Discipleship can be defined as a lifelong process of spiritual transformation empowered by the Holy Spirit where we think and act more like Jesus every day. In other words, discipleship is not just about personal growth, but about living out our faith in loving God and loving others. When we talk about the ultimate purpose for all that CHBC exists to do it is “… for every person to know God personally, become more like Jesus daily, to live out the Great Commandment faithfully (Matt. 22:36-40) and to fulfill the Great Commission eagerly (Matt. 28:8-20).”
The Great Commission and the Great Commandment both call for learning and action in the Christian life. The Great Commission includes learning all Jesus commanded, as well as going to make disciples through evangelism, baptizing the converted, and teaching. The Great Commandment calls us to love God with heart, soul, and mind. That involves our affections, will, and knowledge. And the Great Commandment calls upon us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
To love your neighbor as you love yourself requires intentionality. I love myself by considering my needs and desires, thinking wisely about how to meet those needs and desires, and employing my time, energy, and resources to see those needs met. If I am going to love my neighbor in that way, then I spend time thinking about the people God has brought into my life. I pray for them and ask God to do what is best for their life emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I ask for God to use me in their life and wisely consider how to use my resources to be God’s minister to them.
This is what it looks like to serve with an aim toward others becoming more like Jesus daily. Serving is not just performing a religious duty out of obligation to God and the church. Serving is discipleship in action. We are growing in Christlikeness as we serve others. We are making disciples of others as we serve.
So, as we talk about serving throughout 2026, we are not just thinking about how to be busy or active. The focus is not on the activity of serving, or even on which ministry to serve in. The focus is on spiritual growth in our lives and in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ, young and old.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
