Choose the Jesus Way

Are you in service so far this morning?

Amen. I have too.

I'm grateful to see all of you who were able to join us in person here this morning,

as well as I want to welcome you, those who are joining online,

and thank you for participating.

We know many watch every Sunday who can't be here in person.

Would you take the Word of God with me and turn to the book of Luke, chapter 9?

Luke 9 · chapter mention

We'll read verse 23 together.

Luke, chapter 9, and verse 23.

Luke 9 · chapter mention

Have you ever heard somebody say, what would Jesus do?

You ever had a little WWJD bracelet?

Yeah? Seen something like that? That was a fad for a while.

And it was really based on a book by Charles Sheldon called In His Steps.

And it was interesting that many, many years ago, back in the 1800s,

through the ministry of William Booth and the Salvation Army,

there really became a groundswell of people who were commonly asking themselves and each other the question,

what would Jesus do?

We need to be more like Jesus.

Well, last Sunday morning and then again in the evening,

our choir sang a song called The Jesus Way.

How many of y'all were here for that?

How many of y'all, that song blessed you?

Me too.

That's a song that's been around just a couple of years now,

and it is a powerful song.

It says, I choose the Jesus Way.

So as we start a brand new series here in the life of our church on Sunday mornings called Be a Disciple,

the first part of that that I would like to draw our attention to is choosing the Jesus Way.

Have you ever heard somebody say,

well, that's not the Christian thing to do.

That's not the Jesus Way.

That's true.

It's a phrase we often hear, but what does it really mean?

Today we're going to explore what the Jesus Way is,

what that pathway looks like that Christ, the Son of God, laid out for us to follow.

It is a way that leads to a fulfilling and abundant life.

Would you stand with me if you're able to,

and let's read Luke chapter 9, verses 23 through 25.

Luke 9:23–25

Luke chapter 9, verses 23 through 25.

Luke 9:23–25

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?

Would you pray with me?

God, I pray that you would speak to us from your word this morning.

Let no one leave this house today having missed something that the Holy Spirit had for them.

God, if there's someone here who has not yet chosen the Jesus Way,

giving their life to you,

let them make that life-changing decision this morning before they leave.

God, for so many of us in this room who have made that decision of turning from sin and turning to Jesus,

we've become your children.

I pray that we would once again recommit ourselves to the Jesus Way and walk in it.

It's in your name we pray.

Amen.

You may be seated.

Thank you for standing.

How many of you go back to English literature, American literature?

How many of you all remember back in school when you studied literature?

Anybody?

Anybody?

That few.

Wow.

Chiquita Graves is very disappointed in the rest of you

because she had so many of you in class, all right?

Well, how many of you would recognize this name?

Robert Frost.

There.

Okay, good.

We had more hands up.

Don't worry.

They remember.

Robert Frost, one of the foremost American poets,

and he wrote a very, very famous poem,

and part of it goes like this.

Two roads diverged in a wood,

and I, I took the one less traveled by,

and that has made all the difference.

I bring that to you because we can often learn

from all kinds of different things in the world.

We can learn from history.

We can learn from science.

We can certainly learn from literature,

and I want to draw the attention to that phrase,

the road less traveled.

The road less traveled.

Can I assure you that the Jesus way is the road less traveled?

High school students, junior high students,

college students, even elementary students,

the Jesus way in your school is the road less traveled.

You will often feel like you are alone

in walking the Jesus way,

but it will make all the difference.

So I'm challenging us this morning from the word of God

to be a disciple,

and step number one according to Luke chapter nine

in being a disciple is following Jesus,

choosing the Jesus way.

So let's look back at Luke chapter nine and verse 23.

He said to all of them,

if anyone wants to follow after me,

and then he gives the steps to do so.

But first we must make a decision that we choose to follow.

We choose to be a disciple.

We choose the Jesus way,

and then we can see what all that entails.

But let's look at what the Jesus way is.

Number one, if you're taking notes in your bulletin this morning,

the Jesus way is a way of love.

The Jesus way is a way of love.

Have you ever heard people say,

man, I don't like those kind of churches

that just talk about God's love all the time,

and they never talk about sin.

Anybody ever heard that?

All you ever do is focus on the love of God,

and that's it.

