Every generation has to ask this question for itself: What does it mean to follow Jesus today?
Back in the first century, following Him often meant losing family ties, being pushed out of the synagogue, or even facing persecution under Rome (Acts 5:41; 2 Tim. 3:12). In our century, the struggles look different but feel just as real. We live in a world shaped by globalization, secularism, city life, and digital culture. These forces change how we experience faith and what discipleship looks like.
George Knight (1998), in The New Testament Church and Urban Ministry, reminds us that the early church was born in cities—Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus. Paul started churches in these urban centers because the gospel was never meant to hide away. It was meant to shine in the middle of real life. That truth still holds today.
Following Jesus: The Heart of It
Jesus Himself laid out what discipleship means:
- Denying ourselves (Luke 9:23).
- Staying rooted in His word (John 8:31).
- Being known by love (John 13:35).
- Living on mission to share the good news (Matt. 28:19–20).
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1995), in The Cost of Discipleship, put it bluntly: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” Following Jesus has never been about comfort—it’s about surrender.
Living for Jesus in the City
Cities are where culture is made and shared. Knight points out that Paul knew this, which is why he focused on cities in Acts. For us today, following Jesus in urban spaces means:
- Speaking people’s language (Acts 17:22–23) – connecting in ways that make sense to their world.
- Being present – building friendships at school, work, or in our neighborhoods.
- Caring for the whole person (Matt. 9:35) – bodies, minds, and souls.
John Stott (1999), in Issues Facing Christians Today, reminds us that faith isn’t just private. Discipleship has to confront injustice, poverty, and human dignity. In other words, following Jesus means caring about what happens in our streets, not just what happens in our churches.
Following Jesus Online
The 21st century is digital. Screens, apps, and platforms shape how we live. So discipleship in this space means:
- Discernment – guarding our hearts from distraction and lies (Prov. 4:23).
- Witness – using our digital voices to share truth and hope.
- Real-life connection – remembering that church is more than Zoom calls; it’s people gathered face-to-face (Heb. 10:24–25).
Dallas Willard (2006), in The Great Omission, urges us to see discipleship as apprenticeship to Jesus. In a digital world, that means resisting shallow scrolling and choosing deep habits—prayer, Scripture, and service.
Faith in a Secular Age
Philosopher Charles Taylor (2007), in A Secular Age, explains how faith today is just one option among many. That makes discipleship both harder and more important. It looks like this:
- Gentle conviction (1 Pet. 3:15) – holding on to truth with kindness.
- Deep roots – building steady rhythms of prayer, Scripture, and community.
- Visible hope – living in a way that makes people ask why (2 Cor. 3:2–3).
Miroslav Volf (2011), in A Public Faith, says Christians shouldn’t hide from culture or try to control it. Instead, we live out a “soft difference”—showing the beauty of Christ in ordinary life.
A Different Kind of Community
Stanley Hauerwas (2014) calls the church “a colony of heaven.” Discipleship isn’t just about me and Jesus; it’s about us following Him together. In today’s fractured, individualistic culture, that means:
- Practicing generosity instead of consumerism (Acts 2:44–45).
- Speaking truth in a world of “my truth” (Eph. 4:25).
- Choosing reconciliation in divided times (Gal. 3:28).
Knight points out that the early church didn’t change the world by grabbing political power. They did it through service, hospitality, and lives that stood out.
The Cost—and the Joy
Following Jesus still comes with a cost. It might mean being misunderstood, excluded, or giving up comfort. But His promise is steady: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
Bonhoeffer warns us against “cheap grace”—faith that costs nothing. But voices like Willard and Stott remind us that discipleship also brings freedom, joy, and purpose in a restless world.
Conclusion
To follow Jesus today is to respond to the same invitation He gave by the Sea of Galilee: “Follow Me” (Matt. 4:19). But in our time, this call takes shape in the middle of urban life, digital culture, and a secular world.
Knight shows us the mission is engagement, not retreat. Willard calls us into apprenticeship. Bonhoeffer shows us the cost. Stott pushes us toward holistic faith. Volf and Hauerwas remind us that discipleship is public and communal.
The form changes, but the heart is the same: to know Christ, to make Him known, and to live as citizens of His kingdom until He returns.
References
Bonhoeffer, D. (1995). The cost of discipleship. Touchstone. (Original work published 1937)
Hauerwas, S., & Willimon, W. H. (2014). Resident aliens: Life in the Christian colony. Abingdon Press. (Original work published 1989)
Knight, G. R. (1998). The New Testament church and urban ministry: Acts 6:8–15:35. Andrews University Press.
Stott, J. (1999). Issues facing Christians today (3rd ed.). Zondervan.
Taylor, C. (2007). A secular age. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Volf, M. (2011). A public faith: How followers of Christ should serve the common good. Brazos Press.
Willard, D. (2006). The great omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s essential teachings on discipleship. HarperOne.
