After studying discipleship in my D.Min. degree, I ended up with a three word definition: imitating Christ together. Paul starts with a list. Eight inspiring words. He's describing the best of the best from Greek and Jewish culture. Yes, he affirms, they're onto something. Think about what is good, wise, and beautiful. But anyone can say be a good person and stop to smell the roses. Paul adds a sentence only a Christian can write. The four verbs build on each other. 'Learned' refers to what Paul said. 'Received' reminds them of the gospel they treasure. 'Heard' speaks to the reports they have about Paul's life. But the strongest verb comes last. 'Seen in me' is personal, tender, almost vulnerable. They've been face-to-face, as friends, seeking to be like Jesus. Paul is confident in what they saw, in public and in private, and wants them to remember it. When I studied philosophy, I approached ethics as a series of interlocking propositions. The famous philosopher Kant taught, "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law." You can feel the cold, grey skies of Königsberg, Prussia, where he lived, blowing through the page. Paul's ethics invite us to look into someone's face. Paul can say, without hypocrisy, imitate me, as I also imitate Christ (see 1 Corinthians 11:1). And he wants them to look at each other. He's writing to a community of beloved friends. And his ethics are a response to love. Paul has already promised God will give us peace. Now he makes it personal: "The God of peace will be with you." God's peace isn't the empty calm of a meditation app. It's the loving presence of a God who seeks us out.