The scene was strangely familiar, at least to those with good memories.  A beloved son, destined to die, was on his way up the mountain.  The donkey.  The wood for the sacrifice.  It was all there!  Why would God demand such a sacrifice?  Why would the young man go along with it?  What good could possibly come from this?

On at least two occasions, Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people, multiplying just a few loaves of bread and fish to supply all that was needed.  That same multiplying power is present in us, as we accept His invitation to extend our ministry to make even more disciples.

It's time to get started connecting people to Jesus.  We all know that this is the mission that we, the Church, have been tasked with.  Making it happen, though, is another story.  This week you'll be challenged to make this mission a reality in your life through the story of how Prince of Peace in Palatine started a brand new church just a few short years ago.

The disciples or followers of Jesus were taken to many places because they followed Jesus and some of those places were not comfortable for them.  So where are those uncomfortable places for me, today?  They are crossing cultural barriers, going deeper in relationships, and having a solid understanding of who I am and who God is.

Question: Where do we most often find the largest number of new believers in Jesus?   Answer: Where churches do something new to share the love of Jesus with the people in their community.

Way back at the beginning, God planted the seeds for multiplication deep into the DNA of His people, starting with Adam and Abraham, catching fresh wind with Jesus' disciples, and continuing to this day.  In fact, the Gospel compels God's people towards a multiplication mentality in a way that can't be ignored.

Discipling others is not optional for those who wish to follow Jesus.  It's what we were put on Earth to do!  None of us drift towards discipleship, so we need to build some intentionality into it to get started and stay on track.

When we watch Jesus making disciples in the Gospels, we observe a pattern that we can replicate.  While it seems presumptuous to invite others to follow us, we can find relief when we remember that they are not so much imitating us as imitating Jesus.

A disciple is someone who watches Jesus and imitates Him on a daily basis in order to become like Him for the good of others.  This is the heart of Joining Jesus on His Mission and showing others how to do the same.

Weekly Sermons from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois