Being a follower of Being a follower of Jesus:Jesus:

Its responsibilities, Its responsibilities, challenges and joyschallenges and joys

Life, blessingLife, blessing

In the beginning—God’s plan:In the beginning—God’s plan:

GodGod And And God God saw saw that that everyevery-thing -thing was was very very good!good!

Adam, Adam, EveEve

Let us Let us make make human human beings in beings in our our image. image. Let them Let them take care take care of the of the garden garden for us.for us.

But then Adam and Eve But then Adam and Eve decided not to listen to Goddecided not to listen to God

GodGodGod’s life God’s life wasn’t wasn’t shared shared with the with the world.world.

Death Death began began to to squeezsqueeze the e the life out life out of us.of us.

Evil & Evil & violence violence spread spread everywhere.everywhere.

violencviolencee

deatdeathh

hatehate

greegreedd

wawarr

AdamAdam, , EveEve

Thankfully, God didn’t give up! Thankfully, God didn’t give up!

GodGodPartnershiPartnershipp: : I will I will be your be your God, you God, you will be my will be my peoplepeople

10 10 CommandmentsCommandments::

1.1. God comes firstGod comes first2.2. No images of No images of

GodGod3.3. No misuse of No misuse of

God God 4.4. Remember 7Remember 7thth

dayday5.5. Honor parentsHonor parents6.6. No murderNo murder7.7. No adulteryNo adultery8.8. No stealingNo stealing9.9. No false No false

witnesswitness10.10.No desiring No desiring

what others what others havehave

Through Through you all you all the the nations nations will be will be blessed.blessed.

life, life, blessingblessing

IsraeIsraell

But Israel didn’t listen to But Israel didn’t listen to God either!God either!

GodGodThey broke They broke the the partnership; partnership; they acted they acted like all the like all the other nations.other nations.

They They didn’t didn’t bring bring God’s God’s life to life to the the world.world.IsraeIsrae

llOppression, Oppression,

violence, violence, deathdeath

injusticinjusticee

So, God decided to take So, God decided to take things into his own hands:things into his own hands:

GodGodGod loved God loved the world the world so much so much that he that he gave his gave his one and one and only Son. only Son.

JesuJesuss

Anyone Anyone who who

believes believes in him in him will not will not really really

die, but die, but will have will have eternal eternal life. life.

John 3:16John 3:16

Forgiveness, Forgiveness, reconciliation, reconciliation, justice, justice, peace,peace, lifelife

What did Jesus What did Jesus saysay first?first?

““The time has come,”The time has come,” Jesus said. Jesus said. “The “The kingdom of kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”the good news!” The kingdom of God The kingdom of God == God is taking charge! God is taking charge!

Everything will be as God wants Everything will be as God wants it to be.it to be.RepentRepent= turn back to God and live! Stop = turn back to God and live! Stop ignoring ignoring God, stop doing what God, stop doing whatdispleases God, displeases God, Believe the good newsBelieve the good news = allow God to take = allow God to take charge charge of your life. of your life.

What did Jesus What did Jesus dodo first? first?

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ““Come, follow meCome, follow me,” Jesus said. ,” Jesus said.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw When he had gone a little farther, he saw James… and his brother John in a boat, James… and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they…followed him.them, and they…followed him.

-Mark 1:16-20 -Mark 1:16-20What is Jesus doing here?What is Jesus doing here?

Jesus began to gather Jesus began to gather people around him.people around him.

Let me guide you; learn from me Let me guide you; learn from me for I am gentle and humble and for I am gentle and humble and you will find rest for your souls.you will find rest for your souls.

You, You, follow follow me!me!

Come to me, all of you Come to me, all of you who are tired and who are tired and carrying heavy loads. I carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.will give you rest.

You, become one of my

You, become one of my

disciples!

disciples! Align your life to

Align your life to

mine!mine!

God in Jesus was reconciling God in Jesus was reconciling the world to himselfthe world to himself

GodGod

Through Through you all you all the the nations nations will be will be blessed.blessed.

You are You are the salt of the salt of the earth. the earth. You are You are the light the light of the of the world. Let world. Let your light your light shine in shine in front of front of others.others.

Jesus and Jesus and his his followersfollowers

Forgiveness, Forgiveness, reconciliation, reconciliation, lifelife

What types of people is What types of people is Jesus looking for?Jesus looking for?

Blessed are those who are spiritually needy.Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Blessed are those who are sad.Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comfortedThey will be comforted

Blessed are those who are free of pride.Blessed are those who are free of pride. They will be given the earth.They will be given the earth.

Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what for what is right.is right. They will be filled. They will be filled.

What types of people is What types of people is Jesus looking for?Jesus looking for?

Blessed are those who show mercy.Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy.They will be shown mercy.

Blessed are those whose hearts are pure.Blessed are those whose hearts are pure. They will see God.They will see God.

