Jesus said – “If y’all are seriously interested in what it’s going to take for people to recognize that you follow me, here it is. It’s really not very complicated. Ready? Love each other. That’s all. Got it?” John 13:34-35 (paraphrase)

Happy Sunday, friends!

This is the first day of a new month and I can’t imagine a better place to start than by showing up at church to spend an hour in worship and to share in The Lord’s Supper around the communion table. At WFPC this is also the last of this year’s “10 Summer Sundays.” We will meet at 10:00 in the sanctuary one last time before returning to our 9:00 and 11:15 schedule.

The theme for the summer has been, “Who is my neighbor?” We have considered Christ’s definition of neighbor, and we have focused on the stranger, the hungry, those recovering from disaster, the homeless, caring for the Earth itself, children, and the incarcerated.

Hearing from a Home-grown Disciple:

This week the topic is, “Making Disciples.” And because disciple-making is the bottom line of what we’re about at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church we get to hear from Howard Dudley, a young man who was raised and first started his journey as a disciple right here in this congregation. Today Howard is a Presbyterian minister and I am all kinds of excited to hear his message – because Howard has the faith, the gifts, and the enthusiasm and he is already making a significant impact in the Presbyterian Church – PC(USA).

So, exactly what is it that Jesus looks for in terms of evidence that we really are his disciples? It turns out the Master’s criteria is straightforward and simple. “Love each other,” Jesus says, “that is how people will know.”

In love (the Jesus kind of love), and because of love – DEREK