A woman was driving home one night. Rain was coming down in buckets and visibility was poor. Seeing taillights ahead of her, she followed the car in front. All of a sudden the lead car came to a stop. “Perhaps a deer had been hit” the woman thought. She began to panic thinking it could be dangerous being stopped in the middle of the road in poor weather. The man in the first car got out, walked back to her in the pouring rain, and knocked on her window. She cracked the window open and asked the man what the problem was. “That’s my question to you” he said, “why did you follow me into my driveway?”
While the whole world urges us to rise up and be a leader, to be independent ~ be the one to machete your way through the jungle of life, be a man of strength, a strong woman, a confident path-setting teen, the entire response to the Bible can be summarized in two simple words. Jesus says, “Follow Me.”
Leadership is an important topic, but the truth ~ the depth of life is defined more by what and who you choose to follow. Everyone follows something. The woman in the car on the rainy night was kept safe by following closely the car in front of her, but she was taken in the wrong direction. One of my dream books to write someday has the working title of “Followership.” Carefully hoosing who to follow and how to be a good follower.
While the whole world urges us to rise up and be a leader, to be independent ~ be the one to machete your way through the jungle of life, be a man of strength, a strong woman, a confident path-setting teen, the entire response to the Bible can be summarized in two simple words. Jesus says, “Follow Me.”
Leadership is an important topic, but the truth ~ the depth of life is defined more by what and who you choose to follow. Everyone follows something. The woman in the car on the rainy night was kept safe by following closely the car in front of her, but she was taken in the wrong direction. One of my dream books to write someday has the working title of “Followership.” Carefully hoosing who to follow and how to be a good follower.
This is the final message from the series on an introduction to the Bible, “Open my Eyes that I may See. The messages the past few weeks:
There are many patterns for studying the Bible so that the message of the Bible impacts us. One simple way is to read and ask the Lord to bring you a word of encouragement or wisdom ~ that’s why so many people love and appreciate the Psalms, Proverbs, the Sermon on the Mount, James, etc. you don’t necessarily need to know a lot of background to understand. Here is another simple pattern to actually study and learn:
Step 1: Observe — What does the passage say?
Step 2: Interpret — What does the passage mean?
Step 3: Apply — What am I going to do about what the passage says and means?
For those who want to study further, there are notes at the end of this sermon ~ the bottom line is that the Bible is an inspired, living book that demands a response. “Follow me”, is the towering invitation extended by Jesus Christ. That’s that application ~ what are you going to do about it?
The world is begging for you to follow them, to become a follower, follow me says the porn site, follow me says the extramarital affair, follow me says the video game, the enticement of pleasure, the cultic obsession with sports, movies, material stuff… follow me exclusively says a narrow version of a scientific world view (I am not against good science, I’m just against the sort of science that assumes science has the final answer and there is no room for God). You will follow something: “give me your life, your thoughts, your passion, your loyalty.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is inviting you as well. One person said it this way: The [invitation to] every Christian is to live as a follower of Jesus today. In every aspect of life, in small and large acts, with family, neighbors and enemies, we are to seek to live out the grace and truth of Jesus. ~ Mark Labberton, Called.
Who/what are you going to follow? What I love about the invitation in Mark is the simplicity, the directness, the honesty of Jesus. Before we walk through today’s Bible Verses, one more quick thought…. I found a wonderful quotation that makes a whole lot of sense to me. I will read it a couple of times and let you think about it a moment before I tell you why I like it. This helps put into perspective what you are doing when you choose to follow Jesus: “The choice we face is not, as many imagine, between heaven and hell. Rather, the choice is between heaven and this world. Even a fool would exchange hell for heaven; but only the wise will exchange this world for heaven.” ― Dave Hunt, An Urgent Call To A Serious Faith
When you purposefully choose to follow Jesus, you are giving up the values of this world and embracing what is most important according to Jesus Christ. Not only will he keep you safe, but he will lead you down the right road. No longer is it what you think is most important. You become more and more dependent on God, giving up the things this world says is important. 2 Cor. 5:16-17: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view….Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” To follow Jesus means that suddenly your greatest security is found in him, not in this old shaky, inconsistent, world with all its competing voices. The disciples were asked to give up their livelihood, their security, what was most important to them, and follow Jesus.
