How does one truly learn to follow Jesus in today’s complex world? Millions claim belief, but few know how to live it daily. In his book How to Follow Jesus: A Practical Guide for Growing Your Faith, Craig Springer offers clarity, compassion, and practical guidance for new and seasoned believers alike. As the Executive Director of Alpha USA—a faith exploration organization helping hundreds of thousands discover Christ each year—Springer writes from experience, blending biblical depth with relatable storytelling.
This blog provides an expanded, detailed look at the book’s 12 primary chapters and 3 concluding lessons, walking through how Springer helps readers grow from spiritual awareness to active discipleship. We’ll explore the book’s core themes—faith, forgiveness, community, and mission—and explain the overarching message the author wants believers to take away.
Introduction: Why This Book Matters
Many new believers feel lost after turning to faith—unsure of what it actually means to follow Jesus day by day. Springer identifies this as a major gap in modern Christianity. Churches often focus on spiritual conversion but neglect spiritual formation.
His aim, therefore, is to provide a clear, lived roadmap—simple but profound. Following Jesus isn’t about religious legalism or guilt-driven work; it’s about walking in the rhythm of God’s grace, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and growing compassion toward others.
Part I: Foundation for Following Jesus
Chapter 1: The Morning After — When the Journey Begins
Springer begins by addressing the critical moment after belief—the “morning after” spiritual awakening. Many new Christians experience excitement and clarity after accepting Jesus, only to find themselves confused shortly afterward.
He compares this stage to waking up after a celebration, unsure of what’s next. The chapter offers this reassurance: salvation is a beginning, not an endpoint. Your relationship with Jesus starts now, and growth flows from daily dependence, prayer, and openness.
Key Insight: Christianity is not about perfection; it’s about connection—the ongoing process of walking with God through every season.
Chapter 2: Your Greatest Help — The Holy Spirit
This chapter centers on the Holy Spirit as the guiding presence for every believer. Springer identifies five promises the Spirit provides: presence, peace, power, protection, and perseverance.
He walks through how Jesus Himself relied on the Spirit (John 14–16) and how believers can discern His influence today. The Spirit empowers believers not to live fearlessly alone, but to live dependently strong.
Key Lesson: Following Jesus is not possible without the Holy Spirit—your constant companion, comforter, and guide in truth.
Chapter 3: Your Greatest Skill — Loving God and Others
Drawing from Matthew 22:37-38, Springer highlights Jesus’ definition of the “greatest commandment”: to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind. True discipleship begins and ends with love.
He explores practical ways this love expresses itself—through forgiveness, compassion, patience, generosity, and truth-telling. Love is not a feeling but an action formed through intention.
Challenge: If love is the greatest skill we can learn, our success as followers of Christ depends on how deeply we reflect His love to others daily.
Chapter 4: Your Greatest Tool — The Bible
Springer moves to the role of Scripture as the believer’s chief resource. The Bible, he explains, is not merely a rulebook but a relationship tool—one through which God speaks, shapes, and encourages us.
He encourages daily meditation over mechanical reading, using methods like “SOAP” (Scripture–Observation–Application–Prayer). Through consistent reading and reflection, faith matures.
Lesson: The Word of God is the roadmap that teaches us who God is, who we are, and how to live in His story.
Chapter 5: Your Greatest Threat — Sin and Self-Reliance
Interestingly, Springer challenges the notion that sin and temptation alone are the greatest threats to faith. Instead, the real danger is self-reliance—the illusion that we can navigate spiritual life on our own strength.
Through vivid personal stories, he shows how pride and independence stray us further from God’s presence. A life of surrender, confession, and forgiveness realigns the believer with humility.
Main Idea: The key to overcoming sin is not willpower, but grace—freely received and lived out through dependence on Christ.
Part II: The Deepening of Faith
Chapter 6: Something’s Still Missing, Part I — The Lesson of the Aspen Grove
Here, Springer reflects on the Aspen grove—where thousands of trees share a single root system. It becomes a beautiful metaphor for Christian community. Individual believers, like trees, thrive only when connected to others through shared spiritual roots.
Theme: Isolation leads to spiritual withering. The church, small groups, and friendships sustain our growth. Christians must “take their masks off,” confess, and share.
Practical Application: Join authentic community where you can grow roots and bear fruit—faith grows in circles, not rows.
Chapter 7: The First Response — Forgiveness
Springer devotes this pivotal chapter to forgiveness. Drawing from vivid testimonies, he portrays forgiveness as the first, hardest, and most liberating step in spiritual maturity.
He teaches that forgiveness requires going through emotional pain rather than around it. Forgiving others frees your soul from bitterness, while receiving God’s forgiveness restores confidence in His love.
Reflection Question: Who do you need to release today so your faith can flourish?
Chapter 8: The Second Garden — Confession and Healing
Springer refers to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus submitted to the Father’s will, as a symbol of surrender. Confession mirrors this act—it is not self-condemnation but courage to face truth before grace.
He connects emotional healing with spiritual confession, reminding readers that hidden wounds perpetuate cycles of pain. Transparency before God and community are the keys to wholeness.
Key Takeaway: Confession breaks the power of shame and opens the door for freedom. Healing begins when we stop hiding.
