Transcript WHAT KIND OF FOLLOWER AM I?

WHAT KIND OF FOLLOWER
AM I?
Leadership is not always the answer
Jesus Encountered Passive
Followers
1. These want simple answers
and arguments answered,
period.
Someone in the crowd said to him,
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the
inheritance with me.” Luke 12:13
“Are you the one who is to come, or shall
we look for another?” Matthew 11:3
Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful
to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
Matthew 22:17
Tell us, when will these things be, and
what will be the sign when all these
things are about to be accomplished?
Mark 13:4
Do we want quick and easy
answers today?
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Eating in the meeting house?
Marriages/funerals in the bldg?
Yes/no on re-marriage questions?
What is modest?
Must I attend Bible class?
Women’s role in the church?
The authority of elders?
Etc., etc., etc.
Jesus Encountered Passive
Followers
1. These want simple answers
and arguments answered,
period.
2. The passive follower wants
no personal challenge, no
change, no effort
And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good
deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why
do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.
If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to
him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You
shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear
false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.”20 The young man said to him, “All
these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If
you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow
me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful,
for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:16-22
Just like the rich young ruler…
• We don’t like wrestling with
character or behavior
• Would we rather turn away
than face our own bad
attitudes and criticism?
• Are we only interested in the
yes and no answers, the right
and wrong answers?
Just like the rich young ruler…
• Jesus challenges us and our
honesty,
• Even intellectual honesty
• Pet sins that are close to us
• Presuppositions and
traditions that surround us
with a comfort zone
And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan
bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the
Sabbath day?” 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were
put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things
that were done by him. Luke 13:16-17
Jesus called people
to think about their
actions
And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is
it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse
him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it
falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it
out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is
lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:10-12
Jesus called people
to think about their
actions.
Jesus called people
to judge the value of
a man vs. the Law!
1.Requires talking
2.Requires study
3.Requires
thoughtfulness
4.Requires vision
Teaching one
HOW to live is
seems more
important than
just what to do.
Jesus Also Encountered Active
Followers
As they were going along the road, someone
said to him, “I will follow you wherever you
go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have
holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the
Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Luke 9:57-58
These want to go with Jesus.
Jesus Also Encountered Active
Followers
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard
saying; who can listen to it?”
John 6:60
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked
with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go
away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom
shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we
have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy
One of God.” John 6:66-69
These will not leave at “hard sayings”
Sometimes they
argued with Jesus
Sometimes they
complained
Sometimes
rebuked for
worldly thinking
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke
him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This
shall never happen to you.” Matthew 16:22
So Thomas, called the Twin said to his fellow
disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with
him.” John 11:16
And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and
followed you.” Luke 18:28
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you
of little faith? Matthew 6:30
And when his disciples James and John saw it, they
Sometimes
said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come
rebuked for not
down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he
“getting it”
turned and rebuked them Luke 9:54-55
But after all was said and done, at
the end of the day…
“You are those who have
stayed with me in my
trials, Luke 22:28
The disciples stayed with
Jesus. They matured
and strengthened.
Jesus came to lead us,
not to herd us.
We are admonished…
• To grow in grace
• and knowledge
• To be equipped
• To be mature
• To be teachers
• To be examples
• To stand like men
What kind of follower
am I …
• Passive? Wanting easy
yes/no, right/wrong
answers? Or…
• Active? Following even
when it’s difficult and
requiring change?