Just do what I say; that’s an order!

Something about that kind of phrase makes the rebel in us all dig in. Jesus instead called us to   lean in. To lean into Him and His purpose. These days so many people are arguing and thrashing about. sadly, many people are claiming their anger and   noisy defiance is from God. What I see people posting and professing I am convinced many friends have lost their way. It’s easy in all the chaos   to forget our mission and our master’s way of doing it. EVEN PETER IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT AND IN THE FACE OF GREAT INJUSTICE SWUNG THE SWORD!  But Jesus rebuked him and reminded Peter he was on a different mission. The one mission every true follower is to stay on.

Mark 1:16-18 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

With all the drama it’s easy to forget our mission is to, “Follow Jesus and He will make you become fishers of men.”  We follow His way of speaking acting and loving. Your job here is to bring people into a loving living relationship with Christ.  That is the reason our Church exists.  We are not a political action committee. We are to be the gospel action committee.

Peter wrote us a letter telling us what it takes to follow Jesus. Peter’s instructions are based on thirty years of struggle. This Sunday I will share the hardest yet most important thing Peter taught about what truly following Jesus means.  I pray that you really want to truly follow him and not just say you do. We must follow Him in this   culture of chaos and conflict.

Please read the following scripture

1 Peter 2:10-25 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

1. What is the call to follow Christ supposed to produce through our lives?
   

   Mark 1:16-18 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

2. How do you in word and action follow Jesus into being a fisher of men?
3. What does it mean in word and action to submit to every human institution? Why is this important to reaching people for Christ?
   

   1 Peter 2:12-15 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

4. Why is treating all people with honor and respect in words and action a must in reaching unbelievers?
   

   1 Peter 2:16-17 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

5. Describe ways people have made you feel disrespected?
   

   1 Peter 2:18-20 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

6. What are ways we must treat all people with honor if we want to reach them?
7. Why is suffering a part of following Jesus in rescuing straying souls?
   

   1 Peter 2:21-25 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.