“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.”
Jesus is the Lighthouse—He doesn’t adjust His truth to suit us. We adjust our lives to follow Him.
2. FOLLOWING JESUS MEANS LEARNING FROM HIM
Disciples are learners.
The Greek word µa??t?? (mathetes) literally means learner, student, apprentice.
Matthew 11:29 (NLT): “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart…”
Jesus does not call us to be religious spectators—He calls us to be His apprentices.
In Jewish culture, a disciple followed so closely behind the Rabbi that he would become covered in the dust of the Rabbi’s sandals.
To follow Jesus is to walk closely enough that His character, His compassion, His holiness, His obedience, His love dusts our lives.
John 8:31 (NLT): “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.”
To follow Jesus is to follow His Word.
There is no discipleship without Scripture saturation.
John Piper: “Christ is most magnified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
We learn from Jesus not out of duty but delight. The more we know Him, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we obey Him.
In the 21st century—filled with noise, opinions, and distractions—we must choose daily to sit at the feet of Jesus, in prayer, in Scripture, in obedience.
3. FOLLOWING JESUS MEANS CARRYING A CROSS
“…take up your cross daily…” (Luke 9:23)
The word Jesus uses for take up is a??? (airo)—to lift, to carry, to shoulder willingly.
A cross is not a difficulty, inconvenience, or irritation.
A cross is an instrument of death.
To carry a cross means to die to:
Self-rule
Self-reliance
Self-righteousness
Self-determination
Galatians 2:20 (NLT): “My old self has been crucified with Christ…”
Paul teaches union with Christ—His death becomes our death, His life becomes our life.
Tim Keller: “You don’t realise Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”
Cross-carrying strips away our false securities until Christ becomes our only security.
The Costly Bridge
A man crosses a dangerous river on a shaky wooden bridge. Halfway across, he must drop his baggage to survive.
Following Jesus often requires dropping sin, pride, habits, relationships, or idols that cannot accompany us into discipleship.
To follow Jesus today means:
Saying “no” to sinful desires
Choosing holiness over popularity
Obeying Christ even when culture mocks
Prioritising His kingdom over personal comfort
The cross is not punishment; it is freedom.
It kills the old life so the new life can flourish.
4. FOLLOWING JESUS MEANS FISHING FOR PEOPLE
“I will show you how to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)
Disciples are not only called, not only taught, not only crucified with Christ—they are sent.
Greek Insight - Fishers of people — ???e?? ?????p?? (halieis anthropon)
This means: “To catch alive for a new purpose.”
The Gospel does not make bad people good.
It makes dead people alive.
Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT): “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations… teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”
Jesus’ final command is His ongoing commission.
Max Lucado: “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.”
When Jesus transforms us, He sends us so others may be transformed. Love compels us outward.
Application
To follow Jesus means to share Jesus.
Every disciple is a missionary.
Every believer is a witness.
Every Christian is a fisher of people—wherever God has placed them.
THE GOSPEL PRESENTATION — WHY FOLLOW JESUS?
We do not follow Jesus because He is inspiring.
We follow Him because He is Saviour.
Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, came into our broken world:
He lived the perfect life we failed to live.
He died the sacrificial death we deserved to die.
He took our sin upon Himself at the cross.
He was buried.
On the third day He rose again in victory.
He ascended to heaven.
He will return as King and Judge.
To follow Jesus is to repent—to turn from sin—and trust in Christ alone for salvation.
CALL TO ACTION — WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS’ CALL?
Jesus still says, “Follow Me.”
Not tomorrow.
Not when your life is sorted.
Not when you feel worthy.
Now.
Following Jesus means surrender…
It means obedience…
It means transformation…
But it also means joy, peace, salvation, purpose, and eternal life.
INVITATION TO SALVATION:
If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, hear His call today:
“Come, follow Me.”
Repent of your sin.
Trust in His cross.
Believe in His resurrection.
Confess Him as Lord.
Receive Him as Saviour.
Pray in your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I turn from my sin and turn to You. Forgive me. Save me. Make me Your disciple. I follow You now and forever.”
BENEDICTION / EXHORTATION:
May you walk in the footsteps of Jesus,
carrying His cross,
learning His ways,
loving His Word,
sharing His Gospel,
and following Him all the days of your life.
And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you as His disciple.
Amen.
