January 7, 2024
First Things First
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
Luke 9:22-24 NIV
And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it."
Luke 9:31 NIV
They (Moses and Elijah) spoke about his departure (exodus), which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
Luke 9:43-45 NIV
And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
Luke 9:51 NIV
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Jesus' reason for existing is abundantly clear to Him:
He came to bring glory to His Father by reconciling the world back to Him.
Luke 19:10 NIV
"For the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save the lost."
Bottom Line: Putting Jesus first means arranging my priorities to match God's priorities.
Luke 9:57NIV
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Luke 9:58 NIV
Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Follow Jesus no matter the cost.
Luke 9:59 NIV
He said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
Luke 9:60 NIV
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
The 10 Commandments:
1. No other gods.
2. Do not make idols.
3. Honor the name of the Lord.
4. Keep the Sabbath holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
Follow Jesus before your family and social commitments.
Luke 9:61 NIV
Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."
Luke 9:62 NIV
Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Follow Jesus and don't look back.
1 Kings 19:19-21 NIV
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye," he said, "and then I will come with you."
"Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. -
Jesus, Matthew 6:10
"Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Eugene Peterson calls this "A long obedience in the same direction."