Living for Jesus

John 15:1–17 NLT

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

Continuing The Fundamentals - moving from spiritually connecting with God —> how we practically live the life.

Prayer, Bible, Trinity

Church - bridging point, connecting with divine and with each other

Now LIVING FOR JESUS

Believer vs Follower Vs Disciple

Believer

Accepts God and Jesus, but rests in the idea that this is all they need to do.

Get out of Hell FREE card

James 2:26 CSB

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Follower

Like those who in the crowd who followed Jesus and the disciples.

They are a believer +, willing to make some practical steps, but unwilling to fully commit.

when things get messy or tough, they fall/walk away

John 6:60–66 NLT

Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.” At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.

Luke 10:1 ESV

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

The 72 (or 70 depending on manuscript) are believed to be tied to the original nations that spread out after Noah and the flood and the tower of Babel.

This is why Paul wanted to go to Spain (see Romans 15)! Last of the Nations listed in Gen 10 to have the Gospel presented. Acts covers the rest!

Anyway ——- Followers like the idea of Jesus, think he’s a “good teacher”, and are willing to follow and do things until his teaching clash with their desires. Then they split or skip that part of the Bible and move on.

Disciple

Far beyond a believer! They are a learner, a practicer, and a doer.

If their desire clashes with Jesus, they side with Jesus and the HS.

Acts 5:17–29 ESV

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” … And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Living for Jesus isn’t a Sunday morning activity

Living for Jesus isn’t the “easy path”

Living for Jesus isn’t a Get out of Hell FREE Card

Living for Jesus ins’t about us, it’s about Him!

Living for Jesus means:

Dying to sin

Galatians 2:20 NLT

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Living for Jesus means:

Having no other god(s)

Matthew 7:21–23 NLT

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Living for Jesus means:

Using our gifts to serve others

Matthew 5:13–16 NLT

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Living for Jesus means:

Knowing the location of our TRUE treasure

Matthew 6:19–21 NLT

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Mark 10:19–22 NLT

But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

ALTER CALL - ACCEPT / RE-DEDICATE

PRAYER -

Father God, thank you so much for choosing your people, and allowing us to join you in life and in your plan here on earth. We ask that you put people in our lives that can help pick us up when we stumble. And give us the courage and the strength to help others up when they fall as well. Thank you for this beautiful church family, coming together to worship and live for you, Jesus. Give us strength, courage, and determination to follow your commands and love on Rolla, right where you have us. Bless us and help us bless others.

In Jesus’s name, amen.