“Follow Me!”
John 12:12-26
Purpose: Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me” (John 12:26)
- Jesus Christ Fulfills Prophecy (John 12:12-19)
Psalm 118 around 1,000 B.C.
Zechariah 9:9-13 prophesied between 500 and 470 B.C.
When, exactly, did the disciples figure this out? (v. 16)
So how should we read and follow this today?
- The Hour Has Come for the Son of Man to be Glorified! (John 12:20-24)
The hour coincides with the all-time Greatest Salvation event, the true Passover!
The hour is “not yet” (John 2:4; John 7:6, 30; John 8:20)
The “hour has come” (John12:23; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1)
“The Son of Man” is Messianic! (from Daniel 7:13-14)
The Gospel is the Glorification of: Jesus the Messiah/Christ/King
The Son of Man
At Passover
In the death, burial, and resurrection of King Jesus (see 1 Cor 15)
- Follow Me! (John 12:25-26)
The difference between losing your life or keeping it to life eternal!
To “follow” is a call to life-long discipleship
“Follow Me” (John 1:43; 10:27; 12:26; 13:36; 21:19; 21:22)
What is your faith-answer to King Jesus calling you to “follow Me”?
You Can KNOW God!
Acts 17:16-34
Purpose: that we may know the One True Creator and Savior God Jesus Christ
- Making the Unknown, Known! (Acts 17:16-23)
- Knowing the True God (Acts 17:24-29)
A. This God is the living God, the Creator, the Lord of all things (v. 24)
He cannot be put in a templeB. He is the self-sufficient God who sustains life (v. 25)
C. He is the Sovereign God (vv. 26-29)
God made all nations from one man
God governs human history, boundaries, times, etc.
God is available to all if they will seek Him
God maintains our existence
The image of this Sovereign God is seen in us
- Knowing Jesus, the Risen and Returning Judge (Acts 17:30-31)
God commands all people everywhere to repent
There is a fixed day of judgment
He will judge all men by Jesus whom He raised from the dead
- Do You Know Him? (Acts 17:32-34)
Some sneered at him
Some wanted more
Some believed
The One True God is: Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign, Savior, and Judge. Have you repented? Do you know Him?
Nothing Can Stop the Gospel!
Acts 16:11-40
Purpose: To see how nothing can stop the Advance of the Gospel!
- Salvation… (Acts 16:11-15)
Proclamation (v. 13)
The Lord opened her heart to respond (v. 14)
Lydia and her household baptized (v. 15)
- Divination… (Acts 16:16-18)
The slave-girl had a spirit that knew what Paul was preaching!
- Competition… (Acts 16:19-21)
Profit and Power and Politics
- Persecution… (Acts 16:22-24)
Beaten and imprisoned!
- While in Prison… (Acts 16:25-26)
- Release x 2! (Acts 16:27-34)
Paul and Silas released (v. 27)
The Jailer released (vv. 29-34)
The Jailer and his household, Believers Baptized (vv. 33-34)
- The Gospel Unrestrained! (Acts 16:35-40)
The Holy Spirit empowers the gospel of Jesus Christ to freely move through peoples’ hearts, homes, opposition, persecution, and all obstacles, so that
“as many as” believe in Jesus are saved!
The Gospel for All Nations!
Acts 15:22-35
Purpose: to understand and embrace that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all the nations!
- The Apostolic Answer – From Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 15:22)
– Jerusalem represented the predominantly Jewish-background Apostolic Church
– Antioch represented believers in Christ from Jews and Gentiles together
- The Apostolic Letter That Opened the Floodgates of Mission (Acts 15:23-29)
– Unauthorized instruction that had …
– Disturbing words that unsettle souls (see Acts 15:1)…
– Now settled by the Apostles and elders…
– That faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ sets Jews & Gentiles free (see Acts 13:32-39)
– Ends with a call for unity through essentials not pertaining to salvation
– See also Galatians 3:8 citing Genesis 12:3
- Messages Delivered, Received, and Advanced! (Acts 15:30-35)
– Message delivered & received with rejoicing
– An additional lengthy message given
– The message of the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ taught and preached with many others!
The floodgates are open! The gospel is not only for us, but for Christ’s mission to the ends of the earth! The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all the nations!
Therefore…
Purpose: to take a look back as we move forward, investing our lives to glorify Christ in worship, discipleship, and mission in 2026 and beyond.
- Why We Are Were We Are
- What We Need To Make I Work
- Who To Watch For Where To Go
How will You invest?
Finding Life, By Losing It
Purpose: To live life in and for the Lord Jesus Christ, in the light of eternity!
