Inviting God -Week 8 / Jesus: Follow Me

Week 8 – Day 1: Follow Me

Read: Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 9:23-24

 

In Colossians 1:15, the Apostle Paul, speaking of Jesus, says, “He is the image of the invisible God.” Another way to say that is – Jesus is what God looks like. He shows us God’s heart. The author of Hebrews calls Him the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature…” (Hebrews 1:3). The point both authors are trying to make is that Jesus perfectly shows us how God feels about us and how He feels about others.

For the past seven weeks, we’ve been walking through the Bible, tracing God’s pattern of inviting people into relationship and mission. The Creation Story showed us that God made us for a relationship with Him. That, as part of that relationship, He entrusts us with great responsibility. Abraham’s story demonstrated that God wants to bless the world through us, creating a spiritual family for Himself. Moses’ story instructed us that God wants to use us to lead others out of slavery to sin and death and into freedom and life. It reminded us that God is bigger than our sin and our excuses.

 

Samuel showed us that when God calls us into relationship, He also calls us into ministry, and that the two always go hand in hand. David demonstrated that God uses people like us—the insignificant and overlooked—and entrusts them with what He treasures (people) because in doing so, He receives the glory. Isaiah reminded us that God cleanses us and invites us to His mission, and Jonah revealed that God loves everyone (even those we don’t) and can use even the most reluctant servants.

Over and over again, we’ve seen the same story: God invites ordinary people like us into a relationship with Him, then He seeks to use them to do the same for others. But this week marks an important shift. Until now, we’ve been watching God’s invitation unfold through the lives of others. Now, we’re getting a firsthand look at that invitation in person. Jesus, the one who perfectly shows us what God is like, appears. God in the flesh is here on earth, offering an invitation to all who have ears to hear – two words that change everything: “Follow Me.”

Jesus has just been baptized and has overcome temptation from the devil himself. He’s beginning the final three years of his life, His public ministry. One of the first acts of that ministry is calling a group of men—His disciples. Picture a lake with several fishing boats along the shore. Fishermen are at work, tending their nets—securing holes and storing them away for the day. There’s a strong hint of salt in the air, mixed with the unmistakable smell of fresh fish lingering nearby.

 

The men on the shore, those who work these boats, are ordinary fishermen, not religious scholars. They are there on the shore, doing the same thing they do every single day, when Jesus interrupts their routine with an extraordinary invitation. An invitation to leave it all behind and follow Him as a different kind of fisherman – one that literally fishes for men and women, ushering them into the Kingdom of God. And what is their response? Notice, it’s one of immediate obedience, zero hesitation.

But this new calling will come with a cost. Following Jesus means leaving everything else behind. It will mean denying my own desires and pursuing Him and His. A disciple follows their master and does what their master does. And Jesus fished for people. Period.

Christianity has been misunderstood in many ways, but at its core, it remains simple. Jesus, our Master and Lord, sought out people. He calls us to follow Him—doing what He did (John 14:12). That means denying ourselves: our comfort, our fear, our apathy, and laziness. It involves consistently taking up His cross—sharing the message of the cross and proclaiming the good news—that He died on the cross for our sins and that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). And who do we take this message to? Well, we must follow in His footsteps—doing what He did: seeking and saving the lost. When they accept His invitation to relationship, we are to then disciple them. This is the essence of what Christianity is all about. If we are not doing these things, then we are not truly following Jesus. We might believe in Him, but we are not genuinely following because we are not doing what He did.

So, today, as we begin week 8 together, take a moment to remember when Jesus entered your ordinary life. What were you doing when you heard him say, “follow me”? Were you at church? Were you at home with your family? Were you at some kind of camp? Think about your salvation. Jesus’ invitation doesn’t change. It’s always, come and follow me. Our world tries to muddy it. They try to overcomplicate it. But it really is that simple. Christianity is all about accepting Jesus’ invitation and following Him with all our heart!

