A Faithful Follower

As Mainers, many of us have had no other choice but travel difficult roads or hike tough trails to get to our preferred destinations. Mainers are so accustomed to going the long way to get somewhere to avoid the pot holes, or even avoiding those long muddy dirt roads- Yes- that still exist even in these modern times. Many of us have learned our lessons the hard way when we get stuck on that road that seemed like our four wheel drive vehicles could make it, only to find out halfway into our journey, that there was way too much snow, mud, or even that overflowing brook that had flooded out our path.

Today, we will be exploring how Christ tells His twelve disciples to navigate these difficult roads. Christ sets the scene clearly by telling His disciples that the world will hate them as it has Him and the Father. Much like our lives here in Maine during our journeys, Christ attempts to navigate His disciples from getting stuck, discouraged and eventually defeated by the enemy.

As we get going this morning, let’s briefly explore the previous two sermons- let’s recall how week one discussed the importance of abiding in the vine to produce fruit. The message from week One (Ethical Living) emphasized how we must allow God to prune us, rather than us trying to prune ourselves. Week Two (Optimal Friendships) relayed how we are all unique and how we are individually equipped to do God’s Work so that the Church may operate at its fullest measure. Week Two encouraged us to work together as we each have something that may complement others in the Church.

Today’s text- week three in a Series on the Christian Walk- is set in the 1st Century- an environment where Jewish leadership was quite antagonistic towards Jesus. Today’s text tells us the core reasons that the world hated Jesus- and likewise- how we must be prepared as Christians to be different and not easily accepted into today’s society. Today’s text tells us that if we expect the message of love in Christ to be received well by the world- then we are in for a huge surprise. Love is simply not the usual pattern in social orders where power, domination and individual focused activities are rampant- and where the Good News is so counter to what Society believes. Christians today can clearly see Christ’s teachings unfold as Society demands the Church to take a stand against a number of very controversial social-ethical issues. Issues, such as Abortion, Assisted Suicide, Homosexuality, Gender Declaration preferences, Politics, and even standing for the Flag- significantly challenge even the most faithful Christian. As a result, Christians may struggle with their faith- their path through their Christian Walk becomes almost impassible, much like the journeys us Mainers experience during a Winter’s Snow or the onset of our annual mud season.

Text Idea:

Christ tells His Disciples how impactful they will be to others, while they are taking their own Christian Walk.

Sermon Idea:

Today’s Christians may get easily discouraged by how life either does not seem fair, or circumstances cannot be reasoned as we ask ourselves, “WHY?” A Faithful Follower does not align with Society, and serves as a useful tool for God.

Christians know the journey of following Christ is a difficult journey. As the text tells us- the World Hates Christians because their lives are not the norm. The life of a Christians calls others to look at their own lives and ask the tough questions. Questions, such as am I living right? Am I really a good human being? Without the examples that Christians offer, Society would normalize even more than it does now. If we look at the analogy of how Society often calls people to examine themselves when we read the infamous cliché, “What do you see when you look in the mirror?” or “What are you doing when you are in the company of no one else?” We can see that Christians set a much higher bar-The text tells us that unbelievers do not know sin- but once they are educated as to what Sin is- they have no excuse. As such, the text today shows us how Christ was impressing upon His Disciples- the very importance of being Faithful Followers. Today, being a Faithful Follower is so much different than that 1st Century Audience. We are going to look at several points that today’s text makes with how we are called to be Faithful Followers.

SERMON POINT 1- A Faithful Follower does not walk in the footsteps of Society’s majority.

· The life of a Christian is subject to continuous persecution and suffering.

· Scripture tells us how Christians are not of this world- and must be careful as this World is powerful and influencing.

· The text tells us how Christians will be among the few.

· The text warns Christians of how Society will attempt to influence and coerce them into accepting Society’s expectations and life.

· Let’s look at Romans 12:2 to see what God has to say about Christians and the World

“Do not be transformed 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.”

· Paul tells us how we must be careful as the world will try to influence us. Paul tells us to search for God’s will- as only his will is good, acceptable perfect.