Intro: Finding Life, By Losing It (Matt 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24)
“Do all things for the sake of the gospel” (1 Cor 9:23; 2 Cor 4:15; 2 Tim 2:10)
- For the Glory of Christ in Me (Gal 2:20; Rom 8:26-32)
- For the Glory of Christ in His Church (Acts 20:27-28; Eph 1:7-10; 3:20-21; Titus 2:11-15;1 Pet 2:9-10)
- For the Glory of Christ Among the Nations (Gen 12:3; Is 11:9, 49:6; Hab. 2:14; Matt 28:18-20; Gal 3:8)
- For the Glory of Christ in Eternity (Matt 6:13; Rom 11:36, 16:27; Phil 4:20; 1 Tim 1:17; 2 Tim 4:18; Heb 13:20-21)
- A Case Study (2 Cor 8-9)
Find Your Life, by Losing It
Surrender to Jesus Christ, believe the gospel
Join the church, the body of Christ, by being baptized
Worship together
Grow together in discipleship
Join the Lord on His Mission to be glorified among all the nations
We are not our Own: God Owns 100%, don’t think 10%, think 100%
Serve together as the body of Christ, as the priesthood of believers,
all members active
“Well done, good and faithful slave”
Foundations of Christian Faith
Purpose: Foundations of Christian faith that lead to a great reward, a New Year Meditation
- Singular Vision: Seek First His Kingdom
(Matt. 6:19-34)
- New Life: Dead to Sin, Alive to God
(Jn. 3; Rom. 6:8-13; Gal. 2:20)
- Under New Ownership: Not My Own, Bought With a Price (1 Cor. 6:18-20)
- New Purpose: Ambassadors
(2 Cor. 5:14-21)
- Given to God
(2 Cor. 8:1-5)
At the end of life, to hear “Well done good and faithful servant,” it all begins with these foundations of Christian faith. Biblical Christian faith is defined by Singular Vision, having New Life, being Under New Ownership, with a New Purpose, and being fully Given to God!
God’s Gospel Glorified Among Gentiles
Acts 14
Purpose: to embrace that advancing the gospel will succeed, will bring persecution, and will glorify Jesus Christ!
- Ingathering at Iconium (Acts 14:1-7)
Large number of Jews and Gentiles believed in the Lord (v. 1)
Jews again stir up opposition to Paul and Barnabas (v. 2)
Bold proclamation of the gospel (vv. 1, 3, 7)
God granted testifying signs (v. 3)
The people choose sides (v. 4)
Threat of capital punishment (v. 5)
The missionaries move on (vv. 6-7)
- The Lame Leaped in Lystra (Acts 14:8-20a)
Healing of a lame man (vv. 8-10)
Barnabas falsely called Zeus; Paul falsely called Hermes (vv. 11-13)
Paul preaches the gospel and the Creator to Gentile crowd (vv. 14-17)
The crowds fail to respond correctly (v. 18)
Jews from Antioch and Iconium stir up opposition (v. 19)
Paul is stoned and left for dead (v. 19)
The missionaries move on (v. 20)
- Declaration in Derbe (Acts 14:20-21)
Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel and make many disciples
- Account at Antioch (Acts 14:21-28)
Back through Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch (v. 21)
Strengthened the disciples and appointed elders in every church (v. 22)
Through Pamphylia with stops at Perga and Attalia (v. 25)
Back in Syrian Antioch (vv. 26)
Accounted to their sending church all that God had done (v. 27, see Acts 13:1-3)
Accounted how the Lord opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (v. 27)
They spent a long time with the disciples in Syrian Antioch! (v. 28)
Advancing the gospel will succeed, will bring persecution, and will glorify Jesus Christ!
Salvation in Jesus Christ, Promise Kept!
Acts 13:26-43
Purpose: to declare God’s fulfilled promise of salvation in the risen Jesus Christ!
- Salvation in Jesus, Message Delivered! (Acts 13:26)
“has been sent” means the message came from where?
See Hebrews 1:1-4
- Salvation in Jesus, Message Fulfilled! (Acts 13:27-30)
The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
– Prophesied in the OT
– They missed the Messiah they read about every Sabbath (v. 27; see Lk 4:14ff)
– God fulfilled the prophets through men who condemned Jesus
– Jesus was crucified on a cross, was buried, and then …
– God raised Jesus Christ from the dead! (vv. 30-37; see 1 Cor 15)
- Salvation in Jesus, Message Preached! (Acts 13:31-37)
The risen Jesus Christ, God’s fulfillment of His Promise (vv. 32-33)
OT Scriptures cited: Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 55:3; Psalm 16:10
By His Resurrection Jesus Christ is Eternal King of God’s
Eternal Kingdom! (Rom 6:9)
- Salvation in Jesus, Message Received? (Acts 13:38-43)
Christ’s blessings = forgiveness of sins, justification by faith (vv. 38-39).
Paul’s Warning against unbelief! (v. 41 quoting Habakkuk 1:5)
The risen Jesus Christ is the very message and salvation of God. Have you received the risen Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?
The Gospel Preached to the Gentiles!
Acts 13:1-13
Purpose: for the church to join the Holy Spirit in the mission of Jesus Christ!
- The Holy Spirit Calls Missionaries (Acts 13:1-3)
- The Holy Spirit Sends Missionaries (Acts 13:4-5)
- The Holy Spirit Empowers Missionaries (Acts 13:6-13)
Sergius Paulus Saved
A magician Scolded
John Mark Separates
A biblical New Testament church proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in the provision and power of the Holy Spirit to all the nations!