Overview of How to Follow Jesus 

Here's 10 Keys that will help you to follow and serve Jesus as your Lord.

(1) Know Who Enters the Kingdom?

Matthew 7:21-23  Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven WILL ENTER.  NLT

1. Knowing who does and who doesn't enter heaven is so important that this verse is the 3rd test of 4 tests to determine where we will go that Jesus gives at the end of his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.
2. Who enters the Kingdom of Heaven? 
3. Where do those who don't enter the "Kingdom of Heaven" (heaven) go?  (see Matthew 5:29)
4. What is "the will of my Father"? (see Matthew 7:24-27)
5. The following verses will show you how to actually do "the will of my Father".

(2) Love God With All Your Heart

Mark 12:29-30  Jesus replied, The most important commandment is this: '... [30] And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'  NLT

1. What is the most important commandment?
2. How important is it to God that we do his most important commandment?
3. Is God ok with us just obeying the easy commands? (see Matthew 7:21) 
4. Why do you think Jesus used 'all' 4 times in this command?
5. The next verse (Mark 8:34-37) shows what a life looks like that actually loves God with ALL of their heart. 

Mark 8:34-37 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he [Jesus] said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [35] If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. [36] And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? [37] Is anything worth more than your soul?  NLT

1. Those love God follow him, they follow his teachings and examples.
2. In v34 what 3 things do you have to do to follow Jesus?
3. Explain v35-37.
4. Where do people in v35 go after they die?

(3) Repent, Believe, Follow

Repent

Luke 24.47  There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent. NLT

Acts 3:19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. NLT

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out  NIV

Acts 20:21 I (Paul) have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike-the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.  NLT

1. Whose sins are forgiven?
2. What does it mean to repent?

Believe, Follow

1. Romans 10:9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart  that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  NLT
2.  

Follow (is another way of saying Jesus is your Lord, that you follow your Lord's instructions)

1. Romans 10:9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart  that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  NLT
2. Mark 8:34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.  NLT

(4) Careful To Do Everything 

1. Joshua 1:8  meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be PROSPEROUS and SUCCESSFUL.  NIV
2. Matthew 5:6  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  NIV
3. Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  NIV

(5) Confess Sin Daily

1. Proverbs 28:13  You will NEVER succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; Then God will show MERCY to you.  GNT
2. 1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  NLT

3. 1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. NIV

(6) Work Hard to Sin Less & Less

1. Psalm 119:10-11   With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands. In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.  NET
2. 1 Cor 10:13

(7) Pray About Everything

1. Philippians 4:6-7  Don't worry about anything;  instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (7) Then you will experience God's peace,  NLT 

(8) Strengthen Christians Daily

1. Hebrews 3:13  But encourage one another daily, ... so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  NIV

(9) Boldly Speak God's Message 

1. Philippians 1:14  And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.  NLT
2. Mark 6:12  So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. NLT

(10) Mentor Faithful People To Multiply

1. 2 Timothy 2:2  and what you have heard from me … entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.  ESV
2. Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. NIV