Title: Serve Like Jesus
Text: John 13:1-20
- Relationship over ritual!
- Service is key to our life together as Christians!
- This happened in the context of the last supper – true communion takes each other into account! John 13-17
Service does not look for convenience….
- Jesus is running out of time….
- He knows He is about to undergo the hardest of tests….
- He performs the most menial of tasks….
What is service without love?
- John 13:1
- I Samuel 25:1-22
- I Corinthians 13:1-3
Title: Be Nourished Like Jesus
Text: John 4:1-42
It is always time to do God’s work!
- The harvest is now!
- Jesus’ conversation always got to the heart of His mission…
- John 3:3
- John 4:26
- The early Christians followed this example…
- Paul – Act 21-28
- II Tim. 4:2
- I Peter 3:15
Jesus found God’s work all-sustaining!
- John 4:32-34
- Matthew 4:4
- Exodus 34:27-28
- Matthew 6:31-34
Title: Send Like Jesus
Text: Mark 6:6-13, Luke 9:1-6
The sent are prepared!
- Jesus spent time with them….
- Jesus trained them!
The sent had a clear purpose…
- Gospel is paramount!
- Brings healing and freedom to all!
Title: See People Like Jesus
Text: John 8:1-11
The disingenuous accusers:
- Where was the man?
- Their question was not aiming for an answer but for a target.
- Didn’t see the woman as a woman, but as a tool
Shedding light on the subject….
- Jesus sees the men for who they are….
- Jesus sees the woman as a person who needs saving….
- Physically and spiritually!
- Calls each to take stock of their spiritual need….
Title: Know Yourself like Jesus Knew Himself
Text: Luke 9:18-27
Jesus communicated with the Father….
- Who we are is always relative to God….
- God acts, we respond!
- Jesus places Himself in relation to God through prayer….
- We must practice prayer!
Jesus dealt with misunderstanding….
- Explained Himself
- We will have to explain ourselves to a world that does not understand Christ!
- Was patient with the ambiguity – Even after Peter’s confession, he didn’t really get it….
- Recognized where the real danger was….
- Matthew 16:23 – still worked with Peter, recognized Satan’s work….
- To others
- Romans 1:16
- Matthew 28:18-20
Title: Be Confident Like Jesus
Introduction text: Mark 1:21-28 (Jesus took the situation in hand with confidence).
Confidence in speech:
- Tether what you say to the truth – I Cor. 3:7-13
- Let your actions also speak – Mathew 5 – point out the action portion of Jesus’ sermon. Matthew 13:8, 23 – expound a bit on the parable itself. I Timothy 4:16
Confidence in God’s power to change people.
- The power struggle:
- I Kings 18-19
- Luke 4:41
- 3:10, 6:12, Col. 2:15, I Pet. 3:22
- II Cor. 10:4-5
Title: Illuminate Like Jesus
Text: John 9
The Disciples
- Jesus penetrated their presuppositions… suffering is not always a result of sin
- Proved His point with action! – God’s glory displayed in his healing
The Blind Man
- Spoke to him as a man….
- Helped him in his need….
- Planted the seeds of faith and let it grow! (Jesus is invisible to him until v. 37)
The Pharisees… (Two teachers – Jesus and the blind man)
- Truth-driven! V. 17, 25
- Did not back down…. V. 30-32
- The invitation to see is always open! 40-41
Title: Have Faith Like Jesus
- Matthew 17:14-21
- Mark 9:14-29
Life will beat you down….
- The father and his boy….
- The disciples….
Cannot take our faith for granted….
- Is formulaic relational!
- Is static dynamic!
Faith lives in paradox….
- Acts, but….
- It is God doing the action!
Title: Be Flexible Like Jesus
Text: John 2:1-11 – The Wedding at Cana
Relationships are Key!
- Jesus and the wedding party
- Jesus and his mother
- Jesus and the servants
- The servants and the master of the banquet
- Jesus and his disciples
Anchored to Principle…
- The message in His method….
- Hour: 2:4, 7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 12:27, 13:1, 17:1
- Wine: John 6:53-56, Luke 22:20
- Ceremonial cleansing vs. the cleansing of Jesus’ blood:
- Heb. 9:11-14, Rev. 7:14-17
- “The best for last” – an eschatological reality:
- Rev. 21:9, 22:17
The Takeaways….
- There is time to enjoy life….
- Not everything goes according to plan….
- It is always time to do the right thing!
- Infuse every moment with meaning!
Title: Be Strong Like Jesus
Opening text: Matthew 4:1-11
Know where your nourishment comes from….
- Matthew 4:4
- Deuteronomy 8:1-3
- Matthew 6:25-26
- John 6
- Philippians 3:17-21
Know who you are….
- Identity Crisis:
- Matthew 4:3, 6-7
- 6:16, Ex. 17:1-7
- Who are you in God’s sight?
- Matthew 3:16-17
- 139:13
- 1:5
Give God His due….
- Matthew 4:8-10
- 6:13
- 50:9-12
- Jesus did it God’s way….
Be prepared!
- 4:2
- I Tim. 4:8
- II Tim. 3:16 -17
- I Pet. 3:15
Title: In adversity, be compassionate like Jesus!
Text: Matthew 14:13-21 – Feeding the 5,000
Jesus met the needs of others in times of His own need
- Jesus saw the need for solitude, did not get it. How did He react?