Bill Dana was one of the early jet pilot’s in NASA’S astronaut program. Although he never flew into space, he was a test pilot for the X-15 rocket plane. He flew the experimental plan almost 59 miles above the earth at a top speed of 3897 mph. In spite of the danger inherent in such flying, Dana says he does not ever remember being afraid that he was going to die. Instead, he said, “There’s a whole staff of engineers in the control room watching every move you make, and my fear was that I would do something that would embarrass myself in the eyes of my peers.”

Fear of embarrassment can be a strong motive in how we walk our Christian walk. Not wanting to embarrass ourselves in front of peers, spouses, or children is not a bad thing to think about when temptations occur, but may be a bad thing if we settle to where society expects us to believe and live.

· Scripture reveals Satan’s tactics of misleading, confusion, temptation, heresy, bondage, lies, costumes, magic, sickness and disease so that such pot holes create large obstacles on our Christian Walk.

· Christians who do not walk like Society expects may face embarrassment, persecution, suffering, and trials that the Bible declares.

· Following Christ faithfully does not please society

· American today looks much different than it did 30 years ago when public prayer was acceptable- In GOD we trust was often the logo of many things but now has been banished to seemingly meaningless coins.

· Christians professing their faith in the workplace today, run the risk of being terminated from employment. Laws govern the rights of individuals to be free from any influences of religion. Christians have no laws that protect them from being influenced by society. Christians today are martyred at tremendous rates. Wikopedia estimates that an average of 13 Christians are killed daily in the world for their faith.

· Society- as a whole- simply does not accept the Christian Faith.

· A Faithful Follower must stand strong and resist Society’s influences for their faith.

The world today is very divided. We see people being split into political factions, class systems being developed to categorize poor- middle income and the rich. In a world where people argue vehemently to accept their ways, Christians can be impactful. Christians can attract unbelievers who are frustrated, confused and searching for answers. This leads to Point 2 of today’s sermon.

A Faithful Follower teaches God’s Ways and serves as a testimony

· God’s ways may seem so transparent to us, yet the World does not understand.

· God’s ways feature something that the world does not have- complete love for each other and an inward calling to put others first.

· Today’s text tells us how there is Power in His Name.

· We can see that there are no excuses as Christ reveals a definition for sin.

· The text shows us how Christians reveal the Son and the Father through their actions and service.

· Scripture emphasizes the power of God’s Word- one so transforming all you need to do is hear it.

· We can see the many stories in scripture of many Biblical characters who continue to fail God. When He succumbed to temptations, was jealous of His brother, worshipped idols and constantly betrayed their parents, siblings, authorities and friends.

· Let’s look at what Isaiah 43:10 says about serving as a testimony.

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.”

· Isaiah is telling us how the world does not understand and how we are His witnesses as we believe and understand that He is God.

Harvard professors examined what observers thought of individuals how deviate from the norm in a workplace and retail setting. They asked store clerks and customers to rate what they thought of others who walked into luxury stores wearing gym clothes. The customers said, “That person seems out of place. Who would wear casual gym clothes to a fancy store?” However, the sales associate’s mentality is the complete opposite: the one in the casual gym clothes is more likely to purchase at the luxury store than a person wearing fancy clothes. The person in the gym clothes is confident enough to show that they have the money and status to walk into the store and make a purchase.

Are you confident in your faith walk to walk into a place and have people say, “Wow! There is something unique about that person. I wonder what makes them so happy and positive?” Or are people saying, “Oh, that person? They’re no different from any of us here. They’re nothing special.”

· Society pushes back so hard against the Christian life that even Christians can doubt themselves.

· Scripture calls Christians to be different. Christians should not be easily influenced.

· Christians should have only one on their mind- and that is not themselves. They should only be concerned with Glorifying God.

· Scripture calls Christians into action so that they can be a witness for Him and show others how they are a Faithful Follower.

· Christians today have an impactful role for God.

· Eye-Witnesses no longer exist that have witnessed the life of our Christ.

