In Sermon Illustrations: "Following-Jesus" showing 1-20 of 143

Following Jesus

Contributed by David Simpson on Mar 23, 2017

Mark Batterson said in his book: “All In” – “Most people in most churches think they are following Jesus, but I’m not so sure. They may think they are following Jesus, but the reality is this: they have invited Jesus to follow them.” Too many times I want Jesus to follow me, to serve my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:11

Tags: Following Jesus, Follow Jesus

Denomination: Christian Church

Great Verses For Following Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 16, 2020

FOLLOWING JESUS. Beside each passage of Scripture, write down what you think that verse is saying about following Jesus in the coming year. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Philippians ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Discipleship, New Year, Following Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Following Garibaldi And Following Jesus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2011

FOLLOWING GARIBALDI AND FOLLOWING JESUS Garibaldi, the great Italian military hero from the 19th century, raised an incredibly committed volunteer army. His appeal for recruits was rather unique as he offered only these terms: "I offer neither pay, nor quarters, nor provisions; I offer hunger, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Discipleship

Following Jesus Is Not Easy. Being Faithful Is ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 23, 2009

Following Jesus is not easy. Being faithful is not easy. Giving and sacrificing. Generosity. Showing kindness and love. Being faithful and consistent. Offering praises and worship even when you don’t feel like it can be a huge sacrifice. You will most likely be rejected at some point. You might ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Church Of God

If You Want To Follow Jesus," Remarked The ...  PRO

Contributed by Barry Hidey on Jan 12, 2001

"If you want to follow Jesus," remarked the activist priest Berigan, "you had ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Methodist

When We Choose To Follow Jesus, We Are Walking In ...

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jul 31, 2007

When we choose to follow Jesus, we are walking in his steps. When I was being taught how to clear a minefield our instructor told us to step precisely in the footprint left by the person in front of us. The concept was simple: since the person in front of us stepped on a spot that didn’t set ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Few Who Bear His Cross  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 18, 2013

FEW WHO BEAR HIS CROSS In Thomas á Kempis' book, The Imitation of Christ he says, Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24-26, Galatians 2:20, Luke 12:32-40, Mark 11:1

Tags: Lordship, Following Jesus

Denomination: Nazarene

One Way Fans Try To Follow Jesus Without Denying ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 4, 2013

One way fans try to follow Jesus without denying themselves is by compartmentalizing the areas of their lives they don’t want him to have access to. They try to negotiate the terms of the deal. I’ll follow Jesus, but I’m not going to sell my possessions. Don’t ask me to forgive the people who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-22

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

So What Does This Imply As We Follow Jesus? Am I ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 15, 2008

So what does this imply as we follow Jesus? Am I expected to be perfect? Does God expect me to be perfect? Absolutely not!! When we expect this, do you know what happens? It is not holistic at all. If anything it is at best partial because people who live with those expectations hide their ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Church Of God

Why Do You Follow Jesus? Patrick Morley Has Some ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 12, 2005

Why do you follow Jesus? Patrick Morley has some important things to say about our answer to this question. "The American gospel has evolved into a gospel of addition without subtraction. It is a belief that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Church Of God

What Does It Cost To Follow Christ?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

WHAT DOES IT COST TO FOLLOW TO JESUS? “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow Him, but cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Discipleship, Following Jesus, Cheap Grace, Bonhoeffer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Burned Your Ships Yet?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

When the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1519 he was intent on conquest. To assure the devotion of his men, Cortez set fire to his fleet of eleven ships! With no means of retreat, Cortez’s army had only one direction to move, into the Mexican interior. Cortez ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, James 1:8

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Following Jesus, Counting The Cost

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Carry Your Cross

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Aug 4, 2020

A story is told about a boy who desperately wanted to meet Christ. He was praying hard about it. One day, the Lord told him to walk up the mountain carrying his cross. He took his cross and began his journey. In some time, he began to feel the heaviness of the cross. He cut out a small portion of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Following Jesus, Carrying The Cross, Denying Oneself

What It Means To Die To Self

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Self denial becomes a life pattern. Now what does it mean as a Christian?  Here are some practical things.   When you are not forgiven, or neglected, or purposely set aside, and you sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy and you’re ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Discipleship, Self Denial, Following Jesus, Dying To Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Words "It Is Finished" Are Also A Cry Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Apr 11, 2003

The words “It is finished” are also a cry of victory in the sense that Jesus completed, he accomplished what God had sent him in this world to do. In this sense, it is like the athlete who enters a marathon race with the single-minded intention of both reaching the finishing line and coming in ...read more

Tags: Worry, Jesus Christ, Following Jesus, Run Hard, Easter Good Friday  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

The Easy Yoke

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

A yoke was a wooden frame which was put on the backs of animals and around their necks joining the two animals for a common task, such as plowing or pulling a load. If you were yoked with Jesus Christ, who do you think would "pull the load"? Obviously the Lord. And so in order to manifest ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Discipleship, Beatitudes, Christian Life, Surrender, Yoke, Following Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holding Others Up

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

One of the best leaders and models in discipleship was Dawson Trotman, who died after helping to rescue two drowning girls. Says Chuck Swindoll: “When Dawson Trotman passed away, he probably left a legacy of discipleship on this earth that will never be matched except perhaps in the life of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Teaching, Discipleship, Following Jesus, Great Commission, Dawson Trotman  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Kyle Idleman On Carrying Your Cross

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 18, 2013

There is no comfortable way to carry a cross; I don’t care how you position it. I often talk to people who are convinced that some suffering or pain in their lives is an indication that they must not be following Jesus. After all, if they are following Jesus, the Son of God, doesn’t it follow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ, Carrying Your Cross

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

At Night No One Would See Him (Nicodemus). At ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Feb 18, 2013

At night no one would see him (Nicodemus). At night he would avoid awkward questions from the other religious leaders. At night he could spend time with Jesus without anyone knowing. If he could speak with Jesus at night when no one was around, maybe he could begin a relationship with Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-18

Tags: Jesus Christ, Chain

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Kyle Idleman On Going Where Jesus Goes

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 18, 2013

The most literal way to define a follower of Jesus is "Someone who goes where Jesus goes." I'm not sure how you can call yourself a follower of Jesus if you refuse to go where Jesus went. If you're following Jesus "wherever," he will take you towards a sinner that others wouldn't want to be seen ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-58

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ, Call To Discipleship

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed