Jesus called for disciples:
Not for supporters or members,
Or fans or church attenders.

Christian events and programs
Don’t change the way I am,
But the living Jesus does.

Discipleship is the opposite of sidelined Christians — bench sitting spectators, watching a professional perform. Church tends to turn Christians into classroom-style students. Discipleship makes them practitioners who obey the living Jesus.

Jesus didn’t call for an audience; He called for disciples. Discipleship is an obedient lifestyle, not a stylish life. The indwelling Jesus will swell your heart with His glory and love, if you let Him.

Discipleship isn’t an option for Christians. It’s what being a Christ-follower is all about. Discipleship without self-discipline is a shipwreck.

Jesus is never absent from His followers, (He said, “I am with you always,”), but we can be absent minded and unware of His presence. Jesus isn’t a distant Savior waiting to usher you into Heaven. He’s the present, living Lord, calling you to follow and obey Him no

Jesus calls you to nothing less, than to bring your life into full obedience to Him. “Follow Me.” Grace means that a relationship with Jesus isn’t earned by your effort. It doesn’t mean that it is effortless. The idea of a part-time Christian isn’t a biblical concept.

The Bible says that Christ-followers “have the mind of Christ,” but if we don’t obey Him, we’re out of our mind! When we’re not following and obeying the living Jesus, we’re resisting Him. It’s easy to spend more time ignoring the living Jesus than obeying Him.

Religion is often an attempt to put the living Jesus back into His grave clothes. Every time you ignore the voice of the living Jesus, it gets easier to ignore Him the next time.

Church attendance isn’t the primary way to make and maintain contact with God. The living Jesus is. Biblical Christianity isn’t entertaining and shallow. It’s training and spiritual battle. Read the book of Acts.

“They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” However, if we hate, bully, insult, and demonstrate unkindness in other ways, they probably won’t.