Following Jesus
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?
Jesus invites us into a relationship with Him. It’s not about rules, religion, or trying to be “good enough.” It’s about knowing the God who made us and experiencing a life filled with hope, love, and purpose.
What does that look like?
1. The Good News (The Gospel) – Who is Jesus and Why Does He Matter?
Jesus came into the world to show us God’s love, teach us truth, and rescue us from sin and brokenness. He was born to a virgin, lived a perfect life, suffered and died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead, proving He is who He claimed to be.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
Why does this matter? Because we all fall short. None of us are perfect, and we can’t fix the brokenness on our own. But Jesus came to do what we couldn’t. He made a way for us to know God personally.
2. How Do We Start Following Jesus?
Jesus doesn’t force anyone to follow Him. He invites us. Here’s how we can respond:
Believe in Jesus – Trust that He is who He says He is and that His death and resurrection change everything.
Say “Yes” to Jesus – Following Him starts with the step of faith, choosing to trust Him with everything in our life.
Romans 10:9 – If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Turn Toward God (Repentance) – Repentance isn’t about feeling guilty, it’s about turning away from what’s destructive in our lives and toward the One who gives life.
Matthew 4:17 – Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is a journey, not just a moment. It’s okay if we have doubts or questions. Faith is about taking steps, not having everything figured out at once.
3. What Changes When We Follow Jesus?
God doesn’t leave us on our own. When we follow Jesus, He gives us His Holy Spirit to guide, comfort, and change us from the inside out. This is what it means to be “born again,” a new spiritual life.
Titus 3:5 – He saved us, not because of righteous deeds we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
We will start to see life differently. We begin to desire what God desires. We find new purpose and direction.
4. Our Purpose – Why Are We Here?
When we follow Jesus, we’re not just saved FROM something - we’re saved FOR something. We were created to know God, to love Him, and to bring Him glory.
Isaiah 43:7 – Everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.
How Do We Live Out Our Purpose?
Praise God – We were made to worship Him, not just song, but in how we live.
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Love God and Love Others – Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love people.
Matthew 22:37-39 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind… and love your neighbor as yourself.
Live for His Kingdom – Instead of chasing temporary things, focus on things that last forever.
Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Share the Good News – We aren’t meant to keep this to ourselves. Tell others about Jesus so they, too, can experience His love.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Why does this matter? Life makes the most sense when we live for the One who made us. When we focus on God—praising Him, loving others, and sharing His truth, we experience the full joy of why we were created.
5. Living Like Jesus – A New Way to Live
Following Jesus isn’t about following a bunch of rules, it’s about becoming the person God created us to be. The more we walk with Him, the more we grow in love, joy, and peace.
The Bible describes this as the “fruit of the Spirit," evidence that God is working in our life:
Galatians 5:22-23 – The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We’ll still make mistakes, but God’s grace is bigger than our failures. We don’t do this alone. God gives us strength, and we’ll grow alongside others who follow Him.
6. What’s Next?
Keep exploring Jesus. Read the book of John (Amplified Translation linked) in the Bible. It’s a great place to start.
Note: Use a translation that helps you understand and grow closer to God. There are many such as the AMP or Amplified translation, MSG or Message translation, and NLT or New Living Translation to name a few. All are accessible for free at bible.com.
Talk to God. Prayer isn’t fancy. It’s just being real with Him. Head over to my Prayer page on this site to get started.
Find a community. You weren’t meant to do this alone. Connect with others who can walk alongside you. Do you have a friend or family member you can talk to? Is there a Church or Faith community you are comfortable with? Is there a men's or women's group you could attend?
Take one step at a time. Faith is a journey, not a sprint. And realize we all have different entry points on the path.
Jesus doesn’t call perfect people. He calls people willing to take a step toward Him. If that’s you, He’s ready!