Follow Me | Chris Walls | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Follow Me

Covenant Church • Apr 19, 2026 • 38 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message from John 21, Pastor Chris Walls unpacks Jesus's simple yet profound command to 'Follow me.' When we get caught up in comparing our spiritual journey, gifts, or life circumstances to others, we lose our focus and get pulled away from our own God-given calling. By keeping our eyes fixed on Christ, taking personal ownership of our faith, and trusting His unique plan for our lives, we can faithfully run the race set before us.

Themes

Following JesusOvercoming ComparisonTrusting God's PlanPersonal Calling and PurposeSpiritual FocusTrue Worship

Pastor's Points

1.

Stay focused: Don't fall into the comparison trap.

2.

Understand that we must trust God's plan for you.

3.

Embrace what God has for you: You follow Me.

Key Points

1.
Stay focused: Don't fall into the comparison trap.
2.
Understand that we must trust God's plan for you.
3.
Embrace what God has for you: You follow Me.
4.
The core task of every follower of Jesus is simple: to follow Him rather than getting distracted by what others are doing.
5.
Comparison is rooted in covetousness, pride, and insecurity, pulling us away from our own God-given purpose and obedience.
6.
Parents must help their children own their personal faith so it sustains them when they step into adulthood.
7.
God's will for your life is personal, purposeful, and perfect; He has uniquely gifted you to serve His kingdom in your distinct role.
8.
True worship isn't just singing or hearing a message—it is being transformed and changed in how you think and live when you walk away.

Sermon Moments

“The high school weightlifting illustration: taking your eyes off the focus spot on the wall causes you to buckle under the weight.”

“Shifting terminology from 'Christian' to 'follower of Jesus' to emphasize daily relational obedience.”

“Peter being fully restored by Jesus at breakfast on the shore, only to immediately look at John and ask, 'Lord, what about this man?'”

“The historical quote from Pilgrim's Progress: 'Every tub must rest on its own bottom'—each person must own their faith.”

“A parent's call to transition a child's faith from being 'their parents' faith' to being their own personal relationship with Jesus.”

“Defining true worship: walking into a place and being genuinely transformed and changed by the presence and word of God.”

“Coach Sam Cio's football speech: if everyone simply does their assigned job faithfully, the scoreboard takes care of itself.”

This Week

Identify and eliminate the main distractions currently pulling your focus away from Jesus.

Refuse to measure your life, blessings, or spiritual progress against someone else's journey.

If you are a parent, take proactive steps to help your children take personal ownership of their faith in Christ.

Commit to spending daily personal time in God's Word and prayer to keep your mind transformed.

Identify your God-given gifts and actively use them to serve within your local church and family.

Approach weekend worship expecting God to change your heart and mind rather than just going through the routine.

Do your daily work—whether teaching, engineering, laboring, or singing—heartily to the glory of God without worrying about worldly recognition.

Remember This

Stop comparing your journey to others and simply keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, faithfully running the unique race He has set before you.

A Challenge for You

Don't get distracted like Peter. Whatever God has laid out before you, do it to His glory, follow Jesus, and let the scoreboard take care of itself.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.