Follow Me – Part 1: What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?

Follow Me: Becoming a Disciple of Jesus

Part 1 – What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?

Luke 14:26-30;33

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, Hebrews 6:1a.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:14.

14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:14.

There is a difference between casually Jesus and fully Jesus.

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’…. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:26-30; 33

Jesus wants more than followers… He wants followers!

What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?

1. Following Jesus means above anything or anyone else in my life.

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

2. Following Jesus may not always be .

59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-60

3. Following Jesus may cause with other people in your life.

26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,

    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. Luke 6:26

20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. John 15:20a

4. Following Jesus means letting Him every aspect of your life.

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24

5. Following Jesus means putting Him everything else in our lives.

33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:33

True disciples move from to to .

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. John 2:11

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15.

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16.