Bethel Assembly Church, Vizag | Pastor G John Sundar Kumar
Scripture Focus: Matthew 16:24
Welcome to the official blog message for VBS 2026! As believers, the core of our spiritual journey is encapsulated in one profound call: Following Jesus Christ.
To understand this calling deeply, Pastor G John Sundar Kumar guides us through three essential questions:
- WHAT does it mean to follow Jesus?
- WHY did Jesus ask us to follow Him?
- HOW should we follow Jesus?
WHAT does it mean to follow Jesus?
- Scripture Reference: John 10:27-28
- Core Definition: It means to LISTEN to the words of Jesus and OBEY Him with all our hearts.
WHY did Jesus ask us to follow Him?
There are five glorious reasons why Jesus calls us to follow Him:
- Divine Rescue: From hell and give us eternal life in heaven (John 10:28).
- Just like a caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly (John 1:42), Jesus transforms our character:
- Peter: A fearful person became a bold preacher of the Gospel.
- Matthew: A useless, rejected tax collector became a useful apostle and Gospel writer.
- John: A fiery, cruel person became the apostle of love and caring.
- As stated in Matthew 11:29, Jesus is our ultimate teacher. He teaches us:
- About His absolute greatness (Psalm 147:5).
- About our human weakness and utter dependence on Him (John 15:4).
- About prayer and communion with the Father (Matthew 6:9).
- About His wonderful plans for our life (Psalm 40:5-6).
- About being wise in this world (Psalm 19:7b).
- Guiding Hand: He leads us by holding our hand every step of the way (Psalm 73:23-24).
- Purposeful Service: He calls us to be fishers of men and uses us mightily in His ministry (Matthew 4:19).
HOW should we follow Jesus?
- Scripture Reference: Luke 9:23
- Based on this verse, following Jesus requires daily dedication through three practical steps:
- Deny Yourself: Say 'NO' to yourself and your fleshly desires when you are tempted to sin.
- Take up your cross: Be ready to suffer and stand firm for Jesus' sake (2 Timothy 3:12).
- Follow Him: Continually listen to His voice and obey His Word daily (John 10:27-28).
“Following Jesus is not a one-time event; it is a lifelong adventure of grace, transformation, and service. Let us walk closely with Him today!”