New Life Wichita

Jesus never called his followers “Christians.” He called them to something far simpler yet more demanding that centers on one question.

We all try to get around rules. Loophole Christians ask, “How close can I get to sin without actually sinning?” But Jesus didn’t mean for his followers to game the system. He intended something far better.

Wherever Jesus went, he was followed by tax collectors and sinners- all the worst people in his society. The religious leaders complained. They assumed he condoned their sin. But Jesus never worried about being found guilty by association. Instead, he fully embodied God’s truth and God’s grace. Christians should too.

Jesus calls his followers to love the way he loved. But there’s a tension in the way he loved - it was messy, inconsistent, unfair, and confusing. So, what does it look like to love like Jesus?

By the third century, despite incredible persecution and “religious cleansing” by Rome, Christianity had grown into the official religion of Rome. How did such a hated, powerless people become so influential?

When we judge nonbelievers, we lose our influence. Can you imagine where we’d be if we’d never abandoned love as our primary influence? Let’s decide together that we’re going to work to love one another better and we’re going to stop judging outsiders.

The idea that Christians can be quarrelsome, hostile, and disputatious isn’t surprising. How is it that people—people devoted to Jesus—sometimes feel driven from Christianity? Why are there Christians on all sides of cultural and political issues, arguing with non-believers and fellow Christians alike? Is this really what Jesus intended for his disciples?

Are we going to be content just being Christians, or are we going to be disciples (followers)? Can you imagine what your workplace and community would be like if you loved the way Jesus calls us to love? Can you imagine what would happen in our nation—in our world—if Christians everywhere began living like disciples? What if for the next three to six months, Christians (you!) committed to love the people around them like Jesus?

We all want to win. After all, winning is better than not winning. In a game a win is defined, but life is not a game. And winning in the most important areas of our lives isn’t always clear. So, how do we win?

Names are powerful. We tend to think it’s just about identification, but we know that isn’t true. There’s something powerful that happens when we learn to carry the right name.