Fan or Follower

Let's try it again.

Let's try it again.

How about that?

Does that make a difference?

There we go.

Oh, this is fun.

Normally I do this behind closed doors, but y'all get to see it all.

That's okay.

There's no secrets.

Okay.

Here we go.

Is that better?

All right.

So we're talking about a definition of what it means to be a disciple.

Let's see if this thing is working yet.

Yes.

Hey, we're all there.

Okay.

I like this one.

It was not original to me, but I found it and I found about 45 of them and I really like

this one.

So I wanted to share this with y'all.

A disciple is someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to

the mission of Jesus.

How about that?

I think that's pretty good.

It's someone who is following Jesus.

It's someone who is following Jesus.

I say it that way because different than was following Jesus, or maybe wants to be following

Jesus, or thinks following Jesus is a good idea.

But an actual disciple is someone who is following Jesus.

Jesus is being changed by Jesus.

Jesus is being changed by Jesus.

Jesus is being changed by Jesus.

And is committed to the mission of Jesus.

Jesus is being changed by Jesus.

Jesus is being changed by Jesus.

So, if we keep that definition of what it is to be a disciple in our minds, then let's

look at our text.

Luke chapter 9.

Luke 9 · chapter mention

Would you mind standing with me as we read it together?

And then you can be seated as we go on a recap of the previous weeks.

Let's read Luke chapter 9 and verse 23 together.

Luke 9 · chapter mention

I'm reading from the New Living Translation.

Then he said to them all, if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take

up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it.

But whoever loses his life because of me will save it.

For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world and yet loses or forfeits himself?

Let's take one more look at verse 23.

Then he said to them all, if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take

up his cross daily, and follow me.

Would you be seated?

God, I pray that you would speak to us deeply from this verse.

We've been breaking it down.

We've been diving into it, taking a deep look at this verse, at your definition of what it

looks like to follow you.

I pray that you would let it take strong, deep roots within us.

Change us into a church of Jesus followers.

We'll give you the glory for it.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

By way of review, three weeks ago, we looked at this first part of the verse that we highlighted

just a moment ago.

If anyone wants to follow after me, and we talked about the Jesus way.

Our choir sang that powerful song, I choose the Jesus way.

Well, that's a wonderful thing to choose.

It's a wonderful thing to say and to sing.

But what does it mean?

Well, we accepted the challenge.

If we commit to the Jesus way, then we can watch God transform us from the inside out

into becoming his disciple.

Then we moved on just a couple of weeks ago into the next part of the verse.

Jesus said, if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself and then take up his

cross daily.

And so what does it mean to live in denial the Jesus way?

And our takeaway that Sunday was denying myself starts on the inside as God transforms me again

from the inside out into becoming his disciple.

Man, our man focus is so often from the outside in, right?

As long as we've got the outside looking good, we're not so much worried about what's going

on on the inside.

But Jesus is completely the opposite.

You start on the inside.

He challenges us that the inside is so often rotten.

And then he will change what's on the outside starting from within.

And then we moved on last Sunday as we observed the Lord's Supper into taking up our cross.

We read the final commandment here to take up his cross daily right before he reminded us

to follow him.

So what does it look like to take up his cross daily?

There was a cost involved, wasn't there?

And so what is the daily cost?

Our takeaway last Sunday, following Jesus means daily following him to the cross.

It was a one-way journey to the cross that would result in death.

There was a daily death to ourselves, to our ambitions, to our goals, to our preferences,

to our desires, and embracing the life of Christ, dying to ourselves and embracing his life.

So we're on to the last part now.

Follow me.

Before we get there, I want to take a little pivot, a little about face, and take you somewhere unexpected.

Does anybody know who these guys are?

I know he does.

Austin, why don't you come up here and tell everybody real loud.

I mean, you've got to use your outside voice.

Why don't you come up here and tell everybody who they are?

Seriously, you've got to use your outside voice.

Tell them who they are.

Dude, perfect.

Everybody hear that?

For the people in the back?

Dude, perfect.

There you go.

All right.

Dude, perfect.

Yep, that's who they are.

Now, I am a fan of dude, perfect.

Do you know why I'm a fan of dude, perfect?

Anybody want to take a guess?

Just take a guess.

They're not perfect.

Trust me, they're not perfect.

Because they're funny.

That's actually not why I'm a fan of dude, perfect.

Christian.

I like that.

Athletes.

Yes.

We're hitting all around it.

Yes, because they're unique.

Disciples.

That's good.

That's good.

Do you think I would care at all about them if my kids, that's it.

Because my kids like them.

That's why.

