UP: Seven Practices for Living and Loving Like Jesus

Sermon Series: September 29-November 10

Jesus was, among other things, a rabbi. Like other rabbis of his day, Jesus had apprentices or disciples who attached themselves to Jesus with one goal: to become like him.

Living and loving like Jesus requires more than effort and will power. It requires training and transformation. How do you live and love like Jesus for a lifetime? We need what Dallas Willard called a “curriculum for Christlikeness” — a clear path to being formed by Jesus. We need to “train for godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7-8) rather than passively be shaped by the culture around us.

Portland-based pastor John Mark Comer has been encouraging the Church to “call people up to a higher level of apprenticeship” with Jesus (Practicing the Way, 109-110). This sermon series introduces seven disciplines, practices, or habits that hold the potential to shape your core impulses. These core practices form the basis for a rule of life that can create space for the transformative work of God. Think of these practices as a discipleship pathway or a spiritual program or a framework. We’re going to learn a way of life together as disciples, students, learners, or apprentices of Jesus.

September 29: Look Up: Praise and Worship

October 6: Pray Up: Prayer/Contemplation

October 13: Group Up: Community

October 20: Wise Up: Study/Teaching

October 27: Fess Up: Confession and Accountability

November 3: Build Up: Serving

November 10: Invite: Speak Up

Small Group Series

There is an accompanying small group curriculum for this sermon series for you to dive deeper.