Prayer: Father, thank you for loving me so much that you sent your one and only Son to die for me. Jesus, I remember when you called my name. When you called me to yourself. You called me to come and follow you. I’m so sorry I haven’t been the way I should. Help me get back to that basic form of Christianity—following you, doing what you did, seeking out others to bring into the Kingdom. Amen.

Reflection:
What stands out to you about Jesus’ invitation, “Follow Me”? Why do you think the fishermen responded immediately without hesitation? How does their response challenge the way you tend to respond when Jesus interrupts your ordinary?

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What does it practically mean for you to “deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow” Jesus? Where do you sense God asking you to let go of comfort, fear, or distraction so you can better follow Him?

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Think about your own story. When did Jesus “invade your ordinary” with the invitation to follow Him? How has that initial moment shaped your relationship with Him, and what might He be inviting you to step into today?

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Application:
This week, make it simple: ask yourself daily, “Am I doing what Jesus did today?” Write that question somewhere you’ll see it often—on a note card, your phone, or your mirror—and let it shape your choices, conversations, and priorities.

 

Week 8 – Day 2: Deny Yourself Daily

Read: Luke 9:23-26

 

I know we talked about this passage yesterday, but sometimes, things are so important they need more time and discussion. That’s what today is for. Yesterday, we began exploring the idea that following Jesus means leaving everything else behind. It involves denying my own desires and pursuing Him and His ways. A disciple follows their master and does what their master does. And Jesus fished for people. Period.

 

But all people are wired differently. Have you ever heard of the DISC assessment? It’s a tool that breaks people into four main personality types: D (driven), I (influencing), S (steady), and C (conscientious). Most people today tend to be in the slower-paced, steady, and conscientious groups. This means they are naturally more reserved, reflective, and more comfortable working behind the scenes.

 

And that’s not a bad thing – God wired us this way. He gave us these tendencies, but it also means that when Jesus calls us to go, speak, and invite others into His Kingdom, it may feel unnatural to us. You may have gone through this or be experiencing it now. But remember: The Great Commission isn’t a natural call; it’s a supernatural one. It’s not about doing what comes easily; it’s about obeying what Jesus commands and trusting that the Spirit will equip and empower us to do what we can’t do ourselves – what doesn’t come naturally.

Part of denying ourselves is the spiritual act of daily obedience. It’s actively choosing to abide in Jesus, in His Spirit, and yes, in His mission. This, of course, has huge personal ramifications for the believer. This is where all of our Fruit of the Spirit comes from: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, and self-control. We don’t get these things just by asking for them. We get them from remaining in Jesus and keeping in step with the Holy Spirit.

The more I read the Bible and let it shape my thoughts, the more I strive to put it into practice in my life. The more I pray without ceasing, the more I will see God start to make me and mold me into His image. In other words, the more I deny myself and seek to follow Him, the more I look like Him.

 

And listen. The same is true with the mission of Jesus—this ministry of reconciliation. It’s about consistently trying to be like Jesus and less like myself. And this part is really important. God made you who you are and placed you where He placed you on purpose. He wants to use you to impact those around you. He will use your relationships, the way you process, even your personality. Because of that, we often try to tell ourselves—well, God didn’t make me this way—I’m just not outgoing enough for this reconciliation stuff, for this evangelism stuff.

 

But that’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. One of the key promises in scripture is that the Holy Spirit gives us supernatural power to be witnesses for Jesus – to carry out this evangelism stuff. That means that inviting others into a relationship with God is expected of every believer in Jesus, regardless of their personality, because it’s not a natural task but a supernatural one.

 

Think about this for a second:

How does an impatient person have patience? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, as they remain in Him and rely on Him.

How does an unloving person treat others with love and compassion? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, as they remain in Him and rely on Him.

How does a person who has experienced great sadness or loss have joy? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, as they remain in Him and rely on Him.

How does someone who is full of anxiety and fear find peace? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, as they remain in Him and rely on Him.

How does someone with a hot temper become gentle and practice self-control? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, as they remain in Him and rely on Him.

