ARE YOU A FAN OR A FOLLOWER? Luke
9.57-62
What is
something that you and your friends would like to be invited for? Where you are
welcomed. Some unique opportunity (eg. meet Amitabh Bachhan, Sachin; famous rock
concert; by NASA to outer space; by food critic to come and sample food from all
over the world, etc etc..run with Usain Bolt J)
Read
V57-58
Jesus is
resolute about his mission v51. In v52 Jesus wants to visit a Samaritan village
but is not welcomed. As a result, they go to another village in v56. This makes
Jesus' reply in v58 even more striking. He has no place to lay his head. Why
didnt Jesus ask him to join the group and follow? So easy to do so. He could
have welcomed him.
It's easier
to follow Jesus when it's welcome. That's what FANS do. In fact, most things are
easier when they are welcomed. What are examples of times when it's easier to be
a fan of Jesus? Why?
In church
Around "spiritual" people Christmas time; When it's convenient to talk about
What are
examples of times it's harder to be a follower of Jesus?
Why?
Outside
of church and the in?uence of "spiritual" people when youre alone in bad
company
FANS: Cheer
only when the crowd is cheering. FOLLOWERS: Follow even when the cheering stops;
even when there is no welcome. (when our cricket team does well we cheer; when
they lose we curse)
v59-60
It's highly
likely this man's father was already buried considering they buried their dead
the same day. The man probably had other responsibilities to look after post his
fathers death.
But Jesus
presents him with a unique opportunity. To come and follow him
!!
What are
examples of something you would consider a unique
opportunity?
Meeting
the President Going on a gameshow Attending the Oscars
In the
gospels, besides open invitations to the crowds, Jesus only invites 7 people
speci?cally to follow him!
Peter
& Andrew; James & John (Matt 4.19; Mark 1.17) Philip (John 1.43)
Rich Ruler (Luke 18.22) Levi (Luke 5.27) Jesus is giving this man a unique
opportunity: to follow him. Do you consider the opportunity to follow Jesus
unique? Why? Why
not?
What might
be reasonably sounding excuses to avoid following Jesus?
Waiting
until we settle down Too busy ; I'm not in to organized religion My faith is
a private affair The point: Some excuses sound reasonable but ultimately are a
sidestep to following Jesus.
Jesus makes
a statement of the dead burying their own dead, then tells him to go proclaim
the kingdom.
Does this
seem like a harsh response from Jesus? Why? Why not?
Jesus'
response also reveals what a true follower does: proclaim the kingdom. If we're
claiming to be followers of Jesus, the proof is in the proclamation. Followers
proclaim. Fans practice excuse making.
How would
you rate your proclamation of the kingdom of God? Fan or Follower? Why? What can
you do to change?
v61-62 You
would think after seeing the ?rst 2 interactions, this guy would have been more
careful in initiating with Jesus. The second guy had a "BUT FIRST LET ME GO" excuse. And now he
responds with the same phrase, "BUT FIRST LET ME GO". Did he think Jesus would
lower the standards for him? Another reasonable sounding excuse.
What does
Jesus' response mean in v62? What qualities make us "?t" for the kingdom of God?
Do you possess these qualities? Are you trying to gain these qualities? Why
not?
Conclusion
Based on
these several verses, how would you rate yourself: fan or follower? If a fan,
what steps will you take this week to follow? If a follower, help a fan become
more of a follower.