Blessed are those who make peace.Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called children of God.They will be called children of God.

What types of people is What types of people is Jesus looking for?Jesus looking for?

Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right.right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.them.Blessed are you when people make fun of you Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me.and hurt you because of me. Be joyful and be glad. Your reward in Be joyful and be glad. Your reward in heaven in heaven in great.great.

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

You have been told: You have been told: Do not kill.Do not kill.

I tell you:I tell you: Do not be angry with your Do not be angry with your brother or sister. Do not call them “idiot” brother or sister. Do not call them “idiot” or “stupid!”or “stupid!”

You have been told: You have been told: Be faithful in marriage.Be faithful in marriage.

I tell you:I tell you: “If you look at another woman and “If you look at another woman and want her, you are already unfaithful in your want her, you are already unfaithful in your thoughts. If your right eye causes you to sin, thoughts. If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away!poke it out and throw it away!

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

You have been told:You have been told: Eye for eye, and tooth for Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.tooth.

I tell you: I tell you: Do not fight against an evil person. Do not fight against an evil person. When people ask you for something, give it to When people ask you for something, give it to them.them.

You have been told: You have been told: Love your neighbor; hate Love your neighbor; hate your enemyyour enemy

I tell you: I tell you: Love your enemies. Pray for those Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.who hurt you.

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

Do not invest in the riches of earth—they lose Do not invest in the riches of earth—they lose their value so quickly. Instead, invest in the their value so quickly. Instead, invest in the riches of heaven—they’ll always be there.riches of heaven—they’ll always be there.

You cannot serve God and Money at the same You cannot serve God and Money at the same time.time. Don’t worry about food or clothing. If you’re Don’t worry about food or clothing. If you’re going to worry about anything, worry about going to worry about anything, worry about serving God and his kingdom.serving God and his kingdom.

If you don’t want to be judged, don’t you judge If you don’t want to be judged, don’t you judge others.others.

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

When you pray, keep it simple and direct:When you pray, keep it simple and direct:

Our Father in heaven, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. hallowed be your name. Your Your kingdom come. kingdom come. Your will Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give Give us today our daily bread, us today our daily bread, and and forgive us our debts (sins) as we forgive our forgive us our debts (sins) as we forgive our

debtors (those who sin against us). debtors (those who sin against us). Lead us not into Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. evil one. (For yours is the (For yours is the kingdom and the glory and the kingdom and the glory and the power forever. power forever. Amen.)Amen.)

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

Everyone who hears my words and puts them Everyone who hears my words and puts them into into practice is like a wise man. He builds his practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the house on the rock. The rain comes down. The rock. The rain comes down. The water rises. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against winds blow and beat against that house, but it does that house, but it does not fall. It is built on the not fall. It is built on the rock.rock.

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

But everyone who hears my words and does But everyone who hears my words and does not put not put them into practice is like a foolish them into practice is like a foolish man. He builds man. He builds his house on sand. The rain his house on sand. The rain comes down. The comes down. The water rises. The winds blow water rises. The winds blow and beat against that and beat against that house. And it falls house. And it falls with a loud crash!with a loud crash!The choice is ours.The choice is ours.

How can we be the How can we be the followers Jesus wants us followers Jesus wants us

to be?to be?

The The HolyHoly SpiritSpirit, whom the Father will send in , whom the Father will send in my name my name will will teachteach you all things and will you all things and will remindremind you of you of everything I have said to you. -everything I have said to you. -John 14:26John 14:26You will receive You will receive powerpower when the when the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit comes on comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses you. Then you will be my witnesses from one end of from one end of the earth to the other. -Acts the earth to the other. -Acts 1:81:8Live by the Live by the Holy Spirit’sHoly Spirit’s powerpower. The fruit that . The fruit that the the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit produces is produces is lovelove, , joyjoy, , peacepeace, , patiencepatience kindnesskindness, , goodnessgoodness, , faithfulnessfaithfulness, , gentlenessgentleness and and self-controlself-control. -Galatians . -Galatians 5:16, 22-235:16, 22-23

Being a follower of Being a follower of JesusJesus

What does Jesus want us to What does Jesus want us to bebe??

Like him! What might that mean?Like him! What might that mean?

Where and how can we learn to be like Where and how can we learn to be like Jesus?Jesus?With other people, With other people,

worshipingworshiping him, him, listeninglistening to what he said, to what he said, studyingstudying what he did what he did talkingtalking to him in prayer to him in prayer

Being a follower of Being a follower of JesusJesus

What does Jesus want us to What does Jesus want us to dodo??

That depends: That depends: What are we good at doing? What are we good at doing?

What do we like to do?What do we like to do?

What Jesus is most interested in is how What Jesus is most interested in is how we we can bring his blessings of can bring his blessings of forgiveness, hope, forgiveness, hope, and reconciliation and reconciliation to people through what to people through what we do.we do.