1. Whom Do You Follow? Part Two Matthew 16:24

2. Introduction In the previous lesson we learned about the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. That information helps us understand our need to follow Jesus. In this lesson we will learn how to follow Him.

3. Be Like Your Master Matt. 10:24-25: “It is enough for a disciple to be like his master.” – We follow Jesus by imitating Him (1 Cor. 11:1); and walking as He walked (1 John 2:6). – We follow Him by having the same mind as He did (Phil. 2:5). Luke 6:40: “Everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.”

4. Be Like Your Master Love: – John 3:16; Rev. 1:5: He loved us – Be like Him: John 13:34; 1 John 4:19 Complete and limitless Devotion: – He didn’t look back: Phil. 2:6-8 – Consider: John 8:29; 5:30; Matt. 4:8-10; 26:48-50 – Be like Him: Matt. 12:50; 10:37 (love) Faithfulness: 2 Tim. 2:13 – Faithless=not worthy: Matt. 10:37, 38; 22:8; Lk 9:62 – Therefore, be like Him: Matt. 24:45; Rev. 2:10

5. Way, Truth, Life John 14:6 Way: – “The way by which one passes” (Thayer’s); “used of a traveler’s way…a journey…means of access” (Vine’s). – The idea is “coming to the Father”; Jesus is the way by which we do that? But how? Truth: Jesus guides us to the Father – He scrapes away the ignorance and speculation of the world to show us the true nature of God and how we can come to Him. – Eph. 4:4:17-24: Life: Jesus provides the way, manifests the truth, and is the source of life.

6. Why Follow Him? Because He IS the Way! – He not only shows us the way, He IS the Way. – His life is the life that we should have lived, but we let sin tear us from the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Through His death, we have a second opportunity. – He shows us the way. – He shows us the truth. – He gives the life with which we are able to once again serve God. If we claim to follow Jesus, but do not strive to live like Him, then we are saying that Jesus is not worth it to us! (Heb. 10:26-29)

7. Following Jesus Today Following Jesus is more than an “American past- time”: – We are not talking about joining a bowling league or softball teem. – There is no such thing as an part-time Christian. – Jesus did not take vacation from God, and neither can we! Following Christ is about finding the only access we have to the presence of God—to life. Jesus is the only way!

8. Whom Do You Follow? Do you follow Jesus, or do you follow… – Tradition? Col. 2:8; 1 Pet. 1:18 – The crowd? John 12:42 – Convenience? Luke 18:22; Acts 24:24-26 – Physical gain (I’ll serve God as long as He gives me what I want). – Other men? 1 Cor. 1:11-12; Phil. 2:12 If we follow these others things, then our devotion is only as strong as what we seek. If we follow Jesus, then nothing will get in the way of serving Him!