What does it actually mean to follow Jesus, and how do we know if we are truly moving forward in our faith? These are the questions at the heart of this powerful message drawn from Matthew 10, where Jesus selects twelve disciples, grants them authority, and sends them out with a clear purpose. The shift in that passage from the word 'disciples' to 'apostles' is not accidental. It signals a transformation from learning to proclaiming, from receiving to giving. We are all somewhere on that journey, and this message challenges us to honestly assess where we stand. Are we still in the early stages, taking in the basics and finding our footing? Are we functioning followers who have made spiritual disciplines a genuine priority? Or have we grown to the place where we are actively investing in others and raising up the next generation of believers? The progression is not just a model for church leadership. It is the natural trajectory of a life surrendered to Christ.
