From Believer to Disciple - Ft. Wayne Service

This powerful message challenges us to move beyond mere belief into genuine discipleship. Drawing from Hebrews 12, we're reminded that we must strip off every weight that slows us down and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. But here's the sobering truth: Jesus didn't command His followers to simply make converts or believers—He commanded them to make disciples. In John 8, we encounter people who believed in Jesus, yet He questioned whether they were truly His disciples, warning them that discipleship requires remaining faithful to His teachings. The distinction is crucial: we can believe facts about Jesus without surrendering our lives to Him as Lord. True discipleship means transformation, not just information. It means our hearts are changed, not just our minds informed. The early church exploded because they were making disciples who made more disciples, not just filling seats with converts. We're called to examine ourselves honestly—are we simply going through religious motions, or are we genuinely following Jesus? The evidence isn't in our church attendance or our baptism certificate; it's in the fruit of our lives. This year, we're invited into a focused journey of discipleship that will equip us to not only be disciples ourselves but to confidently disciple others. It's time to move from the comfortable position of being a believer who simply shows up, to becoming a disciple who is transformed and transforms others.