Did you know 85% of Christian leaders don't finish well? And it's not just a problem for spiritual leaders. I am amazed at how many ordinary Christians consistently struggle, fall, or just plain give up. They don't "finish well." Something is wrong!

After 45 years of discipling new believers and equipping spiritual leaders, I am convinced the reason for this tragedy is that godly foundations were not laid well in people's lives. Jesus said He would build His church. Paul said he was a wise master builder. Godly foundations don't happen by accident - they are built into people's lives intentionally through personal discipleship. It is how Jesus modeled building His church.

Life on life investment in others in the Jesus way of caring for His people. It makes sense, doesn't it? God is a God of relationship. His way of building those much needed foundations in our lives is through personal, discipling relationships.

There is no other way this will happen! That is the subject matter of my new book, FOLLOW (titled Following Jesus in South Africa).

Below is an outline of the what I consider to be essential, godly foundations for our lives, and the lives of those we influence (like our children, our close friends, and those we are seeking to influence for Jesus). I break them into three simple, yet profound, kingdom truths taught by Jesus: to love Jesus passionately, to love those who don't know Jesus with courage and respect, and to love others who follow Him with compassion and personal investment.

Love Jesus Passionately

• One – Repenting of Religion
• Two – Grace Based Obedience
• Three – Lordship of Christ
• Four – Repentance as a Way of Life
• Five – Humility vs. Pride
• Six – Faithfulness in Three Great Matters
• Seven – Prayer

Love Those Who Don't Know Jesus With Courage and Respect

• Eight – Practicing Jesus
• Nine – Sharing Jesus
• Ten – Suffering With Jesus

Love Those Who Know Jesus With Compassion and Personal Investment

• Eleven – Being Actively Part of a Committed Community (Simple Church)
• Twelve - Build God's Kingdom in Unity
• Thirteen – Gut Level Transparency
• Fourteen - Reproducing Your Life in Others

I have taken this list of essential foundations from my new book, FOLLOW (Following Jesus in South Africa). Whether you read my book, or find another way, I urge you to give serious attention to the foundations laid in your life, and that you are laying in other people's lives. With Christ, it is never too late to rebuild what has been laid improperly, strengthen what is right, and lay new foundations in the lives of those we love and care about. Even if we are not intentional about how we build our relationship with God, we are all building on something.

Yours,

Floyd McClung