All the fruits of Christianity come as we strive to become less of ourselves and more like Him. “God show me your ways, give me your eyes, and your heart. Fill me with your spirit. Change me.” As we read the Word and pray these things regularly, and as we seek to become “doers” of the Word and apply it to our lives, we become less and less like ourselves and more and morelike Him. It’s a supernatural work happening within our hearts and lives, empowered by the Holy Spirit who is making us more and more like Jesus day by day.

That’s what today’s passage is all about – denying ourselves daily, taking up His cross, and following Him. And that applies to this mission Jesus has given us, too. The Holy Spirit produces a boldness that doesn’t come naturally. Our role is to deny our natural tendency to hold back and be reserved in this.

The gospel compels us to step forward, not to retreat. When we depend on the Spirit, He does a supernatural work within us—empowering us to go beyond our natural tendencies—giving us the courage to invite, share, and testify about all that Jesus has done for us.

 

Prayer: God, I long to be used by you. For too long, I have believed that I am not suited for this. Yet, I trust you to produce spiritual fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control in every part of my life. Today, I start to understand that you will do the same in evangelism. That denying myself includes rejecting my natural tendency to stay reserved. God, I want the supernatural. Use me. Work through me. Show me that you are greater than my natural disposition. Amen.

Reflection:
1. Why do you think Jesus connects following Him with denying ourselves daily? In what ways do you find yourself using your natural wiring or personality as a reason to hold back from His mission?

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2. The Great Commission is not a natural task but a supernatural one. How does this truth change the way you view sharing your faith? Can you think of a time when the Holy Spirit gave you courage or words you didn’t naturally have?

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3. Our personalities are part of God’s design, but they are meant to be Spirit-empowered, not Spirit-limiting. What steps can you take to move from relying on your own tendencies to depending on the Holy Spirit? How might that change the way you invite others into a relationship with Jesus?

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Application:
Ask God to reveal one way you’ve been hiding behind your natural wiring as an excuse for not engaging in His mission. This week, pray specifically for the Holy Spirit to give you supernatural boldness to obey Him in that area.

 

Week 8 – Day 3: Repeating the Invitation

Read: John 1:35-51

 

As we mentioned at the start of the week, we’ve spent the past seven weeks walking through the Bible, tracing God’s pattern of inviting people into relationship and mission. Time and again, we’ve seen the same story: God invites ordinary people like us into a relationship with Him, then He seeks to use them to do the same for others.

But this week marks a shift. A change. Up till now, even though it was God who invited people to Himself, entrusting them with great responsibility, planning to bless the world through them – it was somewhat easy to distance ourself. “Sure, that’s how God felt about Abraham, and Moses, and Samuel, and David, but they’re all heros for crying out loud. That’s not how God feels about me.”

And then Jesus arrives. Heaven invading earth. God in the flesh. The “exact expression of His (God’s) nature…” (Hebrews 1:3). And who is He looking for? Is He just calling the “super” religious folks to Himself? Nope. When God comes to earth, He does so to seek out sinners. People who are far from Him. People who have rebelled against Him. People who have gone their own way. People like us.

And here’s the crazy part…He’s not seeking them out for judgment or retribution. He’s seeking them out for salvation and relationship. And, of course, this is our story. We are those people. Jesus came to make us right with God. To make a way for our sin to be covered once and for all by applying His own perfect blood to our account as a once and for all sacrifice – to atone for our sins.

 

If you want to know how God feels about you, you just have to look at Jesus, the exact expression of God’s nature. And when Jesus came to earth – He came inviting. Inviting people just like us. Seriously.

John the Baptist had just testified about Jesus being the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36). For Jews, that immediately evoked images of the Passover and deliverance, which they probably connected to their hope for the coming Messiah. When they hear this (most likely Andrew and John), they instantly ask Jesus where He is staying, and He replies, “Come and see.” (John 1:39). Andrew then goes to find his brother Peter and brings him to Jesus (bringing people to Jesus will be a pattern for Andrew).

