Matthew 10:16-33
GET THIS: Following Jesus can bring with it great difficulty, but with Jesus by our side there is always goodness and hope even in the struggle. So might we take courage and keep going while proclaiming the good news of Jesus.

Following Jesus Isn’t All Gum Drops and Lolly Pops (verses 16-18, 21-22)

Read Matthew 10:16-18, 21-22, 24-25

I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity. —-C.S. Lewis

Authentic discipleship may exact from you the highest price relationally and the highest price physically… [but] There is no cost you can pay in following Jesus that won’t be made up a thousandfold in the resurrection. —-John Piper

Other Scriptures: Luke 14:28, 33

With Jesus, there is always goodness and hope even in the struggle (verses 19-20, 23, 26-30)

Read Matthew 10:19-20, 23, 26-30

One: V16: With Jesus beside us, we can’t trust yourself but you can trust the shepherd!
Two: V16: With Jesus beside us, we can be shrewd (survival) and gentle in the face of difficult situations.

They need the cunning of snakes without the venom. —- R.T. France

Three: V18-20: when Jesus is beside us, the Holy Spirit enables us to proclaim the goodness of Jesus in the difficult situations of life.
Four: V23: when Jesus is beside us, we can keep going in the ongoing mission of Jesus!
Five: V26-27: when Jesus is beside us, we will see the truth prevail even in the face of darkness.
Six: V28: when Jesus walks beside us, we rest in the grace of eternality and invincibility
Seven: V29-30: (last one)when Jesus walks beside us, we’re reminded that we are valued by our Heavenly Father!

The Savior of the World, born amongst the sheep
You see a Good Shepherd knows His sheep
He’s walked with them every step
He knows their every need
And this birth would be the proof of the kind of Shepherd Jesus would be
A Conquering Savior as well as an Empathetic High Priest
You see He has walked in your footsteps, He has seen all that we see
He’s been tempted, tried, and persecuted. He knows pain and suffering
He’s been beaten, spit upon, and cursed. Betrayed for little cost.
Accused though innocent. And murdered upon a cross.
And because of these things, He is able to say the two words that every sheep longs to hear.
Two words that sound so beautiful to our ears
Two words that instill trust and eliminate fear
Two words: “I know”
He knows
He knows your hurt
He knows your pain
He knows your struggle
He knows your name
He knows
And as He rose from the grave, victorious forevermore,
He knows
He knows your battle
He knows your every need
A good shepherd knows His sheep —-Folk Angel

Other Scriptures: John 10:11

Therefore, might we fearlessly follow Jesus and boldly proclaim the goodness of Jesus (verses 31-33)

Read Matthew 10:31-33

One: Fear not! Keep Going!
Two: Proclaim the goodness of Jesus

Other Scriptures:

Take Time To Reflect
(1) Have you ever encountered pushback or ridicule for following Jesus? How did you experience peace from God in this season?
(2) Do you ever struggle to believe that you are valuable to God the Father and loved by Him warts and all? What are some ways you can be reminded of this reality?
(3) Of course, the fatherly love of God and His peace in the midst of difficulty is found only by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross? Have you ever trusted Jesus as your Savior? If not, please talk to a pastor.

GET THIS: Following Jesus can bring with it great difficulty, but with Jesus by our side there is always goodness and hope even in the struggle. So might we take courage and keep going while proclaiming the good news of Jesus.