Follow Me As I Follow Christ

"Follow my example as I found the example of Christ." I Corinthians 11:1

In this verse Paul makes a very insightful observation about leaders. I urge you to take note of it.

All good leaders are good followers.

All good leader follow leaders greater than themselves.

Paul became one of the greatest followers Jesus Christ of all time. Because he followed so well he also lead well.

Notice that Paul didn't say, "Follow me as I implement my selfish agenda."

Paul didn't say, "Follow me while I figure out where I should go."

He didn't say, "Follow me as I exercise my autocratic will."

Paul said, "Follow me AS I FOLLOW CHRIST!"

Paul says, "Follow me BECAUSE I follow Christ!"

You may be thinking, "No offense, Brad, but this doesn't have anything to do with me because I am not a leader."

Ok, let me ask you this, "Are you a parent?"

If you are a parent who do you want to lead your kids?

You'd better be the one to lead your kids and you'd better make sure you are being led by Jesus as you lead your children.

Are you leading?

How well are you leading?

Are you following?

Who are you following?

How well are you following?

Can you say like Paul, "Follow me as I follow Christ?"

June 16, 2016

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." I Corinthians 11:1

At least half a dozen times Paul makes a statement similar the one above.

So, is he a braggart or an egotist?

Neither!

It wasn't brag it was fact! He was the real deal! He was an authentic representative of what a Christ-follower should be. In fact, he was best example of the Christian faith available at that time!

If you were alive back then and looking for a mentor who else would you have picked?

Here's something to consider that may make even more plain to understand his claim. When Paul founded this church and pastored it the Gospels had not been written. You've heard that expression, "Your life might be the only Bible others will read." Well that was literally true of the Great Apostle! So when he offers himself as an example he is not being proud he is being practical!

So, more than 2,000 years later the challenge still comes to you and me, "Follow me as I follow Christ!"

Are you following?

Are you following like Paul followed?

Can you look your son in the eyes and say, "Son, follow Christ just like I follow Christ?"

Can you look your daughter in the eyes and say, "Young lady, follow Christ like I follow Christ?"

If you can, then have you said it?

If not, why not?

If you are not able to say that with integrity why not? 

What needs to change in your heart or in your habits? 

When will that happen?

Why not today?

Do What I Do

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." I Corinthians 11:1

Perhaps you have heard this little gem of advice, "Do as I say don't do as I do."

Pardon me, but that is the most ridiculous piece of advice ever offered by a humanoid.

First, it defies human nature!

It's just a fact that people do what they see not what they hear. You do, I do, all God's people do!

Second, people despise phonies so why would someone else take advice from one who essentially admits he is a phony?

If you have heard this advice offered I am sure it rang very hollow to you. I'm sure you saw through it and totally dismissed it.

If you ever offered this advice I have to ask you, why are you content being a phony and why would you admit it?

As a father (parent) if you want your children to embrace and model the best of values then you must set the example for them. You must be the living illustration of how those values are expressed in everyday conduct and attitudes. Don't just say it, let them see it!

The Apostle Paul boldly announced, "Follow Christ like I follow Christ! I will be your example! I will show you how to do it!"

That's godly leadership! 

Paul was very unhappy about how careless and thoughtless the Corinthian Christians had become with their conduct within the church. They were desecrating the Holy Communion, among other things. So, he devotes Chapter 10 to chastising and correcting their behavior.

What if following his earnest rebuke of these people he loved he would have said, "So......do what I say not what I do?"

Real stupid, right?

Instead, he humble but boldly declared, "Do what I do!"

Real powerful, right?

So, dads, can you with integrity say that to your children? Can you challenge them to live for Jesus like you live for Jesus? Can you urge them to follow your lead?

Do as Paul does......and as he says!

June 14, 2016

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." I Corinthians 1:1

This Summer we plan to commit ourselves to examining what Jesus had in mind when He issued the invitation to "Follow me!"

In yesterday's message I dealt with Jesus' call to follow and challenged FredWes folks to dive into the Gospels this Summer and rediscover the joy of the Gospel!

