Elements City Church
Follow - week 8: Choose
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.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us...
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to your soul. May God whisper to you and help you in taking your next steps in a journey with Him. If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbFollowing 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.”
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.
-Leverage your power and your authority for those under your authority, that's what kingdom leadership (like Jesus) looks like.
- 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.
-Leverage your power and your authority for those under your authority, that's what kingdom leadership (like Jesus) looks like.
Following Jesus is about living a better life - experiencing life with God. A first step into a trusting relationship with him and then continual next steps after him...
Today we turn to the reality that we must choose. Our lives are a result of our choices. Jesus calls us to choose him - to literally trust in him and follow after him. You will choose him or you will end up choosing someone or something else...
In John chapter 6, we lean into one of Jesus' hardest teachings, but one that calls us to consider and choose. We see one question in this conversation that can be a good question for us to ponder as we count the costs of following Jesus today.
In John chapter 6, we lean into one of Jesus' hardest teachings, but one that calls us to consider and choose. We see one question in this conversation that can be a good question for us to ponder as we count the costs of following Jesus today.
many hit the "un-follow" button.
we may be tempted to hit 'un-follow' during transitions in life, during temptations in life, during tension in life and during troubles in life.
but that is where we must learn to ask the question that the Apostle Peter raises...
we may be tempted to hit 'un-follow' during transitions in life, during temptations in life, during tension in life and during troubles in life.
but that is where we must learn to ask the question that the Apostle Peter raises...
To whom shall we go?
Peter recognized something most people never see until it’s too late.
That when you choose not to follow Jesus, you are still choosing to follow something or someone else…
So Peter asked the question,
if not you, who?
If not this, what?
Who are you going to follow if you’re not going to follow him?
Do you really think there is anything so satisfying in life that you would look back and say I am so glad I quit following the Savior of the world in order to
______(fill in the blank)_______.
Peter recognized something most people never see until it’s too late.
That when you choose not to follow Jesus, you are still choosing to follow something or someone else…
So Peter asked the question,
if not you, who?
If not this, what?
Who are you going to follow if you’re not going to follow him?
Do you really think there is anything so satisfying in life that you would look back and say I am so glad I quit following the Savior of the world in order to
______(fill in the blank)_______.
*remember:
Salvation is free. It costs you nothing. It cost Jesus everything. But He was willing to pay it.
Following Christ will cost you something — but refusing to follow Christ, it could cost you everything.
To whom shall we go?
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” ~John 6:68-69
Salvation is free. It costs you nothing. It cost Jesus everything. But He was willing to pay it.
Following Christ will cost you something — but refusing to follow Christ, it could cost you everything.
To whom shall we go?
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” ~John 6:68-69
Thanks for partnering with us...
Thank you for enabling us to be the Church in our city! Your gifts help fuel the mission of Elements City Church, as well as our capacity to share His love with as many as we can. You help us bring the HOPE and LIGHT of Jesus to our city! You can give online at the link below or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveWhether 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. Join us for Good Friday service at 630pm and EASTER SUNDAY at 5pm. Make sure to invite a friend!
Check out the Elements app for upcoming events, and we look forward to gathering again next weekend.
May you have a blessed week ahead, and we look forward to seeing you next week. Join us for Good Friday service at 630pm and EASTER SUNDAY at 5pm. Make sure to invite a friend!
Check out the Elements app for upcoming events, and we look forward to gathering again next weekend.