These verses are amazingly simple. Jesus goes to where the people are “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee.” He comes into your world, wherever you are. He uses language we can understand. He comes in the middle of life, daily life. I can still hear the story told when I was a young child in Sunday School and see the scene come alive as Jesus casually enters the world of those he calls to follow him. Jesus challenges you in your world, in your home, your workplace, community. He goes into the neighborhood with his invitation.
“He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the Lake, for they were fishermen” He saw Carl sitting at his desk, Adam driving his truck, Andy on a housetop, Jim digging a hole, Bob and Dorothy unpacking their moving boxes ~ the Lord sees people, he sees you.
“come” Jesus says. For these two particular disciples they literally left their nets. Some people may be led to give up their home and job, but for others the Lord may have different plans. But regardless of the details, we are to go to Jesus for our instructions. To follow Jesus means he is leading. After it became obvious that Sally and I were not to continue in the Nooksack Church, we were willing to go wherever the Lord called us, but for years, opportunity after opportunity fell apart, many positions I thought would be perfect were not meant to be, month after month, year after year, no door opened, and the clear message to us was to stay in our home in Nooksack and wait. For us, following Jesus meant staying put. After 6-7 years of waiting and wondering what God was up to, it became clear we belong here in Sumas. “Come” Jesus says, and whether that means changing everything in your world or staying in the same location, the important point is that you are submitting your life, emotional and practical, to Jesus. Back when we were Pasadena, we had some friends that believed God was calling them to the Mission Field, so they sold their house far beyond the market value so they could be obedient. At the time I questioned if that was really God’s calling for them, but shame on me, it is between God and them, not me.
Come, Jesus says, hear his voice, listen, being obey, be willing to give up everything… When Jesus says come, that means you go to wherever he leads you.
Follow Me. Do whatever he does. This is no mere follow the leader game, but to follow him means you learn from him, look to him and how he has compassion on others, sacrifices himself, loves others, prays to the father, gives of himself. Jesus does not point to a path he has never gone down ~ Hebrews tells us that Jesus has been tempted in every way that is common to man. To follow another is to do what they do, go where they go, do what they do…The Lord knows us, he knows what we are capable of doing, he knows our limitations and strengths, he knows every hair on our head. To follow Jesus may be frightening, exhilarating, a whole range of emotions, yet it is the only decision for you to find peace and purpose.
Each person must make a personal decision whether or not to follow Jesus, whether or not to exchange the values, priorities, temptations, securities of this world for the values of heaven. That is the choice. Trading an imperfect known for the promise of the unknown. The path is not easy, but the leader promises to shoulder the burden and keep the pathway clear. As the gospel story unfolds Jesus makes it plain that to follow him means accepting the discomforts of this world, even to die, to pick up your own cross, to sacrifice. To follow Jesus is to exchange this world for heaven. “Follow me” are the two words that form the feet of the Bible asking you to respond with your life!
“and I will make you fishers of men.” To follow Jesus means to do what he came to do. He came for us. He came to redeem the world out of his great love. But notice, we are not called to catch fish, that’s always the role of the Lord. Sally and I have been watching reruns of a show called Blue Boods on Netflix. The main character was asked about what he was doing to catch a criminal that was clearly guilty but the statute of limitations had run out on the crime. “What’s it called when you take bait and lure to the water?” He asked. “Fishing” was the reply. “Fishing” not catching, but “fishing.” And a dedicated fishermen keeps going everyday to fish, even if he doesn’t catch any fish. Our calling is to fish, to keep fishing for men and women, to keep casting the line even if there are no bites. To keep living the example of faith, to share the message, to pray for the people in our world, to encourage others to give their lives to the Lord. This is our calling as a church body, to fish, this is your calling as an individual, to fish… I love the principle: You serve God by serving others. Fishing is the calling, to cast the net, the net may be empty on any given day, but you keep fishing.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, Open my Eyes Lord and Show me Wonderful Things. The Bible is Active, alive, sharper than any two edged Sword. The Bible is a book full of God’s promises, waiting for you to respond. “Follow Me” Jesus says, and when you do that is purpose of the Bible is fulfilled once again, drawing men and women to himself. How do you respond to the Bible? Accept the two word invitation of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Follow me.” Amen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXTRA INFORMATION: A Bible Study Method from www.biblestudytools.com
Step 1: Observe — What does the passage say?
Step 2: Interpret — What does the passage mean?
Step 3: Apply — What am I going to do about what the passage says and means?
