Embracing True Discipleship: Following Jesus Wholeheartedly
Summary
Welcome to Easter 2025! Today, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our faith and the reason for our hope and purpose. As we embark on a new series titled "Following Jesus," we explore what it truly means to be His disciple. Recent studies from the Pew Research Center reveal a growing interest in following Jesus across various age groups, from the elderly returning to faith to passionate young adults. This trend is inspiring, yet it also highlights a concerning tendency: the customization of Jesus to fit personal comfort zones. Many are picking and choosing aspects of Jesus' teachings, much like customizing a coffee order, which ultimately leads to a shallow faith.
The essence of following Jesus is not about convenience or comfort. It's about embracing all of His teachings, even those that challenge us. Jesus calls us to follow Him fully, without customization. This call is not just about avoiding hell or seeking a warm, fuzzy relationship; it's about understanding His mission, His teachings, and His purpose for our lives. When we encounter difficult teachings or challenging circumstances, the temptation is to abandon our faith. However, true discipleship involves wrestling with these challenges, holding on to Jesus, and seeking understanding.
Jesus' invitation to follow Him is an invitation to discover our ultimate purpose and meaning. By surrendering to Him, we align ourselves with His will and experience the fullness of life He offers. Moreover, Jesus invites us to partner with Him in His mission to reach others. Despite our imperfections, He sees potential in us and calls us to share His love and message with the world.
The choice is ours: will we follow our own way, leading to death, or will we choose to follow Jesus, embracing the life and eternal hope He offers? Following Jesus requires surrender, commitment, and a willingness to wrestle with the unknown. It means making Him first in our lives and trusting Him to lead us through the darkness. As we stand together today, let us commit to following Jesus wholeheartedly, knowing that in Him, we find true life and purpose.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Resurrection's Significance: Jesus' resurrection is the foundation of our faith, giving our lives purpose and hope. Without it, our faith would be in vain, and we would be left to our own devices, leading to spiritual death. Embracing the resurrection means embracing the fullness of life Jesus offers. [00:00]
2. The Danger of Customizing Jesus: Many people today are tempted to customize Jesus to fit their comfort zones, picking and choosing teachings that suit them. This approach leads to a shallow faith that cannot withstand life's challenges. True discipleship requires embracing all of Jesus' teachings, even those that challenge us. [19:48]
3. The Call to Follow Jesus: Jesus invites us to follow Him fully, without reservation. This call is not about convenience but about surrendering to His will and discovering our true purpose. By following Jesus, we align ourselves with His mission and experience the fullness of life He offers. [26:15]
4. Wrestling with Faith: When we encounter difficult teachings or challenging circumstances, the temptation is to abandon our faith. However, true discipleship involves wrestling with these challenges, holding on to Jesus, and seeking understanding. This process strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with Him. [39:14]
5. The Choice of Life or Death: We have a choice: follow our own way, leading to death, or follow Jesus, embracing the life and eternal hope He offers. Following Jesus requires surrender, commitment, and a willingness to wrestle with the unknown. It means making Him first in our lives and trusting Him to lead us through the darkness. [46:35]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:30] - Celebrating the Resurrection
- [03:45] - Introducing the Series: Following Jesus
- [06:10] - Growing Interest in Following Jesus
- [09:00] - The Customization of Jesus
- [12:30] - The Dangers of a Customized Faith
- [15:50] - Embracing All of Jesus' Teachings
- [19:48] - The Call to Follow Jesus
- [23:41] - The Consequences of Customizing Faith
- [26:15] - The Invitation to Follow
- [30:08] - The Cost of Discipleship
- [33:45] - Discovering Purpose and Meaning
- [36:06] - Partnering with Jesus
- [39:14] - Wrestling with Faith
- [42:02] - The Choice of Life or Death
- [46:35] - Prayer and Commitment
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Following Jesus
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"
2. Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
3. Matthew 4:19 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus mean when he says to "deny themselves and take up their cross" in Matthew 16:24? How does this relate to the idea of following Him without customization? [42:02]
