DISCIPLESHIP 3

DISCIPLESHIP 3FOLLOWING JESUSLuke 9: 23 - 26

Introduction. Three Areas to Explore:Jesus call to discipleship.Imitating Jesus as his disciples.Losing life to gain life the ultimate paradox.

Jesus Call to Discipleship.If you don't feel an urge to follow and become like Jesus, God isnt at work in you.

When you hear the words of Jesus saying follow me, and the urge to obey rises up within you, then you can be assured that God is at work! Mark 1: 16 - 1816One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17Jesus called out to them, Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people! 18And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Key Word: FOLLOWThe proof of your faith is not simply believing in Jesus, even the devil believes in Jesus, rather it is in following Him. Q: What is your greatest battle in terms of self-denial?

Imitation.1 Corinthians 11: 1: you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. Imitating Christ should be the first goal in discipleship Would you be happy to say to a younger Christian, imitate me, that you may see Christ?

Philippians 3: 7 - 117I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For Gods way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Losing life & Gaining Life.If you want to save your life, then you will lose your life! If you are prepared to lose your life, then you will save it! This paradox is really counterintuitive to our minds, but it is one of the great teachings of Jesus.We empty ourselves, to become full of Him. We die and yet become fully alive! We exchange our old life for a new life in Christ! What is YOUR Mission?By accepting non-discipleship Christianity, many people don't have a mission, so they sit in a pew and wait. Hull.Does that describe you? What is your mission in life?What has God called you to do?Simple advice: Do it!!!!

Application.Hold your life loosely, forget yourself and all your issues, the me, me, mes of life, and follow Jesus.Let Him take you where you need to go.Allow Him to be in the driving seat of your life.Lose yourself in your mission and your calling.And just see what God can and will do through your life. Conclusion. God is NOT calling you to sit on the sidelines watching His kingdom being played out.He is inviting you to partner with Him, to be a player in His kingdom.And His promise to you: Its far, far, far more than you could ever dream of, hope or imagine.