If you spent any time in a Baptist or non-denominational church circle around 2013, you probably remember the "Radical" craze. David Platt’s first book was everywhere. It was the manifesto for selling your house, moving to a dangerous country, and living on a bare-bones budget for the sake of the Gospel. It made a lot of people feel guilty. It made even more people feel like they weren’t "hardcore" enough for Jesus. But then came the Follow Me David Platt book, and honestly, it changed the conversation from what we do for God to who we are actually following.
It's a subtle shift.
Most people pick up this book expecting a sequel to Radical. They want more fuel for the fire of extreme living. Instead, Platt pivots. He focuses on the invitation of Jesus to "Come, follow me," and he dismantles the idea that being a Christian is just a decision you make at an altar call once and then move on with your life. He argues that if you haven't actually changed the way you live, you haven't actually followed Him.
The Core Conflict: Decisions vs. Discipleship
We have a massive problem in modern Western Christianity. We love "decisions." We track how many people raised their hands or walked down an aisle at the end of a service. Platt digs into this in the first few chapters of the Follow Me David Platt book, and it's uncomfortable. He basically says that the way we invite people to Jesus—the whole "ask Jesus into your heart" thing—is nowhere to be found in the Bible.
Think about that for a second.
We’ve built entire church growth strategies on a phrase that isn't even in the New Testament. Platt isn't just being a pedantic theologian here. He’s pointing out that when Jesus called people, he called them to die. To leave nets behind. To bury their dead later. To pick up a cross. Following Jesus isn't a superstitious prayer; it's a total surrender of your life, your career, your family, and your future.
Why the "Follow Me" Invitation is Different
When you look at the Gospels, Jesus’s invitation was never a sales pitch. It was an ultimatum. Platt highlights that following Jesus means He is now your life. He isn't a hobby. He isn't a moral compass you check on Sundays. He is the person who tells you how to spend your money and how to treat your enemies.
Most of us want a Jesus who helps us achieve our dreams. Platt argues for a Jesus who is the dream. If you're reading the Follow Me David Platt book hoping for a "five steps to a better life" guide, you’re going to be disappointed. It’s more of a "one step to a dead self" kind of read.
The Church’s Obsession with Programs
One of the most stinging parts of the book is Platt’s critique of the modern church machine. We’ve become really good at making church members, but we’re pretty terrible at making disciples. Platt defines a disciple simply: someone who follows Jesus and makes other followers of Jesus.
It shouldn't be complicated.
But we’ve made it about high-production light shows, professional worship bands, and "seeker-sensitive" messages. Platt’s point is that you don't need a multi-million dollar building to fulfill the Great Commission. In fact, sometimes the building gets in the way. He looks at the underground church in places like China or the Middle East. They don't have the "stuff," but they have the Spirit. And they're multiplying faster than we are.
🔗 Read more: Ana Carolina Reston Macan: What Really Happened to the Model Who Changed Fashion
Life Transformation Is Not Optional
I’ve talked to people who felt "beat up" by this book. I get it. Platt writes with a certain intensity that can feel overwhelming. But if you look at the actual text of the Follow Me David Platt book, he’s not saying you have to be perfect. He’s saying you have to be transformed.
- Your relationships should look different because of Jesus.
- Your bank account should reflect His priorities, not yours.
- Your schedule should have room for people who don't know Him.
If those three things haven't changed in five years, Platt asks the hard question: Are you actually a Christian? It’s a bold stance. Some critics say he leans too hard into "works-based" salvation, but Platt would argue he’s just quoting the book of James. Faith without works is dead. It’s not that the works save you; it’s that if you’re saved, the works are the natural byproduct. You can’t touch a high-voltage wire and not jump. You can't meet the Living God and stay the same.
The Myth of the "Silent" Christian
One of the biggest takeaways from the Follow Me David Platt book is the death of the "silent Christian." We love to say things like, "Preach the Gospel at all times; use words if necessary." It’s a great quote, usually attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (though he probably never said it).
Platt hates that quote.
He argues that the Gospel is news. And news has to be told. You can't just be a "nice person" and hope people figure out that you love Jesus. You have to open your mouth. This is where the book gets really practical. He talks about "investing and inviting." You invest in people's lives—you love them, you serve them—and then you invite them to see who Jesus is.
A Global Perspective on the Local Church
Platt was the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills when he wrote this, and you can tell he was wrestling with the "suburban dream." He looks at the statistics of the unreached—billions of people who have never even heard the name of Jesus. Not people who have rejected Him, but people who don't even know He exists.
This is where the Follow Me David Platt book connects back to Radical. If we are following Jesus, we must care about what He cares about. And He clearly cares about every tribe, tongue, and nation. Platt pushes the reader to stop thinking about "missions" as a trip you take once a year and start thinking about it as the reason your heart is still beating.
👉 See also: U-Haul of Kings Canyon: What to Know Before You Rent in Fresno
Whether you stay in your cubicle in Omaha or move to a village in Nepal, your mission is exactly the same: make disciples.
Dealing with the Criticism
Is the book perfect? No. Some theologians argue that Platt’s emphasis on the "radical" nature of discipleship can lead to a new kind of legalism. People can start competing to see who can be the most "sacrificial." There's also the reality that for a stay-at-home mom with three kids, "following Jesus" looks a lot more like changing diapers with a good attitude than it does trekking through the Himalayas.
Platt acknowledges this, though perhaps not as much as some would like. The "Follow Me David Platt book" is a call to the extreme because he believes the American church has drifted so far into the "comfortable" that only an extreme wake-up call will work. It’s a corrective. When you’re steering a boat that’s veering too far right, you have to yank the wheel hard to the left just to get back to the center.
How to Actually Apply This Book
Reading it is one thing. Doing it is another. If you've read it and you're feeling stuck, don't try to change everything overnight. You'll burn out in three weeks.
- Audit your time. Look at your calendar from last week. How much of it was spent on yourself, and how much was spent on others?
- Identify your "person." Who is the one person in your life who doesn't know Jesus? Start praying for them by name every single day.
- Simplify. You don't have to sell everything you own, but you should probably stop buying things you don't need to impress people you don't like.
- Find a community. You cannot follow Jesus alone. You need a local church that actually cares about discipleship, not just "putting on a show."
The Follow Me David Platt book isn't about a set of rules. It's about a person. If you lose sight of Jesus and just focus on the "radical" lifestyle, you’ve missed the entire point. The goal is Him. The reward is Him. Everything else—the sacrifice, the mission, the change—is just what happens when you finally decide to walk in His footsteps.
Honestly, it’s the most terrifying and beautiful thing you’ll ever do.
The next step is simple but heavy. Take a look at your life today. If someone followed you around for a week, would they find any evidence that you are following Jesus? If the answer is "not really," don't beat yourself up. Just start today. Pick up a Bible, look at what Jesus actually said, and stop making excuses for why those words don't apply to you. The call hasn't changed in two thousand years. It's still just two words: Follow me.
🔗 Read more: Sell My Gift Card Get Cash Instantly Online: How to Avoid Scams and Get the Best Rate
Next Steps for Readers:
- Read the Gospel of Mark in one sitting to see the "Follow Me" calls in their original context.
- Join a small group or "D-Group" specifically focused on accountability and multiplication rather than just social gathering.
- Research "unreached people groups" (UPGs) via the Joshua Project to understand the global scale of the mission Platt describes.