The new pastor of a congregation preached his first sermon from the text, “Love one another.” The people were pleased. The next Sunday the pastor preached the exact same sermon from the exact same text, “Love one another.” The people were surprised. When the pastor preached the same sermon the third week from the same text , the people were angry. The Staff Parish Relations chairperson confronted the new pastor with the obvious question, “Why do you preach the same sermon every week?” The pastor replied, “When the congregation learns to practice this one, I’ll write a new one.”

Love, love, love, love. Discipleship in a single word is love.

By the waters of baptism we are claimed as children of God and cleansed of our sin. By the rivers of life we are called to be faithful disciples and c…