Follow Me | Doug Bender | 10.11.26

Oct 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Leaving Nets to Walk on Uncharted Water

When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, they abandoned their fishing nets—their livelihood, security, and identity—without hesitation. Following Jesus often begins with releasing what feels safe to embrace what is sacred. It’s not a one-time decision but a daily surrender, trusting that what waits ahead outweighs what’s left behind. This kind of obedience isn’t rational; it’s relational, rooted in confidence that the One who calls is worth the cost. What nets is God asking you to drop today? [37:07]

“Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people.’ They left their nets at once and followed him.” (Matthew 4:19-20, NLT)

Reflection: What “net” have you been clinging to—routine, comfort, or control—that God might be asking you to release? How would your week look different if you walked away from it today?

Day 2: Interruptions as Holy Invitations

A stranded couple, a stranger’s pickup truck, and a half-hour detour became a parable of love in action. The man from Turkey didn’t see helping Bob and Cindy as an inconvenience but as a chance to live out “the way the world should work.” Love thrives in margins we create by releasing efficiency. It’s in the unplanned stops, the disrupted schedules, that we mirror Jesus’ rhythm of attentiveness. Where is God inviting you to trade productivity for presence? [31:36]

“Then a Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.” (Luke 10:33-34, NLT)

Reflection: When have you recently dismissed a need because it felt “inefficient”? What practical step could you take this week to leave room for holy interruptions?

Day 3: Reshaping Minds, Not Just Behavior

Paul urges believers not to conform to culture but to be transformed by renewed thinking. This isn’t about swapping bad habits for good ones but letting God recalibrate our core perspective—how we view people, possessions, and purpose. A mind aligned with Christ sees strangers as image-bearers, interruptions as assignments, and generosity as worship. What thought patterns need rewiring to reflect Jesus’ priorities? [50:22]

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NLT)

Reflection: Where do you most feel cultural pressure to compromise? How might viewing that area through God’s lens change your choices?

Day 4: Just Do It (But Do It Gladly)

Paul’s instructions in Romans 12 are disarmingly practical: teach, serve, encourage, lead—use your gifts, not for applause but as an act of love. Withholding our gifts isn’t neutrality; it’s a refusal to participate in God’s work. Every unsent meal, unspoken encouragement, or unmet need is a missed chance to embody Christ. What has God equipped you to do that you’ve sidelined for convenience? [54:16]

“If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously.” (Romans 12:7-8, NLT)

Reflection: Which of your gifts have you neglected recently due to busyness or self-doubt? Who specifically could benefit from you using that gift this week?

Day 5: Love Without the Fake Smile

“Don’t just pretend to love others,” Paul insists. Authentic love isn’t a performance but a posture—one that honors others’ dignity even when it’s costly. The Turkish stranger didn’t help Bob and Cindy out of obligation but because his worldview valued people over safety. Pretend love evaporates under pressure; real love digs deeper. Where has your love become performative rather than transformative? [57:43]

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” (Romans 12:10, NLT)

Reflection: When do you find yourself “pretending” to love—through forced kindness or silent judgment? How could you shift that interaction to reflect genuine, Christ-centered affection?

Sermon Summary

Jesus’ invitation, “Follow me,” still comes to ordinary people every day. Jesus calls people not only to believe certain things about him, but to do life like he does, to live a life where love does something. Love does not stay theoretical, efficient, or safely scheduled. Love sees a need, makes room, and steps into somebody else’s mess.

The kindness shown to Bob and Cindy on the side of the road pictures the kind of love that interrupts a plan. The stranger saw vulnerable people, checked in, and then went far beyond what was convenient. Following Jesus is not efficient because efficient lives often leave no margin to see people in need, much less to help them. The question lands hard: are people too efficient with their love?

Jesus’ invitations to Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the rich young ruler carry the same reality. Jesus asks every person who follows him to leave something behind. Peter and Andrew leave nets. James and John leave a boat and their father. The rich young ruler is asked to release the thing he loves most, and he walks away sad. Following Jesus always involves a choice between holding tightly to an old life and trusting Jesus with what comes next.

