What is the mission of the United Methodist Church? To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Jesus is the Master teacher. We are his apprentices. We do what he shows us. Then we practice it with others who are his disciples, his apprentices, too. It’s called “Church.”

So, what has Jesus taught you lately? What are you practicing with other apprentices?

We are sitting on the hillside with those who have experienced God’s new world through Jesus’ healing them. He says, “Sit down and let me tell you about what God is doing through me and wants to do through you.”

Jesus begins his sermon by turning the present world on its ear. Those who are “cursed” are God’s top priority. Jesus tells them, “You are the ones God is going to use to show the old world what the n…