Can I tell you something?

If there is a church

that is focusing on the love of God,

and you come away feeling like that,

then that church is not accurately preaching on the love of God.

Because the love of God should be the most convicting,

challenging, exposing attribute of God to us.

It should convict us of how little love we show.

It should call us to sacrifice.

It should call us to lay down our lives.

It should call us to turn from sin,

turn from self,

and turn to Jesus for the sake of others.

That is the way of love.

That is the Jesus way.

The Jesus way is a way of love,

and that love will make you turn from sin.

That love will make you turn from self.

John chapter 13 says this,

John 13 · chapter mention

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples

if you love one another.

You know what the main problem

with why Christianity or the church in America

isn't as effective as it should be?

It's not God's fault.

Funny thing is,

it's not even the lost world around us' fault.

It's Christians' fault.

It's our fault.

Just realized I hadn't turned that on.

I'm so sorry.

Y'all, we have a,

how old is your mother?

97.

We have a 97-year-old lady

who's just started coming recently,

and she comes because she's,

we've got a hearing device that helps her hear,

and I've got this little thing

that I hook up and turn on,

and it helps her hear,

and she's just so happy to be back in worship,

hearing church and worship music and all that.

So, yeah, that is something to get excited about.

All right, let me go back and start over, okay?

I'm just kidding.

You didn't miss that much.

Hopefully you were able to hear some.

By this, everyone will know

that you are my disciples

if you love one another.

There are all kinds of ways of showing love.

Sometimes it might be wearing a little microphone

when you preach.

Sometimes it might be going out

at Pioneer Union on Saturday

and handing out water bottles

before the parade starts.

Sometimes it might be sacrificing something

for the good of someone else.

Sometimes it might be putting yourself

into an uncomfortable situation

and bringing up that big no-no,

because we don't talk about politics

and we don't talk about religion with people, right?

Because that just gets into arguments and fights.

But bringing up the love of God to people

and what God has done in your life,

that might be one of the best ways

that you can show love.

And if we show love,

then they'll know

that we're His disciples.

Because the world around us

tries to show love, don't they?

They think they've got love figured out.

They think they've cornered the market on love,

but their love is so self-centered.

Their love is either lust,

it's either ego,

it's either wanting to make myself

feel good about myself.

Whatever their love is,

it is not an accurate picture

of God's love to us.

So if we show the Jesus way of love,

then they'll know

that there's something different.

We are His disciples.

The Jesus way is a way of love.

Matthew 22 and verse 39 says,

this is the cornerstone

of the Jesus way.

He says this,

love your neighbor as yourself.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

On this hangs all the other commandments.

You must love God.

And if you love God,

then you will love your neighbor as yourself.

If you find yourself not loving your neighbor

like you should,

then you may want to back up and see,

huh,

probably not loving God like I should either.

Because if I did,

then I wouldn't have such a hard time loving my neighbor.

Even when your neighbor mistreats you.

Even when your neighbor doesn't deserve it.

Even when your neighbor has crossed you,

has hurt you,

time and time again,

you still show love.

The disciples asked Jesus,

how many times are we supposed to forgive?

How many times are we supposed to give people another chance?

And Jesus made the point,

70 times 7,

but y'all,

when you hit 70 times 7,

you're supposed to keep forgiving.

You're supposed to keep giving

more and more chances

out of a heart of love.

Love is not just a feeling.

It's so easy when you're in a dating relationship,

you're engaged,

you're newly married,

it's so easy to identify love

as that warm, fuzzy feeling.

But it's so much more than that.

Love is a decision

that you renew

moment by moment,

day after day.

I will continue to love

in spite of whether it's earned,

whether it's deserved,

because God loved me

when I didn't earn it.

I didn't deserve it.

It's not just a feeling.

It's an action.

It's a decision.

It's putting others before yourself.

The Jesus way is a way of love.

Number two,

the Jesus way is a way of sacrifice.

The Jesus way is a way of sacrifice.

Y'all, you can't have love

without sacrifice.

The minute you're in a relationship

and you get to the point

where you have to sacrifice,

and all of a sudden

you start growing

less engaged

with that relationship,

feeling like,

huh, I'm not sure

it's worth it.