 

The next day, Jesus calls Philip, and Philip then invites his friend Nathanael to come and meet Jesus. Nathanael is hesitant when he hears that Jesus is from Nazareth, but Philip extends the same invitation Jesus gave the day before: “Come and see.” (John 1:46) Here’s the main point. Throughout the story, we see the same pattern repeated again and again. Someone encounters Jesus. Jesus invites that person to “come and see.” That person then goes out and tells someone else about Jesus, offering the same exact invitation: “come and see.” It’s clean, simple, and powerful in its effectiveness.

Jesus doesn’t give a lecture or a list of rules to follow at the start. There’s no theological debate leading to a major change in direction. His invitation is personal, simple, and straightforward. “Come and you’ll see.” “Come and you will see for yourself.” It’s relational, not transactional. The people come because He genuinely cares for them, and their interest is piqued. There’s no call for them to first clean up their lives or make changes on their own. Jesus simply invites them to walk with Him. To follow Him. God’s first move toward us is always one of invitation, not judgment.

And here’s the thing: His disciples, His followers, immediately followed suit and repeated the pattern. Andrew goes and invites Peter to come and see this Lamb of God. Philip does the same with Nathanael. Their invitations echo the exact words of Jesus – “Come and see.” And this is huge. This matters. Long before their theology is fully shaped. Long before they realize completely who Jesus is and what He’s come to do – they are already repeating His pattern of inviting others into relationship – to “come and see” for themselves.

While evangelism is undoubtedly more than just an invitation – it’s not less. It remains the call of discipleship. It is the demand of the Great Commission. Before we can teach someone “everything” Jesus has commanded us, we must invite them into a relationship with Him. And here’s why: Because God’s presence changes people. Because invitation works! It did for Jesus and the disciples, and it works for us. Because Jesus expects His followers to do what He did. “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do.” (John 14:12).

Jesus consistently invited others, and so did the first disciples. Statistics tell us that 80% of people who have come to know Christ personally were invited to church by someone they knew. Invitation works! It’s Biblical. The Kingdom has come. The Messiah has come. There is a way for our relationship with God to be restored – Come and see. Come and find out for yourself!

Prayer: Jesus, make me a person who fully embraces your heart and commitment to invite others in—closer, into Your presence, into relationship. Forgive me for how long I’ve resisted this idea and refused to accept it. Give me your heart for others. Use me to draw them nearer to you. Amen.

Reflection:
1. Jesus’ first words to His would-be disciples are simply, “Come and see.” What does this reveal about the heart of God’s invitation? How does it change the way you think about sharing your faith if the first step isn’t to explain everything but simply to invite someone closer to Jesus?

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2. Andrew immediately went to find his brother Peter, and Philip did the same with Nathanael (John 1:40–46). Why do you think their first instinct was to repeat the invitation they had just received? Who in your own life might be waiting for you to extend that same “come and see” invitation?

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3. The disciples began inviting others before they fully understood who Jesus was or what He would do. What does this teach us about the urgency of invitation? How might God use your story—even if it feels unfinished—to help someone else take a step toward Him?

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Application:
Pray for the courage to echo Jesus’ words to someone in your circle. Extend a simple, genuine invitation—whether to church, to coffee, or to read the Bible together—and trust God to use that step to draw them closer to Him.

 

Week 8 – Day 4: Worth It

Read: Philippians 3:7-14

 

So far this week we’ve looked at Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. We talked about the fact that Jesus is the “exact expression” God’s nature (Hebrews 1:3) – that He clearly shows how God feels about us. God longs to have a relationship with us. We also talk about the daily cost of accepting that invitation. Following Jesus means denying ourselves and leaving our old ways behind.

We saw this with Abraham. He had to leave behind his old ways. His old belief system. His old practices. Paul calls this dying to self or denying self. Following Jesus means just that. Leaving behind our old self. Choosing to lay down what we want and do things His way. This is what being a living sacrifice is all about (Romans 12:1). And as we’ve discussed, this even includes our natural tendencies to be more passive in relationships and tasks.