Step #1: Observation
Observation is the first and most important step in the process. As you read the Bible text, you need to look carefully at what is said, and how it is said. Look for:
~ Ifs and thens: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).
~ Questions and answers: “Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty” (Psalms 24:8).
~ Comparisons and contrasts. For example, “You have heard that it was said…but Isay to you…” (Matthew 5:21).
Who are the people in this passage? What is happening in this passage? Where is this story taking place? When in time (of day, of the year, in history) is it?
Asking these four “Wh” questions can help you notice terms and identify atmosphere. The answers will also enable you to use your imagination to recreate the scene you’re reading about.
Step #2: Interpretation
Interpretation is discovering the meaning of a passage, the author’s main thought or idea. Answering the questions that arise during observation will help you in the process of interpretation. Five clues (called “the five C’s”) can help you determine the author’s main point(s):
● Context. You can answer 75 percent of your questions about a passage when you read the text. Reading the text involves looking at the near context (the verse immediately before and after) as well as the far context (the paragraph or the chapter that precedes and/or follows the passage you’re studying).
● Cross-references. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. That is, let other passages in the Bible shed light on the passage you are looking at. At the same time, be careful not to assume that the same word or phrase in two different passages means the same thing.
● Culture. The Bible was written long ago, so when we interpret it, we need to understand it from the writers’ cultural context.
● Conclusion. Having answered your questions for understanding by means of context, cross-reference, and culture, you can make a preliminary statement of the passage’s meaning. Remember that if your passage consists of more than one paragraph, the author may be presenting more than one thought or idea.
● Consultation. Reading books known as commentaries, which are written by Bible scholars, can help you interpret Scripture.
Step #3: Application
Application is why we study the Bible. We want our lives to change, be obedient to God and to grow more like Jesus Christ. After we have observed a passage and interpreted or understood it to the best of our ability, we must then apply its truth to our own life. You’ll want to ask the following questions of every passage of Scripture you study:
● How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?
● How does this truth affect my relationship with others?
● How does this truth affect me?
● How does this truth affect my response to the enemy, Satan?
The application step is completed when you put into practice what God has taught you in your study. Although at any given moment you cannot be consciously applying everything you’re learning in Bible study, you can be consciously applying something. And when you work on applying a truth to your life, God will bless your efforts by, as noted earlier, conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ.
- the need for the Holy Spirit to fully “hear” the message of the Bible.
- The Bible is Active, Alive, Sharp ~ a transforming “book of books”
- The Bible is God’s Promises that are not complete till we accept them.
There are many patterns for studying the Bible so that the message of the Bible impacts us. One simple way is to read and ask the Lord to bring you a word of encouragement or wisdom ~ that’s why so many people love and appreciate the Psalms, Proverbs, the Sermon on the Mount, James, etc. you don’t necessarily need to know a lot of background to understand. Here is another simple pattern to actually study and learn:
Step 1: Observe — What does the passage say?
Step 2: Interpret — What does the passage mean?
Step 3: Apply — What am I going to do about what the passage says and means?
For those who want to study further, there are notes at the end of this sermon ~ the bottom line is that the Bible is an inspired, living book that demands a response. “Follow me”, is the towering invitation extended by Jesus Christ. That’s that application ~ what are you going to do about it?
The world is begging for you to follow them, to become a follower, follow me says the porn site, follow me says the extramarital affair, follow me says the video game, the enticement of pleasure, the cultic obsession with sports, movies, material stuff… follow me exclusively says a narrow version of a scientific world view (I am not against good science, I’m just against the sort of science that assumes science has the final answer and there is no room for God). You will follow something: “give me your life, your thoughts, your passion, your loyalty.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is inviting you as well. One person said it this way: The [invitation to] every Christian is to live as a follower of Jesus today. In every aspect of life, in small and large acts, with family, neighbors and enemies, we are to seek to live out the grace and truth of Jesus. ~ Mark Labberton, Called.
