THE CHALLENGE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST (20 OF 70)
by Jerry Watts
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
This content is part of a series.
The Challenge Of Following Christ (20 of 70)
Series: Mark - God's Word for Today
Jerry Watts
Mark 4:35-41
The life's lessons which can be found from this one text are enormous. We could spend a month's worth of message on this one passage and, quite likely, never repeat ourselves. The messages could be "Jesus calming your storm", "Is Jesus in your boat?" "The Power of the Master" or even "Who is this man?" Other pastors have titled this text, "The Storms of Life", "The Perfect Storm", "When you think you're going under" and even "The other side of the lake." It was serve each of us well - to linger over this passage of scripture and see its truth.
Of all the messages I have read and heard on this text I have not found one which sees this as simply 'following Jesus and the challenges that brings.'
Today we are big on challenges. Every time we turn around, there is a new challenge on TV. (I.E. The Amazing Race, The Biggest Loser, Fear Factor, and Survivor - but the list goes on)
Clearly, there is no greater challenge than the "Challenge of Following Jesus." Why? Because following Jesus goes against the tide of popular and public opinion. Following Jesus requires more courage and fortitude than anything else. You choose to follow Christ and your friends may ridicule you, your family may disown you, and our country may soon persecute you. To follow Jesus is not simply to attend worship, it is to live like He lived, to honor God in all you do (word and deed), and to hand over the control of your life (I.E. schedule, hobbies, money) to Him.
In every sense of the word, it challenges us. Some say 'it's easy' - but it's not. Some say, 'it's impossible', but it's not. Some say (by how they live), 'it's irrelevant', but it's not. I say (offer) - "It's a challenge." To follow requires both energy as well as effort, and at times, even sweat and blood.
We can make jokes about following our sports team. Last year was a difficult year for m ...
Series: Mark - God's Word for Today
Jerry Watts
Mark 4:35-41
The life's lessons which can be found from this one text are enormous. We could spend a month's worth of message on this one passage and, quite likely, never repeat ourselves. The messages could be "Jesus calming your storm", "Is Jesus in your boat?" "The Power of the Master" or even "Who is this man?" Other pastors have titled this text, "The Storms of Life", "The Perfect Storm", "When you think you're going under" and even "The other side of the lake." It was serve each of us well - to linger over this passage of scripture and see its truth.
Of all the messages I have read and heard on this text I have not found one which sees this as simply 'following Jesus and the challenges that brings.'
Today we are big on challenges. Every time we turn around, there is a new challenge on TV. (I.E. The Amazing Race, The Biggest Loser, Fear Factor, and Survivor - but the list goes on)
Clearly, there is no greater challenge than the "Challenge of Following Jesus." Why? Because following Jesus goes against the tide of popular and public opinion. Following Jesus requires more courage and fortitude than anything else. You choose to follow Christ and your friends may ridicule you, your family may disown you, and our country may soon persecute you. To follow Jesus is not simply to attend worship, it is to live like He lived, to honor God in all you do (word and deed), and to hand over the control of your life (I.E. schedule, hobbies, money) to Him.
In every sense of the word, it challenges us. Some say 'it's easy' - but it's not. Some say, 'it's impossible', but it's not. Some say (by how they live), 'it's irrelevant', but it's not. I say (offer) - "It's a challenge." To follow requires both energy as well as effort, and at times, even sweat and blood.
We can make jokes about following our sports team. Last year was a difficult year for m ...
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