http://www.jesuswalk.com ISSN 1528-5650
Friday, May 9, 2008
5,500 Subscribers 124 countries
Desire to be a better disciple?
Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most attractive people of all time. But who is he really? In his lifetime, he gathered around him 12 disciples who walked with him -- literally -- for three years. Today his nominal followers number in the billions. But how many actually walk with him today?
Selected February 16, 2001 by Christianity Today's Connection as the Christian Web Site of the Week, with four fish <>< <>< <>< <>< out of four.
Becoming a faithful disciple of Jesus is a process. Jesus took twelve men with him to walk with him day-by-day and live with him for three years. The training wasn't all at once, though some of their experiences stood out like mountaintops. But many of the lessons centered around the incidents of life, a healing, the observation of a tree, the reaction of Jesus' enemies. Little by little he shared with them how he looked at life. He helped them see what was important and what was not. It was a journey, a process, and it took time.
akoloutheo, "to walk the same road, accompany, follow someone as a disciple."
mathetes, "learner, pupil, disciple, adherent."
Note: This was an online interactive Bible study from Jan 1, 2000 thru December 2003 that involved about 5,500 people from 124 countries from dozens of Christian denominations. Though the online study is over, the materials are still available for your study.
All lessons now compiled as
a 1,025-page book -- e-book ($14.95), printed book ($49.95).
I want to invite you to a similar walk, a JesusWalk, through the Gospel of Luke. The point of this JesusWalk is not the destination but the process. For the most part, we'll be taking our time. Once a week we'll be looking at an incident or teaching, and meditating on it, letting it sink into our hearts. My prayer is that over time we will learn what only close followers learn about their Master. I want to take on his way of thinking, his way of acting, his faith. I want to be immersed in the process, this school of discipleship. I believe you do, too.
Why don't you walk with me on this JesusWalk?
Our purpose is not to develop knowledge, though we'll do that. Or learn Biblical Theology, though we'll explore that, too. Or explore all the possible interpretations of Jesus' words, though we'll examine some. Nor to debate and question and discuss, though there'll be ample opportunity in our various discussion groups. Our purpose on this JesusWalk is to apply Jesus' teachings to our own lives, to become disciples -- better disciples than we've been up to now.
You may not even be sure that you're a Christian at this point in your life. That's okay. I invite you on this JesusWalk, convinced that as you examine Jesus closely as part of this process, you'll want to follow him the rest of way.
Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most attractive people of all time. But who is he really? In his lifetime, he gathered around him 12 disciples who walked with him -- literally -- for three years. Today his nominal followers number in the billions. But how many actually walk with him today?
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