I'm In - Week 1

Intro

Opening Story/Illustration: How many of you spend time on social media? What platforms are you on? Facebook? Instagram? Twitter? Snapchat?

When you came in this morning we asked you who you thought the most-followed people were on instagram. Let’s see what you thought...

Some of the top ones are:

Cristiano Ronaldo - 152 Million Followers

Selena Gomez - 144 Million Followers

Ariana Grande - 143 Million Followers

The Rock - 129 Million Followers

Kim Kardashian - 125 Million Followers

Kylie Jenner - 125 Million Followers

Beyonce - 123 Million Followers

Taylor Swift - 114 Million Followers

Neymar - 110 Million Followers

Can you believe how many people follow them? In fact, their followers often have their own catchy names to describe themselves.

Can you believe how many people follow them? In fact, their followers often have their own catchy names to describe themselves. Like Taylor Swift’s “Swifties” or Beyonce’s “Beyhive.”

The Celebrities all have a passionate following on social media. Their followers buy the World Tour concert t-shirts, freak out in their fan-made YouTube videos, and attend every concert within a 100-mile radius of their hometown.

Transition to the Text: This week, we’re launching a brand new series called I’m In where we’ll take a look at what crazy-celebrity-obsessions might have to do with Jesus. Because, as we’ll see in this series, there were four people who met Jesus, got a little bit obsessed, and said “I’m in.”

And I am not talking about following Jesus on SnapChat, Instagram, or subscribing to His YouTube channel.

I’m talking about four people who said, “I’m in for whatever You say and whatever You have for me, Jesus. I’m in with my life, my struggles, my choices, and even with my questions. I’m in.” Because here’s what’s so interesting about these four people: They all probably had their own reasons to not follow Jesus, but they still did.

Text: So what does it mean to be “All In” for Jesus? To really follow Him? This week we hope to start answering that with a look at a lady by the Name of Mary Magdalene.

Luke 8:1–3 ESV

1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Mark 14:50 ESV

50 And they all left him and fled.

Mark 15:40 ESV

40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

Transition to Points: Let’s look at Mary’s commitment to Jesus and what it means to us.

Points

“I’m In” means recognizing that we need Jesus

Mary, was apparently in a bad situation.

The first Bible verse we read said - Mary had dealt with some bad stuff.

She had suffered from something really difficult and painful and intense, but Jesus healed her.

Maybe today you’re hurting or suffering from something painful and intense, but Jesus can heal you.

She supported and followed Jesus because she knew she needed him. She was grateful for what he had done in her life!

“I’m In” means following Jesus even when things were bad.

“I’m In” means

Mary stood by Jesus’ side even when he was dying.

She stayed when everyone else left.

“I’m In” meant staying when things were bad because that what Jesus had done for her.

After Jesus died and his body was buried in a tomb, Mary was still in.

She went to his tomb to visit it - But she found him ALIVE!

Mary was one of the first people to see Jesus after he came back to life.

Conclusion

Restate the Main Idea: Mary’s life was transformed! How? She recognized that she needed Jesus.

She needed Jesus to rescue her from her hurt, her pain, and her suffering.

Now, you’re probably not suffering exactly like Mary and her seven demons, but I’m guessing you know what it’s like to experience some messy, painful stuff.

Life gets hard for all of us eventually. And eventually, we all mess up big time.

But when we’re in pain or in need, do you know what I love about Jesus? We never have to hide from Him.

Mary Magdalene said she was “in” with Jesus because, when she had some serious stuff going on, Jesus first met her right there in the middle of her mess. And He wants to do the same for you, too. You don’t have to hide your pain, or your mess, or your brokenness from Jesus. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. Because when you bring it to Him, He can heal it.

So What? Why do you need Jesus right now?

Now What? If you want prayer so that Jesus can help you with whatever you’re facing, I want you to raise your hand.

Now What?

Prayer