5 Superb Things You Should Know Now You’re a Follower of Jesus

You were summoned personally. Called. Handpicked by grace..

Five Superb Things You Should Know Now You’re a Follower of Jesus

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This sounds like the beginning of a Bond film — I want to address my friend ‘M’ (they know who they are), but it’s also for you if you are a follower of Jesus…

So, you’ve said yes to Jesus. That’s an awesome start to the story! Maybe it was in a moment of quiet conviction, or maybe your life had to hit a wall before your knees did. Either way — welcome! Not to a programme, not to a vague spiritual journey, but to a Person. The Lord of Glory. And before we go any further, let’s be clear: this wasn’t your idea — even if at first glance it looks that way.

You didn’t merely choose Jesus like you’d swipe right or sign a petition on your phone. You were summoned personally. Called. Handpicked by grace before you had a clue you even needed saving. That’s the kind of God you’ve come to — the kind who, in compassion, moves first. And now, here you are, wondering what it all means. Well, let’s keep it simple and begin with five things every new believer needs to know — and a few others that might just save your soul from religious burnout.

1. Grace isn’t the front door — it’s the foundation, the frame, and the roof; the whole thing.

Let’s kill the myth early: grace is not just the start of the journey, winding you up like a kids’ toy and letting you go until you run out of kinetic energy. No, it’s not the start — it is the journey. You didn’t earn your way in, and you won’t earn your way forward. Christianity isn’t God handing you a clean slate and saying, “Now you are nice and clean, try harder this time.” That’s religion — but this is redemption.

You were spiritually kaput — flatlined (Eph. 2:1). No pulse. And yet, right in the middle of your personally crafted chaos, God made you alive — not because you cleaned up nicely, but because He’s abundantly rich in mercy. Grace didn’t just fling open the door; it’s what holds the house up when the wind howls, your strength fails, and everything is creaking.

So don’t bother trying to be impressive or prove your worth. The cross already settled that. Grace brought you in and will keep you. And grace — not your grit — will carry you home.

2. You’ve been adopted, not recruited

This is not a company or an organisation. It’s a Kingdom. And you weren’t hired — you were adopted. The Creator of galaxies now calls you His child. That’s not motivational poster stuff — that’s Romans 8. And He’s not regretting the paperwork.

He didn’t save you because He needed help running heaven or filling a plastic seat on Sunday. He saved you because He wanted you. Full stop. And unlike Instagram followers or job interviews, you don’t need to perform to stay in. You’re not an intern or an apprentice — you’re an heir.

So pause. Let that sink in. Breathe. You belong — not because of your performance but because of His promise.

3. The Spirit isn’t a vibe — He’s a Person who moved in

When you said yes to following Jesus, He sent you His Spirit. Not as an accessory. Not as background ambience. But as the very presence of God living in you. That same Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation, who raised Christ from the dead — He now dwells in your mortal body (Rom. 8:11). He’s already moved into your life — and the more you ask Him to fill you, strengthen and empower you for the life ahead, the more He’ll take up residence in your life — not just the living room, but every room or area of your life — if you let Him!

That means this life isn’t a solo mission. You’re not meant to grind out holiness like it’s a self-improvement plan with eight points to success. The Spirit leads. He convicts, empowers, comforts, equips. He stirs up gifts you didn’t know you had and reminds you that you’ve not lost the plot — you’re called. So listen. Yield. And don’t be surprised when He ruins your plans in the best kind of way for something even better.

4. You’ve joined a family — not a fan club

If you’re trying to follow Jesus without the Church, you’re trying to Netflix the Kingdom with the Wi-Fi unplugged. You can’t do it. You weren’t saved into isolation. You were grafted into a Body — in your case, that’s about making Emmanuel home (other churches are available!)

Yes, the Church is messy. Some parts are loud, some awkward, and some smell a bit funny (not ours though), but that’s family. You need them, and they need you — not because you all vote the same or dress the same, but because Jesus is in the midst of it. The local church is not optional. It’s oxygen.

Don’t just watch it happen though, M. Show up. Bring your story, your scars, your spiritual hunger. God has no plan B. The Church is His one great plan.

5. You’re not the main character (you definitely already know that) — and that’s the best news going

We live in the age of the selfie. Everybody’s curating a brand, telling their truth, becoming their best selves, showing their best cakes, steaks and holiday breaks — but the gospel is not about finding yourself — it’s about losing yourself and finding Christ.

This isn’t your story with Jesus in a supporting role. This is His story, and by some miracle, you’re in it. This time last year, you never dreamed that you would be walking with God right now — but it’s happened. He’s happened! You’re not the centre — and thank God for that, because when life unravels and your plans fall flat, it’s not the strength of your intent that matters — it’s the faithfulness of God that holds you.

You were made for glory — but not yours. His. Live like it, and you’ll find joy that is beyond vocal expression. Probably that’s what tongues are for!

BONUS: You will stumble — but you can’t fall out of His hands

Let’s not sugar-coat it. You’ll mess up. You’ll say the wrong thing, think the wrong thing, scroll too long, snap too quick, drift too far. And get annoyed in ways that will surprise you. And the accuser will be right there, whispering, “M, you’re not who you said you were.”

But — he’s a liar. You don’t stand on your own track record — you stand on Christ’s. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1). You don’t need to hide. You need to run — not from Him, but to Him.

