“The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.”
| WEEK 1 | Disciples Formed by Jesus Christ WEEK 2 | Disciples Empowered by the Holy Spirit WEEK 3 | Love Boldly | WEEK 4 | Serve Joyfully WEEK 5 | Lead Courageously WEEK 6 | Disciples Transform the World |
Discipleship. What does this word mean when you hear it as a United Methodist? What does the word “Disciple” mean when you read it in the Bible? If someone asked, “What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?”, what would you respond?
Embracing an Adverbial Faith was our summer sermon series on Discipleship based on “the bishops of the United Methodist Church vision statement designed to help the church live into the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The Bishops released the statement in May 2025. “They built this statement around the themes of loving, serving, and leading. The invitation comes, however, not simply through the words, but in the way described. We are called not just to love, but to love boldly. We don’t just hear a call to serve, but to serve joyfully. And we aren’t seeking those who will lead, but those who will lead courageously. The adverbs add a spark to the statement.
Each week of the sermon series, we’re invited to engage as disciples in our everyday lives. In week 1, Disciples Formed by Jesus Christ, we are invited to think about our formation as disciples of Jesus Christ. “Are we followers of Jesus Christ, or do we follow to become like Jesus?” We are invited to think about these questions: “Where do you notice God at work? How might God be calling you to pay attention and get involved?”
The second week, Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we were encouraged to “pray for clergy and laity for the Spirit’s ongoing call in their lives and for access to resources to continue their formation as spiritual leaders in The United Methodist Church.” “We are invited into the community of faith, the body of Christ. That is what faith is for, to lead us together to a life of abundance.”
During week 3, Love Boldly, we were invited to pray for God to help us notice how our neighborhood needs us to love boldly. Commit to one small act of resisting injustice and loving boldly in the week to come.” “Love is not an action, per se. It is a way of being.”
Serve Joyfully was the topic for week 4. The invitation was to “find moments during the week ahead to pray this breath prayer: (inhale) God, fill me with your joy, (exhale) so I can serve you with joy. Notice how God is at work, inspiring joy and empowering us to serve throughout the week.” “In our words God speaks, says Peter; in our service God’s strength is revealed. That is the source of the joy with which we serve, not in our own words, not in our own strength, but in the very presence of Christ in our serving. In our doing something useful, God is glorified. We serve out of love, we welcome without complaint, we steward the many gifts of God to bring God glory.”
On Rally Sunday, the fifth of six series, Lead Courageously, was apropos for Rally Sunday. It takes a lot of courage to lead a denomination, to take time to pray for all who heed the leadership role that God gifts to all; from bishops and clergy, to laity, Sunday School teachers, mentors, and sponsors. Our daily prayer should be that we invite into our prayers all who follow Jesus to become disciples of Jesus Christ, who love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.
The sixth and last part of the Embracing the Adverbial Faith series, Disciples Transform the World, will be on Sunday, September 16th. On this special Sunday, we will explore and reflect on where God is calling us to “go and live as a disciple who loves boldly, serves joyfully, and leads courageously.”
God calls us in many ways to do uncomfortable things. When we get comfortable, God will nudge us to do the unexpected, from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
As you may already know, I have been dealing with some health issues that caused me to miss a Sunday at the last minute, right before the service. I was hoping to take a couple of weeks of vacation before the fall rush.
Instead of vacation time, I had a long list of tests and specialists to visit. I was growing anxious because I miss church. I miss my church family and most of all, I miss the pulpit. I love teaching and preaching the Good News and seeing how God’s grace works in me and in those around me. And what a sight to behold!
God nudged Kate Nafz, Manuel Vargas, Dawn Kruimer, Keith Worman, Teresa Ziegler, and the Hospitality Team from the comfortable to the uncomfortable, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, and I am so grateful that they heeded the call and said, “Yes!” For two consecutive Sundays, they shared the message with courage and boldness. The Hospitality Team took Rally Sunday off my hands and prepared a memorable Sunday of fellowship, good food, fun, and games! These leaders did not disappoint!
If I’m being honest, I was getting bored at home, waiting for test results and dealing with the uncertainty of it all. I miss engaging with the community. And God knew that.
When I visited the General Surgeon, a discipleship moment happened! As I sat in the examination room waiting for the surgeon to come in, the doctor’s assistant took my vitals, and shortly after, the surgeon stepped in. He looked at me and bowed with his hands in prayer mode. I was not sure why he did that. He then asked me if I was in the medical or healing business. I responded that I am a pastor. His eyes lit up! He began to explain to me why he greets his patients with a bowing gesture and hands folded in prayer. For the work that he does, he does it in the name of Jesus. He believes life is to be lived in prayer, acknowledging that Jesus is fully at work through him. It’s not every day that he gets to speak of Jesus and what Jesus has done in his life since he met him.
For fifteen minutes we spoke of what to expect before, during, and after the surgery. The rest of the hour we spoke of Jesus, parables and teachings, the cross, plan, and purpose. What was supposed to be an appointment turned into a full-blown testimony of Jesus Christ and what Jesus has done in, through, and throughout our lives. And to think that I had picked him from a list of surgeons I knew nothing about. He assured me that not only would I be in the Best of Hands (God’s), but that he was honored that God chose him to care for me. I left the surgeon’s office in awe of God’s wonders and might!
The invitation stands: Love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Be the best disciple that you are called to be in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Savior, and Friend! One will never know what encounters await!
In Christ,
Pastor Iraida
*For more information on quotes, see: EQUIPPING WORLD-CHANGING DISCIPLES UMCdiscipleship.org