Sermons

Following Jesus

This is a series about following Jesus.
When you hear that phrase, how do you respond? If you’re like most, you give a hearty, “AMEN, BROTHER!” But, sadly, that’s about as far as it goes.
Jesus declared, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) and “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
When He spoke these words, 12 young men did follow Him!

Jesus and the Desperate Housewife

In John 4:4 Jesus says to His disciples, ‘…I must needs go through Samaria…’ Well, He didn’t HAVE to go through Samaria. He could have taken the long route like other respectable Jews. Jesus, obviously, felt the imperative to take these twelve Jewish men, who are to be the progenitors of the Kingdom, through a region they had avoided their whole life. He wanted to go through a region His culture had been taught to avoid. He walks into Samaria and goes to the first town of Sychar. He then makes His way to the middle of town and sits down at a well where He meets A WOMAN. This is not just any woman. It’s a Samaritan woman! Oh, my goodness, what in the world is Jesus doing?

Feeding the 5000

I believe that all of us are aware that pain is part of the process of moving forward in life; so, how did Jesus handle pain? Well, interestingly, when Jesus heard of John the Baptist’s death, He took the disciples and withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place. However, by the time they arrived, the crowd had followed them, and Jesus was deluged again with needy sheep in search of a shepherd. Jesus, through great personal pain, grief, and loss has such empathy for their need that He reaches out and ministers to them.

Feed My Sheep

John 21 begins with seven of the disciples led by Simon Peter, deciding, after the resurrection, to return to business as usual. They were obviously failures as disciples of Jesus. They had hoped that He would have been the one to “pull off” the great prophecies that were spoken concerning the Messiah, but their hope was in past tense. They had lost hope now. Maybe they could go back to their former life. Jesus had other plans for them and met them on the shore of their dilemma challenging Peter as only HE could.

Peter Walks on Water

It’s the rainy season on the Sea of Galilee, and a strong westward wind turns a short trip into a frightening battle for survival. What is more scary – the storm or the strange figure that is coming toward them seemingly walking on the water? Whose idea was this? Jesus thought it up. And is He here now? Nooo! But they do see a ghost! What is this? Is this what it means to follow Jesus?

Jesus Walks on Water

Some Believers conclude that the reason they are humming along great and you are struggling is that they are doing something that you’re not doing. They have principles, steps, tools, or goals (written down so they become magic), that you don’t have. If you could learn to be more like them and do what they do, you could be blessed like them. The truth about following Jesus is that Jesus is not an algorithm or formula. You know… push – pull – click – click – be spiritual that quick! The fact is – life with Jesus comes in waves!

Jesus Calms the Storm

Jesus calms the boisterous sea! What an incredible event! Jesus enters a boat along with His disciples … they cast out into the Sea of Galilee … a tremendous storm blows in … He’s their Messiah … and He’s fast asleep on a cushion! Can you imagine the looks they must have given Him? Like … REALLY, JESUS?