How Can We Follow Christ?
Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
The Bible says that we ought to follow Jesus Christ…
Before the cross, I could have thought that the Bible was telling me to:
-Stay so close to Jesus that He was always in view.
-To go wherever Jesus went…
But now, Jesus is not here; He is with God His Father.
How can we follow Him?
-Some say that to follow Christ is the same as obeying His words (like
laws).
-Others say that following Jesus means to act like Jesus (but who can
do that?).
-Still others say that when we have FAITH or confidence in Jesus, we
are following Jesus…
What does THE BIBLE say about this?
Jesus advises us to think carefully about what it will cost us to follow Him:
It costs a GREAT DEAL to be His disciple.
Luke 14:25-33 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
-Many are called, but few are chosen (Matt.20:16).
-We are called, but how can we be chosen?
You will need to respond IMMEDIATELY!!
Matthew 4:17-23 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
But many others had excuses and did not follow Jesus when He asked:
Luke 9:52-56 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Many don’t want to follow Christ because they don’t want to help:
-The poor.
-The minorities.
-The illegals.
Jesus passed them by and didn’t do anything for them!!
Luke 9:57-58 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
You may lose or leave anything that you have.
Luke 9:59-60 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
He wanted to delay following Christ out of respect for his family (he
loved his father More than Jesus).
Luke 9:61-62 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Who is in YOUR house?
-Do you want to wait until your children have grown and left the house?
-Do you want to wait for retirement?
What is involved in following Jesus?
You will go out before Jesus… (Following from in front…)
Luke 9:52-53 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
You will go to places where they don’t want Jesus. They will mistreat you and mock you.
You will preach (announce) the Kingdom of God:
Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and
preach the kingdom of God.
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Teaching…
Preaching…
Healing…
Who are those looking for Jesus?
Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
-Those that are sick.
-Those that are diseased.
-Tormented people, addicts.
-Demon-possessed people.
-Insane people.
-Paralyzed people.
Not the most popular people in town…
If you follow Jesus: What will your life be like?
1 Corinthians 4:8-16 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Wow! Is it worth it to be a disciple?
Matthew 10:40-42 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
You will be an Ambassador of God!!
Philippians 3:14
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The HIGHEST calling that God offers to man is:
To be in Christ Jesus!
Philippians 3:17-18 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
We want to be the friends of the cross of Christ.
Don’t you want to follow Jesus Christ…right now?
Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
The Bible says that we ought to follow Jesus Christ…
Before the cross, I could have thought that the Bible was telling me to:
-Stay so close to Jesus that He was always in view.
-To go wherever Jesus went…
But now, Jesus is not here; He is with God His Father.
How can we follow Him?
-Some say that to follow Christ is the same as obeying His words (like
laws).
-Others say that following Jesus means to act like Jesus (but who can
do that?).
-Still others say that when we have FAITH or confidence in Jesus, we
are following Jesus…
What does THE BIBLE say about this?
Jesus advises us to think carefully about what it will cost us to follow Him:
It costs a GREAT DEAL to be His disciple.
Luke 14:25-33 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
-Many are called, but few are chosen (Matt.20:16).
-We are called, but how can we be chosen?
You will need to respond IMMEDIATELY!!
Matthew 4:17-23 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
But many others had excuses and did not follow Jesus when He asked:
Luke 9:52-56 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Many don’t want to follow Christ because they don’t want to help:
-The poor.
-The minorities.
-The illegals.
Jesus passed them by and didn’t do anything for them!!
Luke 9:57-58 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
You may lose or leave anything that you have.
Luke 9:59-60 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
He wanted to delay following Christ out of respect for his family (he
loved his father More than Jesus).
Luke 9:61-62 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Who is in YOUR house?
-Do you want to wait until your children have grown and left the house?
-Do you want to wait for retirement?
What is involved in following Jesus?
You will go out before Jesus… (Following from in front…)
Luke 9:52-53 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
You will go to places where they don’t want Jesus. They will mistreat you and mock you.
You will preach (announce) the Kingdom of God:
Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and
preach the kingdom of God.
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Teaching…
Preaching…
Healing…
Who are those looking for Jesus?
Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
-Those that are sick.
-Those that are diseased.
-Tormented people, addicts.
-Demon-possessed people.
-Insane people.
-Paralyzed people.
Not the most popular people in town…
If you follow Jesus: What will your life be like?
1 Corinthians 4:8-16 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Wow! Is it worth it to be a disciple?
Matthew 10:40-42 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
You will be an Ambassador of God!!
Philippians 3:14
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The HIGHEST calling that God offers to man is:
To be in Christ Jesus!
Philippians 3:17-18 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
We want to be the friends of the cross of Christ.
Don’t you want to follow Jesus Christ…right now?
