We at Colona Community Church are blessed to have Pastor Jed Kovach teaching us this winter. He began this season with a series called “Follow Me.” We are still working out some kinks, but we do have some audio and the outlines he’s put together for his first few lessons. I’ve also included the usual links to BibleGateway for verses referenced. May these bless you as they have blessed us!
Follow Me, pt. 1
John 1:35-39 – “Follow Me” Philip in v. 43: “Come and see.”
Matthew 4:18-20. The calling of Peter, Andrew, James and John
Matthew 9:9 – The calling of Matthew
Definition of the word to “follow.”
- Come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead); move or travel behind: “They followed in another car.”
- Go in the same direction as or parallel to another (a route or path): “They followed the guide up the trail.” or “They followed the trail.”
- Act according to the lead or example of (someone): He followed her lead.
- Act according to a word, instruction, or precept: “He has difficulty in following written instructions.”
- Attend closely to or keep abreast of: “I followed his career with interest.”
- Watch steadily: “Roger followed the flight of the ball.”
- Keep the mind on: “He followed the speech.”
- Accept as authority and obey: “Jake followed his conscience.”
How do these definitions relate to following Jesus?
Other scriptures on “Following:” Matthew 10:37-39; John 12:24-26; Matthew 16:24-26; Luke 9:23-25; Luke 9:57-62; and Matthew 8:18–23.
Home reading: John chapters 1 and 2. Email: jedkovach@gmail.com. Email me with ideas of what teaching topics that you might like to hear.
Follow Me, pt. 2
Following Jesus as your Rabbi (Teacher, Master)
- Spend time with Him to know Him
John 1: 35-39 – v. 39 The two disciples were drawn to that light and spent that day with Him in order to get to know Him, Who He is.
John 1:1-5, 9-14, 16-18 – The Lord gives us “light” to follow Him and He is that light. He is not “a” light but “the” light. That light is in Him and is Him!
Jesus came to reveal the Father to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Life, light, love, truth, glory – these are all in HIM and all are HIM!
John 17:3 (See also Ephesians 1:17 and 2 Peter 1:2)
Our greatest aim in the Christian life is to KNOW the Father and the Son through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Then our Christian lives will flow out of that relationship of knowing Him. Ephesians 1:17
How do we get to know Him?
- The Word of God
- Prayer
- Waiting upon the Lord
- Sharing the Gospel
- Following His commands by loving others
Home reading: John chapter 3.
Follow Me, pt. 3
Review of last Sunday’s sermon:
- John 1:35-39 – The two disciples were drawn to Him and spent that day with Him to get to know Him, the first step in following Jesus.
- John 1:14, 16-18 – Jesus came to make the Father known; He wants to be known and wants to know us!
- Philippians 3:7-10 – the cry of Paul’s heart is to know Him.
- John 17:3 –Eternal Life (“Zoe”) is God’s life, is God Himself, the essence of Who He is. Eternal Life is knowing the Father and Jesus and allowing Him to know us.
The next step is to LEARN FROM HIM – Following Jesus as your “Rabbi” (Teacher, Master) – John 1:38
Matthew 11:28-30 Take my yoke upon you and “learn from Me.”
John 3:1-10; 14-18 – Nicodemus. “You are Israel’s teacher.” V. 10. In John 3:1-21, the entire plan of God for man’s redemption is revealed.
To learn: gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught: become aware of (something) by information or from observation. Learning often teaches us who, what. when, where. why, and especially how.
Ways to know and learn from Jesus and our Father: (a) The Word of God, (b) Prayer, (c) Waiting upon the Lord, (d) Sharing the Gospel, (e) Following His commands by loving others, and (f) Serving others.
Home Reading: John 4 – Consider what the Samaritan woman at the well learned from Jesus versus Nicodemus in John 3.
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