Being a Disciple of Jesus, Part 2

He says this, he can only face one way. Right? Towards Jesus. He can't turn back, can he? And he has no further plans of his own, does he? When we're crucified with Christ, we face one way towards Jesus. When we're crucified with Christ, we don't turn back. When we we're crucified with Christ, we don't make any plans without Jesus speaking into it. Amen? Amen. That's what he's telling us to take up your cross. And are you willing to then count the cost and pay the cost to love Jesus above all? [00:47:31] (45 seconds)  #FaceTowardJesus

Look, we kind of do the same thing in our Christian walk, don't we? We we get great information and we never put it to use. The the end goal of discipleship is not just getting good information even though good information about Christ is super important. You gotta have the right information. But the truth is, you gotta put it into practice. You gotta live it out. That's where transformation happens. You can get all the knowledge in the world, but until it starts being acted out, there is no transformation. And that's what Christ is looking for in our lives. [00:27:44] (37 seconds)  #LiveOutYourFaith

You know, I told you I've been kind of dieting and watching my my my waist a little bit and what I'm eating and, you know, I I I put a salad in the in the refrigerator. I feel good about that. Haven't eaten it yet, but I feel good about it. That that's called half commitment. People go into following Christ, and I I know it's a process that takes time and and you you you mature along the way, but you gotta go in fully committed to Christ. And I believe Jesus is sharing this idea through these two stories that we read last week as well. [00:54:44] (53 seconds)  #AllInForChrist

And I cannot, in any good faith, deny it in any way shape or form because God has done all those things. He has given me power to do things that I could never ever and should be able to do. And I would never ever say, you know what? Bad decision following Jesus. Even if he wasn't true, it's still a greatest decision in the world, but it is true. It makes it even better because the only thing that's in the balance, to be quite honest with you, is your time in heaven. Your time on earth, I told you, is abundant life that he promises. And when you're fully committed follower of Jesus Christ, abundant life is yours. Amen and amen. [01:08:39] (42 seconds)  #AbundantLifeInChrist

But when Jesus said this, that was not the case. When Jesus said this, the cross was a symbol of humiliation and shame and torture. And he says, take it up. Take it up. That's what was being said. Take up the shame. Take up the torture. Take up whatever is coming your way. The apostle Paul says this, he says, we were crucified with Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. We have to be able to say that and mean that just like Paul did. [00:46:34] (38 seconds)  #CrucifiedWithChrist

And and men in particular here, fathers and husbands, the greatest gift you can give to your children and to your wife is to love God first. Sounds crazy, sounds ridiculous, sounds counterproductive sometimes, but the truth is if you love God as a husband and a father, you you are you are building into your family a a stability and a solid foundation that those who do not do that are not getting. And and and let me just tell you, that's true. You can ask my wife. You can probably ask my kids that my love for Jesus is a foundation for them that gives stability in their life and strength in their life. [00:41:34] (55 seconds)  #LoveGodFirstFamilyStrong

For some, this might cite sound a little sacrilegious, and if it does, I apologize. But I I thought about this question. It keeps coming back to my mind. And and the question basically is, alright. Well, if what if Jesus isn't true? Jesus was just some guy. There is no God, and I was wrong. I would not change a single way in the way I live if I found out it was all a lie. Because what I have done and the way I have lived and and the way that that my life has been, God has given me hope, God has given me purpose, God has given me love, God has given me forgiveness, God has given me grace and mercy. I've experienced all those things. [01:07:29] (60 seconds)  #LifeChangedByFaith

Is there a difference between a Christian and a disciple of Jesus? Are there two different categories of people? One might go to heaven and one might not or maybe they both go to heaven. I I wanna answer that question because it's an important question for us to wrestle with a little bit here. But when Jesus had his, at this point, 11 apostles, when he goes and ascends to heaven and gives them that great commission verse. Right? Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, son, holy spirit, teaching them all that I have commanded you. Right? [00:32:37] (37 seconds)  #GoMakeDisciples