beginning the journey

A disciple can read a truth, understand it, and even agree with it without allowing it to change the way he lives. We can mistake knowing the truth for living the truth and believe we are growing when our lives remain unchanged.

Following Jesus means more than agreeing with what He says. It means surrendering ourselves to Him, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following where He leads. This will cost us personally because it means yielding our own way and allowing Him to direct our lives.

The more God gets of you, the more you get of Him. No other way.

Our lives are often filled with activities, responsibilities, wants, and expectations that leave little time for what matters most. Persistence means continuing to pursue God even when we don't feel like it, when life gets busy, or when other things compete for our attention. The good can become the enemy of the best when we allow lesser priorities to crowd out our pursuit of God. We must learn to put Him first, trusting Him to help us see clearly and respond rightly to the other responsibilities in our lives.

Consistency means making time for God a regular part of our lives, not something we do only when we feel the need or find it convenient. We set aside time to seek Him, listen to His Word, and learn what He wants us to know. God will not take second place to the things we value more than Him. When we continually put other priorities ahead of seeking Him, those very things can keep us bound to the ways of the world. But when we make seeking God a priority, we open our lives to know Him more deeply and to experience the life He desires for us.

Lord. We cannot build the life He calls us to live while holding on to the right to rule ourselves. Without surrender, we are building on sand, and our spiritual house will not stand firm when the storms of life come.

Establishing the right foundation is only the beginning. We must also build our lives according to the truth God has given us in His Word. James warns us not to be hearers of the Word only, deceiving ourselves, but doers of the Word (James 1:22–25).

As we learn God's truth, we must allow it to expose and correct the wrong beliefs, thinking, and attitudes we have carried into our lives. We must be willing to replace error with truth, even when that truth challenges what we want to believe or how we want to live. Otherwise, we may continue building with unsound materials, weakening the spiritual life we are trying to build.

A strong spiritual life develops as God's truth shapes our understanding and becomes evident in the way we live. Like the house built on the rock, our lives become better prepared to withstand the storms that come..

Learning a truth does not mean we will immediately live it consistently. We may understand what God says and sincerely want to follow it, yet find ourselves slipping back into familiar ways of thinking and responding. That is why repetition and reminders are important. We need to return to God's Word, revisit what we have learned, and remind ourselves of what He says. Reading Scripture, praying, worshiping, giving thanks, and spending time with other believers can help keep our attention on Him.

As we continually return to God's truth, it begins to reshape how we think and respond to the situations we face. For example, we may learn to trust God instead of giving in to worry. A few days later, a new problem arises, and we find ourselves worrying again. That does not mean the truth God has declared is untrue; it simply means something may be getting in the way. We must recognize and address what is keeping us from responding to the situation according to God's truth.

It takes time for a new way of thinking and responding to become a habit. Learning to trust God instead of worrying is no different. As we continue returning to His truth and putting our trust in Him, we can learn to respond differently because God is faithful to His Word.

We must remember that learning a truth once does not mean we will never struggle with it again. When we stumble, we do not need to remain discouraged or condemn ourselves. We can acknowledge where we have gone wrong, turn back to God, receive His forgiveness and mercy, and take the next step. The purpose of repetition is not to keep us trapped in a cycle of failure. It is to help God's truth increasingly shape how we think, respond, and live.

Do not just learn the truth once. Keep returning to it until it increasingly shapes your life.

Spiritual disciplines are intentional practices and choices that help us grow in our relationship with God and learn to live as Jesus did. They are not ways to earn God's love or ends in themselves. Their purpose is to help us know God more deeply, understand His truth, and allow that truth to shape how we think, respond, and live.

God's Word is essential because it teaches us who God is, what He has said, and how He calls us to live. We must do more than read or understand Scripture; we must be willing to let His truth correct our thinking and guide our choices. Prayer is another essential discipline. Through prayer, we communicate with God, express our dependence on Him, bring our concerns to Him, and learn to trust Him in every circumstance. Gathering with other believers for worship helps us turn our attention toward God together, encourage one another, and grow in our walk with Him.

Trust and obedience are also essential disciplines, though we may not always think of them that way. Trust is not simply a feeling that comes when everything is going well. It is an intentional choice to rely on God and what He has said, even when our feelings or circumstances challenge us. Obedience is the intentional choice to act on His truth, even when doing so is difficult or goes against what we would naturally prefer. As we repeatedly choose to trust God and obey Him, we learn to respond to life according to His truth rather than being ruled by our feelings, fears, or familiar habits.

Jesus said in John 15:4 (ESV), "Abide in me, and I in you." He calls us to remain in close relationship with Him, depending on Him as we live each day. First John 2:6 (ESV) teaches that whoever says he abides in Jesus ought to walk in the same way in which Jesus walked. That is our goal: not simply to practice spiritual disciplines, but to grow in our relationship with Jesus and increasingly live as He lived.

