The Art of Following
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning the rigors and benefits of following Jesus in servanthood and radical discipleship.
Text: John 12:23-26
Date: 10/21/2018, the Traditional service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 107
Description:
In our text for this lesson Jesus teaches the art of following Him. A group of Greeks have sought Him out in the Temple in the waning hours of His public ministry. Their arrival triggers Jesus to launch into a discourse about "Kingdom-following". Using a simple parable of a seed that must die in order to bear fruit, He established the prerequisite for following-- His sacrificial death that will bear a mighty harvest of souls capable of being true followers. After establishing that these true followers must also die in a way (to their own self-life), He maps out the selfless life that leads to radical discipleship. As we analyze these words of Jesus, we will consider the difficult choices that must be made along the way to true servanthood. There is sacrifice and suffering without a doubt; but there is also fellowship, honor, and eternal reward in the fine art of following.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 12:23-26.
A. Context
B. The prerequisites of following, vs. 23-24.
1. The glory of the Son of Man, vs. 23.
a. The arrival of the Greeks.
b. Glorification that bears fruit.
2. The parable of the fallen seed, vs. 24.
a. The truth statement.
b. A familiar principle.
i. A sustainable harvest.
ii. Bearing much fruit, Mark 4:8.
c. A far-reaching symbolism, Isa. 53:10, Gen. 3:15.
C. Learning the art of following, vs. 25-26.
1. The fundamentals of following, vs. 25.
a. An important detail in the grammar.
b. The danger of loving the self-life.
i. Defining the "self-life".
ii. The destructive nature of the self-life.
iii. A culture that worships "self".
c. Despising the self-life.
d. Living for eternal life.
e. Dying to self, Rom. 6:8, Gal. 2:20, Phil. 1:21.
f. The dilemma with the self-life in the church.
2. Lessons on the art of following, vs. 26.
a. The rules of following.
i. The basis of radical discipleship, Matt. 8:19, 16:24, 10:37.
ii. Obedient to the will of God.
iii. More than sacrifice.
b. The fellowship of following.
i. Sharing in His suffering, John 15:20, 1Pet. 2:21.
ii. An ever-deepening fellowship.
iii. A new perspective on suffering.
c. The reward of following, John 5:23.
III. Application
A. Follow Christ as Savior by dying to self.
B. Follow Christ as Lord by dying to self daily.
C. Be prepared to Suffer with Christ.
D. Rejoice in an ever-deepening fellowship with Christ.
E. Bask in and look forward to the honor of the Father.
IV. Conclusion, Josh. 24:15.
