June 19, 2016

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

The Apostle Paul was one of the best Christian leaders ever because he was one of the best Christ followers of all time!

There can be little debate about that!

But the encouraging news implicit in this invitation to follow Paul's example is the realization that you can follow Christ just as Paul did!

Get your mind around that for a moment!

It seems the appropriate to ask, "How should I follow?"

Here are four facts of how Paul followed Christ.

#1 - Paul looked at Jesus so he could love Him!

If you intend to follow someone you will need to focus on where he is and where he is going! You can't follow without focus!

Paul wrote later, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1

Jesus said that if a man puts his hand to the plow and looks back he is not worthy of the kingdom of God.

When you love someone you can't take your eyes off of them!

#2 - Paul looked at Jesus so he could learn of Him.

Paul's walk with Jesus began with a supernatural vision of Christ on the road to Damascus. Once he saw Jesus and learned Who Jesus is, Paul never stopped looking and Jesus and never stopped learning.

Paul was the only Apostle who did not look upon Jesus in the flesh (which was one of the criterion for being an apostle). But being a very devout student of the law, he quickly surpassed the others in his knowledge OF Jesus and ABOUT Jesus.

How do we know Paul learned about Jesus, because he wrote most of the New Testament! Most of what you know about Jesus you know because Paul learned of Him and wrote it down!

Paul couldn't learn about Jesus without looking at Jesus. Neither can you!

#3 - Paul learned of Jesus so he could live like Him.

You have heard the old saying, "You life is the only Bible some people may ever read!"

That was literally true of Paul!

As I previously mentioned, there were only a few Old Testament books available in his time and the Gospels hadn't been written yet. So, if you wanted to know what it was to be a Christian you had to study the life of a Christian! Fortunately, there was no better Christian life to look at than the life of Paul because he daily and diligently learned of Jesus!

Now you understand why Paul said, "Follow my example!"

Can you say that?

#4 - Paul lived like Jesus so he could lead like Jesus.

Leadership guru, John Maxwell says, "Leaders are readers." 

Paul was a leader not only because he was a reader but because he was a looker (focused on Jesus) and a learner, and he lived the life.

Maxwell also says, "Leadership is influence" and Paul lived to influence people for Jesus.

Every church he planted, every epistle he wrote, every sermon he preached, every Timothy he discipled and every prison guard he was chained to was profoundly influenced by Paul.

You have been and are being influenced by him even as you read this! I am being influenced by him as I write it.

The question is, will we be influenced enough to look upon Jesus, and learn of Jesus, and love Jesus so we can lead people to Jesus?

July 18, 2016

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

If it is your responsibility to lead your family, and it is!

And if you need to be a follower in order to be a good leader, and you do.

The question becomes who are you following?

Are you following someone who will challenge you and change you and cause you to grow?

Are you following someone you would want your spouse a or kids to follow?

If you are following the One Paul followed you will be a good place! You will have a blessed present and a bright future!

Paul was one of the best leaders ever. 

He had a profound influence on the world in his day, because of his influence on the Church of Jesus Christ. 

You and I still benefit from his leadership!

FredWes benefits from his leadership.

These truths shine a light on another profound fact of leadership. When you lead you are influencing at least two generations! Perhaps more than two!

How you lead your children will influence how your children will someday lead theirs and beyond.

Jesus calls you to follow Him. 

There are many reasons why you should follow Christ and following Him so you can lead your family well is one of the best reasons!

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?"