Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
- Give up.
- Take up.
- Follow.
- We’ve settled for a comfortable faith.
- We need to trade our comfortable faith for a functional faith.
Matthew 4:18-22 NLT // One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
1. Listen to Jesus
- Jesus called, they listened.
2. Follow Jesus wherever He leads
Matthew 4:19 // Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
- You have to learn before you lead.
- You attract who you are.
3. Release the things that keep us from Jesus
Matthew 4:22 NLT // They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
- What are you holding onto that is holding you back from all that God has for you?
Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
- You can’t carry your cross and your opinion at the same time.
4. Receive the authority of Jesus
Matthew 10:1-8 NLT // Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
- Your mission is collaborative and collective in the church.
- Your gifting is unique.