The Great Commission demands that we lean into the task of reaching others for Christ. It involves this daily dying to our natural tendencies and leaning into and trusting the Spirit’s power to provide opportunities—divine appointments—and supernatural courage and power to speak to others about Jesus. To invite them in.

This daily pursuit of Jesus and His mission, while also denying ourselves, our desires, plans, and tendencies, is difficult. It’s a lot to handle. It comes with a high cost. A huge cost. And it raises the question: Is it worth it?

The Apostle Paul’s answer is a clear yes! Yes, it’s worth it! It is indeed a significant cost; it certainly was for Paul, but that cost is absolutely worth it. First and foremost, it’s worth it because we belong to Him. If we are in Christ, heaven is now our home (Philippians 3:20). If we belong to Christ, we are now children of God (John 1:12). If we belong to Christ, we are now forgiven and free (Colossians 1:13–14; John 8:36). We are adopted (Ephesians 1:5). We are called (1 Corinthians 1:9). We are seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). We have been brought near by His blood (Ephesians 2:13).

What a change! I mean, think about it. Consider who we used to be. If you’re struggling, just go read Ephesians 2. We were trapped in sin—dead, stuck, without hope, without God. But Jesus has come and changed all that—doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has made us alive, set us free, and given us eternal life—an unending relationship with the God who created us. Listen carefully—no matter what God calls us to do in response, it would be worth it!

And if all of this has happened to us, how can we not share? How can we keep silent? How can we not, naturally, respond to His love and grace by wanting to shout it from the mountain tops? Nothing life throws my way compares to what Jesus has done for me. That’s what Paul is referring to in Philippians 3 when he says everything else is rubbish compared to knowing Christ.

The other reason it’s worth it is because of the result of the mission He has called us to. There is nothing like being used by God to bear fruit. I mean it. Nothing comes close. To see others come to know Jesus because God used you. To see others’ eternal destinies changed – to see the ripple effect that it has in their family and in the lives of those around them – nothing comes close! Jesus said, “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16).

This is God’s plan for us! He saves us to send us. Us, the ordinary—the ones the world overlooks. We are His plan to reach the people He has placed in our path. When life springs forth from us (these broken vessels), He gets all the glory! That’s the point. God’s plan is to use people like us—those who have received His invitation of grace and entered into relationship—to seek out others and extend the same offer of life. And when God uses us for this—when they accept His invitation—there is no greater joy than seeing their lives changed for eternity because we answered His call.

Prayer: Jesus, I want to know you like Paul did. I want to be so in sync with you that I can clearly see that this call to lay down and leave behind all that I know, to follow your example, and to live on your mission, is worth it. Please use me. Speak through me. Empower me to extend your invitation to life. Let me see a glimpse of fruit this week. Amen.

Reflection:
1. When you think about the cost of following Jesus—giving up your plans, preferences, or comfort—what feels hardest for you to surrender? How might fully surrendering invite God to work in and through you in greater ways?

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2. Jesus calls us to bear lasting fruit. When you consider the mission God has given you, what fruit might He be inviting you to see through your obedience? How could stepping out, even when it costs you, impact the lives of those around you?

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3. God saved you to do good works that bear fruit for His Kingdom. How does remembering what He has done for you motivate you to embrace both the cost and the reward of following Him faithfully?

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Application:
Think of one area where following Jesus requires a personal cost—your time, comfort, or plans—and take a step to act in obedience. Trust that God will use that act to produce lasting fruit in someone’s life, showing you the reward of stepping out for Him.

 

Week 8 – Day 5: Walk Like Jesus

Read: 1 John 2:3-6

 

This week, we’ve focused on Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. On Day 1, we discussed how Jesus is the “exact expression” of God’s nature (Hebrews 1:3)—He clearly demonstrates how God feels about us. God in the flesh came to invite people like you and me into a relationship with Him. His invitation is simple and clear: “Follow Me.” Come to me. Spend time with me. Watch me. Do what I do. Jesus clearly shows us God’s heart. God seeks us out and invites us in—into a personal relationship with Him.

