Walking the Talk—Living Every Day With Jesus

What happens after the last lesson?

You have explored many important teachings from the Bible.

You have learned about the Creator, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. You have examined salvation, spiritual conflict, the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath, death, resurrection, judgment, prayer, baptism, community, stewardship, health, and the return of Jesus.

But knowing what the Bible teaches is not the same as living it.

Information can fill your mind without transforming your life. You can agree with truth while continuing to follow the same habits, fears, and priorities.

Jesus is inviting you into something deeper than completing lessons.

He is inviting you to walk with Him.

What does it mean to walk with Jesus?

Read Colossians 2:6–7 ↗.

The Bible says:

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

Walking describes movement, direction, and daily progress.

You do not take one step and call it a journey. In the same way, following Jesus is not limited to one prayer, one baptism, one Sabbath, or one emotional experience.

Walking with Him means learning to trust Him in everyday life:

• At home
• At work or school
• In your relationships
• In your private thoughts
• In your financial choices
• In what you watch and listen to
• In the way you treat your body
• In the way you respond when someone hurts you
• In the decisions no one else sees

Jesus wants more than a place in your schedule. He wants to guide your whole life.

Jesus does not erase your identity

Read Revelation 7:9–10 ↗.

The Bible describes the redeemed standing before the Creator from every nation, tribe, people, and language.

Their differences have not disappeared.

Jesus is not building an eternal family in which everyone becomes culturally identical. He is bringing people from every background into unity with Him.

You can be fully Native and fully committed to Jesus.

Following Him does not require you to:

• Become culturally white
• Feel ashamed of your ancestry
• Reject your family name
• Stop learning or speaking your language
• Forget the history of your people
• Pretend religious institutions never caused harm
• Copy another culture’s worship style

Native nations are not one culture. Each nation, community, and family has its own history and customs. Those differences deserve respect.

At the same time, Jesus asks for first place in every life. His Word examines every culture, including Native cultures, European cultures, religious cultures, and modern popular culture.

He does not approve everything a culture teaches. He calls every person to release beliefs and practices that conflict with Scripture.

That is not cultural erasure. It is spiritual transformation.

Jesus removes what separates us from the Creator while redeeming the gifts, abilities, relationships, and story He can use for good.

Stay connected to Jesus

Read John 15:1–5 ↗.

Jesus compared Himself to a vine and His followers to branches.

A branch does not produce fruit by straining harder. It produces fruit by remaining connected to the vine.

Jesus said:

“Without Me you can do nothing.”

You cannot build a faithful life through willpower alone. You need a living connection with Jesus.

That connection grows through:

• Reading the Bible
• Honest prayer
• Obedience
• Worship
• Sabbath rest
• Fellowship with other believers
• Service
• Dependence on the Holy Spirit

These practices do not make Jesus love you. They help you remain open to the love and power He is already offering.

Begin each day with surrender

Read Luke 9:23 ↗ and Romans 12:1–2 ↗.

Jesus said His followers must take up their cross daily.

Daily surrender means placing your plans, body, relationships, time, and choices in His hands.

You might begin the morning with a simple prayer:

“Creator, this day belongs to You. Guide my mind, words, body, and decisions. Help me follow Jesus wherever He leads.”

Some mornings you may have time for a long Bible passage. Other mornings may be rushed. Do not allow an imperfect schedule to become an excuse for no connection at all.

Begin with a few focused minutes. Protect that time and allow it to grow.

What shapes your mind first often influences the rest of your day. Before giving your full attention to notifications, messages, news, and social media, turn your attention toward the Creator.

Let the Bible guide your decisions

Read Psalm 119:105 ↗ and 2 Timothy 3:16–17 ↗.

The Bible is not only for answering religious questions. It provides principles for real life.

When making a decision, ask:

1. Does the Bible clearly address this?
2. Does this choice agree with the character of Jesus?
3. Will it strengthen or weaken my relationship with the Creator?
4. Could it harm another person?
5. Am I being led by truth, fear, pride, anger, or pressure?
6. Can I ask the Creator to bless this choice with a clear conscience?

