The Gospel Project: The Savior is followed.

Intro Option 1: Best Impression

The Point: Imitating Jesus

The Big Question: What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Following someone on social media and following Jesus are not the same thing.

The word Jesus uses for “follow” means to come behind someone who has taken the lead in your life.

To follow Jesus is to accompany Him, live with Him, learn from Him, serve with Him, and become like Him.

Following Jesus is a 24/7, leave-it-all-behind, every-moment-devoted kind of commitment.

Following Jesus is not a trend we enjoy for a month but a transformational pursuit of a lifetime.

Main Point: Jesus invites followers into a relationship with Him

Jesus invites people to follow Him

John 1:35–42 ESV

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Living with the rabbi

Selective

Jesus’ call to all (Luke 9:23)

Ask: Why is Jesus’s call to be His disciple extended to all people and not just a select few?

He desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)

Jesus’ immediate response to Andrew

Simon Peter

Jesus knew who Peter would become

Ask: Why can Jesus see potential in us that no one else can see?

God sees us according to our potential (e.g. Gideon)

Main Point: Jesus invites followers into a relationship with Him

Jesus invites people to follow Him

Jesus’s followers invite others to follow Him

John 1:43–49 (ESV)

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

The call to all

Not everyone knows

So people invite

Ask: How can you follow Philip’s example with Nathanael?

Share your faith

Invite to youth group(v. 46)

“Evangelism usually is advanced best by genuine, concerned, loving proclamation and invitation.”

What Nathanael didn’t know

Messiah revealed

Messiah visitation opportunity

The Messiah’s notice

Ask: Why does Jesus use us to call others to know and follow Him?

God’s desire to include people in His salvific plan

The foundational principle of truly Christian expansion: “New followers of Jesus bear witness of him to others, who in turn become disciples and repeat the process.“

Main Point: Jesus invites followers into a relationship with Him

Jesus invites people to follow Him

Jesus’s followers invite others to follow Him

Jesus’s followers will see greater things to come

John 1:50–51 ESV

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Nathaniel felt known

Ask: How do we know Jesus knows us better than anyone else ever could?

Because Jesus wants to know us more than anyone else ever has

Greater things yet to come

Ask: What are some “greater things” Nathanael experiences after becoming Jesus’s disciple? What are the “greater things” we can experience?

Miracles

The Resurrection

Jacob’s staircase

Jesus = bridge

Heaven touches earth through disciples ministry

Eternity

Christ Connection:

Jesus came into the world to call sinners to repentance and to lay down His life for them so that they might be saved.

As His followers, we tell others about Jesus and call on them to turn from their sin and trust in Him.

Head: How does being a disciple of Jesus change the way we think about the purpose of our lives?

Bigger than us

Knowing Jesus and making Him known

Satisfied

Heart: What should we do when we find ourselves trying to be in charge of our lives?

Giving up careers and social circles

Renew commitment

Hands: What are some practical ways we can grow as disciples?

Salvation

Disciple = lifelong learner, doer, and teacher

Top priority: study with other disciples

The goal: teaching others