{"id":181,"date":"2018-11-07T11:05:40","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T19:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/migrate.bettersermons.org\/?p=181"},"modified":"2020-06-01T11:40:42","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T18:40:42","slug":"deserving-a-sergeants-stripes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/deserving-a-sergeants-stripes\/","title":{"rendered":"Deserving a Sergeant’s Stripes"},"content":{"rendered":"
Deserving a Sergeant’s Stripes<\/span><\/div>\n

\".\"
\nJesus calls for our total allegiance and obedience. Giving Him both is easy when we realize what He has done in our behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I.<\/strong><\/td>\nHumor:<\/strong>\u00a0Classified ad in local PennyShopper: \u201cUsed Tombstone, perfect for someone named Homer Bergen-Heinzel\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nWhy original Homer didn\u2019t need the tombstone anymore, we don\u2019t know, but this might be a bargain opportunity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nHumor:<\/strong>\u00a0Someone with a bit of philosopher had carved on their headstone:\u00a0Remember, friend, when passing by; As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, soon you will be; Prepare for death and follow me.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThat caught the fancy of someone passing by; they added a Post-It note:\u00a0To follow you I\u2019m not content; Until I know which way you went!<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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II.<\/strong><\/td>\nWe Must Always “Follow the Leader”<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nStephen Ambrose\u2019s book, The Wild Blue, about young American men serving as pilots on B-24s during World War II<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nHuge, unprotected, lumbering, vulnerable bombers would go up into German skies in freezing cold weather, 50 below zero, no food on board, no latrines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nDeadly odds facing you at all times<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nMen had to fly 35 missions before returning home<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nWith a 4% chance of getting killed on any one flight, odds were less than 50-50 that you would survive the war<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nEverything hinged on the quality of the squadron leader, the pilot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nThey were just kids: 22 years old<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nNow thrust into a situation where a crew of 20 put their lives in your hands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nThe experience, judgment, courage of the senior pilot was the factor that spelled the difference between survival and a fiery-ball catastrophe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nA young George McGovern was a brilliant leader; he later became a distinguished senator and candidate for president in 1972<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nSomehow American military made sure its pilots\/leaders were top-quality men<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nSuperior across the board<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nYou could willingly follow them into battle because they would bring all their wisdom, character, inner goodness to every fight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nSome were brilliant at unifying their crew into a solid team<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nThey would send personal hand-written letters to the parents of everyone in their squadron, praising the men, building morale<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\ne.<\/td>\nThe leadership qualities of these American men was a key reason the U.S. won the war<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nFollowing the leader is one of the vital principles drummed into the troops<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nHere in church, members promise to obey whatever Jesus Christ asks them to do<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nIf it\u2019s in the Bible, if Jesus calls us to a duty, if the Christian faith says \u201cgo,\u201d we\u2019re going to go<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nWe treat as holy the things God says are holy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nWe commit to accepting the practices Jesus invites His disciples to accept<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nThis is Rule #1 in Basic Training: you obey orders<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nWhen the sergeant says move ahead, you do it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nAdvancing or retreating, dropping the bombs or not dropping them, crossing a muddy river because the orders are there<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nMilitary success happens when people know to follow the chain of command<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nWrenching to watch a grieving Cindy Sheehan protesting the Iraq War and mourning the loss of her son, Casey, who was killed in combat after volunteering to be part of a Quick Reaction Force<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nNone of us can imagine a mother\u2019s heartbreak<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nMrs. Sheehan has undoubtedly earned the right to speak of her emotions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nThe opposing reality is that her son enlisted in the military TWICE<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nWhen a person joins the armed forces of his country, he agrees to follow the orders of the Commander in Chief and go where he\u2019s sent: to the causes that look right and to the ones that don\u2019t make sense<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\ne.<\/td>\nThis is what the military is based on: following the command of the person over you<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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III.<\/strong><\/td>\nAn Upgraded Calling<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nA young Leader named Jesus says to Peter and Andrew:\u00a0Come along with Me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men!<\/em>\u00a0(Matt. 4:19,\u00a0Living Bible<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nLater Jesus gives the same invitation to James and John; they follow as well<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nIn Mark, Jesus says to a tax collector named Matthew: \u201cCome, follow Me.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nMatthew\u2019s in his IRS booth, TurboTax CD ROMs all around, people\u2019s money in his cash box (and some in his pockets as well)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nJesus says: \u201cDon\u2019t do that for a living anymore. Come follow Me instead; I\u2019ll show you how to give people a heavenly refund!\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nWe are often fishers of fish; Jesus invites us to be fishers of men<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nWhen God uses our efforts to help Him \u201creel in\u201d new people for His kingdom and this church, that is an upgrade in our calling!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nIt\u2019s okay to catch fish; it\u2019s more wonderful to be used by Jesus to show an interest in someone, develop a friendship, bring them to a fellowship class, give them Bible studies, and stand by their side when they are baptized.