2. According to Romans 6:23, what are the consequences of following our own ways versus following Jesus?
3. In the sermon, how does the pastor describe the trend of customizing Jesus to fit personal comfort zones? What are some examples he gives? [19:48]
4. What is the significance of Jesus' resurrection as described in the sermon, and how does it serve as the foundation of our faith? [00:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of taking up one's cross challenge the idea of a comfortable or convenient faith? What might this look like in a believer's life today? [42:02]
2. The sermon mentions the danger of customizing Jesus. Why might this lead to a shallow faith, and how can embracing all of Jesus' teachings deepen one's discipleship? [19:48]
3. In what ways does the invitation to follow Jesus offer both purpose and eternal life, according to the sermon and Romans 6:23? How does this invitation impact a believer's daily life? [36:06]
4. How does the pastor's analogy of following someone in a car relate to the challenges of following Jesus? What does this reveal about the nature of discipleship? [26:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own faith journey. Are there teachings of Jesus that you find challenging or uncomfortable? How can you begin to embrace these teachings more fully? [19:48]
2. The sermon discusses the choice between following our own way or following Jesus. What are some areas in your life where you might be tempted to follow your own path? How can you surrender these areas to Jesus? [46:35]
3. Consider the idea of wrestling with faith. Have you ever experienced a time when you struggled with a difficult teaching or circumstance? How did you hold on to Jesus during that time, and what did you learn from it? [39:14]
4. Jesus invites us to partner with Him in His mission. Identify one person in your life who might be open to hearing about Jesus. How can you share His love and message with them this week? [36:06]
5. The pastor mentioned the importance of making Jesus first in our lives. What are some practical steps you can take this week to prioritize your relationship with Him? [43:29]
6. Reflect on the resurrection's significance in your life. How does it give you hope and purpose, and how can you share this hope with others? [00:00]
7. The sermon highlights the importance of community in wrestling with faith. How can you engage with your small group or church community to support each other in following Jesus wholeheartedly? [39:14]
Devotional
Day 1: The Resurrection as Our Foundation
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian faith, providing believers with purpose and hope. Without the resurrection, faith would be meaningless, leaving individuals to navigate life without spiritual direction, ultimately leading to spiritual death. Embracing the resurrection means accepting the fullness of life that Jesus offers, which includes a transformative relationship with Him. This relationship is not just about avoiding negative outcomes but about experiencing the abundant life that Jesus promises to those who follow Him. [00:00]
1 Corinthians 15:17-19 (ESV): "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."
Reflection: How does the reality of the resurrection influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?
Day 2: Avoiding a Customized Faith
In today's world, there is a tendency to customize Jesus' teachings to fit personal comfort zones, much like ordering a coffee to one's liking. This approach leads to a shallow faith that cannot withstand life's challenges. True discipleship requires embracing all of Jesus' teachings, even those that challenge us. By doing so, believers develop a robust faith capable of enduring trials and growing in spiritual maturity. [19:48]
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV): "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
Reflection: Are there teachings of Jesus that you find difficult to accept? How can you begin to embrace these teachings more fully in your life?
Day 3: The Call to Full Commitment
Jesus invites individuals to follow Him fully, without reservation. This call is not about convenience but about surrendering to His will and discovering one's true purpose. By aligning with Jesus' mission, believers experience the fullness of life He offers. This commitment involves a willingness to let go of personal agendas and trust in Jesus' guidance, even when the path is unclear. [26:15]
Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: Wrestling with Faith
Encountering difficult teachings or challenging circumstances can tempt believers to abandon their faith. However, true discipleship involves wrestling with these challenges, holding on to Jesus, and seeking understanding. This process strengthens faith and deepens the relationship with Him. By engaging with doubts and questions, believers can grow in their understanding and trust in Jesus. [39:14]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge to your faith. How can you approach this challenge with a mindset of growth and understanding, rather than doubt and fear?
