“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)
“But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13:13 (MSG)
Discipleship isn’t just about doing more for Jesus—it’s about becoming more like Him. But how does that happen in real life? Think of your life with Jesus like planting a seed.
Hope is what draws you to plant—it’s the quiet confidence that something beautiful will grow. This is what it means to Be with Jesus: to stay close, trust His promises, and steep your heart in His presence even before you see results.
Faith is what drives the roots deep. It’s the commitment to Become like Jesus, to let His Spirit reshape your mind, your heart, and even your habits. It’s hidden, but vital.
Love is the bloom that others can see. It’s the fruit of Doing as Jesus Did—not out of obligation, but as the natural overflow of a life that has been with Him and formed by Him.
So the Practicing The Way journey is simple—but profound: HOPE anchors you in His presence. FAITH grows you into His likeness. LOVE moves you into His mission. And when all three are alive in you, your discipleship becomes more than a practice—it becomes a living, breathing witness of Jesus Himself.
To be with Jesus is to come close and let your heart awaken to hope—a hope rooted in His unchanging character, His Word, and His promises.
As we behold Jesus, we begin to see reality through His eyes and hope rises as we recognize His beauty, His faithfulness, and His kingdom.
As we abide in Him, we are grounded in the hopeful truth that He is with us, and He is forming us in ways we cannot yet see.
As we rest in Him, we let go of striving and anchor ourselves in the hope that He is enough and that His purposes will prevail.
This stage is about soaking in the hope of Christ, letting it reframe how we see God, ourselves, and the future. Hope is the air we breathe as we learn to dwell with Him.
To become like Jesus is to respond in faith—faith that He can and will transform us from the inside out.
Renewing the mind requires faith that God’s truth is better and truer than the lies we've believed.
Transforming the heart requires faith that God can soften, shape, and purify our deepest desires.
Training the body through spiritual practices is a declaration of faith that these habits, empowered by grace, shape us into people who look more like Jesus.
This stage is about partnering with God through faith—active, trusting participation in the slow, hidden work of transformation. Faith keeps us moving forward even when we don’t see instant change.
To do as Jesus did is to live a life of love—not just sentiment, but embodied faith expressed in action.
Making space for the Gospel through hospitality and presence shows love that welcomes.
Proclaiming the Gospel with boldness and clarity shows love that speaks truth with compassion.
Demonstrating the Gospel through healing, service, and justice shows love that acts, fueled by the Spirit and the life of Christ within us.
This stage is the overflow of a life with God—love made visible. Here, hope and faith take on form. This is embodied faith: love in action, love that gives, love that goes.
Being with Jesus (Hope) > We draw near with hope—soaking in who Jesus is, what He’s like, and what He’s promised.
Becoming like Jesus (Faith) > We trust Him to change us as we actively engage in transformation.
Doing as Jesus Did (Love - Embodied Faith) > We live out what we’ve received—ministering from overflow, with real love in action.
Discipleship is not just a model of formation—it’s a journey of hope-filled nearness, faith-filled transformation, and love-filled mission. When these three virtues saturate each stage, they produce not just doing, but being—a life increasingly formed into the image of Christ, for the sake of others.
To be a disciple of Christ is to live by FAITH, grounded in the HOPE of God's promises, and to let that faith take shape through LOVE in a life that reflects it in how we live—an embodied faith. - Raimer R.