4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 1Thes.1:4-8

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me

WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW CHRIST?

1.TO FOLLOW CHRIST MEANS THAT WE IMITATE THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. Everything that Jesus did and said, that’s what Paul wanted to do and say. The church benefitted from his godly example: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ - 1 Corinthians 11:11 Corinthians 11:1 What would Jesus do, that’s what we want to do.

2.TO FOLLOW CHRIST MEANS THAT WE PURSUE THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST. We want to know Christ better and better each day. Not just a set of facts about Christ, but Christ Himself. Philippians 3:10-11 “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead“ Philippians 3:10-11

3.TO FOLLOW CHRIST MEANS THAT CHRIST IS OUR FOCUS, OUR GOAL, AND OUR CHIEF DESIRE. Christ is the center point of our mind, heart, body and soul. Everything that we do, we do for Christ’s glory. As we run the “race marked out for us,” we lay aside the entangling sin and worldly distractions, “fixing our eyes on Jesus” Hebrews 12:1-2Hebrews 12:1-2 He is our life.

4.TO FOLLOW CHRIST MEANS THAT WE ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP ANYTHING THAT PREVENTS US FROM HAVING CHRIST. Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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 and be found in him” Philippians 3:7-9 “Philippians 3:7-9 We cling to the promise of our Lord in Mark 10:29-30 that our sacrifices for Jesus’ sake will be repaid a hundredfold.Mark 10:29-30 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me FOLLOWING JESUS

1.TO FOLLOW JESUS IS A MATTER OF DECISION "If any man will..."

2.TO FOLLOW JESUS IS A MATTER OF DIRECTION "...come after me..." FOLLOWING JESUS

3.TO FOLLOW JESUS IS A MATTER OF DENIAL "...let him deny himself..." FOLLOWING JESUS

4.TO FOLLOW JESUS IS A MATTER OF DEATH "...and take up his cross daily..." Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me FOLLOWING JESUS

5.TO FOLLOW JESUS IS A MATTER OF DEVOTION "...and follow me." FOLLOWING JESUS