What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?

(Mark 8:27-38) Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed

and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me,

he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation,

the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

(Luke 9:23) Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

> Congregation: Come and join us

> Committed: Come and grow.

> Core: Come and serve.

> Commissioned: Come and die.

From no commitment to total commitment

From consumer to contributor

From Savior to Lord

(Acts 2:41) Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

1. To follow the example set by Christ.

(1 Corinthians 11:1) Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

(1 John 2:4 TLB) Someone may say, “I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.” But if he doesn’t do what Christ tells him to, he is a liar.

2. To demonstrate my changed life

(1 Peter 3:21 TLB) In baptism we show that we have been saved from death and doom by the resurrection of Christ;

3. To declare my commitment publicly.

(Matthew 10:32-33) “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”