Come Follow Jesus | Paztuh Mike Wuebbles

Come, Follow Jesus!

Have you decided to follow Jesus?

What does it actually mean to be saved or born again? 

Does salvation come with any personal cost?

Is there a difference between a Christian and a disciple?

In Rock Church Soulard’s official launch Sunday sermon, Come Follow Jesus, Paztuh Mike Wuebbles shares confrontational, but eternal truths from the Word about who Jesus is, what He stands for, and what it means to actually follow Him. Hint: it goes far deeper than a one-time sinner’s prayer, weekly church attendance, tithing, and volunteering your time to help those less fortunate.

The Westernized mindset - both secular and religious - has unfortunately embraced a false, polluted version of the Gospel. What’s taught about Jesus across the media and behind many pulpits is a self-serving, “me-first” message. 

Matthew 16:24 NLT: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

If we say we want to follow Jesus and be Christians, we need to find out what Scripture really teaches. Do we actually understand, agree with, and accept what Jesus said?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIISxdsSj_k

Following Jesus Will Cost You: The True Price of Discipleship

Introduction: Are You Willing to Go Where You Don't Want to Go?

• The Core Question: What if Jesus asked you to follow Him somewhere you don't want to go?

• Accomplishments vs. A Call: Worldly success (like building a business or gaining fame) is driven by what we naturally want. Answering God's call, however, is not an "accomplishment" because it often goes against our fleshly desires. It asks, "What is in it for the Kingdom?" instead of "What is in it for me?"

• The Danger of the Prosperity Gospel: Believing Jesus simply exists to bless our personal will and plans turns Him into a genie. Jesus did not promise a life entirely without trouble.

1. The Biblical Promises of Discipleship

• John 16:33: Jesus promises that in this world we will have many trials and sorrows, but we can take heart because He has overcome the world.

• Matthew 10:22: Jesus prophesied over His disciples that they would be hated by all nations for following Him, but those who endure to the end will be saved.

• True Prophecy: We must align with biblical truth rather than treating prophecy like modern horoscopes that only predict wealth, comfort, and personal gain.

2. The Danger of Rebuking God's Will

• Matthew 16:21: Jesus plainly tells His disciples He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise on the third day.

• Matthew 16:22: The Apostle Peter reprimands Jesus, insisting that suffering will never happen to Him.

• Matthew 16:23: Jesus sharply rebukes Peter, calling his mindset a "dangerous trap" because it views circumstances from a human point of view (desiring comfort and success) rather than from God's perspective.

3. What It Means to Take Up Your Cross

• Matthew 16:24: Jesus says that to follow Him, we must give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him.

• The Historical Context of the Cross:

  • Crucifixion was originally a Persian invention that the Romans later perfected.

  • The Romans utilized it as a highly visible punishment specifically meant for those who rebelled against the "Roman way."

  • When Jesus told His disciples to "take up your cross," they understood it as a forced, public putting down of one's own will and rebellion to submit to the ruling power.

  • To follow Jesus, we must voluntarily put down our own will and completely submit to King Jesus.

4. Losing Your Life and the Great Commission

• Matthew 16:25-26: If you try to hang on to your own life, you will ultimately lose it. Giving up your life for Christ's sake is the only way to save it. Gaining the whole world is entirely worthless if it costs your soul.

• Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission):

  • Jesus commands His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations." This is a definitive command, not a "great suggestion."

  • Making disciples requires sacrificing our own time, money, and personal dreams.

  • True discipleship is a multiplication process: teaching others to obey the commands Jesus gave us.

5. Counting the Cost

• Luke 14:25-27: A large crowd followed Jesus because of the miracles and physical blessings. Jesus turned to them and set the ultimate standard: following Him must take absolute priority over every earthly relationship and even your own life.

• Luke 14:28-32: Jesus warns us to "count the cost" of discipleship, comparing the decision to a builder calculating funds before constructing a tower or a king preparing for war.

• Luke 14:33: "So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own."

  • Modern society conditions people to pride themselves on "owning" their time, their money, and their lifestyle.

  • In the Kingdom of God, the King owns everything. We must surrender the ownership of our lives to King Jesus.

Conclusion: Surrender and Overcome

• The True Purpose of Grace: Jesus died and paid for our sins so we could actively overcome them, not so we could comfortably stay in them.

• The Call to Action: Following Christ requires public, unashamed repentance. It means turning away from living life your own way, abandoning your sin lifestyle, and fully surrendering to King Jesus.

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