Elements City Church
Jesus’s invitation is open to each and every person. It’s a simple, two-word invitation: "follow me." Follow Him -- not in an observe-from-a-distance kind of way, or as a detached Twitter follower follows one of their favs from afar. But as one who begins taking baby steps in His direction - steps with Him leading the way, sharing His life and thoughts on life. Baby steps into a relational connection that involves one step after another. Regardless of what you believe, regardless of how you might behave, Jesus simply invites you to FOLLOW.
Following Jesus is meant to be much more engaging than simply following steps to a program. It’s highly relational in nature. An invitation to something different than manufactured and monitored religious rituals, it’s an experience with God Himself.
It will challenge you at times.
It will comfort you at times.
It will enrich you, enlighten you, stretch you,
and continually call you forward.
Following Jesus is about discipleship.
"A disciple is someone who knows and follows Jesus, is becoming like Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus.”
Recap: Follow Jesus...
Being a sinner does not disqualify you, it’s actually a prerequisite.
Following Jesus, is an ALL SKATE - it’s for EVERYONE
We're each invited to step forward in following Jesus
Jesus is growing in us a faith in God that overwhelms our fear.
An overwhelming faith that trusts and follows after Jesus is the kind of faith that frees us to love other people.
John 13:34-35 NIV
Today we're going to answer another question - what should Jesus followers wear? Or you might ask it this way: What should be the predominant thing that marks and distinguishes a follower of Jesus?
You are too one another the way I have one anothered you - Jesus is saying.
(John 13) - Jesus says okay, let me just be really clear, the thing that is going to distinguish you, the thing that should be a stamp on your lifestyle is the way you love other people and I’m not asking you to love them the way they deserve to be loved, I’m asking you to love them the way that I have loved you.
When we value religious rituals over relationships - we can fall into the trap, because checking things off a list is easier than loving people that are difficult to love. Don't value disciplines over discipleship - we're called to Love God AND Love People (*the greatest commandment - Jesus hinged them together - see Matthew 22:37-40)
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
The Apostle Paul took this idea of loving each other and he made it specific and he gave us words and he gave us adjectives and he gave us nouns and he said these are the kinds of things that should characterize and mark a “Jesus follower”.
Here’s what love looks like when you wear it well!
Jesus told us -- I want people to identify you as my follower, not because of what you do on Sundays. I want people to identify you as my follower by the way you treat other people. BY THE WAY YOU LOVE…
Whether you joined us on-site or online, thanks for being with us tonight!
May you have a blessed week ahead!
Check out the app for upcoming events, and we look forward to gathering again next weekend.