You can take it to the bank

that that wasn't really love.

That wasn't love.

Because real love

puts others

before ourselves.

Real love says,

I will lay down

whatever I need to lay down.

I will give up

whatever I need to give up

for the good

of the person I love.

The Jesus way

is a way of sacrifice.

Mark chapter 10

Mark 10 · chapter mention

and verse 45,

the New International Reader's Version

says it this way.

It's kind of a paraphrase.

I like how it phrases it here.

He did not come

to be served.

Talking about Jesus.

Jesus did not come

to be served.

Instead,

He came to serve others.

He came to give His life.

Your Bible might say ransom.

And I love how it kind of

portrays what ransom is.

He came to give His life

as the price

for setting many people free.

What is the price

of your love?

What is the cost

of your love?

And if your love for God

hasn't cost you something,

then maybe it's not real love.

If your love for God

has not sacrificed

something in your life,

then maybe it's not real love.

Maybe it's very shallow.

Jesus came to give it all

as the price

for setting you free,

setting me free.

So,

the Jesus way

is a way of sacrifice.

Matthew 20 and verse 28

said,

Jesus came not to be served,

but to serve.

Jesus washed His disciples' feet.

We read that He humbled Himself,

took upon Him the form of a servant,

was made in the likeness of men,

and being found in fashion as a man,

He humbled Himself,

He laid down His life,

He was obedient to the Father,

and then He was raised from the dead.

And now God has highly exalted Him

and has given Him a name

above every other name

because He took upon Him

the form of a servant,

because He laid down His life,

because He sacrificed,

because He humbled Himself,

because He made Himself

as less than.

But we don't like doing that,

do we?

We like to lift ourselves up

as high as we possibly can.

Jesus is calling you

to sacrifice that.

If you want to choose

the Jesus way,

then it's a way of sacrifice.

He came to give His life

as the price.

Number three,

the Jesus way is a way of love,

it's a way of sacrifice,

and it's a way of transformation.

The Jesus way

is a way of transformation.

Would you look over

in Romans chapter 9 with me?

Romans 9 · chapter mention

Romans chapter 9,

Romans 9 · chapter mention

let's look at verse 19.

Romans chapter 9,

Romans 9:19

verse 19.

We just got done reading

in verse 18.

He has mercy on whom God,

God has mercy on whom

He wants to have mercy.

He hardens whom He wants to harden.

God is sovereign.

He's in charge of it all.

You might think you've figured out

how to have one up on God

and you don't.

Okay?

God's in charge of it all.

You might think that

you're living your life

apart from God's power and will,

but you are not.

He is in charge.

So verse 19,

You will say to me,

therefore,

why then does God

still find fault?

For who can resist His will?

But who are you,

a mere man,

to talk back to God?

Will what is formed

say to the one

who formed it,

why did you make me like this?

Verse 21,

Or the potter has no right

over the clay

to make from the same lump

one piece of pottery

for honor

and another for dishonor.

Don't forget that part

we just read

about the potter

and the clay.

And what if God,

wanting to display His wrath

and to make His power known,

endured with much patience

objects of wrath

prepared for destruction?

Verse 23,

What if He did this

to make known

the riches of His glory

on objects of mercy?

That would be you and me

as children of God.

That He prepared beforehand

for glory on us.

Verse 24,

The ones He also called

not only from the Jews,

but also from the Gentiles.

Now there's a lot of theology

in this passage.

And if this was a seminary course,

then I could take you through

what I went through in seminary

and Bible college

and have studied since then.

And we could dive into

the rich soteriology

or the doctrine of salvation.

And what does God have to say

in the Bible

about how we're saved?

We could dive into

all these points

in this passage

about salvation.

But for our purposes today,

I want to draw your attention

to the fact

that we read from this

that God is molding the clay.

Some clay

will be useful to Him

and some will not.

But He's molding all of us.

Some will be vessels of honor.

Some will be vessels of glory.

Objects of mercy.

And some will be objects

for destruction.

So,

the ultimate goal

of the Jesus way

is not as much

about what we do

as it is

about who we become.

who God is making us to be.

Now,

I promise you,

that concept

is different

than what you may have heard

or believed

for most of your life

as a Christian.