Who/what are you going to follow? What I love about the invitation in Mark is the simplicity, the directness, the honesty of Jesus. Before we walk through today’s Bible Verses, one more quick thought…. I found a wonderful quotation that makes a whole lot of sense to me. I will read it a couple of times and let you think about it a moment before I tell you why I like it. This helps put into perspective what you are doing when you choose to follow Jesus: “The choice we face is not, as many imagine, between heaven and hell. Rather, the choice is between heaven and this world. Even a fool would exchange hell for heaven; but only the wise will exchange this world for heaven.” ― Dave Hunt, An Urgent Call To A Serious Faith
When you purposefully choose to follow Jesus, you are giving up the values of this world and embracing what is most important according to Jesus Christ. Not only will he keep you safe, but he will lead you down the right road. No longer is it what you think is most important. You become more and more dependent on God, giving up the things this world says is important. 2 Cor. 5:16-17: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view….Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” To follow Jesus means that suddenly your greatest security is found in him, not in this old shaky, inconsistent, world with all its competing voices. The disciples were asked to give up their livelihood, their security, what was most important to them, and follow Jesus.
These verses are amazingly simple. Jesus goes to where the people are “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee.” He comes into your world, wherever you are. He uses language we can understand. He comes in the middle of life, daily life. I can still hear the story told when I was a young child in Sunday School and see the scene come alive as Jesus casually enters the world of those he calls to follow him. Jesus challenges you in your world, in your home, your workplace, community. He goes into the neighborhood with his invitation.
“He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the Lake, for they were fishermen” He saw Carl sitting at his desk, Adam driving his truck, Andy on a housetop, Jim digging a hole, Bob and Dorothy unpacking their moving boxes ~ the Lord sees people, he sees you.
“come” Jesus says. For these two particular disciples they literally left their nets. Some people may be led to give up their home and job, but for others the Lord may have different plans. But regardless of the details, we are to go to Jesus for our instructions. To follow Jesus means he is leading. After it became obvious that Sally and I were not to continue in the Nooksack Church, we were willing to go wherever the Lord called us, but for years, opportunity after opportunity fell apart, many positions I thought would be perfect were not meant to be, month after month, year after year, no door opened, and the clear message to us was to stay in our home in Nooksack and wait. For us, following Jesus meant staying put. After 6-7 years of waiting and wondering what God was up to, it became clear we belong here in Sumas. “Come” Jesus says, and whether that means changing everything in your world or staying in the same location, the important point is that you are submitting your life, emotional and practical, to Jesus. Back when we were Pasadena, we had some friends that believed God was calling them to the Mission Field, so they sold their house far beyond the market value so they could be obedient. At the time I questioned if that was really God’s calling for them, but shame on me, it is between God and them, not me.
Come, Jesus says, hear his voice, listen, being obey, be willing to give up everything… When Jesus says come, that means you go to wherever he leads you.
Follow Me. Do whatever he does. This is no mere follow the leader game, but to follow him means you learn from him, look to him and how he has compassion on others, sacrifices himself, loves others, prays to the father, gives of himself. Jesus does not point to a path he has never gone down ~ Hebrews tells us that Jesus has been tempted in every way that is common to man. To follow another is to do what they do, go where they go, do what they do…The Lord knows us, he knows what we are capable of doing, he knows our limitations and strengths, he knows every hair on our head. To follow Jesus may be frightening, exhilarating, a whole range of emotions, yet it is the only decision for you to find peace and purpose.
Each person must make a personal decision whether or not to follow Jesus, whether or not to exchange the values, priorities, temptations, securities of this world for the values of heaven. That is the choice. Trading an imperfect known for the promise of the unknown. The path is not easy, but the leader promises to shoulder the burden and keep the pathway clear. As the gospel story unfolds Jesus makes it plain that to follow him means accepting the discomforts of this world, even to die, to pick up your own cross, to sacrifice. To follow Jesus is to exchange this world for heaven. “Follow me” are the two words that form the feet of the Bible asking you to respond with your life!
“and I will make you fishers of men.” To follow Jesus means to do what he came to do. He came for us. He came to redeem the world out of his great love. But notice, we are not called to catch fish, that’s always the role of the Lord. Sally and I have been watching reruns of a show called Blue Boods on Netflix. The main character was asked about what he was doing to catch a criminal that was clearly guilty but the statute of limitations had run out on the crime. “What’s it called when you take bait and lure to the water?” He asked. “Fishing” was the reply. “Fishing” not catching, but “fishing.” And a dedicated fishermen keeps going everyday to fish, even if he doesn’t catch any fish. Our calling is to fish, to keep fishing for men and women, to keep casting the line even if there are no bites. To keep living the example of faith, to share the message, to pray for the people in our world, to encourage others to give their lives to the Lord. This is our calling as a church body, to fish, this is your calling as an individual, to fish… I love the principle: You serve God by serving others. Fishing is the calling, to cast the net, the net may be empty on any given day, but you keep fishing.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, Open my Eyes Lord and Show me Wonderful Things. The Bible is Active, alive, sharper than any two edged Sword. The Bible is a book full of God’s promises, waiting for you to respond. “Follow Me” Jesus says, and when you do that is purpose of the Bible is fulfilled once again, drawing men and women to himself. How do you respond to the Bible? Accept the two word invitation of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Follow me.” Amen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXTRA INFORMATION: A Bible Study Method from www.biblestudytools.com
Step 1: Observe — What does the passage say?
