At Gateway Church in Austin, we continued our series called The Way.
Following Jesus is less prescriptive and more descriptive. We are given a general framework by the early disciples of how to live out the teachings of Jesus and follow his way. They are simple, but not easy, they are repeatable but grow more difficult, they allow anyone who believes to choose to follow, and all who remain faithful will grow stronger over time. We are like a tree planted by His waters, we grow strong in Him, and we become an immovable force in God’s kingdom.
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So we are in this new series in this new year.
We are wanting 2026 to be different.
We aren’t just setting goals to change our circumstances.
We are wanting to grow to have a faith bigger than our circumstances!
That can seem difficult – especially when the news reminds us of conflict in our country and conflict in other countries.
When watching the news, have you ever felt powerless?
I have!
You know what has helped?
Leaning into my faith and my church family. I take all that is bothering me in the world and pray about it. I give it all to God knowing He can guide and protect. I think of my grandparents who made it through World War II or my parents who made it through the Vietnam War – even as my Dad was stationed in Thailand and my Mom was taking care of me on her own.
Focusing on the Kingdom of God – the Kingdom that is advanced one life at a time rather than through weapons of war. Focusing on experiencing peace with God in my own heart and bringing God’s peace everywhere I go.
If we want a faith bigger than our circumstances, we need to see the world, see others, and see ourselves and our life differently.
To do that, in this new year and in this new series, we want to align our hearts and mind with God.
The Scriptures show us a new way to live – the Way of Jesus.
In fact, at the very beginning of the Christian movement, people who followed Jesus were considered followers of The Way.
This phrase “The Way” is used several times in the book of Acts to describe those who were following Jesus and telling the world that the Messiah had come for us, died for us, rose from the dead, and now reigns over God’s Kingdom which is advancing one life at a time! They found alot of people searching for what these followers of Jesus had discovered – a loving relationship with God through what Jesus did!
They also suffered tremendous persecution as many followers of Jesus were arrested and some were killed because they were proclaiming Jesus is Lord!” even as the Romans were saying “Caesar is Lord.” We saw last week that to proclaim “Jesus is Lord” is to say He has the ultimate authority over my life and over this world.”
Or in other places, so many people were choosing to follow Jesus, to follow The Way that they stopped buying little gods and goddesses and stopped going to the temples of the local gods and they faced violence, riots, and persecution.
Luke, the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts describes this situation like this in Acts 19:23 –
“About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.” – Acts 19:23
So rather than originating with the mythical Mandalorian and baby Yoda a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. The real and original version of “The Way” originated 2000 years ago in our galaxy and not too far away – in the Middle East in Jerusalem.
What we discover from the Bible is that following The Way of Jesus is less prescriptive and more descriptive.
We are given a general framework by the early disciples of how to live out the teachings of Jesus and follow his way.
They are simple, but not easy, they are repeatable but grow more difficult, they allow anyone who believes to choose to follow, and all who remain faithful will grow stronger over time.
Now we need to acknowledge something.
The true message of Jesus and the movement He began 2000 years ago has too often been misunderstood in part because Jesus’ teachings were about spiritual realities that are hard to see or experience without faith.
In addition, Jesus warned us there would be many false teachers and false prophets who would distort his message. I would put into that category those who have made the Good News of Jesus sound like bad news.
For example, John 3:16 describes the Good News as “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Too often, people misrepresenting the heart and character of God make it sound like “For God so hated the world that he killed his one and only Son…”
As a result, too often people have seen Christianity as judgmental, hypocritical, homophobic, and racist. Too often people who claimed to follow Jesus have actually been those things, but they did not represent Jesus well at all.
Other times the word “Christian” is used to describe political parties or its in the name of hospitals or universities – none of which may actually be aware of what Jesus actually taught or how he lived or how he treated other people.
So we want to go back to the true message of Jesus and live out The Way of Jesus as He invites us to do.
If you are here and Jesus is the One you follow and you are trying to do so with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength then our hope is that this series empowers and equips you to be even more faithful and effective in living out your faith.
