a. Today I am beginning a series on being a disciple of Christ

1. I have called the series "Disciplewalk" and in the next few weeks I want to emphasize the steps we must take in being a disciple

b. Today I want to start with the first step and that is the step of Following Jesus

c. William Barclay writes:

It's possible to be a follower of Jesus without being a disciple; to be a camp-follower without being a soldier of the king; to be a hanger-on in some great work without pulling one's weight. Once someone was talking to a great scholar about a younger man. He said, "So and so tells me that he was one of your students." The teacher answered devastatingly, "He may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students." There is a world of difference between attending lectures and being a student. It is one of the supreme handicaps of the Church that in the Church there are so many distant followers of Jesus and so few real disciples.

d. In our time together this morning I want to consider this step of honestly following Christ as a disciple

I. IDENTIFYING THE LEADER AND FOLLOWER

a. It is important to know who the leader is so can be sure you are following the right person

b. Last spring I spent the afternoon with a man from Nuphrendoben - He showed me through their temple and also showed me their deities that all looked like men or animals with some human characteristics.

c. If I were to believe him I would be following a leader other than Jesus

d. Jesus said, John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. "

e. Jesus first words to his disciples were, "Follow Me" - I believe His first words to us are the same

1. Jesus' words to all who came to Him were to "Follow Me"

f. Jesus defined discipleship in terms of becoming a follower, learner and servant - That definition has not changed today

g. We, too, are to follow

II. FOLLOWING JESUS CHANGES US

a. When we follow Jesus our lives are changed

1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - If any one is in Christ, New Creation...

2. We are metamorphosed - Changed - Never the same

b. Every area of our lives are affected

1. A few years ago, Jack Eckerd, founder of the Eckerd drugstore chain, committed his life to Christ. Shortly afterward as he walked through one of his stores, he noticed the magazine racks with their glossy copies of Playboy and Penthouse. Although Eckerd was retired from active management, he called the president of the company and urged him to get rid of those pornographic magazines. The president protested because substantial profits were gained from their sales. Being the largest stockholder, Eckerd himself stood to lose a lot of money by such a decision. But he remained firm in his objection, and he prevailed. The offensive magazines were removed from all 1700 drugstores. When he was asked what motivated him to take this action, Eckerd replied, "God wouldn't let me off the hook!"

2. Adults being a disciple of Christ affects the way we conduct ourselves in business

a. I have talked with some of you about the ethics of some things you were being asked to do at work. Was it consistent with being a disciple

3. It affects our speech - We are to refrain from vain, crude, harmful and meaningless speech.

a. Listen to yourself sometimes - Are those the words a disciple would use

4. It affects what we watch, hear and read

a. Our Youth Director has been doing a series with the Sr. High youth on "Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll"

1. One part was to examine the lyrics of some of the music and what constant listening to that does to your perception of things - Some want to continue to listen

b. Many of you are on a steady diet and fill your mind with "trash TV"

1. Whether it is "talk shows" or MTV or Movie Channels or commercial TV where the language, violence and sex are crude and ugly and unhealthy and we are led to believe this is acceptable or normal

2. I am not saying to throw out the TV or radio - there are some good programs that uplift and encourage and music that "soothes the raging beast"

c. What do you read - I am amazed that our church library is not used more - there are wonderful books there -

1. I enjoy a good book and read many magazines but we all must watch what we read

5. What we take in through the eye and ear gates greatly affects how we think and act

III. THE POWER OF THE ONE WE FOLLOW

a. Jesus promised "POWER" to those who follow

1. We often use the excuse "I can't help myself" and that is true you can't - But Jesus in You can

b. God has in Christ done all He can to restore your relationship and fellowship with Him. We now must Believe and Follow

1. Following brings forgiveness, purpose, peace and power

2. Today some of you feel weighted down with guilt, rather aimless, restless and powerless in your life

3. Following Jesus answers those dilemmas in your life

c. That has always been the issue

d. Let me close with two illustrations that show the difference between those that are disciples and those who want to pretend they are

1. Wilbur Reese writes with biting sarcasm:

I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please

Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine.

I don't want enough of him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant.

I want ecstasy, not transformation.

I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth.

I want about a pound of the eternal in a paper sack.

I'd like to buy $3 worth of God, please.

How much of God do you want?

2. When Cortez landed at Vera Cruz in 1519 to begin his conquest of Mexico with small force of 700 men, he purposely set fire to his fleet of 11 ships. His men on the shore watched their only means of retreat sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. With no means of retreat, there was only one direction to move, forward into the Mexican interior to meet whatever might come their way. In paying the price for being Christ's disciple, you too must purposefully destroy all avenues of retreat. Resolve that whatever the price for being His follower, you will have to pay it.

e. The issue is being a disciple - the first step is to follow Jesus

1. For those of you who have never become a Christian - Today

2. Some of you have for too long only wanted $3.00 worth

3. Today is the day to burn your retreat ships and begin to follow

BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER

HYMN # 171 "TRUST AND OBEY"