1. Come to Jesus

Introduction

Fill in the blanks quiz

I love animals, and help them get better when they are sick. I am a veterinarian.

I wear a uniform to work. Even though I play games on the job, I get paid a crazy amount of money. I am a professional athlete.

I would eat pizza for breakfast, lunch, and supper. I would play video games all night long. I smell like week-old socks. I am a teenager.

I might belong to one of over 33,000 denominations, but I might not. I might believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God or I might not. I might attend worship services with a local church, or I might not. I might read the Bible, or I might not. I might believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation, but most of us don’t. I am a Christian.

What is a Christian? Is there any defining factor that makes someone a Christian?

Sociologists report that there are over 2 billion Christians in the world today. But they define a Christian as anyone who identifies as a Christian, regardless of what they believe or how they live.

The word “Christian” only appears in the Bible three times. The first is in Acts 11:26… A Christian is a disciple of Jesus.

There’s some confusion about this among Christians today because we tend to think there’s a difference between being a Christian and being a disciple (a special ops Christian).

There were three categories of people who were around Jesus.

The crowds…

The disciples… more than 12! Jesus sent 72 in Luke 10.

The Apostles, the 12… see Mark 3.

The Bible has no category for Christians who aren’t disciples.

Bride but not a wife // Dad but not a father // Physician but not a doctor // 4th grade teacher but I’m not going to teach.

If you’re a Christian, you’re a disciple. If you’re a disciple, you’re a Christian. If you’re not a disciple, you’re not a Christian.

Subject: What is a disciple of Jesus?

Scripture: John 1:35-51

Body

A disciple of Jesus is someone who acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior. A Christian is a person who has received Christ as Rabbi and Messiah.

Exposition

Look at the titles given to Jesus in this passage: Lamb of God (v. 36); Rabbi/Teacher (v. 38); Messiah/Christ (v. 41); Son of God (v. 49); King of Israel (v. 49); Son of Man (v. 51)

Some of these titles refer to Jesus’s mission to save the world (Lamb of God, Messiah, Son of Man). Some of these titles refer Jesus’s power and authority over all of life (Son of God, King of Israel, Rabbi).

Many people today are happy to receive Jesus as Savior but have never surrendered to Jesus as King, Lord, or Rabbi.

Illustration: “The gospel today quite often has little to do with the rule of a King. Instead it is treated more like an insurance policy to avoid justly deserved punishment for sin within the context of eternity. This pseudo-gospel often revolves around human beings making a business deal with God that serves their own self-interest, rather than Jesus the King reclaiming humanity so that it might become his own treasured possession. The heartbreaking result of this human-centered gospel is people who have some form of belief in Christ but have little experience of life in his Kingdom” (Foye Belyea, The Five Stones, p. 18).

Application

In my late teens/early twenties, I wrestled with my faith. It felt unproductive and fruitless, like it made no real difference in my life. I was trying to use Jesus as Savior without surrendering to Jesus as King. But Jesus will not be used. He’s either King or nothing.

Have you surrendered to Jesus as King?

A disciple of Jesus is someone who is following Jesus in a his way of life. A Christian is a person who is living the way Christ lived.

Exposition

“Where are you staying?” (John 1:38) Isn’t that an odd question? “Can we follow you around and watch how you live?” What is Jesus’s answer? “Come and you will see” (John 1:39).

In John 1:43, when Jesus calls Philip, what does he say? “Follow me.”

“Follow me,” NOT, “Adopt a new set of religious beliefs.”

Illustration: The Neighborhood, the Christian characters are not different in any way from the non-Christian characters, other than their religious beliefs.

Illustration: “Christians should differ from non-Christians in every realm, not just the religious realm. We should differ from non-Christians not simply because we show up at church on the weekend or attend a midweek Bible study. Rather, we should differ from non-Christians because we conduct our businesses differently, we treat our spouses differently, we raise our children differently. Our values should be different from those of non-Christians. People need to see this in our lives, but all too often, it simply isn’t happening. If we want to impact our world like the first-century believers did, then we have to get back to the principles they applied. It starts with the Christianity they practiced” (Greg Laurie).

Application: Walking is one of the most common analogies for discipleship in the Bible.

Walking, not running… discipleship takes time.

Jesus’s invitation isn’t just “walk in my footsteps,” but “walk with me.” When you go in Jesus’s direction, you’re going with Jesus as your guide and traveling companion.

If discipleship means walking with Jesus, then the most important step you can take is the next one. What is your next step with Jesus?

A disciple of Jesus is someone whose identity comes from Jesus. A Christian is a person who is defined by Christ.

Exposition: Twice, Jesus defines a person

John 1:42… Peter means “rock.”

John 1:47… Who knows what Nathanael had heard others say or doubted in himself? But Jesus spoke the truth to him.

Illustration: Moody assignment, Kingdom Engineer

Application: What does Jesus say about you?

A disciple of Jesus is someone who shares Jesus with others. A Christian is a person who invites others into life with Christ.

Exposition: Twice, new disciples share Jesus with others

John 1:41-42… Andrew brings Peter

John 1:45-46… Philip invites Nathanael to “come and see” (same words as Jesus).

Illustration: Gary Chapman, “You haven’t made a disciple until your disciple has made a disciple.”

Application: Too often we miss that sharing Jesus with others isn’t an optional exercise for the spiritually brave but is part of being a faithful follower of Jesus. Who in your life needs Jesus?

Conclusion

A disciple of Jesus is someone…

Who acknowledges Jesus as both Lord and Savior.

Who is following Jesus in his way of life.

Whose identity comes from Jesus.

Who shares Jesus with others.

OR

A disciple of Jesus is someone who is...

Coming to Jesus

Becoming like Jesus

Sharing Jesus with others

The first step of discipleship: Come to Jesus

Receive Jesus as both Lord and Savior.

Turn from your way of life and follow Jesus in his way of life.

Believe what Jesus says about who you are in him.