· Christians play an impactful role in serving as a examples of how Jesus would live His life on earth today. God wants us to emulate a life of being a Faithful Follower of Him.

· Christians teach others how to find and love HIM when they show their love for Others.

The Christian walk can be tough and difficult to navigate. The Christian walk can prove so challenging at times, that we may lost sight of Who we are following. As such, the text reveals ----

SERMON POINT 3- A Faithful Follower needs Help at times.

· Scripture reveals attributes of God which are difficult for us to understand.

· Thankfully, the Bible shows us the blessed gifts of God’s Grace and Mercy.

· Scripture reveals the story of the Cross- our eternal unearned gift.

· Today’s text reveals how we need outside assistance to fulfill this task and His will.

· Let’s look at the text of Romans 8:27-28 to see how God provides us with that outside assistance.

“And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

· Paul is telling us that sometimes we just cannot see God and how He works but we can rest in the assurance that the Spirit will help us.

· Today’s text provides us with ways that God provides us with help which include the Word- by abiding in Christ- remembering how God needs us- and that we have the Holy Spirit.

I was recently reflecting on the various fads, which I have seen in my life. Fads such as pokey man cards, Rubikis cubes, Marbles, lava lamps, bell-bottom pants, Beanie Babies, Mood rings, Pet Rocks, and Weebles Wobble but they don’t fall down.

However, there is one fad that was quite popular in the 1890s and then again in the 1990s and has served as a popular motto for Christians. The fad actually began in Charles Sheldon’s 1896 book, In His Steps, in Sheldon gave a series of sermons for his Congregationalist Church. Sheldon’s motto was intended to convey a message of how we must “Walk with Jesus Daily.”

This fad is a phrase that serves as a reminder of how Jesus is the example to be followed in daily life and encourages us to act in a manner which Jesus would approve. Many of you know this fad by its acronym “WWJD.”

Christians today should continue to use this infamous fad as they look at their Christian life. Christians must remember that others are looking and this fad- serves as a checkpoint to ensure that their Christian Walk is on a good path.

· The illustration of WWJD serves as an example of how man may not understand so he needs help. WWJD provides a tool for man to look at how Christ would handle Himself in the identical situation.

· The Bible tells us not to be of this world but we recognize how difficult that is

· Therefore, the Bible reinforces how we must live “In him name, Abide in Him” so that we living according to His will and fulfilling His purpose for us here on earth.

· How many times have you asked yourself “Why?” when things have happened that you just cannot explain.

· Not all things are designed to be understood.

· Many continues to look for answers to things like how far does the universe extend, how long will the sun burn hot, how long does the ozone have let until it is completely fractured.

· We also may ask ourselves why when relationships of fifty years end- gas prices trend toward $5 a gallon or a communist nation brutally invades a neighboring democratic country.

· We may all agree that we need help in understanding.

· But what and why should we understand? Rather, shouldn’t we simply recognize that God has a purpose for Us and that we will never be able to understand everything?

· Yet, Society pushes us to understand. But understanding does not seem to be God’s intent.

The life of a Christian is much different than the ordinary person. Christians are called into action, to live a life that they cannot understand so that they can be a magnet for others to want to live the same life. How is this even possible?

Thankfully God understands- Today’s tells us when we have understanding we have no excuse. So do we really want to have an understanding for everything under the sun? Thankfully, Christians have One person who does have all the understanding. Christians are called to be Faithful Understanding so that they can travel the Christian Walk as God calls them to.

A Faithful Follower cannot always travel the Christian walk well- The Christian Walk is often loaded with potholes and unforeseen obstacles. With Christ, the Christian Walk is IMPASSIBLE.

A Faithful Follower does not have all the answers.

A Faithful Follower must not live by Society’s expectations.

A Faithful Follower must be a testimony for God, so they can reveal who He is to those who do not know Him.

A Faithful Follower will need help at times

So. Are you willing to follow Christ to the unknown, so that He can use you for His good and perfect Will? Are you ready if He calls you this week to Faithfully Follow Him and step where you may normally not want to go? A Faithful Follower Keeps their eyes directly on Christ!