That each person who calls Radiant home move from being an attender, spectator or consumer and actively engages Jesus on the road of discipleship. This simply means that Jesus is not just a part of our lives but that he is our very life (Colossians 3:4). We seek to align ourselves personally and collectively to his ways, words and work. We want to abide in, commune with and follow Jesus in all things. A disciple is simply a lifelong student learner who loves Jesus, follows Jesus, seeks to obey Jesus and then helps others do the same. There are no experts among us but there are those who have more experience; who have journeyed longer and further in their apprenticeship to Jesus. We need mothers and fathers in the school of following Jesus who can help us make progress in our journey as well. Our desire is that each person who considers Radiant home is raised up to become a spiritual mom or dad to those around them. So, the number one commitment…sign up to be a disciple. Put another way, to become a person and people who practice the way of Jesus together.
The second commitment is that we would be disciples who weekly gather on Sundays to celebrate, be encouraged and regularly come together as a body of believers to realign and recalibrate our lives according to the good news of God’s kingdom. We are reminded week in and week out that we are not alone! We gather on Sundays to corporately worship in song, pray for one another, break the bread and drink the cup at the Lord’s table, immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, receive teaching and training to live the gospel out in our everyday lives. So, one and two together…we are after becoming disciples who practice the way of Jesus and who regularly gather together for worship, word, prayer and fellowship on Sundays.
The third commitment is that we would become disciples who gather and participate in community on mission together throughout our week. As an all of life student of Jesus EVERY PART of our life is an opportunity to show and share his love! In a very real sense our homes are the front door of the church and our families, friends and neighbors are our first mission field. What might happen if a community of disciples started believing and living in to this all of life reality?!?!
We want to strategically and devotedly participate with others throughout the week practicing the way of Jesus TOGETHER! This means participating in community groups and discipling relationships that spill out of our Sunday gathering. This is the PRIMARY way the Spirit forms, shapes and equips us to live out our faith in the practical and seemingly mundane stuff of life. Beloved, we are disciples of Jesus which means class is always in session because Jesus is Lord of all. Therefore, our desire is to become a people who are disciples of Jesus that gather on Sundays and scatter throughout our week intentionally being formed into the image of Jesus, practicing his kingdom way of life and who further the mission of God at home, at work, in our neighborhoods, networks, and among families and friends. Even viewing our work as an extension and perhaps the primary way we can faithfully worship Jesus and bring him glory.
The fourth commitment is that we would be disciples who gather, scatter and serve together! Did you know that as a faith community and spiritual family, each person matters! Each person has a unique contribution to make to the overall life and vitality of our church and the extension of God’s mission in the world. So we want to see each disciple here raised up to that next level of serving God by serving one another on Sundays and throughout the week. Because we are disciples of Jesus we serve, period! Mark 10:45 says, Jesus did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. In other words, the entire posture of Jesus’ life was one of serving his Father and the world around him. Jesus said it himself, “I am among you as one who serves…now that I your Lord and Teacher have done this, you will be blessed if you do what I modeled.” (Luke 22:27, John 13:13-17) We have more than eight different teams (and growing) that you can jump in on right now to serve, grow in your gifts and explore new and exciting opportunities to further God’s kingdom and build up the church. So jump in!
The fifth commitment is that we would be disciples who gather, scatter, serve and give! We want to see each person here grow in their eagerness to contribute to the life and mission of our church and the furtherance of the kingdom of God here, near and far through giving. By giving I mean our time, treasure and talents. Because we are not our own and have been bought with a price (by Jesus, 1 Corinthians 6:19) we are learning to live lives as his disciples where everything we are, possess and have are a means to the end of glorifying Jesus in all things. That means that each of us is called to offer our very lives as a living sacrifice to Jesus and his mission on the earth. Central to Jesus’ mission to remake, restore, redeem and reconcile all things to himself through the life and ministry of the local church (HIS BODY!). God’s intention is to fill all things with the glory of Jesus THROUGH his body, the CHURCH (Ephesians 1:17-23). Therefore, you really matter! The giving of your time, treasure, tithes and talents are absolutely essential for the life of our church and the ministry of Jesus to advance in powerful ways.
So, what will you decide? Will you jump in with us? Will you sign up to become a disciple practicing the way of Jesus who gathers weekly in corporate worship, who scatters purposefully following the Spirit’s leadership in your life to intentional community, discipling relationships and to participate in the mission of Jesus? Will you go the next level and say yes to serving the vision of Jesus for this local church and give toward seeing his kingdom established in Santa Maria, on the Central Coast and around the globe together with those around you? It’s time! Let’s set our hearts to jump in and experience the abundance, blessing and flourishing that flows from rightly orienting our lives together around the person, presence and power of Jesus Christ, the King of a spotless, radiant, pure and powerful church. Why not you? Why not me? Why not us?