He knew what He was getting when He chose you — if He didn’t know that, He wouldn’t be God. He’s not shocked or even surprised by your weakness. That’s where His power shows up best.

And here’s the baton I’ll pass you: you weren’t just saved from something — you were saved for something.

Grace doesn’t make spectators. It makes ambassadors. You’ve been swept up into God’s mission to redeem the world — not as a side-line prayer warrior (though, please, do pray), but as a witness. You carry the aroma or fragrance of Christ now. Your words matter. Your choices echo. Your story, scars and all, is a living sermon of mercy.

Welcome to the wonder and to a life soaked in mercy, carried by grace, empowered by the Spirit, rooted in community, and centred on the Son.

He started this — and He will finish it.

I will build my Church.

A look at what on Earth is happening.

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I’m one of a growing number that have decided to make Catalyst’s Emmanuel Church in Sheffield, home. It’s growing, thriving and full of life, so you might understand my contempt for the media that says the church is in decline and irrelevant.

It’s as if Jesus had made a Trumpian claim about the Church being great, really great — greater than anyone can imagine, free of tariff’s, saying, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18) — and then reneged on His Word! Far from it!

Jesus was not handing out sentimental encouragement. He was declaring a kingdom reality: that hell would resist what he was building — but it would absolutely, unequivocally lose. The Church would not be a fortress of mass escape, but an instrument of advance — not retreating from darkness, but confronting it, piercing it, withstanding it and pushing it back. And so it is.

Now, if that’s the kind of advancing, frontier-crossing Church Jesus is building, then we have to talk about power — because you don’t storm the gates of Hades, opposition and cynicism with nice thoughts and tidy sermons.

You do it with authority and with the power of the Spirit, with gifts of the kingdom breaking into the world through ordinary people who are filled with the extraordinary presence of God.

Ephesians 4 doesn’t leave us hanging; it tells us how Christ builds the Church — by giving apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. These are not ceremonial roles but functional gifts — channels of grace, forged to equip the whole Church for the work of ministry, building, encouraging, equipping and advancing the Church under the auspices of the Kingdom of God.

Apostles advance, go where no one has gone, taking the church with them. Prophets speak, affirm and restore hope in the heart of the church, pushing forward, urging trust and obedience, whilst evangelists present the gospel powerfully to everyone who will listen, training up the Church to do the same — accompanied by pastors and teachers who tend to wounded hearts, guiding and grounding the Church in truth and the glory of the gospel. And all of it — every word, every act — flows from the Spirit.

But (and there is one), this is where some churches stall. They embrace the structure of Ephesians 4, but forget the fire of 1 Corinthians 12. They organise, but they do not burn. They have a fireplace but no fire, believe in the gifts of the Spirit but no gifts are evident — not even the ribbons or shredded paper… This shouldn’t be!

Scripture refuses to separate the gifts of leadership from the gifts of the Spirit. They are one stream, flowing powerfully together. The same Christ who gives apostles also gives gifts of healing, working of miracles, words of knowledge, tongues and interpretation, discernment, prophecy. This is not optional for the Church — this is the Church. Spirit-filled, kingdom-powered, Christ-centred.

Look at Jesus. He didn’t just teach about the kingdom. He demonstrated it. Sight to the blind. Hearing to the deaf. The dead raised. Demons cast out. That wasn’t just to prove a point — it was to show what the rule of God looks like. When the kingdom comes near, bodies are restored, minds are set free, the impossible bows to the name of Jesus.

And then — he gives that same authority to his disciples. First the Twelve (Matt. 10), then the Seventy-Two (Luke 10), and then — through the Spirit — to the whole Church. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). Not power to be impressive. Power to be witnesses. Power to make the invisible kingdom visible.

Philip goes to Samaria and preaches Christ — but he also casts out spirits, and heals the paralysed and lame — and there was much joy in that city (Acts 8:5–8). That’s kingdom power. Not hype. Not performance. Joy. Healing. Deliverance. Real freedom. Because the Spirit of God was at work. Brilliant, isn’t it?

The gifts of the Spirit are not spiritual fireworks; fizzle — woosh — bang — done. They’re weapons of love, encouragement and empowerment in a war for people’s hearts. They don’t elevate the gifted — they liberate the oppressed. They reveal that Jesus is alive and reigning, right here, right now; standing up to the spiritual snarling XL Bully dog enemy that has only one multiple purpose; to steal, kill and destroy.

The Church cannot afford to be merely correct — it must be empowered. The world doesn’t need our polish, slickness or smoke-machines — it needs power. The Church, built by Christ, filled with His Spirit, shaped by His gifts, carries the very presence of the kingdom into the chaos of a broken world.

This is not a fringe idea — it’s central; to build the Church without the gifts of the Spirit is to build a body without breath. It may look functional, but it cannot live. The same Spirit who gives teachers also gives tongues, raises up prophets and also heals broken backs and broken hearts. We need it all.

Encouragingly, when the Church functions as it was designed — with apostles pioneering, prophets discerning, evangelists proclaiming, pastors healing, teachers grounding, and the Spirit flowing through every part of the body — then the gates of Hades and all it represents do not stand a chance.

The kingdom of God is not talk. It’s power — and every healing, every miracle, every Spirit-empowered word is a sign: The King is here and His rule is breaking in.

And the prophets? Their message is unambiguous — Jesus is building his Church, not with human might, but with resurrection power.