Discipleshp Path - Committ

Discipleship Path Commit - John 6:60-69 January 11, 2026 I have a confession to make. I have a guilty pleasure. I enjoy re-watching old sitcoms. But I feel like every series that I've watched in my lifetime has a character or two that have that has this character arch that includes a "fear of commitment." As soon as a relationship gets serious, they find a way to mess it all up. They may find something in their partner that they find annoying or unattractive, so they break it off. It's a classic character arch, and if done well, it can be quite a funny running joke. But, let's be honest, they say that in comedy, there is always a bit of truth mixed in. Fact is that people have a hard time with commitment. I experienced it working in hospitality for nearly 20 years. It was a constant revolving door of both hourly and management employees. We see it in couples today. Couples who have homes together, children together, and have been together for over a decade, but they won't get married. Of course, there are church goers who "church hop" every 6 months, too. Don't get me started with College sports ... Anyway ... We're in our second week of our new series on our Discipleship Path. Our discipleship path is "a guide to help each person evaluate his or her spiritual maturity and identify 'next steps' that they can take in their journey with Jesus." Last week, we covered "Come" and were reminded that we all must answer the call to come to faith in Jesus. This week, as you may have guessed, we're talking about commitment. But, before we get into our passage from John 6 this morning, I feel like I need to set up the passage a bit. John chapter 6 is full of imagery of food and water, starting with the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus eventually calls Himself the Living Water and the Bread of Life. Throughout this chapter you see hints of a dwindling crowd and Jesus' challenge to their motivation in following Him All of this, really, was to point these followers to eternal life - found in Him alone. But, because of Jesus' imagery and language, many couldn't understand exactly what He was talking about, and it made them uncomfortable. We'll see the result of that shortly. So, with that quick background in mind, let's look at John 6:60-69 this morning and see what we can learn from Jesus about commitment. 60 WHEN MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES HEARD IT, THEY SAID, "THIS IS A HARD SAYING; WHO CAN LISTEN TO IT?" 61 BUT JESUS, KNOWING IN HIMSELF THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE GRUMBLING ABOUT THIS, SAID TO THEM, "DO YOU TAKE OFFENSE AT THIS? 62 THEN WHAT IF YOU WERE TO SEE THE SON OF MAN ASCENDING TO WHERE HE WAS BEFORE? 63 IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE; THE FLESH IS NO HELP AT ALL. THE WORDS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE. 64 BUT THERE ARE SOME OF YOU WHO DO NOT BELIEVE." (FOR JESUS KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING WHO THOSE WERE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE, AND WHO IT WAS WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM.) 65 AND HE SAID, "THIS IS WHY I TOLD YOU THAT NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS IT IS GRANTED HIM BY THE FATHER." 66 AFTER THIS MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES TURNED BACK AND NO LONGER WALKED WITH HIM. 67 SO JESUS SAID TO THE TWELVE, "DO YOU WANT TO GO AWAY AS WELL?" 68 SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, "LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE, 69 AND WE HAVE BELIEVED, AND HAVE COME TO KNOW, THAT YOU ARE THE HOLY ONE OF GOD. Let's get to it. Here's the main idea from our passage this morning: Spiritual growth occurs when I fully commit. I decided to use Pat's format for the main idea that he opened with last week because this path really is to help Christians grow Spiritually, and this is how we do it at TFC. I suppose before we move on, we should define commitment. According to Jesus in Matthew 22, the greatest commandment is to "LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." That may be a good summary of the answer to that question, but maybe we can look at our text for more clues. So, let's explore this further with: COMMITMENT ACCORDING TO JESUS First, to commit my life to the Lord, I must ... * Embrace the truth, even if it is offensive. (60-63) o We clearly see in this passage and the proceeding passage that the Word of God can sometimes be offensive. o In its most basic form, many take offense to the truth that we're all sinners in need of a Savior. o More broadly, its offensive to many that the Christian life is contrary to the culture. o This is why Paul in Romans 12:1-2 encourages us to be transformed by the Lord, not conformed to the world. o This passage is no different. o Those listening took offense to this statement from Jesus from verse 53: TRULY, TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOU. o Let's be honest with ourselves, taken out of context or understanding, it is a strange thing to hear. o Prior to this, as we briefly pointed out earlier, Jesus made the claim that He was Living Water and the Bread of Life. o Simply put, eating and drinking are metaphors for faith. He is making the bold (and true) claim that He is the only One who can satisfy the longing that we have for salvation. o Jesus being the only way, to some, is offensive. But, that is what His Word reveals. o But what happened when people began to be offended by the Word? o Verse 66 reveals that many walked away. o Why? There's another hint in this chapter. o Verse 26 reveals that many were only there to be fed - physically. o We need to be fed - spiritually. o This is why this next statement is important: * Faith reveals itself from the inside out. (64-65) o Jesus knows our hearts. o In His statement, He made it known that He knew that many would walk away, and that Judas would betray Him. o The lesson for us? o We cannot fool Him. o We may be able to fool others - many do - but we can't fool our Lord. o There must be true and complete transformation, and that begins in the heart. o I mentioned Romans 12:1-2 earlier, here's what it says: 1 I APPEAL TO YOU THEREFORE, BROTHERS, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR SPIRITUAL WORSHIP. 