In this profound exploration of Biblical discipleship, the pastor begins by posing a challenging question: “If we say that we are following Jesus and we love Jesus – how would others know?” This question frames the entire sermon, which focuses on unpacking the church’s mission statement of developing a living faith in Christ.
Drawing from Matthew 4:18-22, the pastor identifies two essential aspects of discipleship. The first, discussed in a previous sermon, involves “leaving their nets” – abandoning old ways, customs, and allegiances to follow the true King, Jesus. The pastor emphasizes the difficulty but necessity of this process, quoting John 12:24: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
The second aspect, which forms the core of this sermon, is “following Him.” The pastor contrasts Jesus’ approach to discipleship with that of rabbis in first-century Israel. While rabbis focused on teaching information and laws, Jesus invited people into a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is not about improving our old selves but about Christ’s life living within us.
To illustrate this transformative relationship, the pastor cites several scriptures, including Galatians 2:20, John 15:4-5, Romans 8:10-11, and 2 Corinthians 3:18. These passages highlight the exchange that occurs when we follow Christ – our old self is crucified, and Christ’s life becomes our life. The Holy Spirit, dwelling within believers, is the agent of this ongoing transformation.
The sermon then shifts to the relational aspect of discipleship. Following Jesus isn’t just about our individual relationship with Him; it’s also about relationships with others. The pastor points out that Jesus immediately involved His first disciples in calling others, demonstrating that discipleship is inherently communal and multiplicative.
Addressing the modern context, the pastor acknowledges the world’s craving for genuine relationships in an age of isolation and surface-level connections. He challenges the congregation to meet this need not by creating more organizations or clubs, but by offering themselves – filled with the life of Christ – to others.
The sermon concludes with a powerful analogy of the Dead Sea, warning against the danger of receiving Christ’s life without sharing it with others. The pastor exhorts the congregation to let Christ’s life flow through them, emphasizing that the degree to which Christ’s life is in us will be reflected in our love for others.
Throughout the sermon, the pastor maintains a conversational yet challenging tone, frequently using rhetorical questions and scripture references to engage the audience and support his points. His message is a call to a discipleship that goes beyond information to transformation, and from individual growth to community impact.