What Does It Really Mean to Follow Jesus?

More Than Belief—A Life of Discipleship

• The Digital Pulpit •

In our last post, we asked the most important question: What is the gospel? We saw that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose again, and calls sinners to repent and believe.

But what happens after we believe? What does it actually look like to follow Jesus?

For many people, Christianity can become something we simply identify with. We may attend church, own a Bible, listen to Christian music, or agree with Christian beliefs. Those things can have a proper place, but Jesus calls us to something deeper.

He calls us to be His disciples.

Jesus Said, “Follow Me”

When Jesus called His first disciples, His invitation was simple and direct:

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 4:19 NKJV

Jesus did not merely invite these men to admire Him from a distance. He called them to leave their old direction and walk with Him.

A disciple is a learner and follower. In the Gospels, disciples stayed near Jesus, listened to His teaching, watched His life, learned His ways, obeyed His commands, and participated in His mission.

That same basic pattern still defines Christian discipleship today: we belong to Christ, learn from Christ, obey Christ, become more like Christ, and participate in Christ’s mission.

Following Jesus Is More Than Knowing About Jesus

It is possible to know many facts about Jesus without actually living as His disciple. A person can know Bible stories, understand Christian vocabulary, and even agree with sound doctrine while remaining resistant to Christ’s authority.

Jesus asked:

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46 NKJV

Jesus was exposing the contradiction between profession and practice. If we call Him Lord, His words should matter to the way we live.

This does not mean Christians obey perfectly. We do not. But the direction of a disciple’s life changes. A follower of Jesus increasingly desires to know His Word, obey His commands, turn from sin, love others, and honor Him.

Discipleship Begins With Grace

We must keep the order clear: we do not become disciples in order to earn salvation.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by accumulating enough good works.

But Paul does not stop at verse 9:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

Good works are not the root of our salvation; they are the fruit of a life changed by God’s grace.

We do not obey Christ so that He will save us. We obey because we belong to the One who has saved us.

Following Jesus Requires Surrender

Jesus never hid the cost of discipleship.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Luke 9:23 NKJV

Three ideas stand out: deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus.

Self-denial does not mean believing that you have no value. It means surrendering the right to make yourself the ultimate authority over your life.

Taking up the cross is not simply enduring ordinary inconvenience. In Jesus’ world, the cross was an instrument of death. His words picture a decisive surrender of self-rule and a willingness to follow Him regardless of the cost.

And notice one important word: daily. Discipleship is not a one-time emotional decision. It is a daily walk.

A Disciple Abides in Christ

Following Jesus cannot be reduced to trying harder. Christian discipleship flows from an ongoing relationship with Christ.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

John 15:4 NKJV

A branch does not produce fruit by separating itself from the vine and working harder. Its fruitfulness depends upon remaining connected to its source of life.

In the same way, spiritual growth comes as we remain dependent upon Christ—receiving His Word, seeking Him in prayer, walking in obedience, and relying upon Him.

The Christian life is not merely imitation from a distance. It is fellowship with the living Christ.

A Disciple Learns to Obey

Jesus connected love for Him with obedience:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

John 14:15 NKJV

Obedience is not a way to purchase Christ’s love. It is a response to His love and an expression of our love for Him.

That means discipleship reaches into ordinary life: how we speak, how we treat our families, what we do when nobody is watching, how we respond when angry, how we use our money and time, what we allow into our minds, how we forgive, and how we treat people who disagree with us.

Following Jesus is not confined to Sunday morning. Christ is Lord on Monday afternoon too.

A Disciple Is Being Changed

The goal of discipleship is not merely accumulating biblical information. Scripture should transform us.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

God’s purpose is to shape us increasingly into the character of Christ.

That includes growing in love, holiness, humility, patience, forgiveness, self-control, courage, compassion, and faithfulness.

Spiritual maturity is not measured merely by how much Scripture we can quote. Biblical knowledge matters greatly—but knowledge should increasingly affect our character and conduct.

A Disciple Makes Disciples

Following Jesus also turns our attention outward.

After His resurrection, Jesus commanded His followers:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

Jesus did not tell His disciples simply to collect converts. He commanded them to make disciples.

That includes proclaiming the gospel, baptizing believers, teaching Scripture, encouraging obedience, helping others mature, and preparing them to help show others how to follow Christ.

Discipleship multiplies.

You do not need a pulpit, a theology degree, or thousands of social-media followers to participate. You can pray for someone, share the gospel, study Scripture with another believer, encourage someone who is struggling, teach your children, serve in your local church, and use your digital presence to point people toward Christ.

Following Jesus in a Digital World

Our generation faces opportunities and distractions previous generations never experienced. A phone can place a Bible, a sermon, a theological library, and a mission field in our hands within seconds. The same device can also consume hours of our attention and fill our minds with influences that draw us away from Christ.

That raises a discipleship question worth asking:

Am I using technology intentionally for Christ, or is technology quietly discipling me?

Following Jesus should shape our digital lives just as surely as it shapes our lives offline.

What we watch matters. What we share matters. How we speak to people online matters. What consumes our attention matters.

Digital discipleship begins when we recognize that Jesus is Lord of our screens too.

What Does Following Jesus Look Like This Week?

Discipleship becomes practical when biblical truth enters everyday decisions. This week, consider these questions:

• What is Jesus teaching me through His Word that I need to obey?

• Is there a known sin I am excusing instead of confessing and turning from?

• What receives most of my attention throughout the day?

• Does the way I speak and behave reflect the character of Christ?

• Who could I encourage, serve, disciple, or share the gospel with?

• Does my online presence help point people toward Christ?

Do not approach these questions as a checklist for earning God’s acceptance. Approach them as someone who has received grace and wants every part of life brought under the lordship of Jesus.

The Call Is Still the Same

Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee and called ordinary people to follow Him.

The circumstances have changed. The call has not.

Jesus still calls people to repent and believe the gospel. And those who come to Him are called into a life of discipleship.

Following Jesus means more than wearing the Christian label. It means belonging to Him, learning from Him, abiding in Him, obeying Him, becoming more like Him, and joining His mission.

It will cost us something. Jesus never promised otherwise.

But the One we follow is worth everything.

FOLLOW JESUS. ABIDE IN CHRIST. MAKE DISCIPLES.

Take the Next Step

Read Luke 9:23–26 and John 15:1–11 this week. Ask the Lord to show you one area of your life that needs to come more fully under His authority.

Then act on what Scripture shows you.

And consider one person you can intentionally encourage in his or her walk with Christ this week. Discipleship is not only something we receive—it is something we pass on.

The Digital Pulpit is a ministry of Digital Disciples Ministries—proclaiming biblical truth, encouraging discipleship, and using today’s digital world to point people to Jesus Christ.

CODED FOR CHRIST.

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About the author: Phillip Hardison is the founder of Digital Disciples Ministries, a husband and father of two, and an ordained deacon devoted to teaching God's Word clearly and faithfully. Learn more about Phillip.