The Comeback Kid (4)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
WEEK 4: Living for Jesus means living like Jesus.
● How do you show you're a fan of something? [Give relevant examples.]
Braves fan
Georgia Fan
● How do people know if you're a follower of Jesus? [Give relevant examples.]
Cross necklace/jewelry?
Apparel?
Those arent all bad, but is that the ONLY way people see you're a follower?
Or are you acting more like a fan ?
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● Being a fan of something is not the same as following Someone.
INTERACTIVE
What does it look like to follow Jesus when youre at home ?
What does it look like to follow Jesus when youre at school ?
What does it look like to follow Jesus when youre doing something you love ?
How does following Jesus change more than just the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, or where we spend our time?
Following Jesus should change who we actually are .
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● We've been talking about Jesus’ epic comeback story—His life, death, burial and resurrection.
● When it comes to learning what it looks like to follow Jesus, we can take a cue from a conversation He had with His disciples at some point before His death.
o Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower , you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24 NLT).
● Being a disciple of Jesus means being someone who is willing to put aside your own way to choose His way.
● Jesus didn’t just talk about putting aside your own way; He demonstrated it.
● Earlier in this series, we discussed how Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.
● Yes, one of the last things Jesus did before He went to the cross was humble Himself and serve His disciples.
● Then Jesus said this:
o “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet . I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15 NLT).
● The events that followed this statement probably made it stand out in the disciples’ minds. (Cross)
● He gave up His life for us, and because of that, we can be confident that God loves us
● Three days later, Jesus did what no one had done before: He came back to life, defeating sin and death .
Changes lives then, and now.
● When we lay down our own way, we are doing what Jesus did.
● Living for Jesus means living like Jesus.
● We can get another clue of what this looks like by looking at the early church.
o All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need (Acts 2:42-45 NLT).
● The early church laid down their lives for each other, that’s actually one of the reasons why Christianity grew so quickly.
● They lived the way of the cross, and that’s why the movement took off.
o They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47 NLT).
● These people weren’t laying down their lives because they felt like they had to.
● Their lives had been made new by Jesus, and now they followed His example and showed everyone what it looked like to live like Him.
● Because living for Jesus means living like Jesus.
APPLY
● We know this is about giving up our own way and following Him, but practically, how do we do that?
o Give up your own way by practicing empathy and serving others.
[Interactive signs.]
Listening
Serving
Encouraging
o Follow Jesus and get to know Jesus .
● We are invited into the greatest story ever told—the story of Jesus and His work in this world.
● He laid it all down and then told us to do the same.
● That’s what we can do with each other, in this church, and in the community around us.
● Over the last two thousand years, people following the example of Jesus in their everyday lives
have changed the world for the better.
● Remember, living for Jesus means living like Jesus.
● What is one thing you can do this week to live more like Jesus?
