The next few weeks we will look at practical ways to be disciple-makers. But what if I told you there was one shift we can make in our lives that with no other tips or tools will transform us into people who can’t help themselves when it comes to making disciples? This morning we want to talk about pearls.

The first step in being disciple-makers is to understand who we are. Jesus doesn’t give them a program but instead tells them they are salt and light. What does that mean? How can understanding this identity give us the chance to share God’s kingdom life?

Last week we examined the importance of making disciples for followers of Jesus. But what is it? How do we define disciple-making? This morning we will challenge some of the modern ways we have interpreted this calling, and renew our commitment to revealing Jesus to our world.

We welcome Shaun back from sabbatical this morning picking up where we left off. We practice spiritual disciplines to know Jesus and his love…but what comes next? What is it that he has called us to do as his people in relationship with him? What did he commission his followers to do? In other words, what’s next?

Worship can be either the igniter or sustainer for all the other disciplines. Worship is the practice of recognizing who God is and that he is glorious. This morning, Joshua Hart will look at how we can develop a practice of worship that goes beyond a few songs each Sunday morning and into a sustained posture of love for the Lord.

Dave O’Dell will share this morning on the importance of practicing service. Like the other disciplines, we grow closer to Jesus by doing the things he did. From healing, feeding, or washing feet, Jesus came “not to be served, but to serve.”

Harley will share this morning on the discipline of Christian Fellowship. God established his church with purpose. Somehow we come to know God and grow closer to him as we learn to walk together in unity as one body in Christ.

This morning, Phil Ball from the National Network of Youth Ministries will share with us the discipline of forgiveness. The reality is, that we will rarely feel like forgiving others. We find that a lack of forgiveness will hamper our intimacy with Jesus, and so we must learn how to practice a forgiveness that is not dependent on how we feel.

Today at our annual church picnic, Caleb will be sharing on the power of intentional simplicity in drawing us closer to Jesus. (Service will not be live streamed)

James Castruccio is a member of Gateway Church in Washougal. He has also been one of Shaun’s closest friends for many years. James and his family have lived out a testimony of the power of surrendering all we have to God’s hands.