Do you ever get surprised by the things other people do?   Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too. John 15:20 NET   In this verse and this section of John 15, Jesus is very black and white. He can be. He's God. Fortunately for us, we're not God. We can't handle our own job, much less God's job. Jesus is giving us a statement about the people who don't follow and obey Jesus. Unfortunately, I still fall short enough that I might even be mistaken as someone who doesn't follow Jesus either.   I don't think we need to act like we know. I want to be humble and open to the evidence I see in someone's life. At the same time, I want to listen to the Holy Spirit. But fortunately, since I consider the definition of "ministry" to be "helping everyone move one notch closer to Jesus;" I don't have to act differently around anyone. Jesus calls us to love others, even those who don't love us back. He asks us to represent him in the world. The people who persecute us, or who take issue with us or with our faith are also the kinds of people who took issue with Jesus.   I read this more as an encouragement. Whatever we go through while we're loving people is something Jesus experienced and he knows what we feel.   Today, even if people let you down, love them. Even if they don't like Jesus love them. You don't have to force your methods on them. Find a way to love them asking God and trust ing him, too.   Remember, what we do because we follow Jesus matters forever.   Also, please remember we have three weeks left in our matching gift. At the time of this recording we still have over $18000 that will be matched dollar for dollar. Would you help us reach that goal? Please head over to www.FollowerOfOne.org and click the donate button to help us make it. Thanks very much.

Can you love people who don't love you back?   "If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you." John 15:19 NET   When we start following Christ, we begin to leave "the world." Jesus doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room in this process.   So what are we to do? Love people. That's about the only thing we can control. We can't save them? We can't help them see Jesus any way other than simply living our life following Jesus. We can't fix the broken in people, we can simply love them.   It seems that Jesus is saying, anyone not following him hates him. He's not wrong. When we follow him, we're called to love people, knowing they won't love us back.   How can that challenge you today? Pray for the people you will meet and ask God to show you how to love them. And remember, what we do because we follow Jesus matters, forever.

Are you an optimist or a realist?   "This I command you—to love one another. If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first." John 15:17-18 NET Bible   I'm pretty optimistic. I generally expect the best. I think Jesus is speaking a bit to me here. First he sums up what he has been saying. It's important that we realize that verse 17 is a repeat of verse 12. Repetition is for emphasis. We're commanded to love one another.   And while the context of this passage is to love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, this next verse also exposes another idea. Often when Jesus says one another, he's talking about our fellow humans, period.   We can't just love the people we want to love. God is sovereign, which means he doesn't answer to anyone. He can do whatever he wants. And he's also omnipotent. That means he has the power to do anything he wants. Based on those two ideas, the people you're around aren't an accident. God wanted you to be his witness with the people you're around today.   Today, don't expect everything to be fun and joyful. Sometimes we will not be received well. Jesus has enemies. Everyone won't agree. That's all the more reason we need to practice our 5 Daily Habits. We can pray, appreciate others, know what we believe, serve others and speak for ourselves. Some won't agree. Some may even get hostile. Let's trust God and do what he says.   Please also consider joining a community where we try to do all these things. You may be the only person you know trying to obey Jesus where you work. Why not connect with some others in our online community. Check it out at https://community.followerofone.org.

Do our actions as a Christ-follower really matter?   "You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you." John 15:16 CSB   Notice a few things in this passage. First Jesus chose them. Jesus is choosing the people and assigning the work. He chooses which branches bear fruit.   Notice second that the fruit we bear will remain. This means that what we do matters. We get to take part in Jesus' strategy for saving the world. Our actions matter and if our actions matter, our inaction matters too. This is why I think complacency and lack of urgency is a problem for us. We can get occupied with so many useless things. But we can do things that will last forever.   As a result, when we ask God for something according to his will, he will do it. The reference to the ask being according to God's will comes from the phrase "in my name."   So you can pray for every person you meet. Your prayers will be answered when they line up with the will of Jesus and you will experience joy. What you do matters. If you never pray, God still accomplishes his work. He still saves people. He will still be glorified. But you will miss out. If we all celebrate the victory, but you know you didn't have much to do with it, you are less joyful than if you scored the winning run or if you made a key play.   Today, we can remember that we can bear fruit and that fruit can remain. What we do matters. Even if you have a meaningless job you hate, you can still say or do something that can matter forever. So stand up straight. Take your position and do your job like you're doing it for God. You are. Any moment you can interact with someone and impact their eternity.   Please also remember we're a donor supported ministry. If these podcasts, or our Marketplace Mission Trips are beneficial to you, please consider paying it forward. We want to help every Christ-follower integrate their faith into their daily life. Find out more and join us at https://FollowerOfOne.org.

