Follow Me: Love Sample

Follow Me

Matthew 16:24, John 18:37, John 6:60-68

How do you learn to play a sport? You learn how to play by being shown, taught, and coached by someone. You follow their instructions. You copy their actions. You listen to their advice and gain wisdom. Who are some people who have taught you how to play a sport? How did they shape your attitude and your thinking?

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must
deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24

Jesus had many disciples. Twelve of them were especially close to him. What is a disciple? A disciple is a student who learns by following a leader or teacher. Jesus came into the world to teach the truth about God and his kingdom. John 18:37  The disciples listened to Jesus’ teachings. They watched how Jesus treated people. They witnessed how Jesus loved people and served them. They noticed how his actions honored God. What do you think it would be like to follow Jesus around and learn from him? Following Jesus wasn’t always easy for the disciples. The things Jesus taught were often hard to accept. Some gave up following Jesus and turned away. But his true followers did not abandon Jesus because they believed Jesus had the words that give eternal life. They continued to follow Jesus because they believed Jesus was the Holy One from God. John 6:60-68  They wanted Jesus to change their wrong attitudes and thinking into new right attitudes and thinking even though at times it was hard to accept.

How can you learn to follow Jesus? Following Jesus starts with getting to know him by learning how he lived, what he said, and what he did. Once you know and trust Jesus, you become open to letting him shape your attitude and your thinking. You begin to enjoy him as a friend. You begin to think of him as your leader and Lord. You begin to trust Jesus as your rescuer and Savior. What is one way Jesus has shaped your attitude and your thinking?

PRAY

Heavenly Father, help us be disciples of Jesus. Help us learn to follow your Son who came into the world to teach us the truth and show us the way to you so we can have forever life. We pray your love and truth will shape our attitude and thinking, change our hearts, and give us a desire to be like Jesus. Amen.

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