On Day 2, we learned that following Jesus involves leaving other things behind. Just as Abraham had to abandon his old ways, belief system, and practices, we must also leave behind our old habits. Paul describes this as dying to self or denying oneself. Following Jesus means exactly that—letting go of our old self and choosing to set aside our desires to do things His way. This is what it means to be a living sacrifice.

On Day 3, we came to realize that following Jesus isn’t a one-time decision, but a daily commitment. Jesus said that if we want to follow Him, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross every day (Luke 9:23). This means overcoming our natural tendency to be passive in relationships and tasks. The Great Commission requires more of us. It pushes us to move beyond our natural inclinations and into trusting God’s call and promise to empower us as we commit to His mission. It’s a call to step out, trust the Spirit’s power to provide opportunities and divine connections, and rely on His supernatural courage to share Jesus with others—to invite them into a relationship with Him. Following Jesus will always lead us from comfort to courage.

Yesterday, we considered the cost. Following Jesus isn’t easy—it requires our entire life. But, like Paul, we can confidently say that it’s worth it! Nothing comes close to knowing Christ – nothing even compares (Philippians 3:8). Living on God’s mission is worth it because it’s who He created us to be—forgiven, free, adopted, called, and seated with Him. It’s worth it because of the impact He makes through us when we commit to His mission and invite others into the Kingdom. Nothing compares to the joy of being used by God to bring someone else to Jesus.

In today’s passage, we hear a clear and straightforward challenge from John. He writes to remind believers that the only way to truly know if someone knows Jesus is if they obey His commands and follow His example. His premise is that if we claim to know Christ, others should be able to see it in us. We should be focused on the same things Jesus was about.

And what was that? Well, Jesus was always about His Father’s business. He lived His life with the singular intent to do what pleased God (John 8:29). His goal was simple – to finish the work that His Father had given Him (John 4:34). That work, of course, was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). To reconcile them to God. And that work has been passed on to you and me. In John 20:21, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” The implication is that He has sent us to do the same thing He was sent to do. This is confirmed in the Great Commission.

That’s the idea behind John’s message today. He’s telling people that the only way to follow Jesus is to actually walk in His footsteps and do what He did. That’s what it means to walk with Jesus. It’s loving like Jesus loved. Seeking people out like He sought people out. Inviting them into a relationship with God like He invited them. It’s literally taking up His mission, having His heart, and representing Him in the world — sharing about Him with others.

I want to close with this. It’s a hidden thing—one we don’t often talk about. When we read passages like this about obedience, we tend to focus on the sins we’re comfortable admitting: our selfishness, our failure to pray or read the Bible, our lack of patience or love, our anger or lust. We confess these shortcomings pretty regularly. But let me ask you a tough question: when is the last time you confessed your lack of obedience to God in the Great Commission— in seeking and saving the lost and making disciples?

Walking as Jesus walked means having His heart, living on His mission. Seeking out those who are far away and bringing them near. Extending the same invitation to them that He has extended to us: “Come and follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

Prayer: Jesus, I want to be like you. Lord, help me. Helm me die to myself daily – to my selfish desires and sin. Help me seek you out regularly. Studying your word, putting it into practice. I want to do what you did. Follow your example. Share your heart. Use me, Lord, as I walk like You. Amen.

Reflection:
1. When you think about walking like Jesus, how well do you see His heart and mission reflected in your own life? What might it look like for you to take one step this week to imitate His example of seeking and inviting others?

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2. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Are there areas where you’ve grown comfortable avoiding this mission? Who might God be inviting you to notice or reach out to this week?

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3. Jesus sends you as He was sent. How does embracing this responsibility challenge your habits, priorities, or comfort zones? What could obedience to this mission look like in your daily life?

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Application:
Walk with Jesus today. Do what He did. Have His heart. Invite others into a relationship with Him—whether through a conversation, a kind gesture, or sharing His story. Seek out a person who does not yet know Jesus and take a step today toward inviting them into relationship with Him—whether it’s through a conversation, sharing your story, inviting them to church, or another way God leads you.