Go! And Follow Jesus: The Call That Changes Everything Series

“GO! AND FOLLOW JESUS: THE CALL THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING”

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SERIES INTRODUCTION

“DISCIPLESHIP (FOLLOWING JESUS)”

As we begin this new year together, we step into a journey that is both ancient and urgently needed—the journey of discipleship. Not a programme, not a course, not a spiritual hobby, but the very heartbeat of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ.

Across the Gospels, Jesus repeated one simple, life-altering invitation:

“Follow Me.”

Not admire Me from a distance.

Not occasionally visit Me on a Sunday.

But Follow Me—walk with Me, learn from Me, obey Me, become like Me.

This year we will explore what it truly means to follow the risen Christ in the 21st century. We will look at His teachings, His character, His mission, His priorities, and His call upon every believer. We will discover that discipleship is not about becoming more religious—it is about becoming more like Jesus.

Discipleship is:

A call to transformation—a changed heart, a renewed mind, a surrendered will.

A call to imitation—to walk in the dust of the Master, shaped by His Word and His ways.

A call to mission—to be fishers of people, carriers of the Gospel, servants in a broken world.

A call to relationship—to love Jesus deeply and follow Him joyfully, daily, and wholeheartedly.

My prayer is that this year, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will not simply learn about discipleship. We will live it.

We will not merely study the teachings of Christ. We will obey them.

We will not only proclaim the Gospel. We will embody it.

May this series lead us to surrender more fully, to trust more deeply, to love more passionately, and to follow Jesus more faithfully than ever before.

Church, let us begin this journey together—with open Bibles, open hearts, and open hands—ready to respond to the voice of our Saviour who still calls today:

“Come, follow Me.”

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SERMON INTRODUCTION — THE MOST IMPORTANT TWO WORDS JESUS EVER SPOKE

If Jesus stood in front of you today—if His eyes met yours, if His voice spoke clearly into your soul—what would you expect Him to say?

Would He say, “Try harder”?

“Be more religious”?

“Fix yourself first”?

No. The call of Jesus to every person in every generation is profoundly simple and eternally life-changing:

“Follow Me.”

Two words that rescue sinners.

Two words that redirect destinies.

Two words that produce disciples.

Two words that define Christianity.

Not admire Me,

not agree with Me,

not occasionally visit Me,

but Follow Me.

This is the invitation that confronts us today—not merely a physical walk behind a Rabbi, but a total transformation of heart, mind, direction, and destiny.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE CALL

Let us read together two of Jesus’ clearest discipleship calls:

Matthew 4:19 (NLT): “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’”

Luke 9:23 (NLT): “Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.’”

These are not suggestions. They are not optional extras for the spiritually elite. They are commandments of love—calls to transformation.

Today we will explore four truths:

Following Jesus means answering His call.

Following Jesus means learning from Him.

Following Jesus means carrying a cross.

Following Jesus means fishing for people.

Along the way, Scripture will speak, the Gospel will shine, and the Holy Spirit will call us afresh.

1. FOLLOWING JESUS MEANS ANSWERING HIS CALL

“Come, follow Me…”

In the Greek New Testament, follow Me is ???????e? µ?? (akolouthei moi)—a present tense verb meaning “keep following continually.” It is not a one-time decision; it is a lifelong direction. Jesus does not merely ask for a moment of interest; He calls for a lifetime of pursuit.

In Jesus’ day, Rabbis did not usually call disciples. Disciples applied to follow Rabbis. But Jesus is different. He chooses, He calls, He initiates.

Just as He walked along the Sea of Galilee and called fishermen, so He walks into our lives today—through the preaching of the Gospel, the conviction of the Spirit, and the truth of Scripture.

John 1:43 (NLT): “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Come, follow me.’”

Philip did not find Jesus.

Jesus found Philip—and Philip’s life changed forever.

You are not here by accident. Jesus calls you to follow Him—not culture, not comfort, not your own desires, but the risen King.

Charles Stanley: “Obeying God is always the safest place to be.”

When Jesus calls, obedience is not a risk—it is a refuge. There is no safer, stronger, or more satisfying place than walking behind the One who conquered death.

The Ship and the Lighthouse

A battleship once mistook a lighthouse for another ship and demanded it change course. The lighthouse replied, “I am immovable. You move.”