Follow The King

Intro: A lot can happen

Famous changes

Funny

Skating

when I grill

High school relationship

Getting a speeding ticket

Sports

Rich Strike, a late entry with 80–1 odds, won the 2022 Kentucky Derby in a stunning upset. The horse wasn't initially in the race but was added the day before due to a scratch. Rich Strike's come-from-behind victory is one of the biggest surprises in the history of the Derby.

179 million was bet on the race

His trainer, Eric Reed, was notified just 30 seconds before the deadline that Rich Strike had made it into the race.

Rich Strike had only won once before in his 7 prior races.He was purchased for just $30,000, a low price by Kentucky Derby standards.He was trained by Eric Reed, a relative unknown in major racing circles.His jockey, Sonny Leon, was also not a high-profile rider—largely racing on smaller circuits in Ohio.

Rich Strike started the race as a massive 80-1 longshot—the second-longest odds horse ever to win the Derby.For most of the race, he ran at the very back of the pack.Then, in the final stretch, Sonny Leon navigated a brilliant inside route, weaving through traffic with patience and perfect timing.In the final few seconds, Rich Strike surged ahead of the favorites—Epicenter and Zandon—to win the race.

Historical

Victory Assumed: Days into its maiden voyage, the Titanic was hailed as an engineering marvel—“unsinkable”—a triumph of modern design and luxury.Failure: Struck an iceberg on the fifth night and sank within hours, killing over 1,500 people. ✅ A tragic lesson in overconfidence and the limits of human ingenuity.

On April 15, 1912, the day the Titanic sank, Franklin told reporters:“There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable, and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers.”

Triumphant Entry, Cruel Departure

Palm Sunday

Mark 11:1–11 “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom…”

Good Friday

Matthew 27:21–22 “The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!””

Two Crowds: Hosanna and Crucify Him

40-80,000 population with 100-200,000 during passover

Scripture compels us to guess which group we were in, In Matthew 4 we see a similar test:

Matthew 4:17–22 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

THE CALL TO FOLLOW Discipleship is the aim

The terms disciple or discipleship are used over 260 times in the new testament: The point of salvation is discipleship

Salvation is the turn to turning - discipleship is to stay turned

Kevin DeYoung “Discipleship is about direction, not perfection. God is far more concerned with the trajectory of our hearts than the moments of our stumbling.”

Dallas Willard “Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.”

3. Charles Spurgeon “To be a Christian is to be a disciple. There are no two levels in Christianity. Every believer is a follower, a learner, an imitator of Christ.”

11. Alistair Begg“Christian discipleship is not merely a program. It is a lifelong submission to the Lordship of Christ in every sphere of life.”

Man centered salvation says - what’s in it for me?

God centered salvation says, what does God desire?

Well, Andrew was probably already a believer, what scripture does not clarify was their moment of belief, but it does clearly tell us their moment of obedience.

The great commission is a call to discipleship

Teaching to observe everything I have commanded

John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

I don’t know what fruit the thief on the cross had - but had he had 10 more years, He would have had some fruit

Follow Who

Jesus

Where He was going, what He was doing

They redefined their job description - and other duties as assigned

God has placed me here to: Work as unto the Lord

Colossians 3:23–24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Are you following culture? Are you following friends? Are you following a person? Paul said follow me - as I follow Christ.

Follow Me: A Personal Call

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Junk Mail (116.2 billion total)

Generic Marketing 51% is marketing (59.4 billion)

Offers for you

Letters to you

Andrew and Peter -

Andrew was a disciple of John

Presumably baptized

Not their first encounter

The Carpenter

Fixed boats

In 1986, a well-preserved, 2,000-year-old fishing boat was discovered in the Sea of Galilee, near the kibbutz of Ginosar, and has become known as the "Jesus Boat" or the "Sea of Galilee Boat"

300 repairs

First met with John the Baptist

John 1:35–42 “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 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?” 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. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 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).”

I came to seek and to save the lost.

Seeking Savior

Most people picked their rabbi -

John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

FOLLOW ME:

Follow Me: A Purposeful Call

I will make you:

Our church’s vision statement: discover their purpose in him through love.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God has a good plan for your life.

Yes he has a plan

Yes it is good

To

For Him to make you what He created you to be

Fishers

Hebrews 11:32–38 “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

It matters if you live. So Live.

Do you know who is holding al of us togther?

Follow Me: A Promising Call

WIth Me

I will make you

Follow Me: A Ultimate Call

It Will Cost You

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Leonard Ravenhill

“Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?

AW Tozer “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.”

Not an option

John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Is it Jesus?

You need a savior, not a plan.

John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””