Discipleship...
Rolf Jacobson in his book "Crazy Talk: A Not So Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms" defines disciple as, "a person who follows Jesus, who is, of course, pursing us."
Disciple is a word that means "student" or "learner." Yet, over the centuries, I wonder if we have gravitated to an image of one who sits at a desk and learns from a teacher...treating the Bible and the Christian faith like a textbook...something to absorb and remember for the quiz that the pastor will give us when we see him next.
In ancient times, a disciple of a Rabbi was more than a spiritual desk jokey. The word today that probably best fits would be "apprentice." A disciple is one who is out doing what the teacher does...following the teacher on the road to learn by doing. An ancient rabbinic blessing goes, "May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi"...a vivid image of following in the footsteps of the one who has called you to follow. So, may your life and week ahead be a dusty one!
Peace,
PV
Special thank you to those who helped make our online worship possible this morning, a powerful witness that even though space may separate us, it is the love of God in Christ which connects and re-connects us this day and always (Olivia Cheesman, Pat Erickson, Steve and Debbie Hagood, Lyn Heskett, Dusty Knight, Matthew Martin, Greg and Shanna Murrell, Craig Orton, The Overholt Family, Coiece Pyle, The Wings).