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nC.<\/td>\nIf you have an inner drive to succeed in things, that is wonderful and good<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nTo run a good practice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nTo succeed in marketing or investing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nTo have a happy home<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nThat is a God-given desire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nBut Jesus is in the business of upgrading your calling, of inviting you to follow Him in doing higher things that are more lasting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nHe wants us to move from fishing for fish to fishing for souls<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nDentists can go from filling cavities to filling lonely hearts of those on the fringes of our church community<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nThat could involve emotional Novocaine, cleaning away of our own plaque \u2013 meaning too-busy lives, too many personal irons in the fire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nJesus says to us: \u201cI want to upgrade your ministry, call you from secular to sacred, from mundane to eternal.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n5.<\/td>\nAre there ways where we are still on the \u201cfish\u201d level instead of at the \u201cheart\u201d level?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nAre there ways where Jesus is saying: \u201cI want you to step it up a notch\u201d?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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IV.<\/strong><\/td>\nEasy Following vs. Hard<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nPeter did leave his nets and follow Jesus; that was good<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nFor 3\u00bd years, his following was predicated upon aligning Jesus\u2019 interests with his preexisting ones<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nPeter just followed when it suited him, when the \u201ctwin goals\u201d lined up nicely<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nFollowing Jesus gave Peter healing power and notoriety; he liked that<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nFollowing Jesus helped him feed 5,000 people and get a taste of possible political power; that was extra good<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nFollowing Jesus got his own relatives healed on a Saturday night; no problem there either<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nBut when following Jesus meant stepping away from his own will, denying himself, declaring loyalty to Jesus when it might mean a fourth cross on Calvary, Peter wasn\u2019t ready.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nPeter was like an army private who would only follow his sergeant to the PX, a nightclub, or to an easy, not-very-risky military option<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nLieutenant McGovern called those \u201cmilk runs\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nWhen the battle was bloody, Gethsemane time, D Day, your B-24 bomber was facing a dark sky filled with deadly German antiaircraft flak, planes on both sides hurtling to the ground in flames, the entire crew perishing, Peter wasn\u2019t ready to go when Jesus said, \u201cFollow Me.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nNot until after Jesus came out of the tomb were the eleven remaining disciples finally prepared to be fully obedient<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nI Will Follow Thee, My Savior<\/em>\u00a0by James Elginburg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nFive verses: four of them begin with \u201cthough\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nHere are some hard assignments coming your way<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\n\u201cThough the road be rough and thorny\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\n\u201cThough I meet with tribulation\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\n\u201cThough Thou leadest me through affliction\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nThe encouraging thought: our Savior endured the same difficulties we do, and He triumphed over them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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V.<\/strong><\/td>\nJesus is Qualified to Lead<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nSometimes an untested leader is placed in a position of command over you<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nYou haven\u2019t faced machine-gun fire and neither has he<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nNatural, instinctive obedience comes when you follow into a battle a commander who has earned his stripes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThey\u2019ve been in combat before<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nThey\u2019ve qualified for leadership on their merits<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nThe stars on their shoulder epaulets prove they have qualified themselves with blood and sweat and fighting experience<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nThey\u2019ve earned the right to say \u201cFollow me\u201d \u2013 even into the hottest battle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nC.<\/td>\nThis is true in daily lives<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nWe all follow other people in various ways: if they\u2019ve proven themselves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nTheir years of experience give them the moral authority to say to us, \u201cThe right path is just over here; follow me.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nD.<\/td>\nIn a church board brainstorming meeting, someone proposes doing a public seminar on vegetarian cooking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nBut a church can only have credibility in the community when we excude the\u00a0spiritual<\/em>\u00a0elements of a healthy church<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nVisitors need to come \u2013 and find themselves blessed and surrounded by healthy spirituality in areas where they have needs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nI encourage you to do your part to make our church a healthy body so we can say to people in the areas of prophecy or parenting: \u201cFollow us!\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nIf the church looks healthy at 11:00 a.m. Sabbath morning, with a vibrant core of people here, ready to go, ready to worship, ready to love others, ready to praise, ready to study and grow…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nThere will be people who will stay for lunch and then for the afternoon seminar on Daniel and Revelation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nE.<\/td>\nHollywood actor Bruce Marchiano wrote a book: In the Footsteps of Jesus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nHe played the part of Jesus in a four-hour miniseries based on Matthew<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nA life-transforming experience for him, walking where Jesus did, seeing our lost world through His eyes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nAfter the filming, Bruce traveled the world, promoting the project and meeting audiences<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nIn South Africa he visited a prison filled with convicts: stony, cold faces<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nThey didn\u2019t want to listen; what could this Hollywood celebrity possibly have to say to them?