Walking with Jesus: Embracing Discipleship in 2025
Summary
As we stand on the brink of a new year, it's a time to reflect on our walk with God and consider how we can deepen our relationship with Him in 2025. The essence of our journey with Christ is not just about being believers but becoming true disciples. This involves taking up the yoke of Jesus, which is a metaphor for partnership and shared burden. Jesus invites us to come to Him with our heavy loads, promising rest and a lighter burden. This yoke is not a burden of religion or ritual but a relationship that requires us to walk in step with Him, allowing Him to carry the weight of our struggles.
The yoke of Jesus is a spiritual device that connects us to Him, implying a certain amount of work and learning. It requires us to trust Him, surrender our will, and live according to His direction. This relationship is not about coasting through life but involves active participation in His mission, which includes sharing the gospel and living out His commands. As we align ourselves with Jesus, we find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light because He bears the weight with us.
In 2025, let's not waste our lives on things that don't matter. Instead, let's choose to walk with Jesus, allowing Him to lead us and transform us. This involves making a conscious choice to follow Him daily, trusting in His promised presence, and experiencing the peace that only He can provide. As we embark on this journey together, let's commit to being in the Word, praying, and supporting one another as a church family. Together, we can make a difference in our lives, our families, and our community by walking with Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Difference Between Believers and Disciples: Being a believer in Jesus is not the same as being a disciple. A disciple actively follows Jesus, obeys His commands, and seeks to make other disciples. This requires a commitment to live out the teachings of Jesus and to walk closely with Him in every aspect of life. [36:38]
2. The Yoke of Jesus: Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us, which symbolizes a partnership where He shares our burdens. This yoke is easy and light because Jesus carries the weight with us. It requires us to move in the same direction as Him, aligning our lives with His will and purpose. [40:10]
3. Avoiding the Wrong Yokes: Many people are yoked to things that burden and enslave them, such as addictions or religious rituals. Jesus offers a yoke that brings freedom and rest, but it requires us to surrender our burdens to Him and follow His lead. [41:33]
4. The Importance of Relationship Over Religion: Walking with Jesus is about a personal relationship, not just religious activities. It's about being connected to Him, allowing Him to guide us, and experiencing His presence in our daily lives. [51:20]
5. The Choice to Walk with Jesus: Walking with Jesus is a choice we must make daily. It involves surrendering our will to His, trusting Him to lead us, and committing to follow Him in every area of our lives. This choice leads to peace and fulfillment that the world cannot offer. [01:03:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction and Greetings
- [02:30] - Reflecting on the Past Year
- [05:15] - The Call to Walk with God
- [08:00] - Understanding Discipleship
- [12:45] - The Yoke of Jesus
- [16:30] - Avoiding Life's Burdens
- [20:10] - Jesus' Invitation to Rest
- [24:00] - The Importance of Relationship
- [28:45] - Jesus Understands Our Burdens
- [33:20] - The Challenge of Distractions
- [37:50] - The Role of Trust and Surrender
- [42:15] - Making the Choice to Follow Jesus
- [46:30] - Encouragement for the New Year
- [51:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 11:28-30
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus promise to those who are weary and burdened in Matthew 11:28-30? How does this relate to the concept of taking His yoke upon us? [36:38]
2. In the sermon, what examples were given of burdens that people might carry, and how does Jesus offer to help with these burdens? [41:33]
3. How does the pastor describe the difference between being a believer and being a disciple? What are some characteristics of a true disciple according to the sermon? [36:38]
4. What is the significance of the yoke as explained in the sermon, and how does it symbolize our relationship with Jesus? [40:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of the yoke help us understand the nature of our relationship with Jesus? What does it mean for His yoke to be easy and His burden light? [40:10]
2. The sermon mentions that many people are yoked to things that burden them, such as addictions or religious rituals. How does Jesus' yoke differ from these other yokes? [41:33]
3. What does it mean to walk in step with Jesus, and how does this affect our daily lives and decisions? [45:22]
4. How does the pastor suggest we can avoid wasting our lives on things that don't matter? What role does walking with Jesus play in this? [49:33]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current walk with God. Are there areas where you feel burdened or weary? How can you bring these to Jesus and take on His yoke instead? [36:38]
2. Identify one area in your life where you might be yoked to something burdensome, such as a habit or mindset. What steps can you take to surrender this burden to Jesus? [41:33]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being a disciple rather than just a believer. What specific actions can you take this week to actively follow Jesus and obey His commands? [36:38]
