Jesus invites followers into a relationship with Him.

Scripture: John 1:35-51

Central Truth

Every person is called to follow Jesus and become His disciple. The call to be Jesus’s disciple is the most exciting, difficult, meaningful purpose a person can live for. It’s a radical call. It’s a lifelong call. The best part of the call is that we get to walk with Jesus every day for the rest of our lives. There’s nothing better than life with Jesus. 

Key Question

Why is Jesus’s call to be His disciple extended to all people and not just a select few?

Keep in Mind

A disciple has two main calls to answer: the call to follow Jesus and the call to invite others to follow Jesus. Being a disciple is a lifetime of learning from Jesus in order to live like Jesus. Over time, our thinking, empathizing, talking, and doing become more like His. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Jesus as we behold the Lord. Jesus lived in a way that showed us the kind of relationship we’re called to have with God. Following Jesus makes fulfilling our God-intended purpose possible. 

We’re called to invite others to repent, believe in Jesus, and become His disciple. Disciples make disciples. As disciples, we’re not only lifelong learners and doers of Jesus’s words and ways, but we’re also teachers to other new disciples. Each of us has been redeemed to be a disciple who makes disciples in all nations of the earth! 

APPLICATION

Why does Jesus use us to call others to know and follow Him?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: We’ll never discover who we’re created to be by following the crowd. Following Jesus is the only way to discover our true identity and purpose. In Christ, all the gifts and talents God has given us come alive. True purpose becomes clear as we follow Jesus. 

FOR THE LEADER: As leaders, we’re doing some of the greatest work that can be done: we’re disciples of Jesus making disciples of Jesus. There is no higher call and no purpose of greater significance.