It’s that time of year again. Families are shopping for book bags, pencils, papers, notebooks and a whole range of back-to-school items. Students and teachers are bemoaning the fact that their freedom is a thing of the past. At the same time, parents are full of smiles and excitement at the thought that summer is coming to an end, the pressure of having to figure out what to do with their children every minute is almost over and their children will be back in classrooms for another school year.

In some ways it is hard to believe isn’t it? It’s hard to believe that it’s time for the buses to once again start running, school bells to once again start ringing, teachers to once again be standing in front of classes and the educational process to once again get back under way. Yet, this is one of the most significant ways our children learn important lessons that will last them the rest of their lives.

In thinking about this, I was reminded that Jesus created a kind of classroom for his disciples. After calling them to be with him, Jesus’ disciples spent the next three years listening to what he had to say, watching the way he went about living his life and taking note of the way he interacted with other people. As a result, it was a transforming experience for them and their lives were never the same.

With that in mind, this Sunday we are beginning a series of sermons in which we are going “Back 2 School,” and learning some of the most important lessons that disciples of Christ can learn. Lessons include topics around love, faith, language, humility, forgiveness and servanthood. And, we will discuss how to incorporate these lessons into our everyday lives. It takes intentionality and time.

I want to personally invite you to join us on this journey of discipleship. Following Christ in these different ways is not easy. It wasn’t for the first disciples of Jesus, and it won’t be for us. However, it is the greatest life available, and when we commit ourselves to it, we find that like the early disciples it will have a transforming effect. Our lives will never be the same again.

See you Sunday, if not before! Until then…

Blessings,
Dan