Building Up the Church with Jesus as Our Example

Introduction:

1. How do we build up the church with Jesus as our example?

A. First, we must listen to Jesus.

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

1. If we want to build up the church, we must be willing to listen to Jesus.

A. There are things we must START doing if we want to build up the church with Jesus as our example.

B. There are things we must STOP doing if we want to build up the church with Jesus as our example.

2. We must start truly seeing Jesus as enough.

Matthew 10:25 NKJV

25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!

Body:

1. We must stop seeking examples to follow outside of Christ.

A. This means we need to learn to be content with godliness.

1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

1. We need to be content with modeling our lives after Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

A. Jesus was content with godliness.

Luke 22:41–42 NKJV

41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

2. We must learn to be satisfied with the fact that God has given us everything we need through Christ.

2 Peter 1:2–4 NKJV

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

A. We do not need worldly mentors (examples).

1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV

33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

2. We must learn to recognize Godly mentors (examples).

2 Timothy 2:1–2 NKJV

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

A. Godly mentors (examples) are those who have surrendered their lives so that Christ can live through them.

Galatians 2:20 NKJV

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

1. These Christians have learned to accept Christ as enough and have crucified their own flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:24 NKJV

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

3. We must learn what it means to be disciples of Christ.

A. Christ always did those things which pleased the Father.

John 8:29 NKJV

29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

1. If we are going to learn to be disciples of Christ, we have to learn how to take the means of escape offered by God.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2. We must learn to look to Christ for EVERYTHING.

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

A. If we are going to learn what it means to be disciples of Christ, then we must teach our children to follow His example.

Luke 2:49 NKJV

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

B. If we are going to learn what it means to be disciples of Christ, we must learn to pray like Him.

Luke 6:12 NKJV

12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

C. If we are going to learn what it means to be disciples of Christ, we must learn to be humble like Him.

Philippians 2:5–8 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

D. If we are going to learn what it means to be disciples of Christ, we must learn to do our best to live like Him.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Conclusion:

1. If we want to build up the church with Jesus as our example:

A. We must start to truly see Jesus as enough.

1. This means....

A. We must stop seeking examples to follow outside of Christ.

B. We must learn to recognize Godly mentors (examples).

C. We must learn what it means to be disciples of Christ.