Because if there's one

error

that so many

of our churches

have made over the years,

it's that

not necessarily

in our words,

although sometimes

in our words,

but definitely

in our practice

as churches,

we emphasize

that God

is more interested

in what you do

than who you are.

And that is

completely backwards.

God is not impressed

by our works.

He never has been.

He never will be.

He is only impressed

by how much

of ourselves

we give up

to Him.

And then

He can do the works

through us.

And then

He gets the glory,

not us.

When God

does something

in your life,

it's transforming.

That means

you change

from one form

into another.

How transformed

are you

after however

many years

you've been

walking

with Jesus.

I love

that we have

many,

let's say,

veteran Christians

in our church.

People have been

saved a while.

Okay?

I love

the children

that we have

turning to Jesus

at young ages.

Jesus said,

let the little children

come to me.

And so,

by God's grace,

50 years from now,

60 years from now,

70 years from now,

some of these kids

will still be in churches

and they'll be the

veteran Christians.

You know what I mean?

But I'm not impressed

by how long

you've been

a child of God.

What amazes me

is how much

God has transformed

you over that time.

Are you the same

person now

as you were

10 years ago?

20 years ago?

30 years ago?

5 years ago?

Last year?

Or has God

been transforming

you along the way?

Are you more

like Jesus now?

Are you more loving?

Are you more kind?

Do you sacrifice more?

Are you more

like Jesus

now

than when

it first began?

The Jesus way

is a way

of transformation.

If you're not

ready for that,

then you might

want to hold off

on calling yourself

a disciple.

But if you want

to be my disciple,

then you've got

to choose

to follow

me.

And he will

lead you places

that you could

never dream of.

He will lead you

places that

will transform you.

He will show you

things and teach

you things

that will change

you from the

inside out.

So we read

back in Romans

9

about this

fascinating

description

of the potter

and the clay.

And there's a couple

things that jump

out to me here.

Number one,

the clay has

no rights

of its own.

The clay

has no rights

of its own.

Do you see

back in

Romans 9

and verse

19,

who can resist

his will?

Verse 20,

who are you,

a mere man,

to talk back

to God?

Will what is

formed say

to the one

who formed

it,

why did you

make me

like this?

Can you

imagine a

potter at his

potter's wheel

forming something,

forming a jar,

and then the jar

says,

man,

I wanted to be

a serving dish.

I didn't want

to be a jar.

Well,

the clay's not

in charge,

is it?

It doesn't get

to choose

what it's going

to be.

It has to

conform itself

to the will

of the potter.

The clay has

no rights

of its own.

But how often

have you and I

said to our

potter,

why did you

do this to me?

Why did you

make me like this?

Because he's

got a grand

and glorious

will for you.

And if you

walk closely

with him,

you don't have

to go out

there and

fight and

scratch and

figure out

what exactly

you're supposed

to be and

how your life's

supposed to go.

God will

lead you

by his

spirit.

You just

have to

concentrate

on being

close to

him,

being submissive

to him,

learning to

love him

and love

like he

loves.

Romans

Romans 9 · chapter mention

chapter 9

and verse

20 through

24 gets

a little bit

further in

to this

clay.

In this

potter

example,

number one,

the clay

has no

rights of

its own.

Number two,

the clay

has unseen

potential.

Unseen

potential.

You look

at this

lump of

clay

and to

me,

it looks

like mud

that should

be discarded.

To me,

it looks

like it

has no

use.

But in

the hands

of a

master

potter,

he sees

what it

could be.

And that

is the

wonderful,

reassuring

hope that

you and

I have

that even

though some

people might

look down

on us,

even though

some people

might criticize,

even though

some people

might ignore,

they might

marginalize,

they might

think that

you have no

potential,

no future,

God sees

it all.

He sees

the truth.

and the

truth is

stronger than

those lies.

You have

unseen

potential.

Even your

family might

not see.

Even your

spouse might

not see.

Even yourself

might not

see.

But God

sees it.

And out of

his heart

of love,

he's just

waiting for

you to

submit yourself

to his

hands so

he can

mold you

into something

beautiful.

He calls

it a

vessel

of

glory,

an object

of mercy.

Verse 22,

what if he

did this

to make

known the

riches of

his glory

on objects

of mercy

that he

prepared

beforehand

for glory?