Not every decision has a verse naming it directly. The Bible does not mention every app, career, entertainment choice, or modern relationship situation.

But its principles still apply.

Test advice from friends, leaders, podcasts, spiritual experiences, social media, and these guides by Scripture. No human teacher should replace your responsibility to know the Bible for yourself.

Ask for the Holy Spirit every day

Read Luke 11:9–13 ↗ and Galatians 5:16–25 ↗.

The Holy Spirit gives power to live differently.

Without Him, religion becomes an exhausting effort to appear good. With Him, a new character begins to grow.

The Bible calls this the fruit of the Spirit:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control

Fruit develops gradually. An apple tree does not produce mature fruit the day it is planted.

Do not become discouraged because you are still growing. Ask whether the fruit is beginning to appear.

Are you becoming more honest?

Are you learning to forgive?

Are you treating people with greater patience?

Are you becoming freer from destructive habits?

Are you more willing to obey the Creator?

Growth may be slow, but the Holy Spirit does not abandon the work He begins.

Obedience grows from love

Read John 14:15 ↗ and 1 John 5:2–3 ↗.

Jesus said:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Obedience is not a way to purchase salvation. Jesus has already paid the full price.

We obey because we trust Him.

The Ten Commandments describe love in action. They teach us to honor the Creator, reject false worship, respect His name, remember His Sabbath, honor family, protect life, remain sexually faithful, respect property, speak truth, and resist greed.

Grace does not give us permission to ignore those commands. Grace forgives our disobedience and gives us power to begin living differently.

Keep the Sabbath as a weekly anchor

Read Isaiah 58:13–14 ↗.

Every week, the seventh-day Sabbath calls you back to the Creator.

The world tells you that your value comes from productivity, income, influence, and constant availability.

The Sabbath reminds you:

“I am created.”

“I am loved.”

“I am not owned by my work.”

“I do not have to earn the Creator’s attention.”

“Jesus is preparing an eternal home for His people.”

Protect the hours from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Worship, rest, serve, enjoy healthy relationships, and remember what the Creator has done.

When the week has been difficult, let the Sabbath become a place to begin again.

Remain connected to a healthy faith community

Read Hebrews 10:23–25 ↗.

You need people who will encourage you, pray with you, answer questions, and notice when you are struggling.

A healthy congregation should place the Bible above tradition, teach the complete message of Scripture, keep the commandments of God, and demonstrate the character of Jesus.

Do not expect perfection. But do expect honesty, accountability, safety, and a willingness to grow.

You are not only joining to receive something. The Holy Spirit has given you abilities that others need.

Your experiences may help a congregation recognize harmful assumptions, understand Native concerns, and learn how to listen with greater humility.

Use your voice with wisdom. Serve without believing you must carry every burden alone.

Care for the life the Creator has entrusted to you

Read 3 John 2 ↗ and 1 Corinthians 10:31 ↗.

Your spiritual life includes the way you treat your body, time, money, and relationships.

Continue practicing the principles you have learned:

• Choose nourishing food
• Drink water regularly
• Remain physically active within your abilities
• Receive enough sleep
• Stay free from alcohol, commercial tobacco, recreational intoxicants, and other controlling substances
• Seek qualified medical and mental-health care when needed
• Return tithe faithfully
• Give willingly
• Avoid harmful debt
• Work honestly
• Maintain healthy boundaries
• Make time for family and community

These choices do not save you. They create room for clearer thinking, better service, and greater freedom.

Share Jesus without pressuring people

Read 1 Peter 3:15 ↗ and John 1:40–46 ↗.

When Andrew met Jesus, he told his brother what he had found. Philip invited Nathanael to come and see.

You do not need to win arguments or force decisions.

