WHY FOLLOWING JESUS IS DIFFICULT: THE STORY OF JOSEPH (2 OF 4)
by J.D. Greear
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25
This content is part of a series.
Why Following Jesus Is Difficult: The Story of Joseph (2 of 4)
Series: Upside-Down Christmas
J.D. Greear
Matthew 1:18-25
Introduction:
There are a lot of people who simply lack the resolve to genuinely follow Jesus. They'd like to... but to really go all-in requires a motivation beyond what they have.
I think I've been surrounded by those kinds of people all my life. They follow Jesus when it's easy-when they are a part of a group of friends who are all doing it; when it fits naturally within their lifestyle; but they lack the verve to do it when it's hard-but to stand alone; to swim upstream; to keep going when there is nobody standing behind them going ''come on!''-that's when they putter out and fall behind.
To actually follow Jesus is difficult. There is a great irony in the Christian life: following Jesus ushers you into a life that is simultaneously the most joyful and the most difficult on earth.
• John 10:10 tells us that Jesus gives us life, and life more ?abundantly. Psalm 16:11 says that in God's presence is the fullness of joy and Psalm 84:10 tell us better is one day in God's presence than 10,000 anywhere else.
• But Matthew 16 tells us that if we're going to follow Jesus we must take up our cross and follow him.
o I don't know what kind of image that gives to you, but in the ancient world it was not a pleasant one.
o Today we wear crosses made out of diamonds around our necks as pieces of jewelry. Back then it was a symbol of oppression, torture, and death that caused horror in people who saw it.
o In those days normal, nice people didn't get a cross tattooed onto them.
o Imagine you went over to someone's house today and above their baby's crib they had a little hangman's noose. Above their kitchen table they had a picture of an electric chair and in their family room one of a firing squad. You don't stay for dinner and you don't let your kids go for a play-date there. That's the image.
• Paul says in 1 Cor 15 that ...
Series: Upside-Down Christmas
J.D. Greear
Matthew 1:18-25
Introduction:
There are a lot of people who simply lack the resolve to genuinely follow Jesus. They'd like to... but to really go all-in requires a motivation beyond what they have.
I think I've been surrounded by those kinds of people all my life. They follow Jesus when it's easy-when they are a part of a group of friends who are all doing it; when it fits naturally within their lifestyle; but they lack the verve to do it when it's hard-but to stand alone; to swim upstream; to keep going when there is nobody standing behind them going ''come on!''-that's when they putter out and fall behind.
To actually follow Jesus is difficult. There is a great irony in the Christian life: following Jesus ushers you into a life that is simultaneously the most joyful and the most difficult on earth.
• John 10:10 tells us that Jesus gives us life, and life more ?abundantly. Psalm 16:11 says that in God's presence is the fullness of joy and Psalm 84:10 tell us better is one day in God's presence than 10,000 anywhere else.
• But Matthew 16 tells us that if we're going to follow Jesus we must take up our cross and follow him.
o I don't know what kind of image that gives to you, but in the ancient world it was not a pleasant one.
o Today we wear crosses made out of diamonds around our necks as pieces of jewelry. Back then it was a symbol of oppression, torture, and death that caused horror in people who saw it.
o In those days normal, nice people didn't get a cross tattooed onto them.
o Imagine you went over to someone's house today and above their baby's crib they had a little hangman's noose. Above their kitchen table they had a picture of an electric chair and in their family room one of a firing squad. You don't stay for dinner and you don't let your kids go for a play-date there. That's the image.
• Paul says in 1 Cor 15 that ...
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