God is

preparing you

for glory.

Don't

exchange it

for something

less.

Don't

give up

the glory

that God

has waiting

for you

for something

temporary,

something

shallow,

something so

meaningless.

The clay

has unseen

potential.

Philippians

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2

and verse 13

puts it this

way,

it is God

who works

in you

both to

will and

to work

for his

good pleasure.

Submit

yourself to

God's good

pleasure and

he will work

in you,

he will work

through you

for your

good and

for his

glory.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3,

we're almost

done.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3

and verse

18.

The Lord

who is the

spirit makes

us more

and more

like him

as we are

changed into

his glorious

image.

Do you see

the transformation

there?

Choosing the

Jesus way is a

way of

transformation.

transformation.

When you

turn from

your sin

and you

turn to

Jesus

and you

hear the

gospel preached,

gospel,

that's just

the word

that tells

us the

good news

of Jesus

that you

and I

were sinners.

We still

are by the

way.

We were

born into

sin.

We had

no hope

to redeem

ourselves,

to fix

ourselves.

But Jesus

in his

goodness and

his love

laid down

his throne

and came

to heaven

humbled

himself,

took on

human form,

was born

of the

Virgin Mary.

We got

Christmas

coming up

before you

know it.

The whole

world is going

to be talking

about Jesus'

birth.

And then

he grew

up and

he performed

many miracles,

showed that

he was God

time and

time again.

And you

know who

hated him,

right?

The religious

people hated

him.

That's who

couldn't stand

Jesus.

But then

he willingly

laid down

his life

and allowed

himself to

be put

to death

because that

was the

plan from

the beginning.

All along

he laid

down his

life,

he was

crucified,

gave it

up,

but he

didn't stay

dead.

We're not

singing to

a dead

God on

Sundays.

We're not

praying to

a dead

God.

He's

alive,

he hears

us three

days and

three nights

later,

Jesus arose

from the

dead.

We talk

about it

at Easter

time,

right?

Two most

powerful,

momentous,

transformational

moments in

history.

Jesus' birth

and Jesus'

death,

resurrection.

So,

that's the

gospel.

And now

he says,

if you just

simply turn to

me,

say,

God,

I believe,

I put my

faith in

you,

I believe you

came,

I believe you

died,

I believe you

rose,

I believe you

love me,

I believe you

will forgive me,

then you can be

what we call

saved.

Saved from the

punishment of

sin.

Saved from that

terrible place that

God prepared for

Satan and all

those who

will die

without turning

to Jesus.

But if you

give your life

to Jesus,

then he will

save you.

We heard that

testimony of

Megan earlier in

the service,

it was powerful,

man.

So great to

hear that.

So that's when

it starts.

But then day

after day,

we're changed

into his image.

Day after day,

more and more,

by God's spirit,

his holy spirit

indwelling us,

going around with

us everywhere we

go.

He teaches us,

he corrects us,

we go two steps

forward and one

step back and

then he just

never gives up on

us and keeps

leading us on and

changing us more

and more into

his image.

So if you

aren't changed,

if you've been

changed less and

less instead of

more and more,

then maybe you

haven't been open

to God's holy

spirit and his

leading.

Well, it's time to

change that.

It's time to be

transformed.

It's time to get

back on the

transformation train,

okay?

Maybe it took a

stop and you got

off the train for

a little while.

It's time to get

back on and let

God start transforming

you again.

I want to share

this verse with

you, part of the

song that the

choir sang last

week.

I choose surrender.

I choose to

love.

Oh God, my

Savior, you'll

always be enough.

I choose forgiveness.

I choose grace.

I choose to

worship no matter

what I face.

What is he doing?

He's choosing

the Jesus way.

He's choosing

transformation.

He's choosing

sacrifice.

He's choosing

real love.

It's not a

feeling.

It's not an

environment.

It's not an

atmosphere.

It's not something

you get just by

being around it.

Did you ever

sleep on top of

your book at night

before you had a

test?

Because you were

hoping by osmosis

it would get in

there?

It doesn't work

with the Jesus way

either, okay?

You can't just hang

around Jesus.

You can't just hang

around the church house

and hang around

Christians and all

of a sudden you

become more like

Jesus.

