love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.’

We all have ‘mission statements’! This is the national British Methodist Church one; it contains important words. ‘Calling’ describes the sense that God invites us to participate in his creative life. By the Sea of Galilee, Jesus ‘calls’ followers (disciples) to join him. We, like those first disciples, are called to ‘respond’ – leave everything, give up our previous lives; become a new creation. To what are we responding? We respond to the ‘gospel’ (this means good news) that God loves us! This love is creative, hopeful, patient and forgiving. How do we hear about the mystery of God and his love? Through Jesus, known as the Christ – meaning God’s anointed one. Therefore, we are called Christians.

Notice that the ‘calling’ is directed to a ‘church’; the Methodist Church in this case, a particular body of Christian people. Whilst we might hear individual calls and feel personal experience of God, like the disciples before us, or the people of Israel before them, God’s calling seems to come to groups of people. It is for those groups, a church, or small groups within a church, to ‘live out’ its ‘discipleship’.

Discipleship is a word which describes the practice of being a follower of Jesus. And to be a disciple of Jesus means; to worship God; to learn about the Bible and prayer; to care for others, both in the church and the wider community as well as the world; to serve others practically by being a good neighbour; and in all this, to share the love of Jesus.

Sit with a friend and share how each of you helps this church to fulfil God’s calling.