Follow Me

Follow MeInvitations • March 6, 2022Teacher: Adam Barnett--Luke 9:51 ESVWhen the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his fave to go to Jerusalem.K.N. Giles"The travel narrative of Jesus has an ecclesiological purpose that invites readers to see themselves as a community on mission, always on the move, always on the journey, always in the presence of the Lord. Disciples must learn to walk the path of self-denial themselves. This travel setting becomes an opportunity for discipleship formation in which Jesus provides instruction on the nature, call, costs, and rewards of discipleship. Jesus' instructions along the way became a paradigm for the mission of the church."Ecclesiological purpose refers to theology as applied to the nature and structure of the Christian Church. Radical self-denial is required of anyone who wishes to follow Jesus.Luke 9:57-58 NIVAs they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."Luke 9:59-60 NIVHe said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." The moment to say yes and follow Jesus is never tomorrow. The moment is always now.Luke 9:61-62 NIVStill another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."βλέπωνεἰςτὰὀπίσω.Looking on the things behind.To follow Jesus requires full, undivided concentration.Lee Camp"Jesus of Nazareth always comes asking disciples to follow him – not merely "accept him," not merely "believe in him," not merely "worship him," but to follow him: one either follows Christ, or one does not. There is no compartmentalization of the faith, no realm, no sphere, no business, no politic in which the lordship of Christ will be excluded. We either make him Lord of all lords, or we deny him as Lord of any." Discipleship is the commitment.