The phrase “I’m a Christian” easily slips off the tongue. But what does it truly mean? And what are the implications for our daily lives—for our thinking and our actions? The Sunday services in February will take a closer look at these questions and what it means to live as a Christian.
There is a saying, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” Drawing loosely on this image, the month of February 2026 will feature a series of themes that lead to the heart of our faith. The sermons will address discipleship, inner attitude, lived faith, and hope that extends beyond visible life.
Called – by grace and with a mission
The sermon on the first Sunday focuses on the calling of the first disciples. Jesus sees Simon and Andrew going about their daily work. They are fishermen—experienced and busy. Then Jesus says to them, “Follow Me.” There is no discussion, no deliberation. The two men leave their nets and follow Jesus. Discipleship does not begin with merit or a qualification, but with a call. And this call is grace.
Jesus does not only say, “Follow Me,” but also, “I will make you become fishers of men.” Discipleship is therefore not merely spiritual self-improvement, but also always includes a mission. Faith in Jesus Christ is always also a testimony to Him—not through persuasion or argument, but simply by making visible what Jesus stands for.
A clear yes and an honest no
The second Sunday sharpens our focus for our inner attitude. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reveals Himself as the lawgiver of the kingdom of God. He demands truthfulness. No grey areas or tactical manoeuvring. A clear yes remains a yes. A no remains a no. Those who live this way are credible without the need for oaths.
Being a Christian is shown here as decisiveness. God’s word is meant to shape our thinking and our actions. Our yes applies to the will of God, to His commandments, and to our creed. And where there is a yes, there is also a no: no to sin, no to indifference towards God and our neighbour. Discipleship not only means taking up certain practices or commitments. It also requires the conscious letting go of other things.
Faith that becomes visible
On the third Sunday, the sermon will explore the relationship between faith and works. The first epistle of James leaves no doubt about it: faith that has no concrete effects is empty. Good works are not a means of earning salvation—salvation cannot be earned. Rather, good works are an expression of what lives within us.
Faith sustained by love does not remain theoretical. It becomes visible in caring for the needy, in looking out for the weak, and in practical help for others. Works make our faith visible—not loudly or spectacularly, but credibly.
Hope that shuts no one out
The divine service on the fourth Sunday serves to prepare the congregations for the divine service for the departed. The parable of the lost sheep opens the perspective: God’s will to save applies to all. No one is written off. The shepherd does not abandon the flock, and yet He goes after every sheep that strays.
The fact that sacraments are dispensed in the divine service for the departed expresses this very hope. Even the dead are not beyond God’s loving care. That is certainly a reason to rejoice and a motivation to pray and intercede. Being a Christian does not end at the boundaries of the visible world. Christians are confident that God’s love reaches further.
The Sunday services in February do not seek to paint a theoretical ideal, but instead point out practical possibilities. They describe a path: called by grace, rooted in truth, visible in action, and carried by hope that includes everyone. Being a Christian is not a label. It is an attitude lived out, day by day.
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