The New Testament teaches us that God took on human form in Jesus (John 1:1-14; Philippians 2:5-7). He taught the world a way of life — which He perfectly modeled — marked by faithfulness to God and sacrificial love (Matthew 5-7).

On the cross, Jesus gave Himself for the sins of the world (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 10:45; Luke 9:22; John 10:14-18). And since Jesus was raised from the dead, He has inaugurated a new countercultural Kingdom and way of living that we can join in by the power of the Holy Spirit within us (Luke 24:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15; Romans 8:11). Because of the reality of this good news in our lives, we are invited by Jesus to a life of discipleship to Him in three foundational ways: being with Jesus, leading to thinking like Jesus, leading us to act like Jesus.

 

Be With Jesus

When Jesus calls disciples, He first calls them to Himself (Mark 3:13-14) — to be with Him. This is the first call of a disciple, to be with their rabbi. As disciples of Jesus, we are “with” Him through prayer, taking in His teachings, and cultivating a life of “abiding” in Christ (John 15:1-8), and cultivating a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute relationship with God.

 

Think Like Jesus

Followers of Jesus aim to consistently become more like Him (1 John 2:6). This is the promise and long road of growing in Christlikeness, that we enter into as disciples of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 2 Peter 1:2-9). Growing in grace, love, peace, joy, truthfulness — this fruit and more develop in us as followers of Jesus (Galatians 5:22). 

 

Act Like Jesus

Even now, Jesus is on a mission for the renewal of the world. He has promised that He is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). It is our responsibility as followers of Jesus to do what He did, continuing on His mission as His body, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). 

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