Title: Radical Part 1
1Radical Part 1
2Someone worth losing everything for...
- What kind of person would this be for you?
3Was Jesus a Success?
- Only 120 followers despite being heard by tens of
thousands - Only 12 hard-core devotees
4What did Jesus do when the crowds got big?
- Talked people out of following Him?
52 Important Questions
- Am I going to believe Jesus?
- Am I going to obey Jesus?
6 Puddles of Tears A woman on the
other side of the room spoke up next. Some of
the members in my church were recently confronted
by government officials. She continued, They
threatened their families, saying that if they
did not stop gathering to study the Bible they
were going to lose everything they had. She
asked for prayer, saying, I need to know how to
lead my church to follow Christ even when it
costs them everything (4-5).
7Puddles of Tears
- As I looked around the room, I saw that everyone
was now in tears. The struggles expressed by this
brother and sister were not isolated. They all
looked at one another and said, We need to pray
(5).
8Big Question...
- In America, what do we sacrifice to follow Christ?
9Radical Commitment
- Both of the men in the picture with me are
church planters in India. The pastor on the right
is pastor Pujenata. He has planted 64 churches
personally!!! Most Christians don't even witness
to that many people in a lifetime. Modern day
Paul!
10Radical Commitment
- Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh of Iran,
held in Evin Prison for five months for refusing
to turn from Christ
11Radical Commitment
- Christian House of Prayer, Central Asia
12Radical Commitment?The American church
13Radical Commitment?The American church
14Radical Commitment?The American church
15Radical Commitment?The American church
- What we need to have a good experience
16Radical Commitment?The American church
- Our reasons for following Christ
- We were settling for a Christianity that
revolves around catering to ourselves when the
central message of Christianity is actually about
abandoning ourselves David Platt (7).
17Talking People out of Following ChristLuke
957-62 Three men came to follow Jesus
- Guy 1 I will follow you wherever you go.
- Jesus response - Luke 958
- Expect homelessness
18Talking People out of Following ChristLuke
957-62
- Guy 2 My Dad died, I need to go bury him
first. - Jesus response - Luke 960
- There are more important things to do
19Talking People out of Following ChristLuke
957-62
- Guy 3 I need to say bye to my family first
- Jesus response - Luke 962
20What to expect if you follow me
- Become homeless
- Let someone else bury your dad
- Dont even say good-bye to your family
21Talking people out of it?
- Contrary to what I may have thought about Luke
9, Jesus was not using a gimmick to get more
followers. He was simply and boldly making it
clear from the start that if you follow him, you
abandon everythingyour needs, your desires, even
your family David Platt (10).
22More Radicalism
- Luke 1426-33
- Sounds a lot different than Admit, believe,
confess, and pray this prayer after me.
23The Young, the Popular, and the Searching
24Redefining Christianity
- What Jesus REALLY meant was
- Nice, middle-lass, American Jesus
25Dietrich BonhoefferThe Cost of Discipleship
- When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and
die.
26What is the cost of Non-Discipleship?
- ????? What if we do not take Jesus words
seriously?
27Christian News Publication (2004)
- Main Headline, First Baptist Church celebrates
new 23 Million Building - Smaller Headline, Baptist Relief Helps Sudanese
Refugees - ..Baptists have raised 5,000 to send to
refugees in western Sudan.
28Radical Commitment
- Are you willing to become a radical follower of
Jesus? - 1. Commit to believe whatever Jesus says
- 2. Commit to obey what you have heard
29(No Transcript)