Welcome to Pathway to Freedom, stepping into your God-given identity, where we rediscover God's original blueprint for our lives. I'm your host, Verita, and here we dive deep into faith, identity, purpose, and practical steps to live victoriously in Christ. So let's get started. I'm your host, Vee. Before we get started, I want to let you know this is a bonus episode to kick off the Pathway to Freedom podcast. It's here to set the tone, the heart, and the foundation of everything this podcast is about. My prayer is that it speaks to you right where you are and stirs something deeper in your walk with Jesus. This message is the beginning of a journey that we'll take together, one rooted in truth identity, and freedom in Christ. Today, we're diving into an important heart-searching conversation. Are you just going to church or are you truly following Jesus? First and foremost, let me be clear. This is not about judgment. It's about truth, the truth that sets us free. Too many of us have mistaken church attendance for a transformed life. But Jesus did not call us to just sit in the pews. He called us to follow him, to live for him, and to be his disciples in the everyday, messy, beautiful parts of life. I'll be covering four different areas that help us understand the difference between simply going to church and truly following Jesus. Of course, Of course, there are many more areas we could explore, but these four areas have stood out in my own journey and in the lives of so many believers I've walked with. My hope is that as you listen, your heart will be stirred, not just to reflect, but to respond. As we walk through this conversation today, I'll be sharing scriptures from the English Standard Version and the New Living Translations of the Bible. These versions bring such a richness and a clarity to God's Word, and I pray that they speak directly to your heart just as they do to mine. So let's look at the difference between attendance and discipleship as one of the areas, or I should say our first area. Let's be real. Going to church is a great thing. We are called to gather together, worship, and learn God's Word. as it states in Hebrews chapter 10 verses 24 and 25. The community encouragement and spiritual nourishment that happens at a church is irreplaceable. But if Sunday morning is the only time we engage with God, we might be churchgoers, not Christ followers. Let me paint the picture. A churchgoer may attend faithfully every Sunday, volunteer and know all the church lingo. But if their life outside of church, the church walls, doesn't reflect the love, grace, truth, and obedience to Jesus, there's a disconnect. Here's some food for thought. A churchgoer attends. A follower of Jesus abides in him. A churchgoer listens. A follower of Jesus is obedient to his word. A churchgoer knows about Jesus. A follower of Jesus knows him personally and has a close relationship with him. In Matthew 7, verse 21, Jesus says, When you look at that scripture, that's deep. Jesus is telling us that knowing his name is not enough. It's just simply not enough. Following him means surrendering our lives, taking up our cross daily and living by faith. Now let's take a look. What does it mean to take up your cross daily? What does it mean? Taking up your cross daily means surrendering our will to God, obeying Him even when it gets hard, and living a life transformed by His Spirit. Jesus never promised us an easy life. He promised us an abundant life, but that life comes through denying oneself, letting go of control, and following Him wholeheartedly. Here are four key ways this plays out in everyday life. Number one, choosing God's will over ours. Example, you have an opportunity to lie to get ahead at work, but you choose honesty and integrity instead, trusting God to provide. Luke chapter 22 verse 42 says, not my will, but yours be done. Number two, denying the flesh. In other words, self-control and discipline. His Here's an example. You feel like holding a grudge because you believe you have been done wrong. And you may have. But instead, you choose forgiveness because Jesus forgave you. Luke 9, verse 23 says, Number three, standing firm in faith during trials. Example, life gets tough, maybe a financial struggle, a loss or health issue. But instead of turning away from God, you keep trusting him, praying and seeking his presence. James chapter 1 verse 22 says, Verse 44 says this, Taking up your cross daily isn't about carrying a burden. We'll be right back. Embracing our identity in him and being his hands and feet in a world that desperately needs him. It's about being a resource because God is the source. And we are resources here on this earth, here on the time side of life. Now let's take a look at the marks of a true Christ follower. A true follower of Jesus exhibits a transformed life. Here are the marks of someone truly following Christ. And what I'm about to go over is areas that demonstrate for you as you examine your own life, looking for the marks of a true Christ follower. Okay, a deep relationship with Jesus, seeking him daily, not just on Sundays. John chapter 15 verses 4 through 5 says this, Remain in me and I will remain in you. You can do nothing. Let's look at obedience to his word. Living out faith through actions, not just words. James chapter 1 verse 22. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you're only fooling yourself. displaying the fruit of the Spirit. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5.22-23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit that is only developed by the Holy Spirit. Boldness in sharing the gospel. That's Romans chapter 1, verse 16. A life marked by humility and repentance. Not perfection, but a willingness to turn from sin and run to Jesus on a daily basis. 1 John 1, verse 9, But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1, verse 9, Following Jesus is a lifestyle, not just a title. It influences how we think, how we speak, how we spend our time, and how we treat others. It shapes our goals, relationships, and decisions. Let's look at practical ways to walk as a Christ follower. So how do we make this shift from simply being a churchgoer to walking fully as a follower of Jesus? Number one, we start with daily surrender. Begin each day with a simple prayer. Lord, not my will, but yours be done today. Be done today. Get in the word, okay? Don't just depend on Sunday sermons. Dig into the scripture on your own. Let God's word shape you. Live in community. Surround yourself with others who are walking with Christ. Encourage and challenge and grow together, okay? Encourage, challenge, and grow together in community. Serve intentionally. Look for ways to bless others in your family, your workplace, in the church, in the neighborhood. Let your life reflect Jesus's love. Share your faith. Don't keep the good news to yourself. Look for natural moments to talk about what Jesus means to you. Natural moments. OK, keyword natural moments as we live out this life, God's word, his word speaks to us and we can share it genuinely. These daily choices build a life of faithfulness. And over time, they reflect a heart that is truly following Jesus. If you're realizing, wow, I've been more of a church goer than a true follower. Don't feel condemned. Feel invited. Jesus is always calling us deeper. The question is, will we respond? Maybe you've gone to church your whole life, but you've never surrendered your heart to Christ. Or maybe you started strong in your faith, but have drifted into routine. Today is the day to shift from attending church to being the church. Did you hear that? Today is the day to shift from attending church to being the church. Before we close, I want to Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. What are you saying to me today? That's religion without intimacy, okay? Or maybe you're deeply involved at church. You're planning events, helping with logistics, mentoring others, but you can't remember the last time you simply sat still in God's presence and just listened. That's busyness over connection. You might know all the right scriptures. You can even debate But your heart hasn't been open to God's correction or presence in a long time. That's knowledge without intimacy. Please understand God is inviting us into more. So here's my challenge to you today. This week, spend intentional time in God's presence outside of going to church. Read John chapter 15 and ask, am I abiding in Christ? Pray, not just for things you need, but to know him more, to know him more. Ask for wisdom. Ask for understanding. Write down areas where you've settled for religion over relationship and ask God to transform them for you. Ask someone you trust to walk with you on your faith journey. Discipleship happens in community. Jesus is calling you into a real thriving daily walk with him. Don't miss it. Thank you for joining me today on Pathway to Freedom. If this message spoke to you, share it with someone who needs it and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next. Until next time, walk boldly in his design. Until next time, walk boldly in His design.