What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?Sample

What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?

It’s easy to think that being a Christian is simply about having the right beliefs, going to church on Sunday, and avoiding certain practices. But faith in God is so much more than a checklist of spiritual behaviors.

Thousands of years ago, God chose to become human and live among us: Jesus was born and at first lived a quiet life. Once He reached his 30s, He began His public ministry, teaching, performing miracles, and introducing people to a new way of life centered on love and sacrifice. He called people to follow Him. Those early followers knew what it meant to follow Jesus. They went where He led, watched what He did, listened when He spoke and became more like Him daily.

After Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, rose from the dead, and returned to heaven, His followers spread across the world, inviting people to join them in following Jesus—also known as Christ. Christ means “anointed one” or “chosen one of God.” And it wasn’t long before Christ followers in Syrian Antioch began calling themselves Christians, meaning “little Christs.”

Why this name? They knew that being a Christian is more than just a title—it’s a job description. Being a Christian means following Jesus and becoming more like Him every day.

Saying Yes to Jesus

Jesus began His ministry by calling followers. These people came from vastly different backgrounds, but they had one thing in common. They said yes.

Before they met Jesus, they had jobs, friends, and ordinary routines that defined their lives. So saying yes to Jesus’ invitation was a sacrifice, pulling them out of their everyday lives and into a journey full of unknowns.

Have you said yes to Jesus? Saying yes to Jesus isn’t just agreeing with a belief or signing up to follow rules. It’s accepting His grace, letting go of control of your life, and trusting Jesus to lead you.

When we say yes to Jesus’ grace, we’re saved and redeemed by His loving sacrifice. But following Jesus isn’t just a one-time decision. It’s a lifestyle of saying yes to Jesus every moment of every day.

What does this look like in practice? That’s what this Plan is all about. Over the next several days, we’ll explore some of the teachings of Jesus and find out how to pray, serve, and love like He does every day. But everyone’s journey starts with saying yes to Jesus for the first time and accepting His grace.

If you’re not sure exactly what it means to accept Jesus’ grace, check out this Finds article, where you’ll find an example salvation prayer.

Pause and Pray

Dear God, thank You for giving me purpose. Please help me see big and small ways I can become more like You every day. Help me lean into Your grace when I don’t get it right. Thank You for guiding me every step of the way. In Jesus’ name, amen.