If you are here and you believe in Jesus, but you aren’t actually following Him, our hope is that this series helps you realign your heart and life to what it means to really follow Jesus.
And if you are here exploring God, our hope is that this series gives you a framework on what Jesus actually said and the invitation He actually has for you now. If that is you and you’ve ever wondered what Jesus really said and what Jesus really did. We have His actual words that we can read, and we can see what the lives of people fully following Him looked like.
So just as we did last week and we will do throughout this series, we are going to read two of the foundational texts to understand The Way of Jesus.
First, Matthew 28. What we are about to read took place after Jesus had been crucified, risen from the dead and spent 40 days teaching his disciples, his devoted followers.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20
So if that was Jesus’ directive to His followers, what did they do next?
We see that in Acts 2:42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47
Isn’t that inspiring? Isn’t that beautiful?
There are 4 things we can apply to our lives from these two passages.
As followers of Jesus, or as followers of The Way, we are called to gather, grow, give, and go.
Last week we looked at the importance of gathering. We come together for meaningful connection with God and with other people.
When we are living out our calling, followers of Jesus make up the local church which is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational community that creates intentional environments for meaningful connection with God and with each other.
These environments which are both large groups of people and small groups of people do three things:
- They create space for the presence of God.
- They help people connect into community.
- They proclaim Jesus & the kingdom of God.
Today we are looking at how to Grow in the way of Jesus.
Here’s the key idea this week: We are called to grow from belief in Jesus to a mindset of intentional progress in making apprenticeship to Jesus (becoming like him) a way of life.
In other words, our goal is to become more like Jesus in every aspect of our lives. Another way to say this is to become more “Christlike.”
Now some of you may be thinking the word “Christ” is Jesus’ last name.
Or maybe you have only heard that word in a movie or TV show as if it’s a swear word.
Or maybe you’ve heard of “Christ-consciousness” from a more New Age version of spiritually.
We actually see the word “Christ” throughout the New Testament. The word “Christ” means “Messiah” which means “The Anointed One” or “Chosen One.”
Jesus was the One promised to come and rescue us. He is God in the flesh. There is One God who is 3 persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was the chosen one who came to rescue us all.
Years ago when I was in Los Angeles, a man approached our pastor with a sincere question. He asked: how can you believe in Jesus when there are so many other religions and belief systems. I will never forget his answer. He said: “Because no one else is coming for us.”
You see, religions are about the ways humanity attempts to get to God, but what Jesus offers is a relationship because He came to walk among us.
Now what makes this more remarkable is that when you surrender your life to follow Jesus, the Spirit of God comes to live within you. The same power that rose Jesus from the dead is now within us to guide us, convict us, empower us, and transform us!
We become “Christians” which was literally meant as a cut down when it was first used to describe followers of The Way in Antioch as it says in Acts 11:26
“in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” – Acts 11:26
“Christian” means “little Christ”
In Antioch was an incredibly diverse church filled with Jews and Gentiles. Before Jesus, these two groups did not interact or connect, now united in the belief that Jesus was alive and reigning from the right hand of God over God’s Kingdom, now people from every background were part of the same family – God’s family.
They lived so differently that it made other people uncomfortable.
Their community was made up of men, women, slave, free, Jews, and Gentiles, and all were seen gifted and called by God.
They lived moral and upright lives that intrigued people.
They were honest and not corrupt.
They were kind and cared for their neighbors no matter their background or beliefs.
So then how do we grow as a disciple of Jesus? (make this and 3 bullet points 1 slide)
How do we grow as a Christian?
Based on the Great Commission. We can draw a few principles on a roadmap, a lifestyle, of growth.
- We live in a relationship with Jesus.
- We learn how to be like Jesus.
- We obey what Jesus said.
So let’s talk through these three things.
We live in a relationship with Jesus.
He says, And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The inference as a follower of Jesus is I can be present with Him at any moment. If you’ve been following in the Pause App, you’ve been noticing that communion with Jesus is accessible at anytime. And he desires to be with us more than we desire to be with Him.
