It has become fashionable in our Americanized version of Christianity to say things like “I want to be like Jesus.” Todd Agnew recently challenged the understanding of the phrase with a song. I particularly noted this line: “But my Jesus. . . would not be welcomed in my church. The blood and dirt on his feet would stain the carpet.” We tend to think being like Jesus means being cool, or hip, in a religious sort of way, or most often, we think of being like Jesus because it gives us a certain feeling of security.
I believe the Bible clearly teaches eternal security. I am not so convinced it teaches temporal security for the follower of Christ. I also think we confuse the two. But more on that later. I want to look at the simple concept of being like Jesus as a leader in regards to a statement made early in His ministry in John 1:35-39. Jesus asked two curious disciples of John following Him, “What do you seek?” “Rabbi, where are you staying?” They replied. Jesus’ answer is the point: “Come and see.”
Jesus invited people to hang out with Him. Not unlike his Lord, Paul did the same thing on his missionary journeys, taking people with him.
When I was in seminary I learned a lot of things. It seems fashionable for ministers today to be down on seminaries; after all, we have developed a culture of saying three or four negative things for every nice thing (resembling more the noise of the 24 hour news networks than men of God), so why should seminaries be left out? So I will resist the urge to join the movement of whining like a mule and choose to recall a very significant moment in my training. You see, I look back on my time with great memories, and with great joy, and with gratitude for all I learned. One of the most profound things I ever heard came from a pastor who spoke in a class. He simply commented about how he had learned the importance of taking people with him when he traveled. Now that does not sound too profound, does it?
That statement changed my philosophy of ministry. I became a pastor soon following the day I heard that statement. I made a commitment to take laypeople with me every time I went just about anywhere, unless I wanted to take only Michelle with me.
It did take a little while (I am from Alabama and I am slow) to figure out the importance of this as a professor. But learn it I did. This fall has been amazing. Over the years I have taken hundreds of students with me on trips. This fall I have taken many students on trips with me, including:
A couple of students to Statesville all the way back in August
Four students to Rocky Mount on a Sunday
More recently:
Walter went with me to a local church in Raleigh
Seven–Lauren, Alie, Kyle, Ron, Shonica, Tyler and Rachel, went with me to Hilton Head (see their picture)

Five–Vanessa, Vlad, Steve and Beth, and Skip joined me when I spoke at East Carolina U
Not to mention Barry and Brett joining Josh and me for the debacle known as the UNC football game.
Today Barry will accompany me to Liberty U where I will speak in five classes over two days.
I am certain I left some out, but my point is this: so far this fall I have been able to spend quality, rich time with almost two dozen of the finest students on earth. Away from class. Talking about all kind of things. It cost me no time away from my family, it added excitement and joy to my traveling, and all along the way I got to teach (I am always teaching). Before the semester is over I will have taken over 30 students with me on various outings. That doesn’t include the weekly group I meet with or the many times on campus I visit with students.
My point is a simple one. I want to be like Jesus. And Jesus liked to hang out with people. His approach to discipling was less about a class with a curriculum and more about teaching in the midst of ministry. I want to be like that. If teaching were merely being a talking head imparting facts to memorize, I would find something else to do. The classroom is a part of teaching for me. But teaching must be more. In fact, tonight at Liberty I will meet with a group of students I know for coffee and fellowship. I guess I have the spiritual gift of hanging out. If so I got it from my Lord.