What It Means to Follow Jesus – On and Off the Field

Luke 9:23–24, 1 John 2:15–17, Romans 12:1–2, John 13:34–35, 2 Timothy 2:15

Every athlete knows what it means to commit. Whether you’re grinding it out in the weight room, sticking to a meal plan, or running drills until your legs give out—success takes full surrender. No halfway effort gets you to a championship.

And Jesus said the same about following Him. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23

You see, Jesus didn’t call us to be fans in the stands—He called us to be players on the field. To follow Jesus is not a once-a-week kind of thing. It’s a daily decision. A surrender. And just like a sport, it requires discipline, sacrifice, and heart.

I. Denying Yourself – Trading Your Will for God’s
“Let him deny himself…” – Luke 9:23

Athletes know what it means to deny themselves. You skip desserts. You push through pain. You wake up early when everyone else sleeps in. Why? Because there’s a goal ahead. You’re not living for comfort—you’re living for victory.

Jesus calls us to the same mindset spiritually. To follow Him, we’ve got to lay down our pride, our plans, our preferences—and say, “Lord, Your will, not mine.”

Paul echoes this: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” – Galatians 2:20

That’s the heart of following Jesus—it’s no longer about me. It’s about Him.

Think of a basketball team. If every player only cares about their own points, what happens? Chaos. But when they submit to the coach and play together, they win. In the same way, you can’t follow Jesus and still be the captain of your own soul. Deny yourself. Trust the Coach.

II. Taking Up Your Cross Daily – Embracing Sacrifice
“…take up his cross daily…” – Luke 9:23

Now this isn’t just about facing inconvenience. In Jesus’ day, the cross meant one thing—death. To follow Jesus means we die to sin, die to our old ways, die to the world’s applause.

It’s not a one-time thing. It’s daily. Every morning you say, “Lord, I belong to You today. Use me.”

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…” – Romans 12:1

God isn’t asking for one highlight reel moment. He wants every moment. Every play. Every rep. A living sacrifice—that’s someone who stays on the altar even when it’s hard.

Ever had to play through pain? Maybe your ankle was taped, your shoulder sore, but you showed up anyway. Why? Because you were committed. Following Jesus is like that. You don’t wait for it to be easy—you show up because He’s worthy.

III. Resisting the World’s Pull – Living With a New Allegiance
“Do not love the world or the things in the world…” – 1 John 2:15

The world says, “It’s all about you—your brand, your success, your image.” But God says, “It’s all about Christ.”

“And the world is passing away… but he who does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:17

As an athlete, you know seasons end. The trophy gets dusty. Records are broken. But eternity? That’s forever. Live for that.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” – Colossians 3:2

Don’t get distracted by the spotlight. Don’t chase approval. Live for the applause of heaven.

IV. Loving One Another – The Mark of a True Follower
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

A great team isn’t just made of talent—it’s made of love. Unity. Sacrifice. Humility.

That’s the kind of team Jesus wants—believers who lift each other up, serve each other, love each other like He loves us.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

This isn’t about being soft—it’s about being strong enough to care. That’s what shows the world who we really follow.

Ever seen a teammate take the blame for a mistake they didn’t make? Or help a rival off the field? That’s love. That’s what Jesus did—and what He’s calling us to do.

V. Studying God’s Word – Training for the Game of Life
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15

If you don’t know the playbook, you’ll miss the play.

The Bible is our playbook. It teaches us how to live, how to fight temptation, how to love, how to endure.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105

Get in the Word daily. Let it shape your thoughts, your actions, your goals. As seriously as you train your body, train your soul.

You can’t follow Jesus until you’ve first trusted in Him.
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

Jesus died for you—not just so you could go to heaven someday—but so you could live for Him today.

Salvation is a free gift—but following Jesus means surrender. You give Him your life, and He gives you eternal life. That’s the best trade you’ll ever make.

Athletes—you train hard, you sacrifice, you sweat. What if you gave that same intensity to following Jesus?
What if you denied yourself daily, took up your cross, and said, “Lord, I’m all in—on and off the field”?

Closing Prayer:
Father,
We thank You for the call to follow Jesus. Help us not to be fans, but true disciples. Teach us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross daily, and to follow after Christ with everything we’ve got. Transform our minds with Your Word. Fill our hearts with Your love. Help us to live for things that last. Whether we’re on the field or off, let us be known as people who love, serve, and obey You.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.

Final Word:
Remember, Jesus doesn’t just want weekend warriors. He’s looking for daily disciples. So lace up—because following Him is the most rewarding race you’ll ever run.
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“Run in such a way that you may obtain the prize.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24

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