City Life Starter

I. The Word: 1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” ‭‭

II. Reflection Questions

1. Do you have someone that you look up to as a role model. Who/why?

2. Are you currently being discipled by a Christian mentor? If not why?

3. Are you currently serving as a Christian resource/mentor to anyone else?

During my time at the University of Houston I had the opportunity to meet an expansively diverse range of people in terms of culture as well as personality and ability. A particular trait that both impressed and confounded me were a few individuals who I would consider geniuses in anything related to school work or a specific discipline, but could not grasp non related seeming simple concepts or understand everyday common sense things. I remember poking fun or wondering to myself how such a polar dichotomy could exist, “how could you be so smart and passionate and not even be able to function in the outside world”… then I got saved.

When I first made a decision in college to follow God with all my heart, I had no doubt in my mind that I was changed. I wanted all God had to offer and I was going to passionately pursue him no matter what. The problem, I quickly found out, was that outside of the controlled environment of the retreat where I made this important decision, I literally had no idea what I was doing or even how to function. I had plenty of examples to imitate for how to live a genius level ungodly life that easily stuck with me, but I needed people to show me how to follow Christ as a lifestyle. I needed discipleship.  

The power and ability for me to build a lasting Christian foundation and even recognize my need to grow in my relationship with God came in finding other men with the same goal willing to allow me to follow them as they pursued Christ. Ji and Chang Yun, Jermaine Philps, Jerret Sykes, Brian Lemmon, and Randy Willis are a small list of people who have encouraged, rebuked, prayed, and loved on me during this ongoing sanctification process to know Christ better and go beyond solely well meaning passion. Discipleship doesn’t always feel great, it requires vulnerability, humility,and a whole lot of patience (as it should be an ever ongoing process), but it also is a vital necessity that lays a foundation that doesn’t falter in the storms of life (Luke 6:48-49). 

Heavenly Father help us to find brothers and sisters that will join with us in our pursuit of you. As we are discipled, Lord place in us the desire to also act as a guide to be as bold as Paul and extend an invitation to others to follow us as we you. In Jesus name amen.