Galatians 4:4-7

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[a] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

The greatest revelation of the Incarnation of Jesus is not just that we have a "scapegoat for our sins" but a loving Father who pursued us. We are not left as orphans.

Isaiah 42:3

"a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice."

O Praise Him

Holy Spirit

All Who Are Thirsty

Mark 3:5

And he looked around at them (Pharisees) with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35

The reason this "old" commandment to love is now "new" is because we now have a new PATTERN (Jesus) and a new POWER. (Holy Spirit)

We are to love AS Jesus loved.

Jesus had taught many things, revealed many miracles but He teaches that the world would be drawn to His message when it SAW His disciples love.

The path of discipleship involves being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus and doing the things that Jesus did. In order to help the disciples grow, there were three things that Jesus gave them: proximity, teaching and opportunity. A previous sermon has looked at proximity to Jesus by abiding in the vine, and a future sermon will look at how Jesus gave his disciples the opportunity to step out and have a go. This sermon will focus on learning from Jesus.

Part 4 of our Discipleship Series.

The previous sermon in this series looked at how we can be with Jesus through abiding in the vine. This message moves on to thinking about how we can become like Jesus, and it does so by considering a series of short parables and illustrations that Jesus taught in Luke’s gospel.

At the heart of Jesus’ call to his first disciples is the invitation to be with him. The path of discipleship is not primarily about a particular set of practices (although there are practices that help). Rather it is about intentionally remaining in the presence of Jesus.

Bible Text: John 15:1-11

Part 2 of our Discipleship Series.

We look at Jesus' invitation Mark 8:34 

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

 Jesus never demands faithfulness but invites us to follow Him.

To live in His resurrection life we have to walk in His ways and receive His truth.

Being Followers of Jesus means means responding to His call to:

Being With Jesus

Becoming Like Jesus

Doing what Jesus Did

“Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.” - Dallas Willard

Suggested reading :

'Practicing The Way' - John Mark Comer

'The Kingdom Life' - Dallas Willard

'Long Obedience in the same Direction' - Eugene Peterson