discipleship

ARE YOU A BELIEVER, OR A DISCIPLE?

May 17, 2026 by Eddie Leave a Comment

In the closing verses of the gospel of Matthew, and before Jesus is taken up to the heavens, His last instruction is for the disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Look here. Jesus didn’t instruct His disciples to just spread the good news and convert people into the faith. His instruction was more extensive, saying “Go, make disciples of all.” (Matt 28:19)

For today’s reflection, I want us to consider the difference between being a believer in Jesus, and being a disciple of Jesus. If you’re watching this video, I’m sure you’re a believer. Now, it’s one thing to believe that Jesus is the Risen Lord, the Son of God. But it’s another thing to level up and be His student, His follower, His disciple.

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YOU CAN DO NOTHING

May 6, 2026 by Eddie Leave a Comment

In the gospel of John 15 verse 5, Jesus says: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Nothing. Really? I mean, look at the people around you — whether they are believers of Christ or non-believers — aren’t we all able to live good, meaningful lives without consciously relying on Jesus? We find ourselves busy, active, fruitful even. We are able to build careers or enterprises, raise families, and overcome challenges. What did Jesus mean when He said, we can do nothing without Him?

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SELF-CONTROL AND SELF-DISCIPLINE — You need both to become more like Jesus

January 2, 2025 by Eddie Leave a Comment

This is the last reflection in the Pathways of Hope Special Series on the “Fruit of the Spirit”. Throughout each of these last 8 days, we have been listening to reflections on each of the 9 fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” For today, let us reflect on that last item on the list which is SELF-CONTROL.

I’m sure you’re familiar with what self-control means, and what it involves; and I’m almost certain that you exercise a large degree of self-control in your day to day living. Having said that, I think that if we’re being honest, we still have a long way to go in growing in self-control.

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JESUS DIDN’T ALLOW PUSHBACKS TO STOP HIM — So should you. Stay on mission.

October 31, 2024 by Eddie Leave a Comment

“Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.’” We find this incident told in Luke 13:31-35. This passage shows us how committed Jesus was to obey His Father, despite threats on his life, and how the plan and purpose of Jesus in fulfillment of the Scriptures written centuries before His time was so perfectly executed.

At this point in His ministry, Jesus is still preaching and performing miracles in Galilee. The Pharisees want to get rid of him, and so they intimidate Him to leave Galilee saying that Herod Antipas (who was the one who had John the Baptist killed, remember?) was ready to have Him killed too. These Pharisees hope that Jesus will run for His life and depart from Galilee, away from the territory of Herod.

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BEING A DISCIPLE and BECOMING A DISCIPLER

May 26, 2024 by Eddie Leave a Comment

Our passage today is the last passage from the last chapter of the gospel by Matthew. This passage is usually called “The Great Commission”, when Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This passage from Matthew is very similar to the last passage of the last chapter of Mark’s gospel. And in Mark’s version, he adds a little detail saying that after Jesus gave these instructions, He was lifted up into heaven. While that ascension of Jesus is indeed a marvelous spectacle (and how we wish we were there to witness it), we want to relish these words of Jesus because they were the LAST words He ever spoke in person, and I encourage you to continue to reflect on these words in the coming days so that you will appreciate how much importance Jesus wanted to place in these words that He left for His disciples, and for you and me and all mankind.

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