No, it's a choice.

Now you should hang

around the church.

You should hang

around other people

like Jesus because

maybe they'll start

to convince you to

be like that too.

But you have to make

the choice for

yourself.

Children, teenagers,

it's not enough to

grow up in a God

fearing, Christ

honoring home.

You have to choose

yourself.

Say, I choose

surrender.

I choose love.

I choose God, my

Savior.

He will be enough

for me.

I choose forgiveness.

That's hard.

Choosing forgiveness.

I choose to give

grace like God's

given me.

I choose to worship

no matter what I

face.

It's easy to sing

that.

It's really hard to

live that.

I choose the Jesus

way.

So our takeaway

this morning is

commit to the Jesus

way and then

sit back and watch

God transform you

into becoming his

disciple.

This morning,

choose the Jesus

way before you walk

out those doors.

Say, man, I chose

the Jesus way a long

time ago.

What are you talking

about?

You might need to

choose it again.

I don't know about

you, but I need to

choose it every

morning.

Sometimes multiple

times throughout the

day, I've got to

sit back and say,

you know what?

I've gotten off the

track.

I've gotten off the

path.

I got off at the

train stop.

I got to get back

on.

I got to choose

the Jesus way again

and then watch God

start transforming me

again into being his

disciple.

Can you imagine what

that would look like

if our church was full

of transforming Jesus'

disciples?

And we showed each

other the kind of love

he showed to his

disciples and his

friends and those

outside the lost.

Can you imagine if we

became his disciples?

Would you pray with me

now?

God, I pray that we

would be your disciples,

that we would choose to

follow you, that we would

be a church, not a church

that names the name of

Jesus and says, oh,

yeah, man, I'd go to

First Baptist.

I'm a Christian.

I love God.

God, I love you.

I love you.

But a church that chooses

moment by moment

to rest in your

forgiveness, to lean into

your grace, a church that

is powerful, not because of

how angry we can get or how

much might we show or how

impressive we are, a church

that is powerful because of

our forgiveness, because of

our love, because of our

sacrifice, because God is

transforming us.

And then we're right where

you want us to be.

We're the kind of church

you want us to be.

Jared's going to lead us in

a song.

Before he does, let me ask

you a couple of questions.

I'd love for you to keep

your seats as he sings.

Just enter into a time of

prayer.

We've got a few minutes

before we dismiss.

Would you just section off

this time to be a time of

quiet reflection on your

heart?

Not talking about what you

do.

Maybe there's something that

God's convicting you about

what you do, and you need to

answer him and listen to the

Holy Spirit and obey.

But right now I'm really

focusing on those who aren't

necessarily going out and

doing all the things that we

know bring dishonor to God.

You're not living that kind of

lifestyle.

But inwardly, you might have

stopped being transformed

along the way.

I'm talking to myself, I'm

talking to my family, and I'm

talking to my church family.

I believe the Holy Spirit

needs some room to work within

our church.

And I pray that right now we

would open up our hearts and

say, God, transform me once

again.

I don't know what it's going to

take.

I don't know what it's going to

look like for you.

It's hard enough to figure out

what it looks like for me.

But I pray that we would make a

commitment to the Jesus way.

And then we watch God transform

us.

That means every morning, every

night, moment by moment, when we

mess up, we stop and we step back

and say, God, forgive me.

I know you already forgive me.

I know your grace never leaves.

I know I messed up.

I know I spoke in anger.

I know I was selfish.

I know I was self-centered.

I know I was greedy.

I know I was fearful.

Whatever it is, God, I know.

And I just got to get back on the

Jesus way.

Get back on the transformation

train.

Let you change me again.

All right, let me ask you these

questions.

Is there anybody in here, I

shared the gospel earlier.

And you say, I need to turn from

my sin and turn to Jesus.

Would you slip your hand up now?

I'd love to pray for you.

Anybody in here, I've never been

saved.

I want to do that today.

Thank you.

For the rest of us, I'm not going

to ask you to raise your hand.

I'm just going to ask you to listen

to the Holy Spirit right now.

Jared, would you lead us in this

song?

You can let him sing over you.

You can join in singing.

It's up to you.

Let's keep our seats and let God

speak to us.