I found this quote from a Pastor named Ben Wikner on the issue of answering the call of Christ. We puts it this way, "When Jesus speaks about following Him, the more common word that Jesus uses combines the prefix indicating “union” and the word meaning “path or road”, which also means “voyage or journey”. So when Jesus says, “Follow me” he is saying “join me in my path, my journey.” It’s the idea of walking with Jesus, being near to him. It’s highly relational and communicative, but with the clear understanding that Jesus is the leader; he is setting the course. So what does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus is…what being a Christian is all about (1) This is the most basic command; it encompasses all the others. If we follow: we love, forgive, serve, etc. To be a Christian is to be united to Christ, to walk with Him, to imitate him. a. If you boil down Christianity to it’s essence, it’s about Jesus. If you boil down the Christian life to its essential element, it’s about following Jesus. Everything else flows out of following Jesus. Do you want to simplify your Christian life? Follow Jesus. Do you want to live in God’s will? Follow Jesus. Do you want ultimate meaning and purpose? Then follow Jesus. (2) Our tendency is to want to live according to a list or by a set of rules. We can get so caught up trying to follow Christianity (the religion) that we forget to follow Christ. And when it’s about Christianity (religion, rules, and lists) more than about Christ (relationship, communion, and discipleship) we will focus on doing and not doing things, rather than on walking with Jesus. a. For example, consider our call to holiness. Holiness is good, even necessary. However, if holiness is understood through the lens of the religion of Christianity, it inevitably becomes about doing good things and not doing bad things. It becomes a checklist of rules through which we determine if we (and others) are living holy lives. This mindset breeds self-righteousness and self-condemnation. It leads to a spirit of judgment toward others. Because of this, the call to holiness will be undermined, even rejected, giving way to license – we are free in Jesus! b. We must not reject holiness, but rather, rule-centered religion. The right way for holiness and sanctification to flourish in our life is to follow Jesus – his way, his path – in growing our relationship with him. If we get this right, the Christian life follows."

Everyone follows someone and it is vitally important WHO you follow and HOW you follow because where you will spend eternity will be determined by the path you have chosen to follow.

Another fact that makes following very important is the reality at you are being followed by someone. John Maxwell's famous definition of leadership in "LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE." If you can identify those who  you have influence over you will know who will be learning from your example and following you. Maybe it is a child or a grandchild who is looking to you for leadership. 

Here are a couple of questions for you to consider today:

1) Am I following Christ?

2) Who is following me?

3) Am I able to say to them as Paul says, "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ?"

Your Daily Armor

^"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:1-18

Did you put on your armor today or did you forget you are in a war?

You face a powerful and relentless enemy who never rests. He constantly attacks on several fronts with the singular goal of defeating you so he can destroy you!

This important portion of Scripture is no doubt familiar to you, as it is with me. It is a reminder that you are in a daily battle for your soul and your eternal destiny. And it identifies the true enemy of your soul and how powerless you are in resisting him in your own strength so that you will understand your need to take up the spiritual weapons that accompany your salvation.

You have:

1) The belt of truth - the soldiers belt held all his armor and weapons in place for the battle

2) The breastplate of righteousness - this piece of armor protected the soldier's heart

3) The shoes of a soldier - light, flexible, nimble assisting him in his mission as a soldier

4) The shield of faith - to knock down the fiery arrows of the enemy

5) The helmet of salvation - this guards the soldier's mind so he can think clearly in battle

6) The sword of the Spirit - the only offensive weapon is the Word of God

Essentially, this portion of Scripture promises that if you will put on your armor every day you can win the spiritual batttles. If you forget or fail to do so will doom you to defeat. It is that simple.

Let me up the ante on this already important Scripture. Not only are you fighting for your own spiritual survival, but if you will back up to the previous section, Ephesians 5:21-6:1-4, you will see that you are also fighting for your marriage and your children!

As often as I have read and studied and taught and preached on Ephesians 6:10-18, I had never noticed it's larger context - the spiritual battle is waged against you AND your marriage AND your family!

With that in mind, let me ask you again, "Did you put on your armor today?"

