This month’s article by Olof Edsinger asks how can we ensure our relationship with Jesus is our priority and focus when we are surrounded by 21st Century idols of individualism, materialism and hedonism.

Dear fellow brothers and sisters, here’s a dream of discipleship for Lausanne Europe 20/21 – the gospel of Jesus Christ dynamically changing each of us, our churches and Christian organizations, and European society to become more like Christ and His Kingdom. We need do nothing more than follow Christ’s example for making disciples. It starts with individual people who become radically renewed and share that transformation with others. We grow and feed others spiritually, teaching them to observe all that Christ has taught, thus shaping our churches and Christian organizations. Finally, growing bodies of disciples will see their community with the compassion of Christ and thus be moved to make an impact at a macro level in their local community and society. This progression from individual to church to society will be the pattern for our discipleship thread leading up to the LE20/21 Gathering in November 2021.

This month, we’ll look at two key aspects of our personal gospel growth in Christ as His followers: being shaped by Scripture and praying continuously. In regard to the first, one challenge we face is taking Scripture for granted. We can become overly familiar with the Living Word. On the other hand, we also tend to disbelieve in the Bible’s power to change the very core of our and other’s hearts as we engage with the reality, hardships and challenges of everyday life. Let’s acknowledge these challenges and seek the true and living Word of God to light our way forward and faithfully renew our hearts.

The second aspect is to devote ourselves to prayer continually for our own sin and renewal as well as that of Europe. We can easily pray without it stemming from His resurrection power moving our spirit. We can also lead others through strenuous efforts in His name but without relying solely in The Name of Jesus Christ to accomplish His purposes through us. The truth is, God sovereignly accomplishes and provides more than we can ask or imagine. Reading His Word and ongoing prayer remind us of this fact so we rejoice in His faithfulness and generosity.

We want to see Europe transformed by the power of the gospel, but first we need the gospel to transform us. We cannot give away what we do not have. We have His Spirit and the person of Christ living and active in us! The transformation of Europe begins with a renewal of the fire in our own hearts.

For the discussion questions see Point 3