When you choose to follow Jesus you are beginning a new relationship with God.
Now here’s what’s interesting. You may think, well, how can you have a relationship with an invisible God?
Well, it’s just like any other relationship.
- You talk to Him. (That’s called prayer).
- You listen to Him. (That happens within prayer, through the whisper of His Spirit, and through reading the Scriptures).
- His friends become your friends.
- You try to introduce your friends to Him.
- You adjust how you live based on what He says and how He guides.
Think about your friendships in school. Teens drift from parents because they want to spend all their time with their friends, then they start dressing like their friends and doing what their friends do.
Or if you are married or have been married, the same is true. Unless you spend time with your spouse, you will drift. When you spend time together – talking and listening, soon you like what they like and they begin to like what you like! Their friends become your friends and vice versa. You even make sacrifices to make their lives better even as they do the same for you.
Here’s what’s amazing. It’s actually easier to communicate with God than it is your spouse, your friend, your parent, or your sibling.
You can always talk to God – even in the middle of the night, even when others are traveling or working or at school.
And He communicates straight to our hearts. The longer you know someone the more you might be able to complete each other’s sentences, but no friend or spouse or family member can put their thoughts in your mind like God can do for us.
In the Pause App this past week on Thursday came this quote that struck me because it’s so spot on on what it means to seek the prsence of God. It’s from Brother Lawrence a 16th century friar-
“I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of God. For my part, I keep myself retired with him in the depths of the center of my soul as much as I can. And while I am so with Him, I fear nothing. But the least turning from Him is insupportable.”
-Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
The apostle Paul wrote most of what we read in the New Testament. He was writing letters to the local churches most of which he helped start and to leaders in those churches. His writings have been considered inspired by God and helpful for knowing how to follow the Way. He writes this to the followers of Jesus in the Corinthian church.
For, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 2:16
Think about that for a moment. If you follow Jesus, you have the mind of Christ!
I’ve discovered in my life that when I have a thought I can discern whether it is my own thought, a dark thought, or a thought from God by considering three things:
To determine if a thought is from God, consider these three questions:
- Does this thought require courage?
- Does this thought require selflessness?
- Is this thought consistent with God’s character as we find in the Scriptures?
So how is your time with God?
Are you praying each day or even better throughout the day?
Are you spending time reading the Scriptures to discover more about God’s character and how He is calling us to live?
As we continue Pray First, I want to encourage you to try something. (Even if you didn’t start with us this last week), I want to invite you to engage with us daily in prayer. If you do, you will have an awareness of God’s presence in your life that will lead and direct you toward becoming who God has made you to be.
Use the “Pause” app that will provide daily guided prayers. Go to gatewaychurch.com/prayer
I also want to invite you to join us for pre-service prayer next Sunday mornings (Jan 25) Either 9 – 9:15 or 11 – 11:15am.
You may have noticed more people in the auditorium before the service than usual, they came to pray. Consider joining us early next week.
Years ago, in order to fire up the crowd U.T. invited fans to “Come Early, Get Loud, and Stay Late.” We want to invite you to do the same this month during Pray First!
Too often we use prayer as a last resort. Instead, we want to pray first.
We also don’t want to just tell God what to do or ask Him to bless what we have done.
We want to walk with Him knowing that sometimes God answers our prayers with “yes,” “not yet,” or “no.”
As I often like to say when it’s a “not yet” or “no” remember how Tim Keller, a pastor who served for years in New York City described this situation.
“God answers our prayers the way we would if we knew what He knows.”
– Tim Keller
So not only does Growing mean really being intentional about drawing closer to God in our relationship with Him, it also means
We learn how to be like Jesus.
“..teaching them…”
As followers of Jesus, as “Christians” – we are little versions of Christ – everywhere we go!
We represent Jesus!
