What does it mean to become like Jesus? In this episode of Behind the Scenes, host Kevin Van Hall takes a deeper look at Rev. Kevin Johnson’s sermon “Become Like Jesus,” the second message in North Raleigh United Methodist Church’s series exploring the church’s new purpose: Belong as you are. Become like Jesus. Be love for God’s world. Drawing from Galatians 5:22–25 and the fruit of the Spirit, Kevin explores what Christian discipleship really means. Becoming like Jesus is not about trying harder, becoming perfect, or checking off a list of spiritual accomplishments. Instead, it is about allowing the Holy Spirit to grow something new in us and through us. The conversation explores the familiar words of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Kevin emphasizes that Paul describes this as one fruit, not a checklist of individual traits we have to master one at a time. Spiritual transformation is the natural result of a life rooted in God and open to the work of the Holy Spirit. The episode also explores the Christian concept of holiness and what it means to be sanctified, or set apart for God. Kevin shares a personal story about practicing centering prayer and repeatedly falling asleep, reflecting on the temptation to measure our spiritual lives by how well we perform religious practices. The good news, he explains, is that becoming like Jesus is ultimately not something we accomplish through human effort alone. From there, the conversation moves into an important part of United Methodist and Wesleyan theology: personal and social holiness. Kevin explains why Christian faith involves both growing closer to Jesus personally and allowing that relationship with Jesus to shape the way we care for other people and the world around us. Drawing on the ministry of John Wesley and the early Methodist movement, the sermon connects personal spiritual practices such as prayer, Scripture, worship, and Christian community with a life of service. Wesley famously taught that there is no holiness without social holiness, and Kevin explores why the two should never be separated. The episode considers what Christians are saved for, not simply what they are saved from. Following Jesus means more than believing the right things. It means becoming the kind of people whose lives increasingly reflect the character of Jesus and whose faith makes a tangible difference for people who are vulnerable, marginalized, or in need. Kevin also explores the difference between belief and transformation. Jesus' concern throughout the Gospels is not simply whether people have the right answers, but who they are becoming. The fruit of the Spirit becomes evidence of a life being transformed by God's presence. So how do we actually become like Jesus? Kevin points to the spiritual practice of yielding our lives to God. Rather than trying to manufacture holiness through our own effort, we open our lives to the Holy Spirit and learn to “keep in step with the Spirit.” Becoming like Jesus involves letting go of selfish desires and allowing God to reshape our lives. And what happens when a church community begins to live this way together? Kevin imagines a North Raleigh United Methodist Church marked by a contagious fruit of the Spirit: a community characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A community where people encounter the healing and joy of Jesus and want to share that experience with others. May we become full of the contagious fruit of the Spirit. May we become like Jesus. Scripture: Galatians 5:22–25 Sermon: “Become Like Jesus” Preacher: Rev. Kevin Johnson Host: Kevin Van Hall Church: North Raleigh United Methodist Church (NRUMC) Behind the Scenes is a weekly podcast from North Raleigh United Methodist Church that takes listeners deeper into the week’s Scripture and sermon through conversation with our pastors and ministry leaders. Each episode explores the biblical text, theological ideas, questions, stories, and practical implications behind the sermon, helping us continue the conversation beyond Sunday worship. Topics include: becoming like Jesus, Christian discipleship, spiritual growth, fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5, holiness, sanctification, Wesleyan theology, United Methodist theology, personal holiness, social holiness, John Wesley, spiritual practices, prayer, Scripture, Christian transformation, the Holy Spirit, following Jesus, Christian faith, and life at North Raleigh United Methodist Church.