Day 5: Choosing Life Over Death
Believers are faced with a choice: to follow their own way, leading to death, or to follow Jesus, embracing the life and eternal hope He offers. Following Jesus requires surrender, commitment, and a willingness to wrestle with the unknown. It means making Him first in one's life and trusting Him to lead through the darkness. This choice is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to live in alignment with Jesus' teachings and mission. [46:35]
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to choose life and align more closely with Jesus' teachings and mission?
Quotes
``I want to look at what it looks like to follow Jesus. I've been intrigued with some recent studies I've been reading from the Pew Research Center. And the Pew Research Center has been saying that there is this increased interest in what it looks like to follow Jesus, that in multiple different age brackets, I know that there are people actually at one of our campuses today that are in their elderly years that are returning to a life of following Jesus. But I also know that there are people that are 19 years old that are super passionate about following Jesus. [00:16:10] (33 seconds)
Maybe for some of you it's your very first time, you've been rejecting Christ, you've been kind of going, I'm not really interested in what this Jesus thing is, and then all of a sudden now there's this like hunger and this desire. If you're here at New Life Church and that's who you are, I want you to know you're at a perfect place. We are a church of imperfect people and we're on a journey to discover all that Jesus has for our lives. [00:18:07] (23 seconds)
Because the flip side of the trend, along with this desire to know who Jesus is, we're discovering that people are self-defining who Jesus is as God to be a God that meets their comfort zone. So there's a hunger to know who Jesus is, but they want Jesus in a palatable way that they can wrap their arms around, makes them feel warm, fuzzy, and good, and is comfortable. [00:19:05] (27 seconds)
And what that really means is this, that what people are doing today is they're opting in and out of the Gospels or opting in and out of Jesus's teachings. They're like, I'll take these, but I'm going to reject those. These make me feel good. These don't make me feel good. These make me feel comfortable. Those are uncomfortable. These challenge me too much. These are just right. It's like the three little bears version of Jesus. [00:19:43] (26 seconds)
Jesus is not something that you customize. No, Jesus is one that he says this, like, if you want to come follow me, then you have to follow all that I have to teach you. You get, you have to take all of my teachings, not some of my teachings. You don't get a, you don't get a piece in part, the teachings of Jesus. [00:24:28] (19 seconds)
And what they didn't know that we do know is that just three days later, after they do crucify him, the stone rolls away, right? And Jesus rises from the dead, and Jesus is alive, right? And they didn't know that was coming, but that was coming, right? That was coming. And now we see in the Bible that all of heaven, all of heaven and all of earth, now they shout something completely different. [00:30:16] (25 seconds)
But Jesus guys he's alive he's not dead in the grave which means this he's still calling you and me to come follow him those same words are echoing out throughout throughout time through the power of his holy spirit and he's saying to you and he's saying to me hey come follow me come follow me and today for all of us that are here today no matter what your relationship with God is Jesus is still saying would you come follow me. [00:32:45] (28 seconds)
So God says, come follow me, because I want you to discover purpose and meaning and eternal life. And that's what we find in Romans chapter 6, verse 23. It says, for the wages of sin is death, but watch this, a free gift. Come on, someone say free gift. The free gift of God is what? Eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. [00:34:36] (21 seconds)
He says this, that if you believe in him and you surrender your life to him and you say, I will follow you, not just for you, for all that you would share this with, that they will have eternal life. So that really brings us to this one big question. There's one big question you got to wrestle with. In light of the fact that God wants you to follow him and in light of the fact that God invites you to follow him, what are you going to do with it? [00:38:10] (26 seconds)
He says this, If any of you wants to be my follower, then here's what you have to do. You must give up your own way. Take up your cross and follow me. Give up your own way. Take up your cross and follow me. You want to be my follower? He basically goes, I set the example for you. I gave up my life. I surrendered my life. I went to the cross. [00:44:46] (33 seconds)
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