COME, FOLLOW ME
BECOMING A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
Have you ever had someone say they’d do something for you, but not follow through? Maybe you’re a parent, and asked your kids to help around the house, with a ‘yes mum or yes dad’, but half an hour later, the job is still not done! Maybe a work colleague has said they’d do something, but when checked later, it hasn’t been done!
Most likely, we’ve all experienced this in some way.
In the book of Mathew, Jesus addresses His followers, with this in mind. Chapter 7, verses 21-23, says, ‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’
Jesus wants our first yes to him, to be our daily yes in following him. That we would live a life of partnering with God, to see His kingdom outworked here on earth.
REFLECT
Q. What stood out to you from Sunday’s message ‘Becoming a Follower of Christ’, and why?
READ
Mathew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’
Q. What does it look like in your life to be living and outworking the will of the Father?
- God’s will is that we know Him, and that we would make Him known to others. How do you outwork in your life, knowing God and making Him known?
Q. What is the cost in your life, to following Jesus?
- Our personal cost can look different to others, and in our changing seasons of life. Sometimes, our cost can be things like, our time, our discipline, our habits, our pride, our plan, our finance.
Q. Has there been a time where you’ve seen someone else’s life changed on the other side of your obedience?
- It doesn’t always take much, but it does take something to make a difference in the life of someone. It starts with our obedience to outworking Gods plan and following through with an action that practically meets a need.
Q. Is there a cost that feels too high and gets in the way of saying yes to Jesus?
- What have been some challenges in staying on track with God’s purpose and vision for your life.
THREE WAYS TO FOLLOW JESUS
LIVE COMMITTED TO GODS WORD AND HIS WAY
Following Jesus is a daily journey. Proverbs 16:3 says to Commit your works to the Lord (submit and trust them to Him), And your plans will succeed (if you respond to His will and guidance).
LIVE COMMITTED TO GODS VISION FOR OUR LIFE
How we see our future is how we will live our life out today. We’ve got to know the reality that God has a vision for our life. Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans and thoughts I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.’
LIVE COMMITTED TO WHO WE’RE PURPOSE TO CARRY
Who is following you? Read the account of Luke 5:18-26. The man who was paralysed received complete healing, not because of what he did, but because of Jesus and what others did for him.
Share with your group how these 3 ways of following Jesus can be implemented into your life.
PRAYER & ACTION
- Lord, help me to follow you daily, to see your vision for my life, and to carry others to their best life in you.
- Share with others your personal testimony of what God has done and what God is doing in your life.
- Be prepared when opportunity comes your way to encourage, share, and give to others.