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.”
Follow Series Recap:
- 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.
- We are to wear this Jesus-like love as our distinguishing marker.
- We must count the costs of whomever it is we are following: there is cost to following our own choices, and there is a cost to following Jesus. Following Jesus is costly, yet it is worth it!
-Live with this willful desire: God I want what you want more than I want what I want.
Following Jesus is about living a better life - having life with God. A first step into a trusting relationship with him and continual next steps after him...
Mark 10:32 NIV
Mark 10:33-35 NIV
Disconnect happens.
Food fight erupts.
Jesus calls them together and lays out what kingdom leadership is to be all about...
Mark 10:42-44 NIV
If you are going to be a Jesus follower which means you don’t just follow Jesus on Sunday.
If you are going to be a Jesus follower in all capacities, this is part of our responsibility. It’s learning to lead like Jesus where instead of lording over, we learn to serve.
What Jesus is teaching is not being passive and that we shouldn’t be productive.
He is simply teaching that whenever we have authority, we are to leverage our authority for the sake of those under our authority - whether it is at home, in the marketplace, in the community, on our teams…
HOW can we do this?
It may be as simple as asking our family, our friends, our employees, our coworkers, our neighbors… Ask 1 QUESTION: What can I do to help?
The other thing that you can do — Look for opportunities to do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.
Now, at the end of this little conversation with Jesus and his apostles, Mark quotes Jesus — listen to how this conversation ends. Basically Mark takes all of our excuses away.
Mark 10:45 (NIV)
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
*we remember where they were heading: Jerusalem. Where Jesus will do, what he's calling them to do... That's why we even remember EASTER.
Live to leverage your life FOR others.
*you can also care for yourself in healthy ways: Me moments of recharge is vastly different than an “it’s all about me” lifestyle that our culture promotes and pushes.
Whether you joined us on-site or online, thanks for being with us tonight!
May you have a blessed week ahead, and we look forward to seeing you next week. Make sure to invite a friend!
Check out the Elements app for upcoming events, and we look forward to gathering again next weekend. 2nd Saturday is next weekend - you can see the app for full details to help pack food boxes with us Friday and distribute them next Saturday at church.