"Imitators Of Christ" Series

“Imitators Of Christ”

Prepared For Fort Payne For Wed. Night, June 18th 2003

Text; Matt 4:18-22 (KJV)

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Introduction:

There is more to these few verses than first meets the eye.

Especially the challenge issued by Jesus “Follow Me”

These men have been called by Jesus to follow Him.

[A] “Follow Him” Follow His example & Character

(1) Follow Him in worship

(2) Follow Him in service

As He reached out to the poor, the down cast,

the down trodden,

(3) Follow Him by demonstrating love & compassion to

The fatherless, the homeless, the sick & diseased

Those rejected by society,

Those steeped in sin

[B] WWJD What would Jesus do?

[C] WDJD What did Jesus do?

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[D] Who is suppose to follow Christ?

Who is it, that is suppose to imitate Him and His ways?

Answer; The Church!

I. A New Testament Church

[A] We want to be a New Testament Church.

(1) We must follow Christ to do so.

(2) You cannot follow the Old Testament & be a New Testament

Church.

(3) You cannot follow other religions and be a New Testament

Church.

[B] There is only one that you can follow and be a New Testament

Church. JESUS!

[C] We get excited when we read about the power, the miracles, the

healings, the numbers of people saved in the Early New Testament

Church.

(1) If we are going to see the increase, the healings,

The miracles, etc…. then we must line up behind Christ

and follow after Him, doing what He did.

(2) WHY?

Col 1:18 (KJV)

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

(3) Christ is the head of the Church. It is His Church! We must do

Church business His way!

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(4) This is not my church or your church, its His church.

He purchased this church with His own blood!

(5) We have here the order in which we should organize our lives.

We should put Christ up front in our lives.

He should always come first before all else!!

Col 1:16-18 (KJV)

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Do you see the pattern here? Christ first!!!

III. What Is A New Testament Church?

[A] It is ALIVE & HEALTHY

(1) Jesus doesn’t create things that are weak and sickly.

[B] A N.T. Church is one which fulfills the Great Commission.

[C] A N.T. Church is aware of its purpose, mission, its reason for

existing.

(1) We cannot get bogged down with doing programs just to be

doing programs!

(2) Everything we do as a church, everything we do in groups,

every special event, every special occasion, every program

should do some type of ministry.

(3) The purpose of the church is to do all that Christ has asked us to do.

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[D] The church of today is to do what Jesus did when He was on earth.

(1) We are His hands extended.

(2) He chose to work through you and me to reach the world.

(3) We must carry on His work, His Ministry!!

IV. So What Did Jesus Do?

[A] He did WORSHIP

(1) Who did Jesus worship?

He worshipped the Father & ONLY the Father.

(2) Satan tempted Jesus to worship him.

The response Jesus gave;

Matt 4:10 (KJV)

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

(3) We also know what His idea of worship is.

John 4:23 (KJV)

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.