They were not even on my radar until my kids started watching them.

Well, then, obviously, I'm going to check them out.

You know, what are these guys about?

Well, I found out they are very bold Christians.

I mean, they don't hide their faith at all.

And they produce clean content.

Absolute clean content.

And I really am very grateful for that.

Because it's really hard to find clean content that you can just let your kids watch and not worry about what they're watching.

So, that's why I'm a fan of Dude Perfect.

It's really nice to have that in today's world.

So, I'm a fan.

My kids are more than fans.

They're followers of Dude Perfect.

Right?

I took Austin.

We drove up to Oklahoma City.

And we attended one of their shows.

Because he is a follower of Dude Perfect.

They clicked the follow button on YouTube.

And they, if anything else is going on, they're playing with toys.

Or they're playing in the backyard.

Or they're, you know, doing something else.

And all of a sudden, they hear that there's a new Dude Perfect video on YouTube.

Everything else stops.

And they're going to run over and watch the new Dude Perfect video on YouTube.

Whatever it is.

And it's usually some death-defying stunt or something ridiculous.

But it's entertaining.

Right?

And these guys are some of the most popular people on YouTube.

Which I'm kind of glad about in today's world.

With all the crazy stuff that's out there.

So, I'm a fan of Dude Perfect.

My kids are followers.

There's a difference there.

Right?

Here's the question.

I used that particular example.

We could use anything.

We could go to football.

I don't want to get into football right now.

Because, you know, there's the Texas OU game that happened yesterday.

And, you know, I'm a Texas fan.

And we had a good time.

Anyway, I want to have class in victory.

So, anyway.

Man, when we're talking about football for a minute.

Now, I was raised in Texas.

But I have not met people so devoted to high school football until I came up here.

I mean, I met guys that will travel to the Metroplex to watch teams play that they're not even connected to.

And I'm like, wow.

Those guys are followers of Texas high school football.

That's amazing.

There's a difference between a fan and a follower.

My question for you is, are you a fan of Jesus or are you a follower of Jesus?

Let me take another turn for a moment.

Let's go back to the passage that we read just a moment ago.

Look back at your text for a moment, would you?

Luke chapter 9 and verse 23.

Luke 9 · chapter mention

Then he said to them all,

If anyone wants to follow after me,

let him deny himself,

take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

Jesus never asked for fans.

I don't think Jesus wants fans.

I don't think he's interested in fans.

But do you think there's a lot of fans of Jesus in the world today?

Do you think...

Whoa.

Apologies, y'all.

Do you think that the majority of people

who would identify as Christians in the world today

are more fans or followers?

Y'all talk back to me.

I would agree with you.

I think that's absolutely true.

I read a book a long time ago,

many, many years ago now,

that kind of struck a difference between these two things,

fans and followers.

And that stuck with me all these years later.

And every time I read this passage,

Luke 9, 23,

I'm reminded of the difference

in being a fan and being a follower.

In my study for this sermon,

I came across the following paragraph,

and I'd love to share it with you now.

The ancient Jews had a saying

that captures this idea of discipleship and transformation.

Y'all stick with me through this.

This is gonna be really, really cool

and something that I really doubt you've ever heard before.

I know I hadn't heard it before.

The ancient Jews said that if you find a good rabbi,

you know what a rabbi is?

The teacher,

kind of the great pastor leader for the ancient Jews.

If you find a good rabbi,

you should cover yourself in the dust of his feet

and drink in his words thirstily.

The expression probably draws on a well-known site

for ancient Jews.

Disciples were known for walking behind their rabbi,

following him so closely

that they would become covered with the dust

kicked up from his sandals.

This would have been a powerful image

for what should happen

in the disciples' life spiritually.

Disciples were expected to follow the rabbi

so closely

that they would be covered

with their master's whole way

of thinking, living, and acting.

Thousands of years later,

you and I are called to do the same.

Though you and I might travel more often

on paved roads instead of dusty ones,

although out here we have some dusty roads,

don't we?

We are still called to be disciples,

to follow our rabbi,

Jesus Christ,

so closely

that we are covered

by the dust of his life.

This is exactly the kind of disciple

that Jesus is looking for.

He calls us to imitate him.

When I read that paragraph,

that impacted me so powerfully.

And I found this,

and I wanted to share it with you.

This was a first century Jewish blessing.

May you be covered

in the dust of your rabbi.

Y'all,

that is what

I want our church to look like.

Forget what I want.

That is what God

wants our church to look like.

That we would be covered

in the dust

of Jesus' feet.

That we would walk

so closely behind him,

following in his footsteps,

that you and I

would be covered

in the dust

of his feet.

