Craig Smith • The Foundation of the Church • September 8, 2024
The church was built around the words, “
,” not “
”…
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:16-17)
Following Jesus involves…
•
–“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…” (Matt. 11:29a)
•His
– “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)
• His
– “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” (Col. 3:16a)
•
– “If you love me, you will obey what I command…Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” (John 14:15, 21)
Three dangerous attitudes towards the struggle with obedience and sin…
• It doesn’t
– “If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7)
• It doesn’t
–“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us…If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:8, 10)
• It isn’t
– “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
•
– “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:26-28)
•
– “‘Come, follow me’…At once they left their nets and followed Him.” (Mark 1:17a, 18)
The challenge isn’t having enough
, it’s having enough
– “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely.” (1 Tim. 4:15-16a)*