June 12, 2016

"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:9-13

Here, Matthew is recording the most significant event in his life, the call of Jesus to become a follower.

It's likely that Matthew still marvels as he reflects on that day when this up and coming young rabbi extended a call to the most unlikely hombre in town - a tax-collector!

Jesus didn't say "do this and follow". Or, He didn't say "don't do this and follow". He just walked up to the table where the hated tax-collector was collecting the despised taxes and simply invited him, "Follow me." And Matthew simple got up and followed.

In this story told by Matthew about Matthew is a basic and beautiful illustration on how simple it can be to follow Jesus. I have shared three truths of following and today I will share the fourth!

1) Being a sinner does not disqualify you from following Jesus it's a prerequisite.

2) Being an unbeliever doesn't disqualify you from following Jesus! None of His earliest followers believed when they began following.

3) The invitation to follow is an invitation to a relationship.

4) Following Jesus forces me to focus on WHERE I AM rather than where you are.

This is a hugely important truth for several reasons:

First, following Jesus requires my full and focused attention. I can't afford to get distracted when I am trying to keep pace with Jesus. I must follow where He leads and stay in step with Him.

Second, if I am looking a you I cannot look at Jesus or at my own heart.

Third, the more conscious I am of the work God has yet to do in ME the less critical I am of what God has yet to do in you.

The Pharisees are the example of what happens when you stop following Jesus or refuse to follow Him. When you stop following you start evaluating - others - rather than yourself.

Christ followers can't follow well if they are looking behind or if they are looking to the side. Followers of Christ can only follow when they are focused on Jesus "the Author and Finisher" of our faith!

Fix your eyes on Jesus today - and follow!

June 11, 2016

"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples." Matthew 9:9-10

I have been sharing some significant insights about following Jesus gleaned from the story of Matthew's calling to become a follower of Christ.

1) Being a sinner does not disqualify you from following Jesus it's a prerequisite.

2) Being an unbeliever doesn't disqualify you from following Jesus! None of His earliest followers believed when they began following.

3) The invitation to follow is an invitation to a relationship.

When Jesus called Matthew to follow Him it was clear to Matthew that Jesus was called him into a relationship.

Jesus was a rabbi and when you followed a rabbi you entered into his life-style and came under his teaching. So, Jesus' call to Matthew was "learn from me, live like me and let my love change your life."

I'm not sure if Matthew fully understood what that would look like or what it would require but he was ready for a change and from all he had heard about this Jesus from Nazareth He could be the someone he had been looking for.

A healthy and fulfilling relationship isn't lived "by the book". You don't start your day out by pulling out the rule book so you can check on the "do's" and "don'ts" of a relationship. Rather, you ask, "How can I get to know this person better?" "How can I help this person want to get to know me better?" 

A healthy relationship is driven by the desire to know and to be know by someone significant in your life. You find out what pleases that person and you do that thing. And you make that happen by sharing life's journey with them. You find out what that person enjoys and you share that with them. 

Out of that relationship grows a friendship and that friendship becomes increasingly more fulfilling to you as your friend adds value to your life. You develop a desire to somehow add value to your friend's life because you want to become important in their life.

Answering Jesus' call to "Follow me" changed Matthew forever! From that first invitation to follow Jesus Matthew began to change as he walked with Jesus and became a Friend of Jesus'

It may strike you odd that Jesus didn't ask Matthew to change BEFORE he began to follow Him. He simply invited Matthew to follow and that's how it began.

We often say, with our attitudes or demeanor, "If you change or when you change then you can join us and follow with us.

But Jesus graciously issued the invitation that is extended to every human being on the face of the earth. There is no one too bad or too worthless or too lost that Jesus wouldn't want a relationship with him if he/she will enter into a relationship with Him.

Tax-collectors were the most despised people in Judea and with good reason. They wielded oppressive power to extort large sums of money from the locals and had the force of the Roman army behind them. Nobody wanted to have anything to do with a tax-collector and Matthew was a tax-collector when Jesus called him to follow. Coming into a relationship with Jesus changed His life.

Who wants to have a friendship with a tax-collector? The very same Jesus Who invites YOU to follow!