Hard Things

If you go digging into the New Testament, you will find Jesus having some pretty intense conversations with people at various times. Sometimes those conversations center on basic and easy things to understand. But, periodically, you find Him laying the smack down in such a way that people decide they just don't want to follow Him any more. Have you ever been there? Jesus confronts you with a truth that requires you to either choose to change your outlook and behavior or to choose to just not follow Him completely any more. I mean, let's be honest. If we pick and choose what parts we will obey and what parts we will ignore, aren't we really just being disobedient across the board? It begs the question, "How much disobedience does it take to be labeled 'disobedient?'" When Jesus says things like, "You can not be my disciple if you don't hate your own life," or "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross every day, and follow me." it brings us to a point of choosing. Either we will obey, or we won't. It's simple, really, if we're being honest about it.

This semester at "The Porch," we are going to be digging into these hard sayings of Jesus while taking an honest look at what it means to be His disciple. Our "theme" for the Spring is "We Do Hard Things." Will you join us in this journey towards obedience?