2 DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. o Paul makes it clear here that true transformation requires renewal. o So, we must conclude that ... * Jesus is calling me to commit (66-69) o We'll see how we can respond to this shortly, but first consider the following from these verses: * As mentioned earlier, verse 66 says that many walked away. * Let's understand, if Judas, after spending more than 3 years by Jesus' side, can walk away, no one is immune. * Now - to be clear - I am not saying that you can lose your faith, rather that those who do not commit, can lose interest and walk away - even after being "near Jesus" for years. * Ken Ham, an author and apologist, published a blog in June 2025. In that blog, he shared that 70-88% of youth born in evangelical homes leave the faith after one year in a secular college. * This is why Jesus makes the challenge to those who remain to fully commit in verse 67, and praise be to God, Peter affirms that call in his life in verses 68-69. * How do we know his commitment is true? Because he declared Jesus as Lord. So, in a nutshell, this is commitment according to Jesus. Naturally, we must close by ... ANSWERING THE CALL TO COMMIT For anyone who has expressed interest in joining the church, we provide a packet called "Discovering TFC." Included in that packet is our Discipleship Path. Much of the following is adapted from that portion of our materials. In there, we state that there are three essential commitments for a disciple of Jesus. First? * Place your faith in Jesus Christ alone. o Here's the full statement: To place one's faith in Jesus Christ alone as the basis for being reconciled to God and entering into a personal relationship with Him (see John 14:6 and Ephesians 2:8-9). o Pat was very clear last week when we opened our series that answering Jesus' call is the first step in the process. o By the way, this is the only requirement for salvation, the next two commitments are outward evidences of that faith. o Beginning with: * Be obedient to Jesus through baptism. o More specifically, baptism by immersion. o We believe that the Bible teaches that baptism is to be by immersion: * The Greek word "baptizo" means "to place into" or "to immerse." * Immersion is the only method that accurately represents the threefold picture in Romans 6:4-6, where Paul says: 4 WE WERE BURIED THEREFORE WITH HIM BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH, IN ORDER THAT, JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, WE TOO MIGHT WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. 5 FOR IF WE HAVE BEEN UNITED WITH HIM IN A DEATH LIKE HIS, WE SHALL CERTAINLY BE UNITED WITH HIM IN A RESURRECTION LIKE HIS. 6 WE KNOW THAT OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM IN ORDER THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE BROUGHT TO NOTHING, SO THAT WE WOULD NO LONGER BE ENSLAVED TO SIN. * [So] as we are immersed, we are placed in water to symbolize being placed in a grave, and then brought up to symbolize our future, bodily resurrection. * [Also noteworthy is that] every example of baptism in the New Testament makes it clear that baptism was done by immersion. * This is a commitment that one must make in his or her walk with Jesus. * Contrary to some teaching, there is no "age of accountability" or extended qualifications for baptism. * The requirement is that you made the commitment mentioned before this one, placing your faith in Jesus. * Again, baptism is an outward expression of your faith, one that is commanded by the Scriptures. * Have you been baptized by immersion subsequent to your decision to follow Jesus? * Next, we can answer Jesus' call as we ... * Commit to membership in a local church. o Notice the call to a "local church" o We recognize that our church community isn't for everyone. o Our desire for anyone seeking a church home is that they land in a church that teaches the Bible and meets their overall discipleship needs. o Can one be a Christian without being a part of a church? * Sure. But they are violating Scripture when doing so. * The term used for Church in the New Testament is literally translated "called out ones," indicating a collection of people who are called out from the world, and called to be followers of Jesus. * That same word is used elsewhere to specifically describe local communities of believers. * So, there is biblical precedent for people to be a part of a local community - or Church. * What about membership specifically? * Quoting again from our packet: Although membership in a local body of believers is not specifically commanded in the Bible, the principle is clearly demonstrated throughout the New Testament, particularly in Romans 12 (verses 4-6), where Paul uses the word "members" to describe how individuals fit together to make up the body of Christ in the same way that the members of our physical bodies join together to become one body. * At the end of the day, it is beneficial to the believer to be a part of a local church. * Membership, while beneficial to you personally, it also benefits others in the church, and since the Bible supports it, we exercise our obedience to the Lord by doing so. o If you are not a member of TFC, will you consider joining? Earlier I said: Spiritual growth occurs when I fully commit. That commitment, as we saw, was threefold. Commitment to Jesus, to baptism, and to membership. Is there something stopping you? Are parts of the Bible offensive? Embrace it. Have you been going through the motions of outward Christianity? Place your faith in Jesus. Are you hesitant to answer Jesus' call? Pray about it. Speak to someone here at the church. Make Him Lord in your life. I want to close this morning with one more biblical reference. In Joshua 24, right before the death of Moses' successor, he challenges the people to make a choice as he reminded them of the work that God did for their nation. Here was his final challenge in verse 15: AND IF IT IS EVIL IN YOUR EYES TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, WHETHER THE GODS YOUR FATHERS SERVED IN THE REGION BEYOND THE RIVER, OR THE GODS OF THE AMORITES IN WHOSE LAND YOU DWELL. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD." We all must choose to answer His call. Choose to commit. What will you choose? Let's pray. 2