So my question to you is,

how dusty are you?

How dusty are you?

How dusty am I?

How dusty

are we?

Church,

the truth is,

we're all dusty.

We're all covered

in the dust

of whomever

or whatever

we have been following.

We've all been following something.

We've all been following someone.

So whose dust is on you?

Is it the Lord's?

Or something else?

We all have a rabbi.

We all have something

that we follow.

Something that we listen to.

A voice

that we give honor to.

A voice that we heed.

A person that we listen to.

A passion

that we prioritize.

We all have something

that we follow.

Whose dust

is on you.

May you be covered

in the dust

of your rabbi.

So what does it look like

to follow

our rabbi?

The Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, I believe

it looks like

serving him

and going

wherever he goes.

I think that's

what the disciples did.

I think that's

what our Lord

wants us to do.

We serve him

and we follow him

wherever he goes.

Let's look at

John chapter 10

John 10 · chapter mention

and verse 27.

My sheep

listen to my voice.

I know them

and they follow me.

Jesus wants us

to follow him

wherever he goes.

He calls us sheep

and we know

that sheep are ignorant.

And I don't think

God wants to demean us

but he wants us

to remember

who we are

and who he is.

That we are

in desperate need

of him.

We are helpless

without him.

And we must lean

on him

and look to him

for help.

And so we follow him

wherever he goes.

And we must listen

to the words

and learn

to depend on them

and crave his teaching.

Because otherwise

we tend to think

that we can get

through this life

just fine

without it.

My sheep

listen to my voice

and they follow me.

And then John 12, 26.

Anyone who wants

to serve me

serve me

must follow me

because my servant

must be

where I am.

Sounds like

we got to get dusty.

We got to stick

pretty close to him.

The father will honor

anyone

who serves me.

We've got to stick

close

to our rabbi.

So

what does it look like

to follow

our rabbi?

Well

it looks like

being an acolyte

instead of a stylite.

We're going way back

to the beginning here

okay?

I got to remind you

what was a stylite?

Well a stylite

way back in week one

three weeks ago

that was an extreme

example of self-denial.

Remember the guy

who would erect

a pillar

and he would sit

on top of it

and he would

shut himself off

from society

and he would stay there

for weeks,

months,

or even years.

Guy sat there

on top of his pillar

for 30 years

and eventually died

because that's what

he thought God

wanted him to do.

That certainly

wasn't what God

wanted him to do.

Well

that of course

is not

what God

calls us to do.

That has no part

of God's mission

on this earth

as according

to scripture

and what's revealed

to us in the word

of God.

So instead

of doing that

how about

being an acolyte?

What is an acolyte?

An acolyte

is one

who attends

or assists

a leader.

I just thought

the comparison

of these two words

was kind of cool.

Okay?

Since we introduced

you to the word

stylite,

well let's compare

it to this.

And why did we

choose this word

acolyte?

Because we get

the word acolyte

from the Greek

word akalutheo.

Why are we

getting into

the Greek word

akalutheo?

Do you know

why?

Because we

just read

Luke 9

23 a minute

ago and the

final words

of Luke

9

23

were

do you remember

two words?

What was it?

Follow me.

Do you know

what that Greek

word is there?

It's one word

follow me.

Akalutheo.

Akalutheo.

From that we

get this word

acolyte which

means one who

attends or

assists a

leader.

It can also

mean to

become a

disciple.

So I challenge

you don't be

a stylite.

Don't be

someone who

shuts yourself

off from

everybody else.

says that's

just who I

am.

Don't be

someone who

puts yourself

up on a

pillar and

raises yourself

up above

everybody else.

Says I'm

too good for

everybody.

Be one who

walks in the

feet of

Jesus.

Be one who

gets covered

in the dust

of Jesus'

feet from

following so

closely.

Be one who

walks so closely

you're there

to serve

Jesus.

You're there

to learn

from his

teaching.

You're there

to hang on

his every

word.

I'm thinking

of the

difference in

Mary and

Martha,

right?

Martha was

just there

to impress

Jesus.

She was there

to make sure

everything was

in order.

Mary was

just there

to hang on

the teaching

of her

rabbi.

she was

there to

sit at

his feet

and soak

up every

word she

could.

She was

his disciple.

So,

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 13 · chapter mention

chapter 13

and verse 4,

it is the

Lord your

God you

must follow

and him

you must

revere.

Keep his

commands and

obey him.

Serve him

and hold

fast to

him.

Serve him

and hold

fast to

him.

So,

where is

Jesus

leading?

Before we

get there,

I want to

share this

quote with

you.