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nHe pointed out: every hard thing they\u2019d been through, Jesus had endured too<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nSome of them had been abused; Jesus too<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nSome of them had their paternity questioned; Jesus did also<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nHe was beat up, spat upon, misunderstood<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nF.<\/td>\nWhen we face any spiritual battle, we can march right ahead, knowing Jesus has been there first<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nHe\u2019s earned the right to be our Leader and ask us to be His followers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nIn I Will Follow Thee, My Savior<\/em>, Stanza #2 begins: \u201cThough the road be rough and thorny; Trackless as the foaming sea, Thou hast trod this way before me, And I\u2019ll gladly follow Thee.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\nG.<\/td>\nIn a beautiful irony, those who follow Jesus into all things, even danger, are actually guaranteeing they\u00a0won\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0lose their lives in the end, that they\u2019ll live forever<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nYou\u2019re in perfect safety in any way that you follow Jesus Christ<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nC. S. Lewis once wrote whimsically about being a Christian soldier marching cheerfully into combat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nYour life is his with Christ; even if a bullet temporarily strikes you down, your next conscious moment will be in Paradise with the Lord<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
VI.<\/strong><\/td>\nPratical Following<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nMatthew 5-7: Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nFor 107 verses He tells us to do certain things; we\u2019re instructed to follow Him in doing certain things<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nHe does them; He wants us to do them too<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\n\u201cIf you love Me, then please do what I instruct you to do<\/em>.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nIt\u2019s very practical stuff<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nBe a witness for God<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb<\/td>\nDon\u2019t harbor anger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nReconcile with your enemies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nKeep your heart pure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\ne.<\/td>\nTurn the other cheek<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n5.<\/td>\nIn Los Angeles, a major sports team owner is always doing charitable deeds \u2013 and announcing them with full-page newspaper ads<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nJesus tells us to just quietly do good deeds and don\u2019t ask for headlines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nDon\u2019t put up posters about them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nJesus Himself often healed people and quietly said, \u201cSay nothing. Just go to the priests and get your health card signed off.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n6.<\/td>\nJesus lived a certain way and says to us: \u201cFollow Me. You live this way too.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nDoes it work? Can we follow Jesus into battle?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThe Christian faith has been here for 2000 years; it spans the globe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nIt\u2019s the most successful movement in the history of Planet Earth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nDoes Jesus have the street credentials to say \u201cFollow Me\u201d?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nIs His Magna Carta one we should follow?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nThe evidence is plain to see!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
VII.<\/strong><\/td>\nJesus in Charge Forever!<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nIsaiah 9:6 Handel\u2019s Messiah):\u00a0For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThis is the Man we will always follow at this church; He is our Commander in Chief<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nThere\u2019s one more line:\u00a0Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. The government will be on His shoulders.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThe reality is this: someday we will live on this planet, renewed, reborn, remade . . .<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nThere will be no presidents in the White House<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nNo kings on thrones<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nNo dictators living in the Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nThere will just be Jesus!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nThe Bible is crystal-clear about this<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nJesus will sit on a throne and rule the world \u2013 and we will be living under His loving protection and authority<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nWill there be a \u201cConstitution\u201d? We don\u2019t know<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nMaybe only the Sermon on the Mount<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nSome of us may be senators and governors, under Jesus\u2019 authority, but He will be in charge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nC.<\/td>\nAre you willing for that to happen?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nAre we willing to abandon democracy where we can impeach presidents and override them with vetoes?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nDo we want to live in a land where just one Man always gets His way?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nWhere we do all things, not our way, but His way?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nD.<\/td>\nAugustine said that perfect, mature discipleship would find you with your will so perfectly aligned with Jesus\u2019 will that you would always be happy just doing things His way<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nNo Thursday night clashes in Gethsemane where Jesus says \u201ca\u201d and you want to slip off and do \u201cB\u201d instead<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nAugustine: \u201cLove God and do as you please\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nWhen you and I really understand and embrace followership, it will please us to do just what pleases Jesus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Submitted by David B. Smith. Better Sermons \u00a9 2005-2007. Click here for<\/span>\u00a0usage guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Deserving a Sergeant’s Stripes Jesus calls for our total allegiance and obedience. Giving Him both is easy when we realize what He has done in our behalf. I. Humor:\u00a0Classified ad …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=181"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":182,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181\/revisions\/182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}