HOW TO FOLLOW JESUS

"...nothing else is more important."

Just as Jesus did, LifeSpring is on a mission to reach the lost and the broken — and you’re here because you want to be part of that mission. Whether you’re new to this journey or have been walking it for a while, following Jesus is truly worthwhile. In a very real sense, nothing else is more important.

 

Following Jesus means living like Him and doing what He taught. The Bible calls this being His disciple or “apprentice.”

Following Jesus can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or confusing.

It is simply a life-long journey or process that involves two key parts: 1) personal transformation and 2) spreading that to other people.

 

And that leads to good things: more and more restoration of our lost and broken world. This is called the “Gospel” which means “Good News” about King Jesus. It’s meant to bring life to everyone, everywhere, in every way.



So how do we follow Jesus?

One way to look at it is as a pathway with three basic, ongoing steps:

Jesus' Invitations

Come and see

John 1:39

is an invitation offered to everyone

to get to know who He is.

COME FOLLOW ME

Matthew 4:19

is a challenge to take the next step – applying his teaching to your life.

GO MAKE DISCIPLES

Matthew 28:19

is Jesus’ commission to those who have embraced the call to die to themselves

to live for him.

Three Types of People

NOT YET INTERESTED

The call to discover Jesus is for those

who are not yet interested (or maybe

even resistant to Him). That said, it’s also

a step that goes on and on because there are infinite dimensions of greatness to

who He is.

SEEKING, EXPLORING, ENGAGING

When someone is seeking, exploring, or beginning to engage with the teaching of Jesus, he or she needs to be challenged to try new habits (not just learning information but application).


This is also a step that continues throughout life, and it should begin to bring changes in many areas:


  • UP – in relationship to God
  • IN – inner stuff like character, healing, freedom
  • WITH – our relationships with others
  • OUT – our mission or purpose in life

SENT TO MAKE DISCIPLES

At some point in the process of developing as a disciple of Jesus, there will come a big commitment to stop being your own boss to live for (and with) Jesus as the King of it all. This moment is marked by baptism and a rebirth to a whole new life. Everyone who has made this decision is sent by Jesus to spread the good news about Him. We use our everyday relationships to do this.

Recap of the Pathway

I discover

Jesus and the Good News of his Kingdom (new identity, destiny, and purpose).

I DEVELOP

a lifestyle of listening to and following Jesus which leads to both personal transformation and missional multiplication.

I DUPLICATE

those same steps with others. This can include people in my sphere of influence (family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, etc.). But it will also include connecting to new people I don’t already know.

challenging misconceptions

It’s not my job


  • Some people think “I’m a Christian, I believe in Jesus, but that’s what we pay the pastor to do” or “I thought that was optional extra credit!”
  • But Jesus made it clear that every disciple is commissioned to help others follow Him and be changed by Him:


“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” - John 20:21


It’s not my gift


  • Others assume they’re exempt from disciple-making because they don’t have the “gift” of evangelism or an outgoing personality.
  • While Scripture teaches that we each have different gifts that work together, Jesus made it clear that all His followers share the same calling and purpose:


“All authority has been given to me, therefore go and make disciples… And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19–20


I’m not ready


  • It’s easy to feel unqualified—to think, “I’m still learning, still struggling. Who am I to lead someone else?”
  • But Jesus involved His followers in the mission from the very beginning. He sent them out in pairs with His authority to preach about the Kingdom and to do the kinds of things He was doing—while they were still growing, still figuring out who He was.


Watching ducklings is a great way to understand how “in process” people like you and me can help lead others while we are still growing:



Optional Video

PRACTICAL TOOLS:

BLESS TO DBS

The “Duplicate” part of the process trips up a lot of followers of Jesus. Thankfully, we don’t have to stall out because we don’t know what to do.

 

One simple way to think about how I help people discover Jesus and develop as a disciple is the phrase “BLESS to DBS.” Both words are acronyms explained here:

B

Begin with prayer

it’s impossible to overemphasize how important this is. Praying for specific people who don’t know and follow Jesus is something every disciple can and should do. It’s the starting point.

L

LISTEN

build relationships with people who aren’t following Jesus by asking good questions and listening well.

E

EAT

spend time eating meals, grabbing coffee, etc. with people. This goes hand-in-hand with listening.

S

SERVE

meet needs by practically serving others (and letting them serve you). This is a great way to find what Jesus called a “Person of Peace,” someone who is welcoming to you and what you have to share.

S

SHARE

be ready to share your story, the Good News story, and invite these folks to discover more about Jesus.

Now at this point, the common tendency might be to invite that person to a church service or group so someone  else can help them, but Jesus calls ordinary people like us to disciple them. That’s where DBS comes in.



1. READ


2. RETELL


3. ASK

DBS

DBS is an abbreviation for “Discovery Bible Study.” This approach to helping someone hear and obey Jesus and the Bible has been developed and used around the world with great success.


What’s great about the DBS is:

  • It’s so simple that ordinary people of all ages can do it right away (so it’s easily reproducible)
  • The Bible is the only curriculum (no other resources are required)
  • The Holy Spirit is the teacher (you don’t have to be a Bible expert)
  • The focus is application not just information (obedience is essential)

 

The quick synopsis of how it works is:

  • Read a passage of Scripture out loud
  • Retell it in your own words
  • Ask several basic questions:
  • What does this teach about God or Jesus?
  • What does it show about ourselves/people?
  • What will I do in light of this? (an “I will…” challenge)
  • Who can I share any of this with?


And then when you meet together the next time, you can ask “how did it go” to hold people accountable to be a doer not just a hearer (something Jesus was insistent on).

DBS Training

Recap

Jesus’ goal was to launch a disciple making movement that brings His Good News to everyone, everywhere, in every way – starting now and going forever.

 

The dream is that each of us would do what someone did with us to help others discover Jesus and then develop as a disciple so they can turn around and do the same with others.

"That is Jesus’ strategy to change the world."

That is Jesus’ strategy to change the world.

 

There’s so much more we could explore, but this is the heart of the disciple-making journey Jesus invites us into. It’s simple enough to remember, practical enough to live out, and powerful enough to transform lives.


Each of us can take a step, join the pathway, and pass it on—making a ripple that reaches far beyond what we can imagine.