Be with
Jesus
Become like Him
Do what He did
Practice the
way of Jesus
Following Jesus is an invitation to a lifestyle, not a one-time decision. It is to take on his way of life - being with him, becoming like him, and doing what he did. We enter this life through faith, but we progress in this life through practice. No one is naturally good at golf. Some may have more natural ability than others, but no one gets good at golf without practice - learning how to hold the club, how to approach the ball, and how to swing the club consistently. Through practice, muscle memory is developed where over time someone’s golf swing appears “natural”. But there is nothing natural about it. It came about through practice.
The same is true for our spiritual life. To “practice” the way of Jesus is to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus, to put his teachings into practice in all aspects of our life. As we live this way, we are transformed from the inside out. Spiritual muscle memory is formed, and we begin to speak and act increasingly as Jesus would. Through teaching, practice, community, and the Holy Spirit, we become authentically human as God envisioned us.
Below you will find a basic discipleship path that we practice at the Vineyard. There is no “one size fits all” approach to growing as a disciple, so move through the various steps at your speed and in the order that is helpful to you.
Follow Jesus
Throughout the gospels Jesus’ call to people was to follow him, not merely believe in him. To follow Jesus is best understood as becoming his apprentice. People today become apprentices in order to become all kinds of things - electricians, teachers, chefs, and so on. They learn from a master in their field with the goal of being able to do what the master does. Similarly, following Jesus - or being apprenticed to him - means to learn from him a way of life in order to become like him and do what he did.
Keep reading to find out steps you can take to become apprenticed to Jesus.
Connect to community
We are better together. Following Jesus isn’t about becoming a spiritual “lone ranger”. Jesus has called us into a family. Beyond our regular gatherings, we offer small groups at various times of the year where you can meet new people, grow in your faith, and find the love and encouragement we all need.
Serve others
Doing what Jesus did means serving others, both inside and outside the church. Discover ways you can be a part of how we embody Jesus’ love for others.
Practice generosity
Ever notice there are no inspiring stories of accumulation, but there are thousands of inspiring stories of sacrifice? Us too! Since the beginning of our church, a group of generous people have chosen to sacrificially give a portion of their income to the Vineyard with a dream to create a church that changes lives. You can sign up to give one-time or reoccurring, whatever works for your schedule. When you give, you help create a church that leads people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus.