“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.
{a} The time to worship is NOW “Now Is”
{b} Acceptable worship is done “In Spirit”
“In Truth”
{c} The Father is seeking people who will worship Him in Spirit & in
Truth.
{d} A church that stops worshipping in Spirit is a dying church.
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(4) To be a N.T. Church, to get N.T. Results, we must be a
worshipping Church.
Worship= Thanking God for who He is.
[B] Jesus did DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is training up leaders.
(1) Discipleship can be done in many different ways.
(2) Discipleship can be a verse read as devotion at any event.
*A verse that encourages people to share their faith.
[C] Jesus did EVANGELISM
(1) Evangelism can be done in many different ways.
(2) Evangelism is sharing your faith.
(3) If you can’t speak, you can pass out tracks.
(4) You can pass out invitations to attend church.
(5) You can share a Christian book. Place a Bible etc….
(6) We are called to evangelize our community.
*The world is not going to do it.
*Your Bible doesn’t have legs, you are the legs.
*Your Bible doesn’t have a mouth, you are its mouth.
(7) EXAMPLE of what Jesus did;
John 4:3-4 (KJV)
3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
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He took the long way, went right through a TERRITORY THAT OTHER
Jews tried to avoid.
WHY? There was a lost woman there.
(8) A true N.T. Church is a church that is involved in evangelism.
[D] Jesus did FELLOWSHIP
Luke 19:5 (KJV)
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
(1) He had fellowship meals with His disciples.
(2) True fellowship is about holding one another accountable,
Encouraging one another, edifying one another
Supporting one another etc….
(3) A true N.T. Church is a fellowshipping church.
[E] Jesus did COMPASSION
(1) Compassion is helping those in need.
Luke 7:12-15 (KJV)
12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
*Here Jesus demonstrated His compassion.
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He could do something about her situation and He did it!
(2) Jesus in the desert;
Matt 14:14 (KJV)
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
His compassion prompted action.
Closing:
The purpose of the New Testament Church is to do all that Christ did and has asked us to do.
Jesus said;
John 14:12 (KJV)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
He gives us the power to be all that He has asked & expects us to be.
If the Lord is speaking to you about doing something for Him, commit to Him and do it within 7 days or the enemy will come and steel the seed away.
Worship
Evangelism
Discipleship
Fellowship
Compassion
Lets us as members of His body (the church) imitate Him!
