want to follow jesus?
Becoming a follower of Jesus is not joining a religion or checking boxes on a list; it is a life-changing journey that starts with a personal invitation. At Friendly Avenue, we look to the Bible to understand what it means to be a "disciple"—a word that simply means being a "learner", “student”, or "apprentice" of Jesus.
Why does Jesus invite us to follow Him? It is because of God’s immense love for us. Before we ever took a step toward Him, God was already pursuing us. He loves us too much to leave us in the brokenness of our own making. He knows that going our own way leads to a spiritual dead-end, so He invites us to turn back toward Him because He wants to rescue us and bring us into a vibrant, eternal relationship with Him.
Here is how that journey begins and what it looks like:
The Invitation: A Change of Direction
It all starts with a change of mind and heart. This doesn't mean to be perfect; it means realizing that our own way isn't working and making a U-turn toward the One who has always loved us. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are trusting that He is alive, that His sacrifice was the ultimate expression of God's love for us, and that His way of life is the best and only way to truly live.
The Commitment: Putting Jesus First
Jesus invites us to a life of "self-denial." This sounds intense, but it simply means letting go of the need to be the boss of our own lives. We "take up our cross" by deciding that following Jesus is more important than our own comfort or old habits. It is a radical redirection where He becomes the leader of our journey.
The Identification: Marking a New Beginning
Jesus asked those who desire to follow Him to be baptized. Here at Friendly Avenue, we believe baptism is a vital, physical turning point. It is a public way of saying, "I belong to Jesus." In baptism, we are united with Him—burying our old life and rising to a brand-new life empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The Evidence: A Life of Love
How do you know if the journey is working? Jesus said the world would recognize His followers by one primary thing: the way they love one another. This kind of love is rooted in God’s holy, righteous love that comes from above; it is not a fleshly love that generates from within ourselves. It is a supernatural gift that allows us to seek the good of others even when it is difficult.
As we apprentice under Jesus, our lives begin to show "fruit"—a supernatural overflow of kindness and genuine care. But this love has a purpose: it fuels our mission. We love others by walking alongside them, sharing the hope we’ve found, and helping them start their own journey with the Jesus. At Friendly Avenue, we believe loving like Jesus naturally leads to making disciples for Jesus and teaching them to live in obedience to His teachings.
The Core: Learning to Live Like Him
At its heart, being a disciple means leaving behind your old "manual for life" to learn from the Teacher, Jesus. We aren't just learning facts about Jesus. We are coming to know Him and learning how to Love, Learn, and Live exactly like Him.