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Through the Week

Bryan Schiele
01/12/25 - Sun Worship

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

Following up on our discussion last week about being well-rounded disciples, I had a thought sparked by a trip to Costco. Like how they swap party supplies for vitamins after the holidays, we can be fickle, focusing on certain things occasionally but neglecting others, including our spiritual health. True discipleship, as Jesus shows us in Luke 6:40, means being fully trained to be like him — and that takes consistent effort in all areas, not just hyper-focusing on one thing like reading the Bible, prayer, or church attendance. We must have the truth, but just knowing isn’t enough. Our hearts need to be changed and our actions to reflect Jesus.

This requires a holistic approach, covering truth, heart, action, and community. We can’t be spiritually unbalanced, strong in one area but weak in others, like a weightlifter who skips leg day. As Paul says in Galatians 6, we reap what we sow; spiritual growth takes daily cultivation, not just a once-a-year focus. It’s a partnership with God – He provides the grace, but we need to actively participate, making space for Him to work in us. Putting on the new self takes consistent effort, not just lofty goals forgotten by February. Growth happens through the week, through daily steps, following Jesus’ example.

Daily Steps for Growth (The 5 R’s)

Jesus’ teachings are simple, not complicated. Here are five simple things, starting with “R,” to help us grow holistically as disciples.

Reading — Getting into God’s Word is the foundation of truth. If we’re not reading the Bible, we miss the core truth needed to follow Jesus completely. Jesus himself used scripture to combat temptation (Matt. 4:1-11), showing how vital it is to know the Word. Reading daily builds our foundation.

Reflection — We need to look inwardly, as Jesus did. After reading God’s Word, spend time thinking about how it impacts you personally. Don’t just focus on how others are wrong; examine your own heart. Ask yourself: Does what I believe align with God’s Word? What small changes can I make? As Jesus would say, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works” (John 14:10).

Requesting — This is prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer, pouring out his heart to God (John 17). We should pray daily, asking God to teach us, bless us as we read, create a clean heart, help our actions glorify Him, and show us where to serve. Prayer is a powerful catalyst for change.

Responding — Reading, reflection, and prayer should lead to action. We don’t just accumulate knowledge; we put it into practice, getting out and serving like Jesus did in John 13:1-17. Daily actions, big or small, are crucial. This includes the actions of reading and praying, but also actively doing good for others. It’s easy to say we should do more, but consistently doing it is the challenge.

Reaching Out — Discipleship involves reaching out to others, just as Jesus spent time with sinners (Matt. 9:9-13). We need to connect with those around us, both believers and unbelievers. This often starts simply with conversation. Ask meaningful questions and seek ways to serve and positively impact others’ lives.

Wrapping It Up

These five simple things help us become more like Jesus by focusing on essential areas of discipleship. We can’t be a balanced, consistent disciple focusing on just one aspect. My hope is that this encourages you to think about how you can improve, aiming for consistent, dependable growth through the week. We want to be followers who Jesus would be proud to call his disciples.