Step 2: Interpret — What does the passage mean?
Step 3: Apply — What am I going to do about what the passage says and means?
Step #1: Observation
Observation is the first and most important step in the process. As you read the Bible text, you need to look carefully at what is said, and how it is said. Look for:
- Terms, not words. Words can have many meanings, but terms are words used in a specific way in a specific context. (For instance, the word trunk could apply to a tree, a car, or a storage box. However, when you read, “That tree has a very large trunk,” you know exactly what the word means, which makes it a term.)
- Structure. If you look at your Bible, you will see that the text has units called paragraphs (indented or marked ¶). A paragraph is a complete unit of thought. You can discover the content of the author’s message by noting and understanding each paragraph unit.
- Emphasis. The amount of space or the number of chapters or verses devoted to a specific topic will reveal the importance of that topic (for example, note the emphasis of Romans 9 and Psalms 119).
- Repetition. This is another way an author demonstrates that something is important. One reading of 1 Corinthians 13, where the author uses the word “love” nine times in only 13 verses, communicates to us that love is the focal point of these 13 verses.
- Relationships between ideas. Pay close attention, for example, to certain relationships that appear in the text:
~ Ifs and thens: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).
~ Questions and answers: “Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty” (Psalms 24:8).
~ Comparisons and contrasts. For example, “You have heard that it was said…but Isay to you…” (Matthew 5:21).
- Literary form. The Bible is literature, and the three main types of literature in the Bible are discourse (the epistles), prose (Old Testament history), and poetry (the Psalms). Considering the type of literature makes a great deal of difference when you read and interpret the Scriptures.
- Atmosphere. The author had a particular reason or burden for writing each passage, chapter, and book. Be sure you notice the mood or tone or urgency of the writing.
Who are the people in this passage? What is happening in this passage? Where is this story taking place? When in time (of day, of the year, in history) is it?
Asking these four “Wh” questions can help you notice terms and identify atmosphere. The answers will also enable you to use your imagination to recreate the scene you’re reading about.
Step #2: Interpretation
Interpretation is discovering the meaning of a passage, the author’s main thought or idea. Answering the questions that arise during observation will help you in the process of interpretation. Five clues (called “the five C’s”) can help you determine the author’s main point(s):
● Context. You can answer 75 percent of your questions about a passage when you read the text. Reading the text involves looking at the near context (the verse immediately before and after) as well as the far context (the paragraph or the chapter that precedes and/or follows the passage you’re studying).
● Cross-references. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. That is, let other passages in the Bible shed light on the passage you are looking at. At the same time, be careful not to assume that the same word or phrase in two different passages means the same thing.
● Culture. The Bible was written long ago, so when we interpret it, we need to understand it from the writers’ cultural context.
● Conclusion. Having answered your questions for understanding by means of context, cross-reference, and culture, you can make a preliminary statement of the passage’s meaning. Remember that if your passage consists of more than one paragraph, the author may be presenting more than one thought or idea.
● Consultation. Reading books known as commentaries, which are written by Bible scholars, can help you interpret Scripture.
Step #3: Application
Application is why we study the Bible. We want our lives to change, be obedient to God and to grow more like Jesus Christ. After we have observed a passage and interpreted or understood it to the best of our ability, we must then apply its truth to our own life. You’ll want to ask the following questions of every passage of Scripture you study:
● How does the truth revealed here affect my relationship with God?
● How does this truth affect my relationship with others?
● How does this truth affect me?
● How does this truth affect my response to the enemy, Satan?
The application step is completed when you put into practice what God has taught you in your study. Although at any given moment you cannot be consciously applying everything you’re learning in Bible study, you can be consciously applying something. And when you work on applying a truth to your life, God will bless your efforts by, as noted earlier, conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ.
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