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********Please note:
Key Verses or passages are highlighted and/or categorized by a number.
*Click on the highlighted verses to see it's application on the Daily Living page.
*Click on the highlighted numbers to see what category or subject each verse
falls under on the Number Guide Bible Reference Chart . Some bible
verses may have more than one number beside it.
*Unless stated otherwise, all bible verses are New King James Version.
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Let's get started. 😊In part 7 of this series, we are going to discuss more what it means to follow Jesus
*****Scripture Reading: Mark 8:34-38*****
Key Verse: "When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
*Following Jesus and growing in the likeness of Christ requires some form of sacrifice, not in the same sense of God sacrificing Jesus, but in the form of us willing to lay down our lives, our daily living, and take up our cross daily.
*It's a choice to sacrifice our will, our own way of doing things for His way and our wants.
*However, when we do, we open our hearts to be enlightened, experience God's love, and to take advantage of an opportunity for God to reveal abundance of His glory, unmerited favor, grace, and liberty that bring freedom from bondage of sin shackles of life.
*A willingness to follow Jesus and to serve Him is a prerequisite for leadership in ministry.
"If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me;..." (John 12:26) 2
*A servant -follower is an essential step for any advancement in leadership.
*As a servant-follower, you offer personal service to someone, a ministry or church by helping them spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
*Serving in ministry as a follower of Jesus should be in every rising leaders' resume' in the church because it is a part of the foundation of a trustworthy, faithful, and hopeful ministry.
*If you don't know how to be a servant-follower, you will not be able to qualify to be a servant-leader.
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Here are 5 examples of followers who became great leaders in the Bible.
Moses:
- Follower: Moses began as a shepherd and follower of God's instructions given through the burning bush.
- Leader: He became the leader of the Israelites, delivering them from slavery in Egypt and leading them through the wilderness. (Exodus 3-4, Exodus 14)
Joshua:
- Follower: Joshua was initially a servant and assistant to Moses.
- Leader: He succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land, conquering it and settling the tribes. (Joshua 1:1-9, Joshua 6)
David:
- Follower: David started as a young shepherd boy and servant in King Saul’s court.
- Leader: He was anointed as king of Israel and became a great warrior and the second king of Israel, known for uniting the kingdom and establishing Jerusalem as its capital. (1 Samuel 16, 2 Samuel 5:1-5)
Peter:
- Follower: Peter was a fisherman who followed Jesus as one of His twelve disciples.
- Leader: After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter emerged as a central leader in the early Christian church, preaching at Pentecost and spreading the gospel. (Matthew 4:18-20, Acts 2)
Paul (Saul of Tarsus):
- Follower: Initially, Saul was a follower of Jewish law and persecuted Christians.
- Leader: After his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, he became Paul and a leading apostle to the Gentiles, establishing many churches and writing a significant portion of the New Testament. (Acts 9, Acts 13-28)
These individuals exemplify how followers, through obedience, faith, and dedication, can be transformed into influential leaders in God’s plan.
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*Question to ponder: How can you lead by example if you never follow?
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Dear Lord Jesus,
Help me to deny myself and take up my cross daily, following You with unwavering faith. Grant me the strength to lose my life for Your sake, knowing that in doing so, I will find true life. Teach me to put aside my desires and ambitions, seeking instead Your will and purpose for my life. Fill me with courage to stand firm in my faith, even when faced with trials and challenges. In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.
In Part 8 of this series, we will discuss what means to lead in ministry in the name of Jesus.
The Complete Bible Study for Commit, Follow, and Lead is HERE.
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Click HERE to see my personal List of Bible Study Tools and Resources that I used to help me dig a little deeper in God's Word.
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