WHY I FOLLOW CHRIST

Matthew 16:24-28

Truth: Christ ask me to come after Him. Christ ask me to deny myself for Him. Christ ask me to take up His cross. Christ says there are great rewards for following Him. Are you following Christ?

I. CHRIST ASK US TO COME AFTER HIM

1. Christ saved me. Matt 16:17
2. Christ put me in His church. Matt 16:18
3. Christ allows me to have fellowship with Him. John 14:23

II. CHRIST ASK ME TO DENY MYSELF FOR HIM

1. Christ ask me to surrender my will to Him and obey Him. John 14:21
2. Christ promises to empower me to do His will. Phil 2:13

III. CHRIST ASK ME TO TAKE UP HIS CROSS

1. Christ ask me to suffer for His sake. Luke 14:26-27
2. Christ ask me to share His gospel. Matt 16:18-19

IV. CHRIST SAYS THERE ARE GREAT REWARDS FOR FOLLOWING HIM

1. Christ blesses my live with His presence. Matt 28:20
2. Christ will save my love ones and friends
3. Christ will reward my faithfulness. Vs. 27; 1 Cor 3:8

ARE YOU FOLLOWING CHRIST?

BEING A PART OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

Matthew 16:13-18

Truth: A testimony is required for church membership. Baptism connects you to the church. The church mission is to make disciples. Are you a member of a local church?

I. A TESTIMONY IS REQUIRED FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

1. Jesus said a testimony was required before church membership. Matt 16:13-18, Eph 2:20; 1 Peter 2:5-6
2. John the Baptist required a testimony before baptism. Matt 3:7-8; Rom 10:9-10; Rom 8:16
3. The early church baptized those that gladly received the word (Had a testimony.) Acts 2:41

II. BAPTISM CONNECTS YOU TO THE CHURCH

1. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Matt 3:13-17
2. Jesus chose those baptized by John the Baptist to begin His church. Acts 1:21-22; 1 Cor 12:28
3. Jesus commanded the church to baptize new disciples. Matt 28:19-20

III. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES

1. The church is to get people saved. Matt 28:19
2. The church is to disciple new converts. Matt 28:20; 2 Tim 2:2; Titus 2:3-8
3. The church is to serve one another. Eph 4:11-16

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH?

WHAT A GODLY FATHER LOOKS LIKE

Romans 4:1-25

Truth: A godly father understands justification by faith. A godly father lives his faith. A godly father instructs his children in faith. Thank God for our godly fathers.

I. A GODLY FATHER UNDERSTANDS JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

1. He knows that salvation is by faith in Christ not by works. Rom 4:1-8; Gal 2:16
2. He has been saved by grace through faith like Abraham. Rom 4:9-17; Gen 15:6
3. He shares his faith like Abraham. Rom 4:11; Proverbs 11:30

II. A GODLY FATHER LIVES BY FAITH

1. He lives for the Lord. Phil 2:12; Gen 22:7-8
2. He lives by the power of faith. Phil 2:13-15
3. He lives to lift up Christ. Mat 5:16

III. A GODLY FATHER INSTRUCTS HIS CHILDREN IN FAITH

1. He loves his wife as Christ loves His church. Eph 5:25-26
2. He loves his children by instruction and discipline. Eph 6:4; Gen 19:18; Josh 24:15; Proverbs 22:6; Deut 6:4-7
3. He loves the church by serving. 1 Peter 4:10-11

THANK GOD FOR OUR GODLY FATHERS

HOW WE LEARN FROM GODLY MOMS

Proverbs 31:1,10, 26-31

Truth: Godly moms teach us to know the Lord. Godly moms are not perfect. Godly moms never quit. Thank God for godly moms.

I. GODLY MOMS TEACH US TO KNOW THE LORD

1. Godly moms have salvation. 2 Tim 1:5, Luke 1:5-6, Luke 1:45
2. Godly moms talk about the Lord. Luke 1:46-50
3. Godly moms teach us about the Lord. 2 Tim 3:15

II. GODLY MOMS ARE NOT PERFECT

1. Moms sometimes push too hard. John 2:4-5
2. Moms sometimes want to much for their kids. Matt 20:20-23
3. Moms sometimes underestimate their kids. Luke 8:19-21; Phil 4:19

III. GODLY MOMS NEVER QUIT

1. Godly moms never quit on the Lord. 1 Sam 1:10-11
2. Godly moms never quit on their kids. Matt 15:22-28
3. Godly moms go the distance with their kids. John 19:25-27

THANK GOD FOR GODLY MOMS

THE BLESSINGS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Hebrews 10:23-25

Truth: Our church gives us a place to worship. Our church gives us a place to serve. The church gives us a place be served. I s your church membership a blessing to you?

