Building Faith Beyond Church Life

I served as a College Ministry Director for a time. Every Thursday night, I had the privilege of hosting a group of young adults in my home. Our College and Career crew gathered to hang out, laugh, drink tea, and engage in meaningful discussions centred on God’s Word. That first fall, I chose Follow Me by David Platt as our study resource.

The tagline of the book is A Call to Die. A Call to Live. After reading it myself, I knew Follow Me would challenge and equip young adults to take ownership of their faith. Many had grown up in the church, but they were at a pivotal stage. They were wrestling with what it meant to truly follow Jesus on their own.

Why Follow Me by David Platt Stood Out

Platt didn’t shy away from hard truths. His book was a direct challenge to comfortable Christianity, urging believers to move beyond simply attending church and into a fully surrendered life. Jesus’ call wasn’t about just saying a prayer. It was a call to die to self and live for Him.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” (Matthew 16:24 ESV)

The Follow Me Guided Study

After some research, I discovered that Follow Me also included a DVD teaching series and accompanying workbooks. These resources guided our discussions, keeping us anchored in Scripture. Platt’s teaching was deeply biblical, weaving in passages that sparked conversation and challenged assumptions.

If this is your first time hearing about the book, here’s a quick description from the author himself:

“You may think you are a Christian—but are you sure? Jesus’ call to follow Him is more than an invitation to pray a prayer. It is a summons to lose your life—and find new life in Him.” (www.FollowMeBook.org)

A Call to Live Differently

Jesus’ words, “Follow me,” should radically shape how we live and how we engage with the church. Following Him isn’t about convenience; it’s about surrender, obedience, and mission. As we studied Follow Me by David Platt, I prayed our group deepened in faith and moved boldly toward living it out.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 ESV)

To learn more about how this study impacts discipleship, check out David Platt, by visiting Radical.net or click Follow Me by David Platt for more details on the book.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

• How can we encourage each other to live out our faith more boldly??
• How has Jesus’ call to follow Him impacted your daily life?
• What challenges do you face in fully surrendering to Christ?