On any team, the best teammates are those who are fully devoted to their sport and their team. Fully devoted teammates are driven. They work hard. They are committed to their team. They do whatever it takes to support their team and win their game. Everyone wants teammates like this. When it comes to the spiritual battles happening all around us every day, Christ is also looking for followers who are fully devoted to Him and willing to do whatever it takes to know Him and make Him known.
What is something that you are fully devoted to right now?
SERMON RECAP
Bible Study
1. What is required in order to be a fully devoted follower of Christ?
2. Read Luke 5:1-11. What is surprising about who Jesus called to follow Him and how they responded to His call?
1One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
1One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
3. Read Mathew 10:37-39. Summarize Jesus' message about following Him in this passage of Scripture.
37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
4. What is the reward for being a fully devoted follower of Christ according to this passage of Scripture?
Application
1. What holds people back from being fully devoted followers of Christ?
2. What is at stake if we are not fully devoted to following Christ?
3. Is there anything holding you back from being a fully devoted follower of Christ? If so, what is it?
Take time to think about what is holding you back as a follower of Christ. What step can you take right now to let go of what is holding you back in order to follow Jesus fully? Is there something you need to stop doing? Is there something you need to start doing? Whatever you decide, share that step with your group. After everyone has shared, pray for each other. Pray that God would give each one of you the courage to let go of anything keeping you from becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ.
We saw in our Bible study today that being fully devoted followers of Christ has a cost. It requires that we say “no” to many things in order to say “yes” to Him. It requires that we let go of our own comfort and dreams to pursue Him. The reward for following Him, however, is far greater than anything that we give up. Let’s take a few minutes to understand what Scripture says about the reward for fully following Him.
Eternal Life:
Of, course, the greatest and most important reward for fully following Christ is eternal life. You see, Scripture promises eternal life for all who place their faith in Him and follow Him. That means that any sacrifice we make or anything we give up in order to follow Jesus fully pales in comparison to the eternal life that we will experience with Him one day.
1. Read Revelation 21:1-5. This passage of Scripture talks about what eternity with Christ will be like one day when He returns and makes everything new.
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.[a] 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.[a] 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
2. What stands out to you about what eternity with Christ will be like in this passage of Scripture?
3. How does this passage of Scripture motivate you as you think about Jesus’ call for His followers to be fully devoted?
Pointing Others to Christ:
When we are fully devoted to following Christ, people notice. They see our devotion to Christ and love for Him. They hear us talking about Him and the difference we have made in our lives. As we make it our mission to follow Him, we also talk about Him more boldly and commit to telling others about Him. Our decision to be fully devoted followers of Christ directly impacts us as we seek to make Him known to those around us.
1. Read Matthew 5:13-16.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
2. Describe the impact of salt and light. What happens when salt and light are not present?
3. What does this passage teach about how we, as Christ followers, impact the people around us?
4. How can we follow Jesus’ commands and be the salt of the earth and light of the world?
5. How does this passage of Scripture motivate you as you think about Jesus’ call for His followers to be fully devoted?
Helping to Equip the Body of Christ:
A final benefit of being fully devoted to Christ is that the church, the Body of Christ, is benefitted. Part of being fully devoted followers of Christ means serving His church. When we commit to being fully devoted to Christ, we take our roles in the church seriously and serve wholeheartedly. The body of Christ flourishes when we commit to following Christ fully.
1. Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-27.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
2. According to this passage of Scripture, what is at stake if we do not take our roles seriously and serve in the church, the body of Christ?
3. How has God specifically gifted you to serve in the church, and how can you use your gifts to serve at Sagebrush?
4. How does this passage of Scripture motivate you as you think about Jesus’ call for His followers to be fully devoted?
As we learned in our Bible study, when we are fully devoted followers of Christ, we point people to Him. Who do you know who needs the hope of Christ? Share that person with your group. When everyone has shared, pray. Pray for these people by name. Commit to reaching out to these people over the next week.
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves James 1:22
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