Churchgoer vs. Disciple: A Follower of Jesus Christ

In today’s episode, we dive deep into a powerful and much-needed conversation as we explore a vital question: What’s the difference between simply going to church and truly following Jesus? Attending church is a good starting point, but it doesn’t always reflect a transformed life. 

We unpack what it means to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). We’ll uncover how religious routine can easily be in play and not a genuine relationship, and why transformation—not just attendance—is the evidence of a life led by the Spirit. God is calling His people to move beyond religion into deep, personal relationship with Jesus.

Take a moment to reflect:

• Is Jesus the center of your daily decisions, or just your Sunday routine?
• Are you growing in obedience, or just gaining knowledge?
• Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you from the inside out?
• What areas of your life need to shift from routine to real relationship?

Call to Action:
It’s time to get honest with ourselves. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where you may be settling for attendance instead of transformation. This isn’t about condemnation—it’s about freedom. Freedom to follow Jesus fully, as He intended.

Tune in and take the next step toward walking boldly in your God-designed identity—not just as a churchgoer, but as a disciple.

Subscribe to Pathway to Freedom by The Life By Design wherever you listen to podcasts.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend so they can be reminded of who they are in Christ.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Welcome to Pathway to Freedom, stepping into your
God-given identity, where werediscover God's original
blueprint for our lives.
I'm your host, Verita, and herewe dive deep into faith,
identity, purpose, and practicalsteps to live victoriously in

(00:22):
Christ.
So let's get started.
I'm your host, Vee.
Before we get started, I want tolet you know this is a bonus
episode to kick off the Pathwayto Freedom podcast.
It's here to set the tone, theheart, and the foundation of

(00:45):
everything this podcast isabout.
My prayer is that it speaks toyou right where you are and
stirs something deeper in yourwalk with Jesus.
This message is the beginning ofa journey that we'll take
together, one rooted in truthidentity, and freedom in Christ.

(01:05):
Today, we're diving into animportant heart-searching
conversation.
Are you just going to church orare you truly following Jesus?
First and foremost, let me beclear.
This is not about judgment.
It's about truth, the truth thatsets us free.

(01:28):
Too many of us have mistakenchurch attendance for a
transformed life.
But Jesus did not call us tojust sit in the pews.
He called us to follow him, tolive for him, and to be his
disciples in the everyday,messy, beautiful parts of life.

(01:48):
I'll be covering four differentareas that help us understand
the difference between simplygoing to church and truly
following Jesus.
Of course, Of course, there aremany more areas we could
explore, but these four areashave stood out in my own journey
and in the lives of so manybelievers I've walked with.

(02:11):
My hope is that as you listen,your heart will be stirred, not
just to reflect, but to respond.
As we walk through thisconversation today, I'll be
sharing scriptures from theEnglish Standard Version and the
New Living Translations of theBible.
These versions bring such arichness and a clarity to God's

(02:34):
Word, and I pray that they speakdirectly to your heart just as
they do to mine.
So let's look at the differencebetween attendance and
discipleship as one of theareas, or I should say our first
area.
Let's be real.
Going to church is a greatthing.
We are called to gathertogether, worship, and learn

(02:57):
God's Word.
as it states in Hebrews chapter10 verses 24 and 25.
The community encouragement andspiritual nourishment that
happens at a church isirreplaceable.
But if Sunday morning is theonly time we engage with God, we
might be churchgoers, not Christfollowers.

(03:21):
Let me paint the picture.
A churchgoer may attendfaithfully every Sunday,
volunteer and know all thechurch lingo.
But if their life outside ofchurch, the church walls,
doesn't reflect the love, grace,truth, and obedience to Jesus,

(03:43):
there's a disconnect.
Here's some food for thought.
A churchgoer attends.
A follower of Jesus abides inhim.
A churchgoer listens.
A follower of Jesus is obedientto his word.
A churchgoer knows about Jesus.

(04:04):
A follower of Jesus knows himpersonally and has a close
relationship with him.
In Matthew 7, verse 21, Jesussays, When you look at that

(04:29):
scripture, that's deep.
Jesus is telling us that knowinghis name is not enough.
It's just simply not enough.
Following him means surrenderingour lives, taking up our cross
daily and living by faith.

(04:50):
Now let's take a look.
What does it mean to take upyour cross daily?
What does it mean?
Taking up your cross daily meanssurrendering our will to God,
obeying Him even when it getshard, and living a life
transformed by His Spirit.
Jesus never promised us an easylife.

(05:13):
He promised us an abundant life,but that life comes through
denying oneself, letting go ofcontrol, and following Him
wholeheartedly.
Here are four key ways thisplays out in everyday life.
Number one, choosing God's willover ours.

(05:33):
Example, you have an opportunityto lie to get ahead at work, but
you choose honesty and integrityinstead, trusting God to
provide.
Luke chapter 22 verse 42 says,not my will, but yours be done.
Number two, denying the flesh.