4. Consider the distractions in your life that might be pulling you away from your walk with Jesus. What practical steps can you take to minimize these distractions and focus more on your relationship with Him? [57:36]
5. How can you incorporate daily practices such as reading the Word and prayer to strengthen your walk with Jesus in 2025? What resources or routines might help you stay committed? [01:15:51]
6. Think of someone in your life who might be carrying a heavy burden. How can you support them in finding rest in Jesus? What role can your small group play in this process? [48:46]
7. Reflect on the pastor's challenge to not waste your life. What is one specific area where you feel called to make a difference in your community or family by walking with Jesus? [49:33]
Devotional
Day 1: The Call to True Discipleship
To be a disciple of Jesus means more than just believing in Him; it involves actively following His teachings, obeying His commands, and striving to make other disciples. This journey requires a deep commitment to live out the teachings of Jesus and to walk closely with Him in every aspect of life. Discipleship is about transformation and growth, moving beyond mere acknowledgment of faith to a life that reflects the character and mission of Christ. It is a call to engage with the world in a way that demonstrates the love and truth of Jesus, impacting others and drawing them into a relationship with Him. [36:38]
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways can you actively follow Jesus' teachings in your daily life, and how can you encourage others to do the same?
Day 2: Embracing the Yoke of Jesus
Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us, symbolizing a partnership where He shares our burdens. This yoke is not about adding more weight to our lives but about aligning ourselves with His will and purpose. When we move in the same direction as Jesus, we find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light because He carries the weight with us. This requires us to trust Him, surrender our will, and live according to His direction. By doing so, we experience the freedom and rest that comes from walking in step with Him. [40:10]
"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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30, ESV)
Reflection: What burdens are you currently carrying that you need to surrender to Jesus, and how can you begin to align your life with His direction today?
Day 3: Breaking Free from the Wrong Yokes
Many people find themselves yoked to things that burden and enslave them, such as addictions or religious rituals. These yokes can weigh us down and prevent us from experiencing the freedom that Jesus offers. Jesus provides a yoke that brings freedom and rest, but it requires us to surrender our burdens to Him and follow His lead. By choosing His yoke, we can break free from the things that hold us back and experience the abundant life He promises. [41:33]
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you feel burdened or enslaved. How can you begin to surrender this area to Jesus and experience His freedom?
Day 4: Prioritizing Relationship Over Religion
Walking with Jesus is about a personal relationship, not just religious activities. It's about being connected to Him, allowing Him to guide us, and experiencing His presence in our daily lives. This relationship is characterized by love, trust, and intimacy, rather than mere adherence to rituals or traditions. By prioritizing our relationship with Jesus, we can experience the fullness of life that He offers and be transformed by His presence. [51:20]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your personal relationship with Jesus today, beyond just participating in religious activities?
Day 5: The Daily Choice to Walk with Jesus
Walking with Jesus is a choice we must make daily. It involves surrendering our will to His, trusting Him to lead us, and committing to follow Him in every area of our lives. This choice leads to peace and fulfillment that the world cannot offer. By choosing to walk with Jesus each day, we open ourselves to His guidance, strength, and love, allowing Him to transform us and use us for His purposes. [01:03:41]
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you need to make a conscious choice to follow Jesus today, and what steps can you take to do so?
Quotes
{"text": "His yoke is an offer of freedom and it's one we're meant to live under. Quickly, let me give you two or three things just real quick. Jesus understands your burden. You may say this morning, I don't know, does God understand the burden that I have? Does God understand the burden that I'm under? I'm dealing with my family. I'm dealing with my brother, my sister, my mom, my dad, my neighbor, my friend, my job. My physical state, does God, does Jesus even understand that stuff? Well, let me quickly say yes. You know that Jesus on this earth, he was surrounded by people in need all the time. You know the stories. Mark 10, 46, he said he comes near to Jericho and a guy named blind, they called him, can you imagine being called blind Bartimaeus? That's your name for the rest of your life. You're the blind guy. You're the blind, you're blind Bartimaeus. That's how we distinguish that from any other Bartimaeus. You know, there's slow Bartimaeus, there's fast Bartimaeus, there's blind Bartimaeus.", "start": "2786.24"} [00:46:26] (59 seconds)
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