Mark 10:32-45. Jesus was the best leader in history, but not in the top-down way leaders function in the world. He led by becoming a servant and giving his life as a ransom. He takes his disciples aside and teaches them that this is the way he wants them to lead as well.

Matthew 26:6-16. Jesus's disciples were consumers before they became true followers. This is evident in how they respond to things Jesus did that were outside the scope of their expectations of a Messiah. Ultimately they hit a fork in the road and had to decide to be a follower instead of a consumer.

Mark 8:27-38. To this point in the book of Mark, people were trying to figure out who Jesus was. After two years of following Jesus, Peter is the first to rightly call him Messiah. Then Jesus explains what he must do for them, as Messiah, and what it will cost his disciples to follow him.

John 13:34,35. On the last night that Jesus was with his followers before he was arrested, he gave them a new command. It was similar to commands he had given before, but was new because of the qualifier and promise attached to the command.

Matthew 10:16-31. Where did Jesus want to take those who would follow him? Become a better person? Go to heaven? Live a pain-free life? Not at all. He promised to take them to a place of growing confidence in the character of God that would result in a fearless life.

Luke 5:1-11. When Jesus called Peter to follow him, it was not the first time Jesus has spoken with him. Peter took baby steps of faith before he was ready to leave everything to follow Jesus. We, too, need to simply take the next step of faith that God is calling us to do.

Matthew 9:9-13. What is necessary in order to follow Jesus? Is it belief? Is it obedience? Is it theological agreement? Who Jesus invites to follow Him reveals the answer…and it’s refreshing.

James 1:1. Jesus's brother, James, was not a believer in Jesus before his death, but after his resurrection he called him his Lord and worshiped him. What produced such a change in James, and what does it mean for us today?

John 20 and 21. John records the first three times Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection. What do Peter, John, and Thomas claim to have seen? Why should we consider their eyewitness testimony credible? If true, what does it mean for us today?

Matthew 28:1-10. Mary and Mary were the first two people to witness Jesus as risen from the dead. What did they claim to see? Is there reason to believe them? If so, what does it mean for us today?