FBC Sunrise Beach
Walking the Path of True Discipleship

      • John 6:35CSB

  • He Is Lord

      • Psalm 34:8CSB

  • Great Are You Lord
  • Jesus Is Lord of All

      • Revelation 3:20CSB

  • Draw Me Close
  • Summary: Discipleship is an ongoing journey where believers must navigate their faith daily, embracing growth, challenges, and the call to become more like Christ.
    Application: This message can inspire Christians to see discipleship as a lifelong journey that shapes their character and priorities, encouraging them to persevere through trials and seek spiritual growth in their everyday lives.
    Teaching: The sermon focuses on the dynamic process of discipleship which not only involves following Jesus but also growing in His likeness through trials, teaching us that true discipleship requires commitment and continual transformation.
    How this passage could point to Christ: Throughout Scripture, Christ is the ultimate model of discipleship, demonstrating what it means to live in service, love, and sacrifice, setting the standard for how we are to follow Him as His disciples.
    Big Idea: True discipleship is not just about following rules but developing a heart for Christ that transforms our lives, enabling us to reflect His character in every aspect of our existence and in our relationships with others.
    Recommended Study: As you craft this sermon, consider exploring the role of perseverance in discipleship using theological studies in Logos. Examining historical and contemporary examples of discipleship can provide practical insights. Additionally, reflect on how various biblical figures exemplified the journey of faith to illustrate the transformative effects of true discipleship.
    Luke 9:23–25 ESV
    23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

    1. Christ's Call to Commitment

    Matthew 4:18–22 ESV
    18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
    In this passage we see Jesus calling His first disciples
    In this we see an incredible example of commitment
    we see this call to follow Jesus
    Mind you they knew very little at the most about Jesus
    But in this instance they recognized a call
    a call to follow
    a call to answer from the Master
    Jesus simply says follow me and I will make you fishers of men
    what a call
    Jesus uses their language to reach out to them
    He uses their language reach them
    He calls them off of their boat
    Jesus using ordinary people
    calling ordinary people
    but how do they respond
    they drop everything!
    What a commitment to God
    These guys left their fathers family business
    they left everything they knew
    they left it all
    why?
    because the Master had requested their attention
    more than that He had requested their commitment
    both groups recognized a call from the Master and followed Him
    While they did not know much about Jesus yet we do!
    And with that understanding of Jesus comes our own call
    Jesus has called for us to be fishers of men
    he has called for us to follow Him
    The first step of discipleship is recognizing the call
    leading to salvation
    The second is answering with commitment
    Jesus calls for a group of commited believers to do the work of the Lord
    These guys were sold out for the Kingdom of God since day 1
    they did not follow for three years and give up
    they eventually were so commited it cost them their lives
    Jesus wants determined commited followers
    whole heartedly seeking Him above everything else
    Which leads us to understanding the cost

    2. Cost and Cross of Following

    Luke 9:23–25 ESV
    23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
    Jesus very directly tells us in Luke that there is a cost of Discipleship
    not saying there is an entry fee
    or a monetary cost
    instead it is much more
    it is a cost of surrender
    to some extent it could be the cost of life itself
    Jesus is calling man to pick up his cross every day and follow Him
    Jesus carried His cross we carry our cross
    He carried His cross for us
    we can at least carry our cross for Him
    even though we won’t have to use ours
    Jesus wants complete surrender
    to the point where Jesus calls for those who save their life will lost it
    whoever loses His life will keep it
    Jesus said this life is much less important than our eternal ones
    Here on earth we have two lives we can live for
    we can live for the physical life
    we can live for the eternal life
    the physical life will be overcome with demands and needs that are all temporary
    it will be filled with self satisfaction
    it will be filled with a selfish mentality
    a life lived for the world that does not reflect the glory of Heaven
    Thus we get to the eternal life
    a life lived for God
    a life lived for God’s purpose
    a life that is not focused on the temporary
    but is focused on the eternal
    The chiefs have a chance to make NFL history today
    they have a chance to do what has never been done before
    win 3 consecutive super bowls
    what a great accomplishment
    in this life
    and I say this knowing I will be watching the game in anticipation
    But there is a flaw in these first in history accomplishments
    we are talking about temporary history
    a history that will not stand the rest of time
    a physical history
    Yes it is an incredible thing to strive for in the temporary realm
    but there is a spiritual realm that is worth so much more
    a realm that lasts for all eternity
    this is the realm that Jesus calls us to
    I am not saying you cannot be a Chiefs fan and watch Chiefs football and hope for the 3peat
    What I am saying is this is not what we should live for
    this should not be our main focus of any day
    this should not be an idol of worship
    Our focus should be on the eternal God and His agenda first and foremost
    seeking any and every chance to increase His Kingdom
    even if it costs us our lives
    Jesus calls to complete surrender which means understanding following Him means death to self and possibly death from persecution on earth

    3. Connection for Spiritual Conversion

    John 15:1–8 ESV
    1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
    James 1:22–25 ESV
    22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
    to this point we have recognized the Call
    we have answered the call with a commited heart
    we have understood the cost and cross of Discipleship
    now we must understand Faith in action
    you see any person who is of God will produce fruit
    a vine without fruit is not possible
    God’s love is so overflowing it produces fruit that is not assumption that is fact
    100% of the time it produces fruit
    why?
    because it is life changing
    This is far from works based Salvation
    This is recognizing that once we accept the Lord
    we have a desire to serve the Lord
    the balance here is recognizing the higher calling God has placed on us as servants of His word
    we are called to produce fruit for Him

      • Luke 9:23–25CSB

      • Matthew 4:18–22CSB

      • Luke 9:23–25CSB

      • John 15:1–8CSB

      • James 1:22–25CSB

  • Have Thine Own Way
FBC Sunrise Beach
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