Imagine if You Became a Christian in the First Century | The Cost of Discipleship

What does it really mean to follow Jesus? What is the true cost of discipleship? In this challenging Christian message, Gene Edwards explores the radical call of Jesus Christ and asks us to reconsider what it means to be not merely a believer, but a disciple whose entire life belongs to the Lord.

Beginning with the first Christians in Acts 2, Gene takes us back to the earliest days of the church—when believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, and a shared life together.

Then he asks us to imagine something very different from modern Christianity: What would it have meant to become a follower of Jesus in the first century?

For those early Christians, following Christ was not simply adding religion to an otherwise unchanged life. It meant entering a new kingdom, joining a new people, and recognizing Jesus Christ as Lord over every part of life.

Drawing from Acts 2 and Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, Gene presents a challenging distinction between receiving salvation and answering Christ’s deeper call to discipleship.

Jesus does not merely invite us to believe certain truths about Him. He calls us to follow Him.

This message confronts some important questions:

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

What is the cost of following Jesus?

What did Christian discipleship look like in the first-century church?

Is Jesus simply our Savior—or is He truly Lord of our lives?

What would wholehearted surrender to Christ look like today?

Gene’s message ultimately brings the listener to a deeply personal question: Am I willing to follow Jesus completely?

For Christians seeking a deeper walk with God, spiritual growth, biblical discipleship, Christian community, and a more Christ-centered life, The Gospel of Discipleship offers a powerful challenge to reconsider the meaning of following Jesus.

Scripture referenced: Acts 2:41–47; Matthew 19:21