"Follow Me!"

Sunday School & Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) is dedicated to connecting people with God, with the Bible, and with each other. As people followed Jesus while he walked on earth, we seek to follow him still. But what does it mean to be a Christ-follower? It is far more than mental assent to a set of beliefs; it is a relationship!

Consider Jesus' command, "Follow me":

• Jesus told Matthew "follow me" as he was in the tax collector's booth. It was a grace-filled invitation to a new life.

• When Jesus encountered Simon and Andrew at their boat, his "follow me" was a call to a great mission.

• He preached, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me," knowing full well what sacrifice he himself was preparing to make.

• Jesus responded to a rich young man seeking heaven, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." True discipleship takes priority.

• "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." Jesus is the Good Shepherd, loving and trusted by those he leads.

The call to discipleship is not an elective in Christianity; it is a lifestyle. It is not focused primarily on rules; it is about journeying through life in step with Jesus. It is an invitation, a priority, a mission, and a trustworthy instruction.

If you would like to grow in relationship with this Jesus, the people of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries in a local church would love to walk with you on that journey. Find a Christian church -- a group of Christ-followers -- and seek him out. It's a lifelong path, and the path of a lifetime!