Step by Step

Step by Step

Mark 8:27-38 – 27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

• What You Think About Jesus Defines Everything.

Who is Jesus to you?

29 Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

• Come and Die
• Come and Die to Self.
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35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation,

How do we learn to let it all go?

• Following Jesus Happens Step by Step
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The disciples didn’t become world changers overnight.

They stumbled, argued, even denied Him—but they kept walking.

Proverbs 16:9 – “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Psalm 37:23 – “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.”

What steps to take…

• Crowd: Come and See
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A crowd does not make a church, but you are welcome here.  We are inviting you in to the next step.  Andy came to church not ready to be engaged.

But today is about the second group

• Family: Come and Join us
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John 1:12 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

Responsibility and the benefits.  This is where we choose to follow Jesus together.

Growth Track:  Being a member of this family.

Documentary on the Blue zones.  People live over 100 years old and have the highest quality of life.  In every blue zone they go to church every Sunday. (secular documentary) you can add 7 to 14 years of your life if you got to church every Sunday.

But what does it require?

• Following Jesus Requires Surrender
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Surrender to God, to his purpose and his plans and become a part of the family.  Not just in name but in connection.

You can’t follow Jesus and stay in control at the same time.

Philippians 3:7–8 – 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

“Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The third call is to the

• Disciple: Come and grow
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Many Claim God is first, but our lives do not reflect that truth.

Matt 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

• God cannot be first in our words, but last in our actions.
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God, Marriage/family, career, money & stuff, Hobbies.

• Life as a series of choices about Priorities.
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The Bible teaches that anything we place in front of God is Idolatry.

Ex 20:3. “You shall have no other gods before me.

1 john 5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

How do I know if my thing that is leading me now is healthy?

• Does this lead me closer to God or distract me from God?
• Do I rely on this more than God for my comfort, identity, or my worth?
• If God asked me to give it up would I give it up without hesitation?
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Eph 4: 11-15 NLT Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. …..15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love

Minister: Come and serve

Find your place of service to others.

Lose your life to find it. Sacrifice your life to save it.

Come and die, so that you can really live.

For the crowd: embrace Christ

To the family: Get engaged. Growth track, personal commitment to church.

Disciple: Come and Grow. Align your priorities. Matthew 6:33.

Minister: Come and Serve. Find joy in using your gifts. thanks for giving or yourself.

Follow Jesus and save your soul, and live your best life now.

• One decision to follow Jesus can change your life. One invitation to follow Him can change the world.