Discipleship Matters - Follow Me

In Discipleship Matters, Tyler Lynde continues with Follow Me by naming a reality we all feel: crisis isn’t an if but a when. The answer isn’t panic; it’s formation. Tyler frames the year with a simple conviction—sharpened Christians are best equipped for crisis—and then walks us through Jesus’ four-stage path of discipleship: come and see, follow me, be with me, go for me. He highlights the hinge, “Follow me,” where spectators become imitators who carry Jesus’ heart into everyday places that need it most. Drawing from Matthew 4:18–22, Tyler shows how Jesus’ invitation is an invitation to imitation. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” redefines success around serving. Mark 10:45 anchors the new definition of greatness: even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. Tyler asks, “How’s your serve game?” and paints a practical picture of servants who step into gaps at work, at home, and in the city—people about whom others say, “They’ll do anything for anyone.” From there he presses into character. John 14 reminds us that Jesus reveals the Father; disciples reveal Jesus. Tyler invites honest self-examination: if those you’re discipling shadowed you for a week, what would they learn to imitate—patience, integrity, repentance? He normalizes the Spirit’s refining work: over time motives, tone, and thought patterns come under grace, and repentance becomes a rhythm. Authentic character, lived with appropriate transparency, is credible evangelism in a skeptical world. Tyler keeps Jesus’ heart for the lost at the center. Luke 19 and Luke 4 frame a life moved by compassion—seeking, saving, setting free. Instead of treating outreach as a program, he calls us to notice real names in our contacts, neighbors on our street, co-workers who ask for prayer, and to move toward them. And he keeps the target clear: multiplication, not addition. With Paul’s pattern—“Imitate me as I imitate Christ,” “entrust to faithful people who will teach others also”—Tyler offers a doable rhythm: think big, start small, go deep. One person, one meal, one prayer at a time. A moving testimony ties it all together. A dad simply said, “Invite Nick to Bible study,” then kept showing up for breakfasts. God used ordinary presence to rewrite a life. Tyler closes with clear next steps: dare to be a disciple, take stock of your relationships, pray, invite in, teach to obey, and release to multiply. Watch to be equipped with courage and practical steps to follow Jesus and help someone else do the same this week. We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more! Find us on Facebook & Instagram