You can share faith by:

• Listening before speaking
• Telling what Jesus has done in your life
• Acknowledging religious wrongs honestly
• Answering questions with patience
• Admitting when you do not know something
• Inviting people to read the Bible for themselves
• Respecting their freedom to decide
• Living in a way that makes your words believable

Do not attack someone’s entire culture. If a particular belief conflicts with Scripture, discuss that belief carefully and specifically.

Do not promise that following Jesus will remove every problem. Tell the truth about both the cost and the hope.

The gospel does not need manipulation. Lift up Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to work.

What if your family does not understand?

Read Romans 12:17–21 ↗.

Some relatives may worry that following Jesus means you are rejecting them. Others may remember ways religion harmed your family or community.

Do not respond with pride or anger.

Listen. Acknowledge what is true. Explain that you are not ashamed of being Native and that Jesus is not asking you to become part of another human culture.

Let your life provide evidence.

Become more dependable, not less. Show greater patience. Honor your elders without treating any human being as spiritually infallible. Care for children. Keep your word. Help when you can.

People may reject your explanation, but they should be able to see that walking with Jesus is producing love and integrity.

What happens when you fail?

Read 1 John 2:1–2 ↗ and Proverbs 24:16 ↗.

Following Jesus does not mean you will never make another mistake.

You may speak harshly, neglect prayer, break a promise, return to a harmful behavior, or make a choice you deeply regret.

Do not hide.

Confess your sin to the Creator. Apologize to the people you harmed. Accept appropriate consequences. Ask the Holy Spirit what needs to change.

Then stand up and continue walking.

There is a difference between falling while you are following Jesus and choosing to turn away from Him.

Failure says, “I fell.”

Rebellion says, “I refuse to return.”

Jesus is your Advocate. He does not excuse sin, but He offers forgiveness and power to begin again.

Expect spiritual resistance

Read Ephesians 6:10–18 ↗.

The enemy does not want you to remain close to Jesus. Temptation, discouragement, distraction, false teaching, and spiritual attack may increase when you choose a new direction.

The Bible describes spiritual protection as armor:

• Truth
• Righteousness
• Readiness to share the gospel of peace
• Faith
• Salvation
• The Word of God
• Prayer

Do not become obsessed with evil spirits. Keep your attention on Jesus.

You do not defeat darkness by studying darkness endlessly. You stand in the authority of Jesus, reject what contradicts His Word, and fill your life with truth.

Live with the return of Jesus in view

Read Titus 2:11–14 ↗ and Revelation 22:12–14 ↗.

Jesus is coming again.

That hope changes how we live now.

Because He is coming, your choices matter.

Because He is coming, suffering will not last forever.

Because He is coming, death will not have the final word.

Because He is coming, truth is worth following even when it is unpopular.

Because He is coming, there is still time to help someone else discover hope.

Do not build your whole life around a world that is passing away. Work, learn, create, care for family, and serve your community—but keep your deepest loyalty with the Creator’s eternal kingdom.

You have a purpose among your people

Read Mark 5:18–20 ↗.

After Jesus freed a man from spiritual bondage, the man wanted to leave the area and travel with Him.

Jesus told him to return home and tell people what the Lord had done for him.

Jesus may send you back into places where your story can bring hope.

You may serve your people by:

• Strengthening families
• Listening to young people
• Honoring elders
• Helping someone enter recovery
• Teaching the Bible
• Protecting vulnerable people
• Caring for creation responsibly
• Supporting healthy community projects
• Showing that following Jesus does not require cultural shame

You are not the savior of your community. Jesus is.

Your role is to live faithfully, serve humbly, and point people toward Him.

My Response

Checking a box does not save you. These statements simply help you identify your next step.

• I accept Jesus as my Creator, Savior, and Lord.
• I choose to trust the Bible as the final guide for my faith and life.
• I want the Holy Spirit to transform my character.
• I choose to honor all Ten Commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath.
• I want to prepare for baptism by immersion.
• I want to become part of a faithful, healthy congregation.
• I choose to turn away from a harmful practice or spiritual loyalty that conflicts with Scripture.
• I want help with addiction, health, grief, or another personal struggle.
• I will begin spending time with Jesus each day.
• I want to share Jesus with others through respect, honesty, and love.
• I still have questions and would like a patient conversation before making a decision.

