Becoming Disciples // Rev. Michele Arndt // Aug 24 2025

The Christian life is one of becoming a disciple of Jesus. Sometimes we think becoming a Christian is relegated to a conversion moment or praying a certain prayer that eventually leads to becoming a disciple. But what if it is more about learning to follow Jesus in our everyday lives?  When Jesus calls the first disciples, he simply says “follow me”, and they do. We are not told if this is a conversion moment. Simply that they are curious enough to begin following Jesus. The Greek word for “disciple” is “mathetes” (μαθητής). It means “learner”. The Christian life, then, is about “learning to follow Jesus” as a lifelong pursuit, a “long obedience in the same direction” (to quote a book with this very title by author Eugene Peterson). Discipleship involves responding to Jesus and participating with him in the ordinary spaces.