2019-02-10 

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Key Verse: John 14:15 (NKJV) “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Matthew 4:18-22 (NKJV) And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Last week, we talked about our call from Jesus to 1) Go to Church and to 2) Grow in Church. Today, let’s keep looking at how Jesus wants us to follow and how He wants us to obey.

1. Give to the church

a. Matthew 23:23 (NLT) “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

b. What do we give?

• Money? Yes (…you should tithe, yes…)

• Our time, our abilities, our hearts? Yes (…but do not neglect…)

c. 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (NLT) Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

d. How much do we give?

• Generously (…the one who plants generously…)

• 2 Cor 8:10 says we should give in proportion to what we have, not what we don’t have (…don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure…)

2. Go from the church

a. Mark 10:42-45 (NLT) So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

b. How do we go? (…Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant…)

• In humility (vs 42)

• In contrast to the world (vs 43)

• With Jesus as our example (vs 45)

c. John 15:12-17 (NLT) This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

d. How do we measure our impact? (…produce lasting fruit…)