"Really Want To Walk With Jesus?"
April 24, 2005

The Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 5: 21 -24
The New Testament Lesson: Luke 9: 57 - 62

To challenge my people with the call to be a disciple

I.  Being a disciple means that you have a deep desire to walk with Jesus
   A. The first Youth Mission trip was held some years back in CA
        1. They preformed a beach VBS as an outreach tool a great experience
        2. One of the teens was Paula Heward.  a great and athletic gal.
            a. Developed a plan one morning to go running on the beach.
            b. I volunteered to drive and since I was a runner, I committed to run.
            c. After all, she was just a little slip of a girl!
        3. I lumbered along, huffing and puffing, asking What was I thinking?
            a. Her stride and graceful style made me look like a running walrus!
            b. at one point, seeing my distress, she helpfully instructed, “You’re splaying your feet side to side, try to keep them in a straight line.”
            c. heck, I was working on keeping my eyes in a straight line
        4. Sometimes, we have trouble accomplishing our commitments.
        5. This is true in the realm of Christian discipleship.
            a. It is a difficult commitment to make.
            b. It requires an intense dedication to be a disciple of Jesus
            c. Because of this, being a disciple requires that you have a deep desire to walk with Jesus.
   B. Jesus was quite aware of this for those who wished to run with him.
        1. There were more than 12 wishing to be followers of Jesus.
            a. Most Churches make it as easy as possible for people to join.
            b. But Jesus took a very different approach.
        2. Jesus didn’t recruit.
            a. When you recruit, you make the position sound attractive.
            b. Jesus made sure people knew how difficult it would be.
        3. Today’s passage shows us how Jesus spoke to prospects.
            a. Each person has some inclination to walk with Jesus.
            b. Some volunteer and for some Jesus initiates the call.
        4. To one volunteer Jesus says, “You must be ready to be homeless!”
        5. Another wants to postpone his duty until he has finished all his other obligations; Jesus says this obligation must have priority!
        6. The third example shows by his request that part of his heart is still attached to the past.  Jesus says to him, you’ll never be any good for God unless you give God your whole heart!
        7. Jesus warned them of the difficulty because he wanted solid commitments.
            a. Notice, we aren’t told what any of them decided.
            b. How would you respond?

II.  Walking with Jesus also means that you walk like Jesus
   A. Listen: “How would you respond?” is not an idle question.
        1. The call to discipleship is always before us.
        2. We often sing songs in church like “Just a Closer Walk”
            a. They are deeply devotional songs.
            b. We sing them out of an expression of our love for the Lord.
            c. Most Christians want to be closer to their Living Lord
        3. But, in order to walk with Jesus, we must also walk like Jesus
            a. It is not a matter that Jesus will reject us if we don’t
            b. It is more a matter of our ability to stay close to Jesus.
   B. When you are in the presence of such a powerful person, you conform!
        1. Those whom we spend time with influence us. You’ve noticed that.
            a. The people with whom you spend time, have an impact on you
            b. If you are around athletic people, you become involved in sports
            c. If you’re in the company of intellectual people, you speak that way.
            d. If you really spend time with Jesus, you’ll begin to act like him.
        2. Once, when Peter was just a tyke, Jill and I took him to the Mall.
            a. for some reason, Jill wound up walking behind us.
            b. All of the sudden she started chuckling.
            c. I turned around to ask her what was up.
            d. She said, “The two of you are walking exactly alike!”
            e. He was imitating my walk.  I didn’t teach it. From watching me.
        3. Those who are really walking with Jesus will also walk like him.
    C. A large part of being a disciple of Jesus means living by his example.
        1. This needs to be our ultimate goal.
            a. As Christians, we need to have a deep desire to walk with Jesus.
            b. Then, walking with him, we begin imitating him.
        2. Friends, that’s one of the finest modes of worship!
        3. Charles Colton said, “imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.”

III.  This requires a desire to always be learning more about the Christian life
   A. We can never be satisfied that we know enough
        1. There is always more to learn about God.
        2. And the learning that I am speaking of is not mere knowledge.
            a. Not referring to simply stuffing your head full of facts.
            b. We are talking about a knowing that leads to doing as well.
            c. It is being familiar with and practicing a lifestyle!
        3. We need the ability to practice what we know of God’s way.
   B. It is the church’s responsibility to provide the classes.
        1. We have groups for those who are just beginning.
        2. We have next step classes for those who made a good start.
        3. And there are advanced classes for those who are looking for deeper understanding.
        4. What would give me joy is to have all of our classes full to overflowing!
            a. What would a church be like if its members all pursued Christ’s teachings with great enthusiasm?
            b. What would a church be like if every person was advancing in their Christian life, their individual walk with Jesus?
            c. I’d love to see it here!

     Please don’t misunderstand me.  It is certain to be a difficult path.  It will take a deep desire to walk with Jesus and a commitment to walk like Jesus.  There will be challenges.  You may not find that you are homeless, but there will be struggles.  Still, walking with Jesus won’t happen unless you are ready to make this your first priority.  Then, as you grow in your desire to be with Jesus, you will also grow to be like Him.  I pray that you will renew that commitment as you listen to the anthem again.

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!