HoHum:
Have children come up front and do Children’s Minute with them:
Have you ever watched the original Disney “Peter Pan” movie? In the movie, the children sing a song and play a game called "Following the Leader." Following the leader, the leader, the leader We're following the leader wherever he may go. Tee dum, tee dee A teedle ee do tee day Tee dum, tee dee It's part of the game we play
Have any of you ever played "Follow the Leader?" Of course you have! I played the game when I was a child and I am sure you have too.
The rules are very simple. You choose a leader and you follow him wherever he goes and do whatever he does. Play follow the leader briefly!
Follow the Leader is a great game, but in our daily lives we play follow the leader too. In school, in Church, in sports, in any activity we are in, there are always leaders. Every day we are faced with making a choice of which leader we will follow. We must be sure to choose a leader that will lead us in the right direction. For a Christian who should be our leader? Jesus!
At Sermons4Kids: http://www.sermons4kids.com/following_the_leader.htm
Pray with them
WBTU:
A Christian Is... An Imitator
Have a struggle with this from a professor. He is against WWJD. I do agree with him that there are several things that we cannot imitate Jesus in. We cannot imitate Jesus in his incarnation-
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:6, 7, NIV. We cannot imitate Jesus in his atoning death for our sins- “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8, NIV. We cannot imitate Jesus in his resurrection and victorious enthronement- “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11, NIV.
However, how many times does the Scripture say that we need to follow the example of Jesus:
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5, NIV.
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21, NIV.
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” 1 Peter 4:1, NIV.
Ask this same professor, “How should we now live?” He says, “By God’s law.” This is true, but no one kept the law except Jesus Christ. Not that we can keep the law (all have fallen short) but we need a model, an example like Jesus Christ so we can follow in his steps. Paul says this: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV.
Main Scripture this morning is 1 Peter 2:21. The word example here comes from Greek elementary education. Greek boys learned to write on a shallow box filled with soft wax. A student wrote with a sharp stylus that was flat on the opposite end for erasing so the wax could be repeatedly used. The teacher prepared the student’s tablet by writing a line at the top to be reproduced by the student below. The teacher’s line at the top was the “pattern” the boy must copy in his own hand in learning to write. 1 Peter is talking about suffering for the cause of Christ. Peter’s words show that Jesus’ suffering was not just for our salvation but also as an example for us. We need to follow Jesus’ example in suffering unjust treatment.
Thesis: Jesus is our examples suggests 3 facts
For instances:
1. Jesus is the perfect example
Jesus is the “writing copy” we must strive to reproduce in our own lives. Jesus is the original “the pattern” because He is God. What would God do in this situation? Look to Jesus and we will know. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9, NIV.
““He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”” 1 Peter 2:22, NIV. This comes from Isaiah 53:9. Isaiah spoke prophetically of Jesus Christ’s freedom from sin, as other writers and the history of Jesus’ life show. No other human ever lived without sin. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.
Jesus lived sinless because he had perfect self control and because he had a perfect awareness of God, being fully committed to him in all things.
The figure changes in this second clause (“you should follow in his steps”) to that of a guide. Jesus leads by his footprints. He is the perfect example in all that he did and for all we must do in the service of God. He is the perfect trailblazer.
What would Jesus do if he came across someone in need? What would Jesus do about forgiving those who had wronged him in some way? What would Jesus do about associating with people with questionable reputations? What would Jesus do about people who lied or insulted him? What would Jesus do about Temptation?
2. Jesus is our example of right conduct
Walking in his steps does not mean that we do so perfectly. We do not follow him as we should. We are accepted by God only through the grace and mercy through Jesus Christ.
Nor does this mean that we imitate Jesus in his divine nature such as receiving worship from others. “Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”” John 20:28, NIV.
How, then, do we follow the example of Jesus?
We imitate his manner of life. We cannot pay the price for our own sins or the sins of others. But following his manner of suffering unjustly for doing right, we catch his spirit and return love for hate. In his relation to God, Jesus put the Father first and served him faithfully. In his relation to others, he fulfilled every moral precept of the law perfectly. He was loving, compassionate, and merciful. He was humble and forgiving. However, he also took action against evil: “So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”” John 2:15-17, NIV.
We follow Jesus by living according to His Word. Peter connects the example of Jesus to his role as “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (vs. 25). The use of “Shepherd” includes the idea of a teacher. Jesus is not only our perfect example, he is also our perfect instructor. His teaching cannot be separated from his life. We follow him in both. I’m talking about the teaching he left us in the NT. “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” John 14:23, 24, NIV. More than just words in red!
3. Jesus’ example is more than a perfect pattern.
Following Him brings the blessings promised. In following Jesus we receive the benefits of his atoning death- “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24, NIV. Our sins are washed away by the blood of Christ when we are baptized into Him. “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:3, 4, NIV. At that point we are freed from the condemnation and power of sin. Being free from the eternal punishment that awaits the unrighteous is a great motivation for us to live “self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12). Jesus not only died to free us from the condemnation of sin, but that we might “live for righteousness.”
While preparing a sermon on 1 Peter 2:21, the Preacher Henry Maxwell is interrupted by a tramp knocking at his door, requesting assistance in finding employment. The minister apologetically turns him away. Two days later, Preacher Maxwell delivers his sermon, and at its conclusion, the same tramp unexpectedly appears and addresses the congregation. This man, Jack Manning, relates how he lost his job as a printer and that his wife has recently died. He boldly questions Preacher Maxwell’s sermon on Christian discipleship by asking what it means to follow in the steps of Christ. Manning’s speech concludes when he faints and collapses in the aisle. Preacher Maxwell takes the tramp to his home, but the tramp Manning dies a week later. This experience effects a great change in Maxwell. He realizes that Christian disciples should be willing to sacrifice and consecrate their lives. He invites members of his congregation to take a pledge for one year to ask the question, What would Jesus do? when facing every decision in their individual lives. This story depicts how those who choose to accept this invitation not only influence the community but also begin a movement that will spread throughout the country.
The incident I just shared with you never really took place. But it has challenged thousands of Christians around the world to take a good look at what it means to be a Disciple of Jesus Christ.
It comes from a book entitled, "In His Steps,” which was written in 1896 by Charles Sheldon.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12, NIV.
