Have you ever noticed how hands-on Jesus was in his ministry to people? Far from being the kind of Messiah that kept his distance or worked his miracles remotely, Jesus constantly embodied God’s love by feeding, blessing, healing, and serving others with his hands. So, what does it mean to be disciple of Jesus? You guessed it. It means we have to be willing to serve others by getting our hands dirty in ministry. This week, we look at the blessings--and the challenges--of serving others.

It’s no secret that spiritual growth is one of the most important priorities of the Christian faith. Indeed, it’s been said that if faith is a lot like a plant—if it isn’t growing, it’s dying. So what keeps us from being more intentional about growing in our faith and deepening our discipleship? The story of Mary and Martha suggests that it’s often just one thing: We get distracted. By life. By responsibilities. By our never-ending to-do lists. This week, we’ll look at how we can make our faith a priority and find balance in our busyness.

Why is worship such a vital aspect to the life of discipleship? For at least two reasons: Because it connects us to God and it because it happens in community. But who exactly should be a part of that community of worship? Is it just church members and people we know? Or should the circle somehow be drawn wider? This week, we’ll look at the biblical concept of hospitality and the impact it has on how we gather for worship.