Pastoral Update: Discipleship Opportunities
Dear Calvary Family,
It was hard to decide what to write about today because there are just so many things that I think are important right now! As I think about it, they’re all about discipleship—learning to love like Jesus by giving away what we’ve received. One of our main priorities as a church in this next season is to grow in life-on-life relational discipleship.
This is a core calling for us as followers of Jesus in a lifelong journey of growth toward becoming more and more like Him. The most important factor in our discipleship is not just information, it’s transformation through relationship. We grow more fully and deeply in our faith through time spent with God in His Word, in worship and in prayer. And, we also grow best by spending time in community with fellow believers.
Baptisms are coming up on September 10th and being baptized is one of the core commands of Jesus. It’s part of the Great Commission of making disciples!
“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20
We would love for you to be baptized or come celebrate together with all the people being baptized at Corona Del Mar on Sunday, September 10. Baptism Classes for Student Ministries will be this Sunday and then we will also have classes offered for everyone on September 3 and 10 at 11:00am. We encourage you to come explore what this meaningful next step in your faith is all about. Find details for the Baptism Classes or the Beach Baptisms and Party at CalvaryLife.org/Baptism.
Then there’s the Alpha Course. This is THE CLASS, THE PROCESS, to invite people you care about to be able to explore the Christian perspective of life, faith, and meaning by asking big questions. Who is Jesus? Is He really God? Why did He die? And a bunch more. The Alpha Course provides some brief and engaging teaching, but mostly it’s all about the honest and open conversation around the table where people can literally ask anything. All their hardest questions and even potentially offensive comments are treated with respect and welcome. Then we talk it out.
So please prayerfully consider who you can invite to the Alpha Course as it starts this coming Wednesday night, August 30. And by the way, this is relational discipleship.
It’s all about discipleship.
You can learn more about all things Midweek starting up for the fall, including our Freed Up course on how to manage money in healthier ways through biblical wisdom at CalvaryLife.org/Midweek.
Finally, if you’re still reading, I’d love to encourage you to come to our next Prayer Night regarding our campus needs, which will be on Tuesday, August 29 at 7:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. We are seeking God together for His guidance and provision. I can’t stress enough how much the first Prayer Night for this was just a beautiful night of worship and prayer that is mostly about the campus needs, but so much more. It’s a night to learn and practice listening prayer, we will pray for each other, we will process through how God speaks and what He is saying to us, and we will seek Him for these upcoming needs and projects. Discover more at CalvaryLife.org/Campus.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Eric Wakeling