Following Jesus · Study Guide
Week One
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?
Jesus does not merely call us to believe certain things about Him. He calls us to follow Him.
This first week introduces the central invitation of discipleship: Jesus does not merely call us to believe certain things about Him. He calls us to follow Him.
The goal is to help us think beyond Christian identity or religious activity and begin considering what it means to orient an entire life around Jesus Christ.
Following Jesus means trusting Him as Savior, surrendering to Him as Lord, learning from His teaching, becoming more like Him, and allowing Him to shape the direction and purpose of our lives.
Read Before You Begin
When you hear the phrase “follow Jesus,” what do you think it means?
Teaching Summary
Jesus began His public ministry by approaching ordinary people and saying, “Follow Me.”
That invitation was simple, but it was not small.
When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, He was not merely asking them to agree with His teaching. He was inviting them to leave their former direction and begin learning an entirely new way of life from Him.
Following Jesus Begins with Faith
We first trust Jesus for who He is and what He has done. Christian discipleship does not begin with self-improvement. It begins with grace.
Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. We receive salvation through faith in Him. But faith is not the end of the journey. It begins the journey.
— John 10:27
Following Jesus Means Surrender
— Luke 9:23
Jesus does not ask us to add Him to an already crowded life. He calls us to place our lives under His authority.
“I want Your way more than I want my own.”
Following Jesus Means Learning from Him
A disciple is a learner.
The first disciples listened to Jesus, watched Him, asked questions, failed, learned, and gradually began to understand His kingdom.
We continue that process today through Scripture, asking what Jesus taught, what He values, and how His truth should challenge the assumptions we already carry.
Following Jesus Means Becoming Like Him
Christian growth is more than knowing more information. God is shaping us into the likeness of Christ.
We begin to grow in love, humility, patience, compassion, truthfulness, faithfulness, holiness, forgiveness, generosity, and courage.
— John 15:4
Following Jesus Changes How We Live
Following Jesus changes the way we think, and changed thinking eventually changes behavior.
Our priorities, relationships, speech, use of money, response to conflict, and understanding of success all begin to change.
“What would faithfulness to Jesus look like here?”
Following Jesus Does Not Mean We Never Fail
Peter followed Jesus and still failed dramatically. Yet Jesus restored him.
Discipleship is not a story of perfect people successfully following Jesus. It is a story of imperfect people continually receiving grace while learning to follow Him more faithfully.
We Do Not Follow Jesus Alone
Jesus formed a community of disciples. Christianity was never intended to be lived entirely alone.
We need people who encourage us, teach us, correct us, pray with us, serve beside us, and remind us of truth when our faith is weak.
Following Jesus Gives Us a New Purpose
— Matthew 4:19
Following Jesus eventually turns us outward. Discipleship begins with our relationship with Christ, but it does not end with us.
Take Time to Reflect
- How would I have defined “following Jesus” before this study?
- Is there a difference between believing in Jesus and actively following Him in my life?
- Which aspect of discipleship feels most natural to me: trusting, learning, obeying, serving, or surrendering?
- Which aspect feels most difficult?
- Is there an area of my life that I tend to keep separate from Jesus' authority?
- When I fail spiritually, do I tend to move back toward Jesus or withdraw from Him?
- Who currently helps me grow as a follower of Christ?
- What might Jesus be asking me to take more seriously in this season?
Talk About It Together
- Why do you think Jesus used the words “Follow Me” rather than simply “believe what I teach”?
- What is the difference between being interested in Jesus and being His disciple?
- Why can surrender feel threatening to us?
- How can Christians avoid turning discipleship into simply trying harder?
- What role does Scripture play in following Jesus?
- Why is Christian community important for discipleship?
- How should we respond when we fail?
- What would it look like for a church or small group to help people actually follow Jesus rather than simply attend meetings?
Matthew 4:18–22
Read Matthew 4:18–22 again and notice the sequence.
Jesus calls them.
They follow.
Jesus begins changing who they are and what their lives are for.
Jesus calls. We respond. He transforms.
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me to follow You. Help me trust You more deeply, surrender what I still try to control, learn from Your Word, and become more like You. When I fail, draw me back to Your grace. Teach me to follow You faithfully one step at a time, and use my life to help others know You. Amen.
Five Days in Scripture
The invitation to follow Jesus.
The cost of discipleship.
Knowing and following the Shepherd.
Remaining in Christ.
A transformed life.
For each reading, ask:
What does this show me about Jesus?
What does this show me about following Him?
What response does this require from me?
Keep Following
Following Jesus is not perfection. It is direction.
Jesus calls us. We trust Him. We learn from Him. We surrender to Him. He changes us.
And one faithful step at a time, we keep following.