You do not need to select every response today. Take the next honest step the Creator is placing before you.

Think About It

1. Which teaching in these lessons has affected you most deeply?
2. What change do you believe the Creator is asking you to make?
3. What could interfere with your daily connection to Jesus?
4. How can you remain Native while placing Jesus above every other spiritual loyalty?
5. Who could encourage you as you continue growing?
6. What part of your story might give hope to someone else?

Try This During the Coming Week

Day 1

Read Colossians 2:6–10 ↗.

Write down what it means for you to walk in Jesus.

Day 2

Read John 15:1–11 ↗.

Choose a regular time and place for prayer and Bible reading.

Day 3

Read Galatians 5:16–25 ↗.

Identify one fruit of the Spirit you most need Him to develop.

Day 4

Read Ephesians 6:10–18 ↗.

Pray through each part of the Creator’s spiritual armor.

Day 5

Read Hebrews 10:23–25 ↗.

Contact a faithful congregation or trusted believer who can support your next step.

Day 6

Read Isaiah 58:13–14 ↗.

Prepare to receive the Sabbath as protected time with the Creator.

Day 7

Read Revelation 21:1–7 ↗ and Revelation 22:12–17 ↗.

Think about the future Jesus is preparing. Then identify one person with whom you can respectfully share this hope.

A Prayer You Can Pray

Creator, thank You for guiding me through Your Word. Thank You for showing me who You are and how deeply You value my life.

Jesus, I accept You as my Creator, Savior, and Lord. Forgive my sins and lead every part of my life.

I do not want to know truth without living it. Help me walk with You at home, at work, in my relationships, in my private choices, and in the way I treat other people.

Holy Spirit, live in me. Produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Give me courage to obey when truth is unpopular. When I fail, help me confess, rise, and continue.

Teach me to honor my family, nation, history, and identity while placing Jesus above every spiritual loyalty. Remove what conflicts with Your Word, and redeem everything in my life that can be used for good.

Lead me to a healthy community of believers. Show me how to serve my people without pride or pressure.

Keep me faithful until Jesus returns. Amen.

Remember This

Completing these lessons is not the end of your journey.

Jesus invites you to walk with Him every day.

You are saved by grace, transformed by the Holy Spirit, guided by the Bible, and called to live in loving obedience.

You can follow Jesus without becoming culturally white or feeling ashamed of being Native. The true gospel does not erase your identity. It places every part of your life under the loving leadership of your Creator.

You will not walk perfectly, but you do not have to walk alone.

Stay connected to Jesus.

When you fall, return.

When you are confused, open the Bible.

When you are afraid, pray.

When you are tired, receive the Sabbath.

When someone needs hope, serve with love.

Keep walking until the day you see Jesus face to face.

The Journey Continues

Thank you for trusting Indigenous Podcast enough to explore these lessons.

You do not owe us a quick decision. Keep asking questions. Keep examining the Bible. Keep seeking the Creator with an honest heart.

Jesus made you this promise:

“The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”

John 6:37 ↗

Come to Him.

Walk with Him.

And do not turn back.

You Don’t Have to Continue Alone

If these lessons have awakened new questions—or a desire to know the Creator more deeply—we would be glad to connect with you.

You are invited to join an accepting, open-minded group of people who are also getting to know the Creator for themselves. Some are just beginning. Others have followed Jesus for years. No one is expected to have everything figured out.

Being open-minded does not mean truth is unimportant. It means honest questions are welcome, the Bible is examined carefully, and every person is treated with dignity.

You can listen, learn, share your thoughts, and move at your own pace. You do not have to become someone else, hide your Native identity, or pretend to agree with everything before joining the conversation.

When you are ready, click below to contact us:

Join the Conversation ↗

Come with your questions. Come as you are. Let’s keep getting to know the Creator together.