Developing these disciplines requires intention. We must make room for God in our lives and be willing to change familiar habits that keep us from giving Him the attention He deserves. But our efforts do not replace God's work in us. We respond to Him, depend on Him, and trust the Holy Spirit to help us grow and change. We must not become so focused on completing a routine or doing the right thing that we lose sight of the relationship behind it. The purpose is to know God more deeply and allow His truth to shape our lives.

Spiritual disciplines help us intentionally turn toward God, trust what He has said, and live according to His truth—one step at a time.

Following Jesus is not a journey we have to make alone. Having someone walk alongside us can help us understand God's Word, work through questions, recognize how His truth applies to our lives, and receive encouragement as we learn to put that truth into practice. A disciple partner does not do the work for us or make our decisions for us. The purpose is to help us grow in our own relationship with God and learn to depend on Him and His Word.

You can work through these lessons with a disciple partner, paragraph by paragraph. Talk about what each section means, look at the Scriptures, ask questions, and discuss how the truth applies to everyday life. Be honest about your struggles, be willing to listen, pray for one another, and encourage each other to keep taking the next step. Your partner does not need to have every answer. What matters is a sincere desire to follow Jesus, a willingness to learn from Scripture, and a commitment to encourage one another along the journey.

If you would like help finding a way to receive discipleship mentoring, use the Connect icon on this website to send an email. We can explore the options together and see what may work best for you, whether that means meeting with someone locally or connecting by email, text, or phone. You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. The important thing is your willingness to seek God and take the next step.

Jesus gave His followers the responsibility of making disciples and teaching them to obey everything He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). Discipleship is not just about our own growth. As we grow in following Jesus, we can also learn to walk alongside others and help them grow. The goal is not to become dependent on one particular person, but to grow in maturity as we learn to follow Jesus and help others do the same.

When you spend time reading God's Word, praying, and reflecting on what you are learning, try to find a personal space where you can concentrate and give God your attention. This might be a quiet room at home, a walk, a quiet place to have breakfast, or even a spot at work where you can be alone for a while. You might use noise-canceling headphones or find other creative ways to reduce distractions and make time for the Lord.

The goal is not to create a perfect environment, but to make room to slow down, listen carefully to what you are reading, reflect on what it means, and consider how to live it. Life does not always allow us to find a quiet place, and we can turn our attention to God wherever we are. Do not let the search for the perfect place or time become an excuse for not spending time with Him. Begin where you are and use the opportunities you have.

The purpose is to focus on God, understand His Word, and put His truth into practice.

These lessons are not a race. The goal is not to see how quickly you can finish them. The goal is to understand God's truth and learn to live it. You may be able to read through a lesson in one sitting, but reading it once is not usually enough to bring lasting change to the way you think and live. That takes time, reflection, and a willingness to put what you learn into practice.

Begin with the lesson preparation that comes before the lesson discussion. As you read each section, take time to think about what it is saying and how it applies to your life. Write down questions you have or things you would like to understand more clearly. Pay attention to the Scriptures, illustrations, and action steps, asking yourself what God wants you to understand and how you can begin applying His truth today.

If a section teaches you a truth to believe, consider what it means and whether you are willing to trust what God says. If it challenges a way of thinking or responding, consider what needs to change. If it suggests a practical step, decide how you can begin putting it into practice. Make a personal commitment to respond to what you are learning, even if it means working through a question, changing a familiar way of thinking, or learning to trust a truth that is difficult for you. In this way, you begin living your way through the lesson rather than waiting until you have finished reading it.

You may need to return to a section more than once, spend time practicing what you have learned, or get help working through a question. If you are studying with a disciple partner, bring your questions to the discussion and decide together what pace will be most helpful. Generally, it is best to follow the lessons in order because each one helps prepare you for what follows. However, if you are facing an urgent question or struggle, it may be helpful to address that need as well.

Do not measure your progress simply by how many lessons you have completed. Consider whether what you are learning is changing how you think, what you believe, how you respond to others, and how you live. The goal is not to master everything at once, but to keep taking the next step as you learn to trust God and put His truth into practice.

Take the time you need, and don't just read the lesson. Begin living its truth, one step at a time.

As you begin this journey, remember that God's desire is not simply for you to know about Him, but to know Him personally. Through His Word, you can come to know His character, understand His truth, and learn to trust Him. As you put His truth into practice through surrender and obedience, your life will increasingly reflect Jesus.

Following Jesus begins with turning to God and receiving His forgiveness. In Acts 2:38, Peter calls people to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, and promises that they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For those who believe in Jesus and follow Him, the Holy Spirit is our Helper, helping us understand God's Word and learn to live according to His truth. God does not expect us to follow Jesus in our own strength.

You will not always get everything right. When you stumble, don't give up. God's love for you does not disappear when you fail. Turn back to God, seek His help, receive His grace and mercy, and take the next step.

My prayer is that you will develop a deeper relationship with Jesus, a growing hunger for God's presence, and an increasing desire to live His truth. May you experience His peace, joy, and contentment even amid life's difficulties, grow in Christlike character, and become equipped to help others follow Him.

Know Jesus. Live His truth. Become more like Him. Help others do the same.

One truth at a time. One step at a time. May God bless you as you continue this journey.

Brother Michael