How To Become Like Jesus: Train, Do Not Just Try

Most of us have been taught to become like Jesus through raw effort. Try harder. Use more willpower. Know more Bible. Work on your behavior. In this message, Pastor Mo Brooks explains why that approach keeps so many of us stuck, exhausted, and discouraged. Drawing from Romans 12:2 and the life of Jesus, he shows that we are not called to simply try to be like Jesus. We are invited to train with Jesus and be transformed from the inside out.

You will learn the difference between trying and training, and why willpower always runs out. You will see how renewing your mind reaches deeper than your thoughts and touches your subconscious, your habits, and your identity. Through stories, examples, and honest reflection, Pastor Mo explores how spending time with Jesus, practicing spiritual disciplines, and receiving Gods love over and over again slowly reshapes who you are, not just what you do.

In this episode you will:

• Discover why trying to follow Jesus through willpower and knowledge alone does not work

• Understand the marathon picture of discipleship and why spiritual growth happens through daily training

• Explore how silence, solitude, Scripture, and simple prayers become spiritual exercises that renew your mind

• See how identity and belief about yourself shape your behavior, and why you must learn to see yourself the way God already sees you in Christ

• Be encouraged to start small, train consistently, and trust that the Holy Spirit is changing you over time

The Beloved Church of Kalamazoo is currently in Phase 1 of 4 in our new church plant. Each podcast episode features a short teaching followed by group discussion and strategic work on shaping and building our church together.