Who Will Follow Jesus?

Congratulations on becoming a Christian. You have turned away from the emptiness and vanity of this world and have determined to find the abundant life that only Jesus offers. Without question, this decision is the most important one you have ever made. Your faith in Christ moved you to repent of sin, to confess Him as the Son of God, and to be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins. These things will make, for you, an eternity of difference. But what happens now? Christianity is not a single decision, a one-time event that can be completed and forgotten. No, Christianity is a way of life that is lived on a daily basis. Jesus says: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). You have already expressed your desire to "come after" Jesus. How do you live out that desire each day? What does it mean to "take up a cross?" How do we follow Jesus? These questions are at the core of the discipleship concept. Jesus did not die so people would go to church on Sunday, practicing Christianity as a kind of weekend hobby. Jesus wants disciples: people who are committed to learning about Him and following Him at all times. The seven lessons in this book are designed specifically to help you effectively begin this process. Each lesson is based on material from the Gospel of Luke, a book that gives a full explanation of following Jesus Christ. Through interaction with the Word of God, this lesson guide, other Christians, and with much prayer you can lay the groundwork for a lifetime of solid, fulfilling discipleship. Open your heart, open your Bible, and get ready to answer the question of questions: "Who will follow Jesus?"