Let's Copy Jesus

LET'S COPY JESUS

Sermon by Apostle Lawyer Johannes Vegba
Text - Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 1:21

BIG IDEA

We are called to copy the life of Jesus, both in his humility and in his willingness to sacrifice, because people are watching how we live.

INTRODUCTION

We start with an admonition that we should be careful with our lives. A great crowd of people has the duty of watching our lives. People are watching us. In a short clip, a pastor wanted to buy a condom and did not know that the seller was a church member, so in the end the pastor said he was buying tontom instead. As we carry ourselves about, we have to be careful, because someone is always watching.

POINT ONE - HOARDING

Explanation - Some of us hoard things even when we already have enough of them. This reveals a heart that has not fully trusted God or fully let go of self.

Application - Copying Jesus means holding our possessions loosely and being willing to give rather than hoard.

POINT TWO - QUARRELLING AND THE FAILURE TO BE TRANSFORMED

Scripture - Hebrews 12:2, look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Explanation - Some of us like to quarrel the whole day. The church is supposed to transform sinners into saints, so if we remain the same even after church, then what use is the church? In the church we are supposed to be transformed, because this is the ground and pillar of truth. Some get angry because of a sermon and make pastors their enemies. Today, when we talk about heaven, many people believe there is no heaven or hell. People believe Jesus's existence is just a story. So you ask yourself, have they lost their way? The church was purchased with his own blood, and in purchasing the church, Jesus gives us two assurances.

A. You will be despised, and if you are able to go through, you will be given a name above every other name. He wasn't a sinner, but he had to die as a sinner. He made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the nature of a servant. He was slapped and spat upon. If we were Jesus, we would have caused evil to befall them and said, you see, I am God. Now everyone knows about Jesus. So as God has given us the opportunity to partake, we are looking to Jesus.

It is becoming more difficult to be a Christian. When you don't join them, they begin to antagonize you. They say, why are you going to church, because we all sin together, do you want to deceive Jesus? So we find excuses not to go. But God has transformed us so that we become the people he wants us to be.

Application - Copying Jesus means enduring mistreatment without retaliating, and allowing the church to actually change us rather than leaving us the same.

TRANSITION

Having been transformed by Jesus, the natural next step is to give, just as he gave.

POINT THREE - SACRIFICE

Scripture - Philippians 1:21, for to me to live is Christ.

Explanation - Sacrifice is something important that you give. That is what Jesus did for us, and that is why we also have to give our life to God.

Application - We must give our lives to save others. From now on, bring others into the house of God.

CONCLUSION

To copy Jesus is to let go of hoarding, to be transformed rather than to quarrel, and to sacrifice our lives for the sake of others. Just as Jesus gave himself for the church, we are called to give ourselves for the people around us. From now on, bring others into the house of God.