²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26 NIV

Jesus invites those who would be his disciples to set aside their own agenda and preferences, to learn the self-sacrificing way of the cross, and to follow him.

Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Away from actual historical church community, whatever its faults, we have an open field to live an unconfronted life, to make religion a private fantasy we can selectively share with a few like-minded individuals who will never confront us where we most need challenge. –Ronald Rolheiser

Once a new believer has “decided to follow Jesus,” experienced baptism and welcomed into the church family, they need to be encouraged and equipped to grow into a life pattern of following Jesus. What are some things we should tell new Christ followers, as well as long-time believers, that will help them follow Jesus daily?

• To establish a devotional life that anchors our daily walk.

 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light to my path.    Psalm 119:105 NIV

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.           Psalm 119:11 NIV

 

• To deny and discipline our sinful appetites in order to follow a more excellent way.

• To continually connect with others in a spiritual community where we worship, learn, and serve.

The church as an alternative community in the world is not a “voluntary association,” an accident of human preference. The church as a wedge of newness, as a foretaste of what is coming, as a home for the odd ones, is the work of God’s original mercy. For all its distortedness, the church peculiarly hosts God’s power for life.     –Walter Brueggemann

• To discover and employ your spiritual gifts.
  • To learn to carry your cross.

 

Learning to follow Jesus is a life-long adventure.   It is neither too early nor too late to start right now.