Chapter 9: The Forgotten Step — Perseverance in Discipleship
Many believers fall into discouragement after early zeal fades. Springer calls for perseverance—a steady return to disciplines of prayer, Scripture, service, and fellowship.
He warns that distraction, fatigue, or disappointment may tempt us to drift, but endurance builds spiritual muscle. God often works slowly, shaping depth rather than speed.
Encouragement: When faith feels dry, remain faithful anyway. Transformation is a long obedience in the same direction.
Chapter 10: The Final Flaw — Pride and Comparison
The final flaw every disciple confronts is comparison. Pride can sneak in when we measure our progress against others. Springer contrasts the humility of Christ with the rivalry among disciples in the Gospels.
He teaches that humility isn’t self-devaluation but self-forgetfulness—it is finding freedom in serving without seeking credit.
Warning: Pride isolates; humility unites. True disciples ask, “How can I lift others?” rather than, “How do I look?”
Part III: Faith Lived Out in the World
Chapter 11: Something’s Still Missing, Part 2 — The Dangers of the Dead Sea
Springer uses the Dead Sea’s unique geography to explain how spiritual life dies without outflow. The Dead Sea collects water but never pours out; the same happens when we receive God’s blessings but never give or serve.
Main Idea: Faith that isn’t shared stagnates. We are made to give away what God gives us.
This chapter calls readers to generous giving, mentorship, and service in local and global communities.
Chapter 12: A Surprising Equation — Growth Through Surrender
Springer introduces a paradox: the more you surrender, the more you grow.
He unpacks how relinquishing control allows God to produce fruit we could never achieve on our own. Real spiritual maturity looks like quiet trust, not frantic striving.
Lesson: Weakness is not failure—it’s the soil of faith’s greatest fruitfulness.
Chapter 13: A Surprising Blessing — Joy in Serving Others
This chapter focuses on the joy found in serving people. Springer teaches that when you love and serve others—without agenda—joy multiplies.
Through personal stories from his ministry, he illustrates how serving the marginalized, forgiving enemies, and showing hospitality reflect the heart of Jesus.
Insight: The true reward of discipleship is not recognition but participation in God’s love for the world.
Chapter 14: A Surprising Mission — Joining God’s Work
Building on Alpha’s ethos, Springer encourages readers to embrace mission, not as forced evangelism but as everyday witness. Invite, listen, and walk alongside others in faith.
Big Picture: You don’t have to have all the answers; you just have to be available. God uses you as His message of grace.
Chapter 15: A Surprising Song — Praise Through the Process
Springer closes with the image of a song—a metaphor for worship through every season. Even when life feels dark, believers are invited to keep singing.
Worship is faith expressed as gratitude and surrender, sustaining believers when other disciplines falter. It centers us back on God’s goodness and His unfailing presence.
Core Message: Singing your “song” of gratitude turns trials into testimonies.
Epilogue: “You Got This” — A Note from Dad
In a heartfelt conclusion, Springer writes as both pastor and father, encouraging readers to see God as a loving parent whispering, “You got this.” God’s grace equips us to stumble forward, learn, and keep growing.
Every journey with Christ is imperfect but purposeful—He loves us even when we falter.
Appendix: How to Begin Following Jesus
Springer includes a practical guide for those new to faith:
- Admit your need for God.
- Believe in Jesus’ redemptive work.
- Commit through prayer and community to begin the journey.
He stresses that following Jesus is less about arrival and more about daily steps—choosing love, grace, confession, and service repeatedly.
The Core Message of Craig Springer’s Book
Craig Springer wants readers to know that following Jesus is possible, practical, and deeply personal. You don’t have to be a theologian; you simply need openness to the Spirit, commitment to community, and willingness to grow.
He dismantles religious fear and shame, showing how faith blossoms through authenticity, vulnerability, and obedience. Discipleship is not about earning love but responding to it.
Main Takeaway: God doesn’t call you to perform for Him—He invites you to walk with Him. The Christian life is not a destination but a relationship that transforms as we trust more deeply every day.
Why You Should Read How to Follow Jesus
- For new Christians: It provides a clear, non-intimidating guide to spiritual foundations.
- For seasoned believers: It reignites simplicity and passion for Jesus.
- For small groups: Discussion questions and examples spark meaningful dialogue.
Its balance of theology, storytelling, and practicality makes it accessible to anyone yearning to reconnect with real, life-giving faith.
Final Reflection: Following Jesus Daily
How to Follow Jesus invites believers into an adventure deeper than religion—one marked by love, surrender, and grace. Craig Springer reminds us that walking with Jesus is both challenging and beautiful. Every failure can become a lesson, every trial a testimony. The reward isn’t perfection—it’s presence.
To follow Jesus is to live loved, give generously, and lead others into hope.
FAQs
Q1. Who is Craig Springer?
Craig Springer is the Executive Director of Alpha USA and an influential Christian leader known for making faith practical and approachable.
Q2. What is the main theme of this book?
The book teaches how to live out your faith daily through love, prayer, humility, and service.
Q3. Is this book suitable for new believers?
Absolutely! It’s a clear, practical guide that helps anyone understand how to start and grow their walk with Jesus.
Q4. How many chapters are in the book?
The book includes 12 core chapters, plus a personal note and an appendix with practical guidance.
Q5. What makes this book unique?
Its blend of simplicity, warmth, and spiritual depth—Springer turns biblical truth into relatable life lessons.