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Answering The Call Of Jesus
Welcoming Change
September 10, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • Luke 19:10, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Matthew 4:18–20, Romans 8:29, 1 John 2:5–6
It may be comfortable to resist "change" in our lives, but we're called to embrace it! 2 Corinthians 5:15 - "and he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." Become a disciple, live for Christ, and choose to follow Him daily!
Deny Yourself
September 24, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • 1 Peter 1:18–19, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Luke 9:23, Ecclesiastes 2:1–11, Romans 6:6
Disciples deny themselves; but denying yourself doesn't mean what we traditionally think of in this context. When Jesus says in Luke 9:23: "“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.", He is referring to giving God full control of our lives. As Pastor Mike put it "Self-denial is a marvelously gracious invitation". Choose to deny yourself and let God show you the plans He has for you!
Take Up Your Cross
October 1, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • Galatians 2:20, Luke 9:24, Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. - Luke 9:23 (ESV). To "take up our cross" means to lay down our life, give our lives to Jesus and live our lives in a new way.
Following Daily
October 8, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • Isaiah 53:5–6, Romans 5:10, Luke 9:23, Mark 1:35, 2 Timothy 3:16–17
“Following daily” was not just a recommendation from Jesus when it comes to following him, it’s a necessity! Think of anything you rely on daily, maybe it’s coffee, maybe it’s sleep. Imagine only having that coffee or sleep once a week… It just doesn’t work does it? We need to daily seek Him and converse with Him.
Following Jesus Personally
October 15, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • Luke 9:23, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Acts 4:18–20, Mark 3:14, Philippians 3:7–8
Following Jesus personally is to follow Him alone and accepting no substitutes! Your favorite preacher on social media, religion, and church attendance are no substitute for the one-on-one relationship between yourself and Jesus. As with any relationship, relationships are intentional and take effort and commitment to reach their full potential.
Going Public
October 22, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • Matthew 28:19–20, Acts 2:41, Matthew 10:32–33, Matthew 5:14–16, Ephesians 2:8–9
So what happens when you choose to follow Jesus? What's next? Jesus is clear in his command in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…” Baptism itself is nothing magical, and it does not "save" you. Baptism does however provide a way for you to go public with your faith! Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change.
A Call To Obey
October 29, 2023 • Pastor Tim Cinnamon • John 14:15, James 1:22–24, Proverbs 3:5–6, 1 Samuel 1—21, Isaiah 5:20
Why don’t we obey God? We know we're called to follow Jesus and that call requires obedience. But if we're being honest, we don’t always obey God. We sin, we fall short, we miss the mark, and we fail to obey God. We know the truth, but we get distracted by lies about who God is. God IS the very definition of good, and everything that God does is good. That does not mean everything that happens to us is "good", bad and evil things happen to us because we live in a broken world. What the enemy sends to break us, God uses to make us!
Radical Commitment
November 5, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • Luke 14:25–26
The call to follow Jesus is a radical one. It's a commitment, not a contract, a commitment that may not always be "convenient" for us. To truly follow God, our commitment to Him must surpass our commitment to those who we'd say we'd die for, including ourselves. Our obedience isn't based on our understanding of God's plan, but rather the trust we have in Him!
Consider The Cost
November 12, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • Luke 14:28–30, Luke 14:31–32, Luke 14:33, Philippians 3:7–8, Matthew 13:44
In Luke 14:33, Jesus is speaking to his disciples in a crowd and said to them: "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." Following Jesus is an all or nothing commitment; either you're in or you're out. Either you're FULLY committed to following Him, or you're not. The cost of following Jesus may be great, but the promise of His goodness over our lives is far greater than any cost we could possibly pay.
No Turning Back
November 19, 2023 • Pastor Mike Towner • 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:5–6, Luke 9:23, Luke 9:61–62, Mark 1:14–15
2 Corinthians 5:14-15: "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." As followers of Christ, we must "burn the ships"; in other words, we need to turn from our past life completely and be fully committed followers of Christ in every aspect of our lives.