Decision Time! Series

Fan or Follower!

February 12, 2023

In January of this year, Time Magazine ran a series of articles under the heading THE HAPPINESS REVIVAL GUIDE. I was hoping the articles would make me happy or even happier. They didn’t! I tried, but they failed.

One article was about a Yale University professor who has the most popular class in Yale’s history. Laurie Santos teaches a class called - Psychology and the Good Life. It’s about the psychology of happiness and how to get there. More than 1,000 students are enrolled in this class.

She also has a Happiness Lab podcast, which has been downloaded more than 90 million times since 2019. Americans are craving happiness. Statistically, in 2022, an American Psychological Association poll showed - - - fewer than 20% of Americans said they were very happy while more than 25% said they were too stressed to function.

We have a serious problem. 18 happiness experts suggested you can be happy by –

Having a sense of control and autonomy over your life, being guided by meaning and purpose, connecting with others, acknowledging negative emotions, rather than suppressing them.

Spending time with family and friends, pursuing hobbies, getting sufficient sleep, exercising or playing sports, enjoying nature, listening to music and reading - - were their suggestions.

I believe they’re missing the main ingredient. And interestingly enough, the main ingredient is not focused on your happiness. It’s not necessarily going to make you happier, but it will give you something better . . . Joy, meaning, purpose and hope!!

The subheading is interesting - - Instead of forcing that frown upside down, try the joy-building tips experts really use. But I don’t think they know what joy means.

One item lacking from their lists were a spiritual life. For me, that’s believing in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. As we finish our FAN or FOLLOWER series, it’s time to make that decision. This is the 6th week we’ve been talking about who we are called to be in Christ. Are you a fan, an enthusiastic admirer of Jesus, just like you might admire someone famous? Or are you a follower of Jesus? You’re committed! No matter the topic, your default is always Jesus.

Why are you alive? Jesus

Where do I find my purpose? Jesus

How do I find hope? Jesus

I’m blessed because of Jesus.

Jesus is the answer! I’m convinced of it, or I wouldn’t be here. So, the question for us today is simply this - - -

IS JESUS ENOUGH? Or do we need something more, OR something other than Jesus? Or Jesus + something?

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He makes it very clear He doesn’t want fence sitters. He doesn’t want our decision to be arbitrary, depending upon if we’re feeling it, feeling happy; or it’s one of those tough days or weeks and we find something else to fill us.

When we started the series I spoke about Jesus talking to His disciples in John 6. And for a moment we’re going to look at this, a passage from Luke 14 and finally get into some philosophy and theology from the mid 1800's.

In John 6, Jesus fed about 15,000 people; and the next day the people were searching for Him. During the night Jesus crossed over to the other side of the sea.

By the time they caught up to Jesus they’re starving. They’ve missed breakfast and they’re ready to find out what’s on the lunch menu. But Jesus has shut down the all-you-can-eat buffet. So, Jesus tells them - - -

26 “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. - John 6

And Jesus decides to have what Kyle Idleman calls a DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP conversation. He knows these people aren’t going to all the trouble and sacrifice because they’re followers, but because they want the freebies. They’re fans! Great admirers of this teacher. How would they respond when the drive through window was closed?

In verse 35, Jesus offers Himself, but will that even be enough? He declared - - -

35 I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. - John 6:35

When there are no other options, that’s when you find out if Jesus is enough. There are plenty of stories I could tell you – a child becomes ill, parents get divorced, the addiction seems unbeatable, a future seems overwhelming, a relationship falls apart … a tragic death and something happens.