Paul’s words in Romans 12 give a clear path for a life of love does. Paul calls believers to live for God, not for themselves, and to stop copying the behavior and customs of the world. God does not merely want behavior modification. God wants to change the way people think, so that they see other people, culture, and the world through his eyes. Self awareness also matters because honest people know both their beautiful stuff and their ugly stuff, and people who know their own need for grace can extend grace to the “jerks” in life.

Paul also calls Christ’s body to live out the gifts God has given. Service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, and kindness become real love when they are actually practiced. Fear, comfort, busyness, and the desire to accumulate more can turn “just do it” into “just don’t.” Jesus equips his people to love well, and his Spirit empowers them to do what they could never sustain in their own strength. Genuine love grows as people keep saying yes to Jesus, leave behind what blocks obedience, and make room for his lavish love to move through ordinary lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Love needs margin to act
Love rarely arrives at a convenient time. Efficiency can become a way of protecting time, money, and emotional energy from interruption. Jesus often meets people in the interruptions, where somebody else’s need becomes impossible to ignore. [34:04]
2. Following Jesus means leaving something
Jesus’ call is free, but it is never shallow. Every disciple eventually faces something that competes with trust in Christ: security, comfort, possessions, plans, or control. Leaving something behind is not punishment; it makes room to receive the life Jesus gives. [40:15]
3. God changes thinking before behavior
Changed behavior cannot carry the weight of discipleship when the mind still sees life through the world’s values. God transforms people by teaching them to see others as image bearers and to recognize what truly matters. A renewed mind produces a different kind of response when anger, fear, or selfishness rises. [50:22]
4. Grace toward others begins honestly
Self awareness tears down the pride that makes other people look like the only problem. Honest people bring both their strengths and their junk before God, remembering how much mercy they have received. That humility creates space for real forgiveness, patience, and love toward difficult people. [52:19]
5. Gifts become love when practiced
God gives gifts to his people so the body can be built up through real acts of service. A gift kept hidden by fear, comfort, or reluctance leaves others without needed care. Love does not wait for perfect conditions; love steps out and trusts God with what he has already equipped.

## [55:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:36] - Jesus’ Invitation to Follow
[28:41] - Receiving Love in a Crisis
[33:19] - Love Is Not Efficient
[36:27] - Three Snapshots of Follow Me
[39:56] - Leaving Something Behind
[41:00] - A Call That Changed the Plan
[47:45] - Romans 12 and Living for God
[49:18] - Do Not Copy the World
[51:16] - Honest Self Awareness
[53:10] - Use the Gifts God Gave
[57:43] - Really Love Others
[58:45] - Saying Yes to Jesus
[59:57] - Prayer for Margin and Love

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 12:1-2, 6-13
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” [47:45]

Matthew 4:18-22
“One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.” [36:27]

Matthew 19:16-22
“Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” [36:27]

Observation questions

In Matthew 4, what do Peter and Andrew leave behind when they follow Jesus? What do James and John leave behind?
In Matthew 19, what does Jesus ask the rich young ruler to do, and how does the man respond? [38:49]
In Romans 12:1–2, what contrast does Paul make between copying the world and being transformed by God?
What gifts or acts of service does Paul name in Romans 12:6–13, and what attitudes are meant to accompany them? [53:10]

Interpretation questions

Peter, Andrew, James, and John leave work, security, and family connections, while the rich young ruler cannot release his possessions. What does this show about the different things that can compete with following Jesus? [39:56]
Paul calls believers to offer their whole lives to God, not merely improve a few behaviors. Why does changed thinking need to come before lasting changed actions? [50:15]
Romans 12 connects honest self-awareness with humility and grace toward others. How can remembering one’s own need for mercy change the way a person responds to someone difficult? [52:19]
Paul describes believers as one body with different gifts. Why might failing to use a gift affect not only the individual but also the whole church family? [55:45]