(05:56):
In other words, self-control anddiscipline.
His Here's an example.
You feel like holding a grudgebecause you believe you have
been done wrong.
And you may have.
But instead, you chooseforgiveness because Jesus
forgave you.
Luke 9, verse 23 says, Numberthree, standing firm in faith

(06:24):
during trials.
Example, life gets tough, maybea financial struggle, a loss or
health issue.
But instead of turning away fromGod, you keep trusting him,
praying and seeking hispresence.
James chapter 1 verse 22 says,Verse 44 says this, Taking up

(07:22):
your cross daily isn't aboutcarrying a burden.
We'll be right back.

(07:58):
Embracing our identity in himand being his hands and feet in
a world that desperately needshim.
It's about being a resourcebecause God is the source.
And we are resources here onthis earth, here on the time

(08:23):
side of life.
Now let's take a look at themarks of a true Christ follower.
A true follower of Jesusexhibits a transformed life.
Here are the marks of someonetruly following Christ.
And what I'm about to go over isareas that demonstrate for you

(08:49):
as you examine your own life,looking for the marks of a true
Christ follower.
Okay, a deep relationship withJesus, seeking him daily, not
just on Sundays.
John chapter 15 verses 4 through5 says this, Remain in me and I

(09:15):
will remain in you.

(09:43):
You can do nothing.
Let's look at obedience to hisword.
Living out faith throughactions, not just words.
James chapter 1 verse 22.
But don't just listen to God'sword.
You must do what it says.
Otherwise, you're only foolingyourself.

(10:06):
displaying the fruit of theSpirit.
But the Holy Spirit producesthis kind of fruit in our lives.
Love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, Goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, andself-control.

(10:29):
Galatians 5.22-23 identifies thefruit of the Spirit that is only
developed by the Holy Spirit.
Boldness in sharing the gospel.
That's Romans chapter 1, verse16.

(10:59):
A life marked by humility andrepentance.
Not perfection, but awillingness to turn from sin and
run to Jesus on a daily basis.
1 John 1, verse 9, But if weconfess our sins to him, he is

(11:19):
faithful and just to forgive us,to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all wickedness.
1 John 1, verse 9, FollowingJesus is a lifestyle, not just a
title.
It influences how we think, howwe speak, how we spend our time,

(11:41):
and how we treat others.
It shapes our goals,relationships, and decisions.
Let's look at practical ways towalk as a Christ follower.
So how do we make this shiftfrom simply being a churchgoer
to walking fully as a followerof Jesus?

(12:04):
Number one, we start with dailysurrender.
Begin each day with a simpleprayer.
Lord, not my will, but yours bedone today.
Be done today.
Get in the word, okay?
Don't just depend on Sundaysermons.
Dig into the scripture on yourown.

(12:26):
Let God's word shape you.
Live in community.
Surround yourself with otherswho are walking with Christ.
Encourage and challenge and growtogether, okay?
Encourage, challenge, and growtogether in community.
Serve intentionally.

(12:48):
Look for ways to bless others inyour family, your workplace, in
the church, in the neighborhood.
Let your life reflect Jesus'slove.
Share your faith.
Don't keep the good news toyourself.
Look for natural moments to talkabout what Jesus means to you.

(13:11):
Natural moments.
OK, keyword natural moments aswe live out this life, God's
word, his word speaks to us andwe can share it genuinely.
These daily choices build a lifeof faithfulness.
And over time, they reflect aheart that is truly following

(13:34):
Jesus.
If you're realizing, wow, I'vebeen more of a church goer than
a true follower.
Don't feel condemned.
Feel invited.
Jesus is always calling usdeeper.
The question is, will werespond?

(13:55):
Maybe you've gone to church yourwhole life, but you've never
surrendered your heart toChrist.
Or maybe you started strong inyour faith, but have drifted
into routine.
Today is the day to shift fromattending church to being the
church.
Did you hear that?
Today is the day to shift fromattending church to being the

(14:22):
church.
Before we close, I want to Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.

(14:55):
What are you saying to me today?
That's religion withoutintimacy, okay?
Or maybe you're deeply involvedat church.
You're planning events, helpingwith logistics, mentoring
others, but you can't rememberthe last time you simply sat
still in God's presence and justlistened.

(15:17):
That's busyness over connection.
You might know all the rightscriptures.
You can even debate But yourheart hasn't been open to God's
correction or presence in a longtime.
That's knowledge withoutintimacy.

(15:38):
Please understand God isinviting us into more.
So here's my challenge to youtoday.
This week, spend intentionaltime in God's presence outside
of going to church.
Read John chapter 15 and ask, amI abiding in Christ?

(16:03):
Pray, not just for things youneed, but to know him more, to
know him more.
Ask for wisdom.
Ask for understanding.
Write down areas where you'vesettled for religion over
relationship and ask God totransform them for you.

(16:25):
Ask someone you trust to walkwith you on your faith journey.
Discipleship happens incommunity.
Jesus is calling you into a realthriving daily walk with him.
Don't miss it.
Thank you for joining me todayon Pathway to Freedom.

(16:47):
If this message spoke to you,share it with someone who needs
it and don't forget to subscribeso you don't miss what's coming
next.
Until next time, walk boldly inhis design.
Until next time, walk boldly inHis design.