Church planter Paul describes our mindset after choosing to follow Christ should be the following:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
Remember there is a battle between our flesh and the Spirit. The flesh and darkness wants to pull us into selfishness and greed and immorality and all the things that can be destructive to us and those we love, but the Spirit is inviting us to new life! It’s the Spirit which gives us the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
But to win the battle against the flesh, we must die to our old self in order to live the life Jesus is inviting us to live – with the help of His Spirit within us!
For years at Gateway, we’ve said “Come as you are, but you don’t have to stay as you are.”
All of that is true!
Come regardless of the mistakes you’ve made or the doubts you might have!
All are welcome – from every ethnic background, from every side of the political aisle, from every generation, from every socio-economic status, from whatever belief or worldview.
And you can experience change and transformation!
But perhaps a more accurate way to describe the path towards becoming a new creation would be to say:
“Come and die so you are no longer who you’ve been”!
Now we give out coffee mugs that say “Come as you are” to all who are new. Just fill out that connect card on your phone and come to the connect spot to receive your gift!
But, let’s be honest, a mug with “Come and die” is not what most people want to see or hear!
Jesus showed us the way to the life we’ve always wanted, the life God designed for us. Jesus said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23
Now, Jesus was referring to a spiritual death where you surrender your will, desires, and authority of your life to God.
So as we die to our old life, we take off the old and put on the new.
When we do this, we begin to forgive more quickly and ask for forgiveness sooner.
We see people in a loving way.
We see ourselves as sons and daughters of the King of Kings.
This is a lifelong process.
And it’s not meant to be done alone. If we are learning to be like Jesus then it means we follow after what He modeled for us. Jesus lived his life in community. He had a large community (72) that followed him and that he interacted with, He had a small group that He shared all things with (the 12), and He had a core group of 3 that He invited into even greater depth of relationship with Him then the 12.
You hear us say all the time, “take a step into community” or “life is best lived in community.” The reason we say this is because we are learning to be like Jesus by living like He did.
That’s why in the life of a Christ-follower, you will never arrive, but with God’s help you will make progress!
The moment you think you have arrived is the moment you need to take on pride.
Community has helped all of these people learn to live like Jesus did who was constantly praying for others and connecting to God through prayer
Not sure what you need to work on? Ask your roommates, your parents, your spouse, your kids, your co-workers, your boss, your employees.
Too many people who call themselves Christians have a lot of head knowledge, but we are invited to have a deep and real relationship with God. We are invited to know God with our heart not just know alot about him with our head.
The religious leaders, known as the Pharisees, were the ones Jesus called hypocrites.
Many of those who give Christianity a bad name in our culture are more like the Pharisees than they are like Jesus.
Becoming more like Jesus means we experience the fruit of the Spirit and we bring the fruit of the Spirit everywhere we go.
The love, peace, joy, patience, and goodness of God begins to so overflow out of our life that others experience those attributes when we are with them. And they want what they see in us which gives us the opportunity to point them towards Jesus.
We obey what Jesus said.
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Remember before ascending to the right hand of the Father to reign over God’s Kingdom, Jesus gave what Christ-followers for centuries have referred to as the Great Commission. That means if you have ever wondered your purpose or calling or how to follow Jesus, here it is…
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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. – Matthew 28:19-20
So what does that mean?
Let’s look again to see how the early disciples lived this out.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47
To obey Jesus means to step into community – both in the large group as they did in the temple courts and in each other’s homes. You are experiencing the miraculous, living with gratitude and an awareness of God’s presence and blessing where others are intrigued by what they see in you and you lead them to follow Jesus.
To make disciples means to grow in your relationship with God and help others start and grow in their relationship with God.
So to summarize…
We are called to grow from belief in Jesus to a mindset of intentional progress in making apprenticeship to Jesus (becoming like him) a way of life.
A life anchored in community and scripture is key to growth of our understanding of Jesus and how we align our heart and life to be more like Him
So what about this year of Realignment?
- How would you describe your relationship with Jesus? Strong, on and off again, needing a restart or ready to get started?
- How is Jesus inviting you to become more like Him? Which characteristic of His do you want His help to develop in your life? How is He wanting you to make progress in this area?
- How is Jesus inviting you to obey Him in this season?