- Not with impatience
- Not with resentment
- Not dismissively
- With compassion
Jesus calls others to see the need!
- We are the hands and feet of Jesus….
- Jesus can do amazing things through us!
All our resources belong to Jesus!
- Time is His….
- They didn’t waste the abundance….
Title: Inspire Like Jesus!
Text: Matthew 14:22-43
What they saw Jesus do made them want to do likewise!
- 14:28
- Acts 4:13
- I Thess. 1:6
Encouraged action when Peter wanted to act!
- 14:29 – don’t be too hard on Peter – he’s the only other one to walk on water….
- Another example: Acts 18:27
Jesus rescues when we are in trouble!
- 14:31
- Jude 1:23
Title: Explain Like Jesus
Text: Luke 7:18-35
Jesus attracted attention:
- The righteous
- The needy
Jesus placed Himself in context….
- John and the prophets….
- What is our context?
Jesus encouraged right thinking….
- The lost are worth weeping over….
- The gospel is worth celebrating!
Title: Change Lives Like Jesus
Text: John 5:1-15
Jesus changes the whole person – Romans 5:12ff
In body….
- Healed the man… John 5:8-9
- We are not to ignore the physical….
- James 2:14-17
- II Corinthians 8:1-15
- Romans 15:26
In mind….
- Changed the man’s world-view…
- True healing comes from God
- Don’t hold to presuppositions (Mark 3:4, Luke 6:9)
In spirit…
- Jesus required repentance from the man – John 5:14
- Everything we do needs to point to the spiritual!
- Mark 8:36
Title: Be Intentional Like Jesus
Text: Mark 5:21-43
Jesus does not lose sight of His mission…
- Just returned from healing the demoniac in Gentile territory
- The good news is for all….
- Jairus – the synagogue ruler with status
- An unknown, unclean woman
Jesus calls us to see His mission
- The woman – Faith cannot be anonymous
- Jairus – God works in His time
- The crowd – we won’t see God’s glory if we refuse to see it
Title: Be Sure Like Jesus
Text: Mark 3:20-35
When you do the right thing, you will face opposition
- Genesis 39 – Joseph and Potiphar’s wife
- Acts 16:16-24 Paul in Philippi
- John 15:18-25 “The world hates the disciples”
Jesus was sure what He was about: Mark 5
- Some called Him crazy
- Defied normal convention – attracting crowds, couldn’t eat.
- Some attributed his actions to dangerous or wicked origins or purposes
Jesus challenged both claims: Mark 5
- Redefines relationships and priorities: v 31-34
- Calmly sets out the facts: v 23-30
- Leaves ego out of it (Mt. 12:32, Luke 12:10)
- Gives sufficient warning to where the real danger lies. Jude 9, Romans 12:19
Title: Pray Like Jesus
Text: John 17
Emphasizes the glory of God and Jesus
- Glory used 9 times in chapter 17.
- It is something we speak about….
- It is something we bring about in our actions!
Jesus’ prayer shows concern for His own….
- The connection among those who follow Jesus….
- “In your name….” We belong to the same name!
- Protection as we strive to share with others – v. 15
- To make and to keep holy….
Jesus thinks in the long-term….
- Prays for the world….
- Jesus had us in mind….
- Do we think long-term?
- II Kings 20:17-20
Title: Forgive Like Jesus
Text: Luke 23:32-43
Jesus forgives freely….
- The criminal….
- Fears God
- Recognizes his own guilt
- Knows Jesus’ own salvation is through death, not in avoiding it…
- “Today you will be with me in Paradise….”
- Romans 5:8
- Ephesians 2:8-9
Jesus brings life!
- John 1:4
- John 10:10
- In keeping with God’s purposes
- Psalm 30:4-5
- Proverbs 13:12
We have a tremendous obligation and privilege!
- We forgive without limit…
- Matthew 18:22
- Our actions and inactions are tied to eternity….
- Matthew 18:18
Title: Redefine Like Jesus
Text: Luke 24:13-35
Reality is clear….
- Jesus reprimands them for their foolishness… This should be obvious!
- Shifts all they know into the person of Himself! (The resurrection proves the worldly perspective wrong.)
A shift from sight to faith
- Jesus was invisible to them!
- What else is invisible to us?
- Are we blind to the change Jesus is making in people?
- Are we blind to the change Jesus wants to make in us?
A shift from the temporal to the eternal
- Jesus defeats death….
- Jesus instills hope!
- In Himself….
- For us!
Title: Be Patient Like Jesus
Text: John 11:1-44
Being patient will sometimes cause misunderstanding….
- We are up against an instant gratification culture… Ps. 27:14, 37:7, Is. 41:31
- There is a conflict between being and seeming… John 11:25-27
- Some will never get it… John 11:47-48
Jesus looked for the greater impact…
- Teachable moments John 11:25, 41-42
- Jesus wanted to instill belief v. 15, 45
- Jesus looked to glorify God! 40
Title: Know the Truth like Jesus….
Text: John 18
Jesus is grounded in the truth!
Life is primarily the Spiritual!
- Not financial
- Joshua 7
- John 12:4-6
- Not physical
- Matthew 4:4
- Matthew 6:25-34
- Not political
- Not institutional
Our call is to know the truth!
- The Truth is Jesus!
- Pilate ignores at his peril – John 18:38
- John 14:6