TOP 10 REASONS WHY NOT TO FOLLOW JESUS

“The Church”

Pastor Duane Cross |  09.25.2011

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”     Matthew 7:21(NIV)

WORLD’S VALUES: POWER, MONEY, SELF-PROMOTION

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AS A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST?

I)  PAIN 

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”            John 15:18-19(NIV)

II)  RISK

“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’”                                                                                Matthew 14:25-31(NIV)

RISK -  FAILURE -  LEARN -  ADJUST

III)  LOST

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.’”  Matthew 16:24-25(NIV)

SACRIFICE:  “Giving up something we love for something we love even more.”