Sermons

(Matthew 9:9) As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “FOLLOW ME!” So he got up and followed Him.

TRUE FOLLOWER

All Jesus ever asks of us is that we follow Him.

1. REFUTATION

(Matthew 19:16-22) Just then someone came up and asked Him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” He said to him. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he asked Him. Jesus answered, “Do not murder; do not commit adultery’ do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and you mother; and love you neighbor as yourself.” “I have kept all these,” the young man told Him. “What do I still lack?” “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, FOLLOW ME.” When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

A. When we follow Jesus, He unlocks the beautiful secrets of life.

B. Truly following Jesus can also be inconvenient, difficult, and costly.

2. IMITATION

(Matthew 8:18-20) When Jesus saw large crowds around Him, He gave the order to go to the other side of the sea. A scribe approached Him and said, “Teacher, I WILL FOLLOW YOU wherever You go!” Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

A. Sometimes we just imitate being a follower

B. We may not even recognize this about ourselves.

3. PROCRASTINATION

(Matthew 8:21) “Lord,” another of His disciples said, “first let me go bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “FOLLOW ME, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

A. We put off following Jesus until AFTER the next milestone.

B. Procrastination is one of life’s worst enemies.

C. Procrastinating often brings terrible results.

4. DESPERATION

(Matthew 9:9-13) As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “FOLLOW ME!” So he got up and followed Him. While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collect-ors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when He heard this, He said, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A. He was desperate for all the things He saw in Jesus.

B. He didn’t just follow Jesus, he RAN to Jesus