Application questions

Where might life be too tightly scheduled, protected, or efficient to notice someone who needs help? What kind of margin could make room for love to act this week? [34:04]
Think about a recent interruption—a need, a difficult conversation, or an unexpected request. How did you respond? If a similar interruption happened again, what could loving well look like?
What might Jesus be asking you to leave behind in this season: comfort, control, a plan, a financial priority, fear, or something else? What makes it difficult to loosen your grip on it? [40:09]
When you are irritated, angry, or tempted to judge someone, what thought pattern usually drives that response? How might seeing that person as someone made in God’s image change your next response? [50:39]
Who is one person toward whom genuine love feels difficult right now? How can honest awareness of your own need for grace shape one specific action or conversation with that person? [52:30]
Which gift—serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, showing kindness, or another strength—might God be inviting you to practice more intentionally? What is one small, concrete way to use it this week? [55:12]
Where have fear, busyness, comfort, or the desire to hold onto resources moved you from “just do it” toward “just don’t”? What would it look like to say yes to Jesus in that area? [57:06]

Sermon Clips

48s

#GraceAndForgiveness

“Because here's the thing, when we're real about who we really are, all the good and all the bad, right? And we recognize how much we need the grace and forgiveness of Jesus, then we encounter all those other jerks in life. Those people that annoy us, those people that we think are so deep in the wrong. It is so much easier to extend grace and love, mercy and forgiveness to them because we are aware of our own junk and how much we desperately need God's grace and love and mercy and forgiveness in our own lives.”

53s

#RenewYourMind

“God, would you change my behavior? And then whatever that behavior is, God, would you help me to be more patient? God, would you help me to be more loving? God, would you help me to be less angry? And we're like praying, God, help me to change my behavior. And Paul would say, no, no, no. There's something much more deeper than that. There's something that's much more at the core of who you are. Ask God to change the way that you think So you would see others the way that he sees them as people created in his image. As you would see the world the way that he sees it. As you would see culture the way that he sees it, you would be able to react and respond in the way that he reacts, in the way that he would respond.”

37s

#FollowTheInvitation

“That's the way it's been for two thousand years. That's the way it is today. Jesus extends the invitation. Some people say yes to the invitation. Some people walk away from the invitation. But did you notice a commonality? Did you notice a piece that carried throughout all three of these invitation stories? With each and every one, the person that was being invited to follow Jesus had to leave something behind, had to leave something behind.”

32s

#LoveOverEfficiency

“But this is the thing that we know about living a life of love does. You know, It's not efficient, is it? If you have a plan, if you have a schedule, if you're trying to always keep to everything, you don't have room in your life to even see the people in need, let alone have the room to extend love does to the people that you encounter through life. And following Jesus isn't efficient.”

37s

#LoveLikeJesus

“I see the problem is that you and I were not Jesus. Loving others doesn't come naturally or always easily to us. But the more and more that we follow Jesus and follow his lead and live like he lived and loved like he loved. The more that we put this into practice, the less and less that we pretend and the more and more genuine it becomes. And we love incredibly well in his name, and we can live that life of love to us.”

40s

#LeaveItBehind

“And this call to follow Jesus, it lands differently for all of us every single day. But here's the commonality, it always involves leaving something behind. And I am not saying that that is easy. And I am not saying that that is fair. For Peter and Andrew and James and John, they had to give up the security of their occupations, then they had to walk away from living where their families lived. For the rich young ruler, he was asked to give up what he held most dear.”

42s

#SeeOthersAsGodSees

“May you give us eyes to see our culture, our world the way that you see it and respond in kind. May you remind us that we never lock eyes with someone who was not created in the image of our heavenly father and to treat them accordingly. And may we not try to do this in our own strength. May we fully embrace the gift of the Holy Spirit to equip us and to empower us to live the life that Jesus has called us to live.”

32s

#MakeRoomForGod

“So we recognize that when you extend an invitation to follow you, it involves us leaving something behind. So what's that going to be? Something different for each and every one of us, but you're going to make it clear. Something that we have to say no to so that we have more space, more room, more margin to say yes to following you.”

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