defend himself.
We must understand that Jesus lived as a role model for us. Jesus trusted the Father completely as the author of his life and he kept a perfect faith that his Father was in control and could be trusted. Jesus not only taught us to love our enemies; he demonstrated what this looks like as he asked the Father to forgive those who murdered him unjustly.
Knowing it would be impossible for us to become Christlike in our flesh, Jesus gave us the same power to overcome sin and evil that he possessed. Jesus is God but became a man in a human body, with the Holy Spirit abiding in him, and living in a deep and personal relationship with God the Father. Jesus gives us the same tools he had when he walked this earth. His relationship with God the Father becomes ours when we surrender our lives to him in faith and repentance. His Spirit is given to us as well to enable us to overcome sin and to equip us to walk in Christlikeness.
Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, but it shall not be so among you. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
Jesus said to them again, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)
The Apostle Paul made it clear that his goal was for “Christ to be formed” in those he had led to Jesus and discipled. (Galatians 4:19)
Posted in Disciple-Making Discipleship Updates