The victorious

Christian

neither exalts

nor downgrades

himself.

This was

J.C.

Ryle,

a great

Christian

author.

He says,

the victorious

Christian

neither exalts

nor downgrades

himself.

His interests

have shifted

from self

to Christ.

There's your

difference

between a

stylite and

an acolyte.

There's your

difference between

someone who

exalts

themselves

or someone

who even

beats

themselves

down all

the time.

Someone

whose problem

is seemingly

pride and

self-exaltation

or someone

whose problem

is seemingly

depression

and always

down on

themselves.

Neither

one is what

Christ wants.

what Christ

wants is the

attention not

on you.

What Christ

wants is the

attention on

his will

for you

because he

knows that

that is what

will be best

for you.

That is what

will get you

onto the path

that he designed

for you

and he is

your designer.

He is your

creator.

He is who

knows what

is going to

be best

for you.

So when

your interests

shift from

ourself to

Christ

we've hit

our sweet

spot.

Right?

We've hit

what we were

made to be.

That's why

we can be

then a

victorious

Christian.

So,

secondly,

where is

Jesus leading?

Matthew 4

19 tells us

where Jesus

is leading.

He says,

follow me

and I will

make you

fishers of

men.

Luke 19

10 shed

some light

on it.

The son

of man

came to

seek and

to save

the lost.

John 10

10 says,

Jesus came

that they

may have

life and

have it

abundantly.

Luke 15

7 says

that there

is more

joy in

heaven over

one lost

sinner who

repents and

returns to

God than

over 99

others who

are righteous

and have it

straight away.

Jesus is

leading us

to the

lost.

Jesus is

leading us

to those

who are

without him.

Fact is,

let me share

this with you.

If you're

following Jesus

and he isn't

leading you

to people

without him,

then it isn't

Jesus you're

following.

Can we look

at that again?

If you think

you're following

Jesus and he

isn't leading

you to people

without him,

then it's not

really Jesus

you're following.

how many

years has

it been

since you

had an

opportunity

to share

Jesus

with somebody

who needed

to hear

about him?

And how

much longer

has it been

since you

took that

opportunity?

I'm not

trying to

shame you,

I'm not

trying to

guilt trip

you.

Jesus

doesn't

do that.

Just

trying to

remind you

of what

our mission

is.

Trying to

remind you

of what

Jesus'

priority

is.

Trying to

remind you

of what

Jesus'

heartbeat

is.

Of why

he's got

us here.

Of where

he's leading

us.

If we

want to

follow

Jesus,

that means

we're

walking

where he's

walking.

What's

his

destination?

His

destination

is to

go to

more people

like you

and me.

because

somebody

came to

us at

some point

and shared

the gospel

with us.

Maybe he

did it to

your parents,

maybe your

grandparents,

maybe an

aunt or

an uncle.

Somebody in

your family

tree was

reached by

the saving

power of

Jesus.

Maybe it

was you.

And because

of that,

you're sitting

where you

are today.

Because of

that,

you got

baptized,

maybe in

those waters.

Because of

that,

maybe life

change

happened.

Maybe you

got set

on a

new road.

Maybe

transformation

happened.

Maybe you

got saved

from certain

death.

And

Mabod wants

to use

you to

do that

for somebody

else.

And that's

why he

called you

to follow

him.

How dusty

are you?

How close

are you

following?

How closely

are you

walking

behind him?

If you're

not walking

closely,

you may

not see

where he's

walking.

You may

not end

up at the

same

location.

You might

miss

where he's

leading you.

And then

that leads

us into

the final

thought.

Romans

Romans 10 · chapter mention

chapter 10

and verse

15.

How beautiful

are the feet

of those

who bring

good news.

how beautiful

are the feet

of those

who bring

good news.

Y'all,

we cannot

go through

a series

on being

a disciple

without

finishing

here.

This is

what Jesus

has called

his disciples

to do,

is bring

the good

news of

salvation

to those

who need

to hear

it.

So,

we must

have beautiful,

dusty feet.

These are

the feet

I'm talking

about.

beautiful,

dusty feet.

Okay?

I'm not

talking about

going and

getting a

pedicure.

I'm not

talking about

putting nice

socks and

fancy shoes

on.

I'm not

talking about

physical feet

at all.

I'm talking

about feet

shod with

the preparation

of the

gospel of

peace.

As we

talk about

the armor

of God

in Ephesians

earlier in

the start

of this

year,

I'm talking

about feet

that carry

the gospel

of Jesus

Christ.

Those are

the feet

that Jesus

says are

beautiful.

