Step #1 - Discover Who God Says You Are

Introduction

The years following High School are some of the most formative years of a person’s life. It is a time of self-discovery. It’s a time when one leaves the social confines of their family structure to venture out into the world, to discover who they are and the course they are going take in life. Whether it is a time of travel, education or vocation, these years can be described as anything from exciting to discouraging or anything in between.

The danger of such a time of self-discovery, especially for the follower of Jesus, lies in the overemphasis on oneself. If this time is simply to discover what makes us happy, what we are good at and what brings us the most joy, with a little time, a few trips and some late nights, we can discovery ourselves, at least who we think we are. With this as our foundation, we can venture into living a life completely around ourselves, with the end goal of making ourselves happy.

What if, even after years of self-discovery, we didn’t know ourselves as well as we thought we did? What if we were actually not able to, on our own, really be able to know ourselves, not at least without the help of someone else? Such is what we learn not only from the history of others who have ‘sought to discover themselves’ but also from the teachings of the Scripture. This course is going to take us through a journey of self-discovery. Yet, it will be a journey not from looking at our lives simply from our perspective but from the perspective of another, one who knows us better than we know ourselves.

Question: Who does God say that you are?

Transition: Let’s begin by look at . . .

Three Different Types Of People

1. People Who Do Not Follow Jesus

They don’t know Jesus and the Gospel

They have, for whatever reason, rejected the Gospel and calling to follow Him

2. People Who Follow Jesus For A Season (John 6)

Context:

In Capernaum = A fishing village located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee

Jesus is teaching in the synagogue (cf. v. 59)

Jesus’ teaching is some hard stuff (cf. v. 60)

(v. 47) - God draws people and only those how believe in Him will have eternal life

(vs. 48 - 51) - “Eat this bread” = By faith Jesus’ sustains one’s life

(v. 53) - “Flesh” and “blood” point to Christ as the crucified Savior and the source of eternal life

He is claiming that by faith He can be received as God’s appointed sacrifice

(vs. 60) - Many disciples turned back and no longer followed Him

Parable of the Seed - Seeds among thorny ground

Matthew 13:5–6 TNIV

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

3. People Who Have Committed To Follow Jesus

Twelves Disciples (vs. 68-69)

Not all of the disciples, only eleven of twelve

Two important phrases:

“Came to believe” = Takes time

“We know” = Moment/decision of faith

Disciple - Someone who loves God and loves others by putting God’s truth into action.

Transition: As a disciple, we are a . . .

Child of God

Galatians 3

“Before” Following Jesus

In bondage to the law (vs. 23 - 24)

“Held in custody” (vs. 23a)

“Locked up” (vs. 23b)

“Law was your guardian” (v. 24)

We were in bondage to the law, without freedom

Humanity remained under this constraint until Jesus arrived + death/resurrection

“Slave” (v. 4:1, 3, 7)

“Now” as Followers of Jesus

Now as followers of Jesus [in Christ] - Children of God (vs. 25 - 29)

By “faith” (cf. John 6:69)

5x’s in vs. 23 - 26

“Baptized into Christ” = United w/Christ as part of His body

Unity in Christ transcends ethnic, social and gender distinctions (v. 28)

Heir of God - You have an Inheritance (vs. 4:1-5)

Adopted into God’s family with all the attended rights and privileges

Have a close relationship with God the Father (vs. 6-7)

No longer live in fear (cf. Rom. 8:14-17)

He understands us and has compassion on us as His children (cf. Psalm 103:13)

Promises to take care of our needs (cf. Matthew 6:32)

Forgive our sins (cf. 1 John 2:12)

Future holds many unexpected gifts (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9)

God disciplines us as His children

The trials and tests we face in this life prove our sonship

It also requires us to respond with perseverance (cf. Heb. 12:5-6)

Transition: If we are sons of God, we are called to be about God’s ‘business’ as we fulfill . . .

Our Purpose For Life

Love God + Neighbor

Matthew 22:36–40 TNIV

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Love God (Matthew 4)

Context:

Peter and Andrew knew that Jesus’ was around. They had no doubt heard Jesus’ and about His claims of being the Messiah.

Faith wasn’t fully developed yet (cf. John 6 - “Come to believe” )

Following Jesus was an act of loving God (vs. 18 - 20)

Love People (“Fish for people”)

Adding value to people

1 Thessalonians 5:11 TNIV

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Believe it or not, you are very valuable. It’s time for you to start knowing your worth. We were created by God and in the image and likeness of God. You have value. You are a valuable person. As leaders we are called to add value to others. What does it mean to add value to others? It means to be intentional about serving others. It’s all about leaving others better than they were when you found them. It’s about enriching and enhancing the quality of life for others. We are here to be of service to others. God has called us to serve others. It’s not about how others can serve you but how you can serve someone else. What are some ways that we can add value to others?

Telling others about Jesus is the best way to do that

Conclusion

Summary: If you are a follower of Jesus [disciple], you are a child of God with all the right and privileges thereof and who are called to love God and others.

The real question we are going to look at over the next (3) weeks is “How” does one determine what that looks like for their life? What does it look like for you to love God and others? The key to discovering this is by you discovering your True Self, who God truly created you to be by looking at how God created you unique. It is my desire that once you learn more about yourself, you will be able to see more clearly the path Jesus wants you to take as you follow Him.