I. OUR CHURCH GIVES US A PLACE TO WORSHIP

1. Sing songs of praise with the saints. Psa 100:1-2; Col 3:16
2. To testify of and hear testimonies of the goodness of God. Psa 107:2
3. Pray to God for the many needs. 1 Tim 2:8; Acts 4:31
4. Hear the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. 2 Tim 3:15-17

II. OUR CHURCH GIVES A PLACE TO SERVE

1. A place to use our spiritual gifts. 1 Peter 4:10-11
2. A place to encourage one another in the Lord. Heb 10:25
3. A place to give our tithes and offerings. Mal. 3:8-10, Matt 23:23

III. OUR CHURCH IS A PLACE TO BE SERVED

1. A place to give and receive love. Heb 10:24, 1 Peter 1:22; Rom 16:16
2. A place to study and grow in the Lord. 1 Tim 2:15
3. A place to receive discipleship. 2 Tim 2:2

IS YOUR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP A BLESSING TO YOU?

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH TODAY

Acts 2:41-47

Truth: The church is to assist in making disciples. The church is to baptize new disciples. The church is to Disciple new disciples. Are you doing the work of the church?

I. THE CHURCH IS TO ASSIST IN MAKING DISCIPLES

1. Our number one job is to share the Gospel. Acts 2:41, Acts 2:4,14, Matt 28:19
2. Every member should be able to tell others how to be saved. Acts 2:41, Acts 16:30-31; 1 Peter 3:15
3. When the church shares the Gospel souls will be saved. Acts 2:47, Acts 11:19-24

II. THE CHURCH IS TO BAPTIZE NEW DISCIPLES

1. Jesus commanded the church to baptize new disciples. Matt 28:19. Three things we must have for Biblical baptism!
2. 3000 new disciples where baptize at Pentecost. Acts 2:41
3. Baptism is the first act of obedience after a person tells of being saved. Acts 2:38

III. THE CHURCH IS TO DISCIPLE NEW DISCIPLES

1. Teach them the Word and show them how to live it. Acts 2:42, 44, Matt 28:20, Gal 5:16,22-23, Col 3:16-17
2. Teach them to pray and fellowship. Acts 2:42, Matt 6:9-13, Heb 10:25, Eph 4:3
3. Teach them to love one another in word and action. Acts 2:44-46, John 13:35

ARE YOU DOING THE WORK OF THE CHURCH?

BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

Matthew 5:13-20

Truth: A disciple of Jesus knows Jesus. A disciple of Jesus knows all about Jesus. A disciple of Jesus knows how to live for Jesus. Are you a disciple of Christ?

I. A DISCIPLE OF JESUS KNOWS JESUS

1. A disciple of Jesus knows when they were lost. Matt 5:2-5
2. A disciple of Jesus knows they need to repent of their sins and put their faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation. Matt 3:2, Matt 4:17; Acts 2:38; Acts 20:21
3. A disciple of Jesus knows they have been saved. Matt 5:6; Rom 5:5; 1 Tim 1:12

II. A DISCIPLE OF JESUS KNOWS ALL ABOUT JESUS

1. A disciple knows the Word of Christ. Matt 5:13, John 8:31-32
2. A disciple knows the will of God. Matt 5:14-16, 1 Thess 5:18
3. A disciple knows the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Matt 5:6, John 14:26

III. A DISCIPLE OF JESUS KNOWS HOW TO LIVE FOR JESUS

1. Disciples of Christ are the salt of the earth. Matt 5:13, James 1:27
2. Disciples of Christ are the light of the world. Matt 5:16,1 Peter 2:12
3. Disciples of Christ are righteous in Christ! Matt 5:20, Rom 10:3-4

ARE YOU BEING A DISCIPLE FOR JESUS?