And if

you walk

closely to

Jesus,

then your

feet will

get dusty

as he leads

you to

people who

need to

hear the

gospel of

Jesus.

The saving

message of

Jesus Christ

that a long

time ago

on a hill

far away,

Jesus

willingly laid

down his

life for

you and

for me.

Because once

you and I

were lost

and we had

no hope.

of saving

ourselves.

But Jesus

in his

kindness

laid down

his life

willingly

and said,

I will be

the sacrifice.

I will pay

the penalty

so that you

can be saved.

You can be

forgiven.

And as many

of us

in this room

have said,

Jesus,

I believe.

I believe that

you are the

Son of God.

I have faith

that you

not only

love me,

that you

are not

only willing,

but that you

are able

to forgive

me,

cleanse me,

make me

your child,

that we

are now

saved,

signed,

sealed,

and someday

will be

delivered

to heaven

to be

forever

with our

Lord.

God,

we have

that,

but so

many don't.

So that's

why he

wants us

to get

dusty.

It's not

all about

us being

a disciple.

It's not

at all

about us.

God

loves us

so much.

He loves

us so

dearly.

He treasures

us.

He looks

forward to

a joyous

reunion in

heaven someday

when all

the family,

all the

children are

gathered

home.

So why

would he

wait?

Why would

he delay

that?

Why don't

we just

all go

and get

it started

now?

Because not

all the

sheep are

yet in

the fold.

So it's

our job

to carry

the good

news.

It's our

job to

get our

feet dusty

and beautiful.

So

every week

we've said

this,

the Jesus

way is

always a

way of

transformation.

Becoming

a disciple

will change

you.

I can

promise you

that from

personal

testimony.

I know

many of

you would

agree.

Walking the

Jesus way

will change

you.

It will

transform

you.

If it

hasn't,

or if it

hasn't in a

long time,

then you

might need

to look

back and

see where

you strayed

from the

Jesus way.

Because you

haven't changed

in a while.

So here's

our takeaway.

How dusty

am I

from actually

following Jesus?

From listening

to His

voice?

From sharing

in His

work?

Not just

talking about

His work.

Not just

criticizing His

work.

But actually

sharing in

His work.

Actually doing

His work.

Somebody came

to the great

evangelist D.L.

Moody so

many years

ago.

Some of

you maybe

heard this

story.

They said,

you know,

I don't like

how you do

evangelism.

I don't like

how you tell

other people

about Jesus.

And he said,

you know,

I don't like

it either.

But I like

my way of

doing it a

whole lot

better than

I like

your way

of not

doing it.

And I

think God's

probably good

with that.

You know,

we don't have

to be perfect

at it.

We just

got to stick

our ugly

mugs out

there and

do it,

right?

Would you

share in

the work?

Would you

do it?

Would you

get on

board?

Can we

be disciples

together?

Can we

walk

closely?

Can we

get dusty

together?

Can we

all get

covered in

the dust

of Jesus'

feet

together?

We'll see

more of that

happening.

We'll see

more of these

pews filled.

We'll see

more decisions

for Jesus

happening.

God promises

it.

Let's pray

together.

God,

we just want

to be your

disciples.

disciples.

We don't

have it all

figured out.

We're going

to make

mistakes.

We're going

to mess

up.

We're not

going to do

everything

right.

But we

want to get

covered in

your dust.

We want to

keep learning

from you.

This is a

lifelong walk.

This is a

lifelong journey.

We want to

keep growing.

We want to

keep changing.

We want to

keep transforming.

We don't

want to stay

the same year

after year

after year.

If we do,

then God,

just take us

on home to

heaven.

We've ceased

to be useful

to you here.

But instead

of doing that,

change us.

Soften our

hearts again.

Some of the

most encouraging

things I've

ever seen

in my life

is when

older saints

serve,

beyond what

you would

think their

stage of

life would

call for.

And we

see that

happen in

our church.

That's so

encouraging to

me.

Sometimes I

don't know

where they

get the

energy.

Well, I

do know

it comes

from you.

It's an

inspiration to

me.

Soldier up

and just

keep going.

They don't

want to be

useless to

you anymore.

Their

time's not

over.

God, I

ask that

every single

man, woman,

and child in

this church

would get

covered in

your dust

from walking

so closely

to you.

when we

stray, get

us back.

Help us to

hang on your

words, listen

closely to you.

Challenge each

other.

Hey, are you

still getting

dusty?

Convict us,

God.

show us

where we've

strayed.

Move

powerfully in

our church.

Make us a

church of

disciples of

Jesus' followers

and we'll give

you the glory

for it.

In Jesus'

name, amen.

Amen.