Do you have a lot of secrets?   "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." John 15:15 NASB   Notice how Jesus explains further the idea of us being friends. Since we're friends he's showing us the difference between being a friend and being a slave or an employee. We're part of the family, not hired help.   One of the benefits of being family is that we're "in" on what Jesus is doing. He's saving the world. He's using us. We're friends. We not just given a task, but we know the plan. We're part of the strategy.   Today, what are we doing with the knowledge we have? Do we keep our faith to ourselves? Or does our faith inform the way we live? We can live so differently, and still be great employees and friends. When we do, others will ask us what we're doing, or why are we different. And when they do, we can tell them our relationship with Jesus is what causes the difference.   We speak for ourselves, which is our 5th daily habit. When we state our faith as being a normal part of how we live, it makes a difference and it causes others to have to think differently.   Why not try to live differently. Be a blessing to others. Practice our 5 daily habits and watch Jesus put you to work. Learn more and join us at https://community.followerofone.org.

Are we friends of Jesus?   "You are My friends if you do what I command you." John 15:14   Jesus is speaking and he's calling the disciples his friends. He's telling all of us that if we obey his commands, we are his friends. What command is he talking about? Probably the one he talked about 2 verses before, that we love one another just as he loved us.   Are we friends of Jesus? If so, we do what he says? Can you ask yourself today where you can be more loving? Maybe a better question is, "How can I love this person I'm talking to or thinking about or working besides?"   What is Jesus saying? Also, listen for something that sounds like Jesus. I don't think he's going to tell you to fix the people you're praying for. He may tell you to pay for their mistake without judgment. He may tell you to find a way to give them a break. Can you give people the benefit of the doubt even if you don't agree with them?   Today, ask Jesus to to show you who he would have you befriend and love. We have a great blessing as the friends of Jesus. We also have a great opportunity.   Thank you for being a marketplace minister. Remember, everything you do because you follow Jesus matters forever. Please consider making a gift to Follower of One. We're donor supported. We have a matching gift that will expire in just a couple of weeks. Everything you give before the end of October, 2023 will be doubled. Your gift will make a huge difference helping us with this podcast and helping us mobilize Christ-followers. Thanks for considering an investment in Follower of One so we can help more grow as friends of Jesus.

What does it mean to lay down our life?   Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 ESV   The words are very clear, but if you're like me, I start looking for loopholes. The translation of the Greek to English is pretty plain. Most every translation has the same words. But what do they mean?   Laying down our life is a challenging idea. It's not every day that I get to put my life on the line for someone else. In Romans 12:1 Paul reminds us that this illustration includes everything up to dying for someone else. We're challenged to consider ourselves as living sacrifices.   Have you ever realized that you live according to your identity? We don't do things that contradict how we really see ourselves. We may say we're one thing, but our identity, or our true picture of ourselves takes over. I say I want to be healthy, but I often find excuses to exercise. We may want to get out of debt, but we keep spending. Or we say we want to memorize scripture, but we end up watching YouTube videos or listening to our favorite playlist instead.   Jesus is calling us to be the people who lay down their lives for their friends. If we love someone the way Jesus did, that's our job. The day-in-day-out hardest thing to do is serve others instead of our own agenda. Can you go out of your way for someone else? Can you change your plans? Can you give up time or money?   Will you ask the Holy Spirit today to show you how you can lay down your life in our daily situation. Maybe you're a student. What can you do for a fellow student or for a teacher simply because you follow Jesus? Or maybe you're an employee? What can you do over and above what is expected that might demonstrate your love for someone at work?   I have found that if we genuinely ask God and expect him to answer we will get an idea. Don't tell yourself (or God) "No, that's silly." It may be the very thing God wants. He's working in the life of everyone you interact with today. Your silly idea may be his strategy for including you. Don't pass up the opportunity to join God and then experience his joy.   Remember, what we do because we follow Jesus matters, forever.

