introduction to discipleship

immortal soul: we can find happiness in eternity and are not bound by our earthly presences
free will: God gave us the power of individual choice
ultimate happiness: sustained, full, complete, total, uninterrupted joy which never dissipates or disappears
  * humankind is made to realize ultimate happiness, but often struggles to find or sustain it
    * this is a consequence of humankind’s fall from grace; we sometimes use our free will to choose things that do not lead to ultimate happiness
  * while the fullness of happiness will occur in the afterlife, we can partake in pieces of it while we’re alive
  * ultimate happiness is found by loving “the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your strength, and with all of your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” - Luke 10:27
discipleship: following Jesus in prayer, detachment and service
* discipleship allows us to participate in ultimate happiness now and for eternity

Jesus is the ultimate model upon which we should base how we love God and others

prayer: communication of one’s heart to God; surrender of one’s will to God; resting in God’s love and peace
detachment: willful refraining of luxuries in order to surrender attachment and allow for change
service: the action of helping; revealing God’s love to the world