“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus in Matthew 4:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...” Jesus in Matthew 28:19
We have settled on the theme for 2025, which is “Back to Basics”, with an emphasis on discipleship (following Jesus) and intentional disciple-making (helping another to follow Christ).
In our courses of study, we know that we cannot take advanced courses without first covering the basic ones. Such is life. As can be observed in all arenas, without proper basics or a strong foundation, progress is impossible. If our foundations are shaky or compromised, our whole lives are affected.
In this sense, we always need to return to the basics of our faith. At the heart of it is the call to follow Jesus. That is the definition of the word “Christian”—someone who is a follower of Christ.
With changing times and culture, what it means to follow Jesus must be continually reflected upon, and this is best done communally. Additionally, we are constantly changing as we age and go through different seasons of life. We often assume we already have the basics mastered, but they are constantly being tested and challenged. In the letter to the Church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:4), they were told, “You have left your first love.” Over time, it is not uncommon for Christians to lose their heart’s devotion and love for God.
But why is it difficult to follow Jesus? Jesus Himself said that it wouldn’t be easy. It requires daily self-denial, dying to self, and taking up the cross. It is in our human nature to do whatever we feel like doing. We prefer pleasure to pressure, a desire-centered life over a discipline-centered one. We have a tendency to be selfish and sometimes prioritize our own interests over those of others.
Even beyond the Church, society understands this. This is why we have support systems and structures—a mix ofsticks and carrots—to maintain order. If every citizen did or said whatever they felt like (a true democracy?), there would be destructive chaos. True freedom can only exist when boundaries are observed.
We remind ourselves of the Covenant Prayer, which Wesley penned:
"Christ has many services to be done:
some are easy, others are difficult;
some bring honor, others bring reproach;
some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both;
in some, we may please Christ and please ourselves;
in others, we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves."
This is why “disciple” and “discipline” come from the same root. It is impossible to be a disciple of Christ without discipline in how we live.
Following Jesus consistently is not easy. But the fruit of it is worth it. It is a meaningful or “abundant” life—“life to the full,” as Jesus puts it in John 10:10. It is a life lived to its full potential, and in the end, a life without regrets.
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