In this episode of the Follower of One podcast, Mike Henry Sr. interviews Sondra Calhoun, a leadership consultant from Strata Consulting. Sondra shares her journey into the consulting world, the role of her faith, and how she helps leaders grow and develop. Today's Guest... Sondra Calhoun is a certified executive coach and organizational development consultant. In her 25 years of professional experience, she has led organizations through growth cycles, strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions, implementing new processes, and engaging employees.   Sondra is the founder of Strada Consulting, an organization that helps leaders and organizations unlock, execute, and deliver on behaviors that lead to success. In this Episode How Sondra Got Started(1:05) Sondra's career began in training and development within large organizations, offering valuable learning experiences and mentorship. Sondra pursued coaching training to address the challenge of workshop participants not translating knowledge into practical growth, eventually creating a coaching role within T-Mobile. Faith Journey(4:45): Sondra's faith journey began in childhood, witnessing her parents' transformative experience with faith, which strengthened their family. Coaching and Consulting(5:54): Sondra provides one-on-one and team coaching, helping leaders align their values with their leadership approach, emphasizing holistic integration of faith. Challenges in Leadership(7:54): Mike and Sondra acknowledge that leadership can be difficult, particularly in environments that downplay faith. Prayer in Leadership(14:12): Sondra starts her day with prayer, seeking wisdom, guidance, insights during conversations with others. Marketplace Mission Trip Experience(14:48): Sondra participated in a marketplace mission trip with Follower of One, appreciating its practical, engaging content and the importance of community and prayer support for believers in the workplace. Resources & People Mentioned www.strada-consulting.com Follow Sondra Calhoun Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Follower Of One Join us over in our Online Community, get social with us; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Listen to our podcast on your way to work and subscribe using your favorite podcast app!

How do we love one another?   This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. John 15:12 NASB   Can we really love someone we don't know? We can love a certain place or a certain kind of food. The Greeks had at least 4 words that are often translated with the word "love" in the English. This is the grandest of those words, and it means unconditional love. It means we actively choose to do what's best for the other person. It doesn't have as much to do with affection, or emotion as much as it is an active choice. We do what's best for them.   Jesus makes a point that this is a command. We don't have to guess. And he gives it to them on the last night he is a free man with his closest friends. Judas isn't around. We must perform this "others-first" love. But how?   He will repeat this command in 5 verses. In between, we have some conditional phrases that help us understand what he meant. The first is, "just as I have loved you."   So, how did Jesus love these guys. He spent a great amount of time with them. He taught them. He's going to die for them. Jesus has the greatest others-first love for us. He is the standard. Here he commands us to pass that standard along "just as" he has loved those disciples and all the disciples after them. He chose them. He invested in them. He gave his life for them. In Romans 12, Paul challenges us to be a living sacrifice. We don't have to give up our lives, we give our time and energy away.   Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to love someone extra today. If we increase just a bit every week for the rest of our lives, we still won't get close to where Jesus is, but we will experience his joy, purpose and presence filling our lives. Ask God to expand your love for the people you interact with today. It's harder to love people you're not around. The people that you interact with are the first people we get to love. What ideas come to mind? Make a note and do them. Don't let anything stop you.   Then, do it again tomorrow. Love "just" as Christ loved us. Build the habit. Either Jesus is King and we do what he says, or he's not.

Do you consider yourself a joyful person?   "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." John 15:11 NASB95   Joy is pretty cool. The more I experience it, the more I appreciate it, and the more I realize that you can't substitute anything for it. Happiness seems to be based more on what happens. Joy transcends my circumstances. Joy just seems more valuable, too. It can be addictive. It changes those things I do because I should, and turns them into what I do because I want to. When I do what Jesus wants, and I see him working in and through me, I experience a joy that I can't replicate. Others may have another method, but I don't believe that method produces this joy that Jesus is talking about here.   Jesus is speaking and said he was talking about "his" joy. This joy comes from Jesus. it's his. He wants us to have it and for it to be complete, full, to the brim. This isn't green, unripe joy. This is the full-blown, 5-alarm joy. He wants us to have all of it.   So how do we get it? By listening to "these things." Basically, what he said in John 15:1-10 is the key. When we abide in Jesus and obey his commandments our joy becomes full.   Today, take a few minutes right where you are unless you're flying or driving and ask Jesus to give you an idea for how you can abide in Jesus today. Celebrate the joy you've received. Or wait quietly on a word from him. It may seem like forever, but wait a minute or two and let him speak. He wants to be glorified through you and he will give you his joy when he does. Give him a moment or two today and then do what he says.