FOLLOWING OR FALTERING?

MT. 4:18-22                                                           Pastor Rick Jackson*

 

People look for excitement in many areas- play, work, athletics, music, business, education, government, etc. – strangely enough there is a lifestyle that has the capacity of exciting and thrilling everyone. To put it simply- follow Christ!

Following Christ for the disciples meant a change of direction, of language [Pete had a problem here], of interest, of priorities. What is the excitement, the challenge in following Christ?

 

I. TO FOLLOW CHRIST IS TO FOLLOW THE GREATEST OF ALL- THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

 

1. To Follow Christ is to Receive Him as Saviour [Jn. 1:12, Rm. 10:8-10]

 

2. To Follow Christ is to Love Him & Others [Jn. 14:23, 1 Pet. 2:17, Mt. 5:44, Lev. 19:18]

 

3. To Follow Christ is to Obey Him [Mt. 4:19-20, 22; 1st Samuel 15:22]

 

II. TO FOLLOW CHRIST IS TO WALK BY FAITH

 

1.  Walk by Faith in Youth [Ecc. 12:1, Dan. 1:8, 1 Sam. 17]

 

2. Walk by Faith in Shadows [Ps. 23:4]

 

3.  Walk by Faith in Success [Acts 8:5-8, 25ff]

 

III. TO FOLLOW CHRIST IS TO ENGAGE IN THE WORK THAT PAYS THE HIGHEST DIVIDENDS [Mt. 4:19]

 

1. Believe the Lord- He has Commissioned Us [Mk. 16:15, Acts 1:8]

 

2. Believe the Bible- men are lost without Christ [Jn. 3:18, 36, Rm. 3:23]

 

3. Believe the Gospel- Christ alone can Save [Rm. 1:16, 1 Tm. 2:5-6, Acts 4:12]

 

*inspired by Lee Roberson