What does it really mean to follow Christ?

Outline:

Introduction - **Keys playing

What’s up Surge YTH Conf.! Are you enjoying Surge so far?

Honor students

On behalf of our pastors, my family, and most importantly our team we are so glad you are here. We have prayed for you and worked very hard so that you would know Jesus. We honor you students!

Honor the team

If you are a youth pastor, leader, dream team member, captain or coordinator please stand for a moment.

Can you do me a favor in the spirit of honor can we take a moment and thank all these amazing people. This couldn’t happen without you. from the bottom of our heart thank you!

Prayer - **Keys stop playing at “Amen”

Illustration - Portraying the difference between a believer & follower

Topic Introduction

Tonight I want to talk about (Message Title): WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO FOLLOW JESUS?

Because you can be a believer & not a follower

Our prayer is to not only make you a believer in Jesus, but a follower in Him.

If you do not follow Jesus you miss out on the promise of Jesus gives us in John 10:10 which is the abundant life you never knew was possible!

When you have an abundant life you experience

Spiritually rich life full of

John 10:10 LEB

The thief comes only so that he can steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

purpose

guidance

blessing

joy

strength

growth

I think there are some here this morning who are believer and not followers.

My goal is to show you through the scriptures how to be a true follower

Main Scripture

Matthew 16:13-26 (NIV)

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Summarize

Here we have an interaction between the disciples and Jesus

And a key figure in this passage is Peter

Problem 1

In one moment Peter is being praised by God because he spoke truth not revealed to him by flesh and blood, but revealed to him by God - That Jesus is the “Messiah the Son of the living God”

Too just moments later in the same chapter being rebuked by Jesus and called a stumbling block

Peter heard from God in one moment and in the next was being led by his flesh and influenced by Satan!

Relate

It reminds me of moments where we go to church or Surge and we are confident we heard from God

Then we get home and face temptation or adversity and find ourselves confused and not understanding God

Problem 2

So what was it that cause Jesus to rebuke Peter?

What is it that keeps us from being followers of Jesus

Selfishness

Impact

Selfishness is so relatable because its so natural to us. In fact one of the most natural things we do is be selfish...

We look after ourselves

We protect ourselves

We seek to indulge and find satisfaction for our selves

Peter Choice - My way or God’s Way

Peter faced a choice that we all face today and will constantly face. Self (flesh, blood, feelings & emotions) or Christ (The Son of God, Lord, the Messiah) ? My way or His way?

Our way may seem right (How we feel)

It may even be satisfying

Our way may be popularized by the world

Follow your heart

Contrary to what God’s Word says!

Deception of the heart

HERE IS THE TRUTH! Self will betray you & leads us to nothing good

I can’t trust my feelings! (Especially when I am a believer and I know the way I am living is not reflective of the calling on my life!)

Pride is a dangerous thing! Pride will make you think you are right, your way is right, and nobody can tell you anything!

Peter was prideful to correct his teacher. (Which by the way you don’t do in that time period).

How many times are we like Peter where we ignore God and we choose our own way in pride attempting to tell God and the world that our way is best!

Your heart will deceive you!

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

“9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

Impact of Selfishness

Peter was being Selfish

Peter had an expectation for the Messiah that was not God’s Plan

He assumed that Jesus would be a triumphant earthly king who would deliver Israel from it’s oppressors like the Romans

Unfortunately his idea was wrong

Here is what I do know is Peter’s concerns where mans concerns not Gods!

That’s why when Jesus started talking about suffering death and resurrection Peter couldn’t understand it.

Because as long as you have a human perspective on life then God’s perspective will never make since to you

You know what that got him...

“...Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me;...”

Peter went from being the rock upon which Jesus would build His church to a stumbling block...

Peter was willing to sit at the right hand of Jesus on His throne as He establishes this legendary earthly rule and miraculously deliver Israel from Oppression

He was willing to share in the Lord’s glory, but was He willing to share in the Lord’s humiliation and rejection?

The Devils will

Peter’s Selfishness aligned him not to God’s will but the Devil’s will

Im not saying we have Devil followers in the place today, but when we choose self over God we open ourselves up to the Devils will and schemes...

It’s interesting because Peter attempted to temp Jesus with the same temptation the Devil tempted Jesus with in the Desert

Kingdom without the Cross

Friends listen, you cannot have the kingdom without the cross. Jesus faced it and endured it faithfully and obediently. And He ask to carry it. (Let’s continue the passage)

Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

God wants us to be true followers

The Lord teaches us how to be true followers for many reason’s (Love, We are His creation) because He will usher in something so powerful that Hell it’s self can’t over power it. The Church

The Lord wants to connect us to Him to Heaven and build His church through us!

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

How do we become true followers?

Deny Self

Carry Cross