Walking in the Steps of Jesus

I Peter 2:21
How closely do we want to follow in Christ's steps? Last week, we began a series of
messages called What Would Jesus Do? We talked about what Jesus would do if His
incarnation, "the days of His flesh" were today.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Before we answer the question "What would Jesus do?" we have to answer the
question "What did Jesus do?" Because Jesus doesn't change, the basic characteristics
of His life 2,000 years ago would be the same today in spite of history, our politics,
culture, or values.

In last weeks message, we looked at several characteristics of Jesus. He obeyed, lived

the Word, prayed, served, forgave and loved.

I. Jesus Lived Integrity.

A. Jesus is the Perfect Model of Integrity.

1. 100's of years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah foretold of
Him, (Isa 53:9) "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the
rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any
deceit in his mouth."

2. Peter echoed those same words in 1 Peter 2:22, when described Jesus
as one "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:"

3. The word "guile" comes from the basic meaning of "to decoy" or "to
trick or bait."

4. In other words, Jesus didn't "talk out of both sides of His mouth."

5. He was completely honest.

B. To Do What Jesus Would Do Means Living in Integrity.

1. Over the last few years, Christianity has a received several "black
eyes" because Christian leaders have had their lack of integrity exposed
to a suspicious media.
 a. That's not only true of well-known televangelists...

b. But men and women in the local church.

2. Many have rejected Christ and the church because Christians have
failed in this area of integrity.

3. As believers following "in His steps" we are called to a much higher

standard... even when no one else is looking.

(NUM 32:23) "BUT IF YE WILL NOT DO SO, BEHOLD, YE

HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD: AND BE SURE YOUR
SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT."

II. Jesus Felt Compassion.

A. Jesus' Compassion Extended to All Men.

(MAT 9:35-38) "AND JESUS WENT ABOUT ALL THE CITIES AND
VILLAGES, TEACHING IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES, AND
PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, AND HEALING
EVERY SICKNESS AND EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE.
{36} BUT WHEN HE SAW THE MULTITUDES, HE WAS MOVED
WITH COMPASSION ON THEM, BECAUSE THEY FAINTED, AND
WERE SCATTERED ABROAD, AS SHEEP HAVING NO
SHEPHERD. {37} THEN SAITH HE UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, THE
HARVEST TRULY IS PLENTEOUS, BUT THE LABOURERS ARE
FEW; {38} PRAY YE THEREFORE THE LORD OF THE HARVEST,
THAT HE WILL SEND FORTH LABOURERS INTO HIS
HARVEST."

1. In this passage, we see that Jesus went to "all the cities and villages"
of Galilee, "teaching," "preaching," and "healing."

2. As He viewed the multitudes of people, He was moved with

compassion.

3. Jesus' heart ached for them.

4. He saw them "like sheep having no shepherd."

5. They were at the mercy of the elements and predators.

 6. Jesus still sees the people of the world in this way.

a. We see Jesus' compassion as He forgave their sin.

b. We see Jesus' compassion as He healed them.

B. To Do What Jesus Would Do Means Exhibiting Compassion.

1. Far too many Christians have a "they-deserve-what-they-get"

mentality about the lost world around us.

2. In smugness, we gather together in our churches and forsake the very

people we are commissioned to reach!

3. Certainly there are those who have rejected Christ completely, but
most have simply never felt His love and compassion.

4. We are His hands and feet. If they don't see Jesus' "compassion" in us,
where will they find it?

III. Jesus Overcame Temptation.

A. Jesus Claimed Complete Victory over Satan (Mat.4:1-11).

(1 JOHN 2:16) "FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF

THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF
LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD."

1. First, Satan tempted Jesus with "the lust of the flesh."

a. He wanted Him to act independently from the Father.

b. So, after a 40 day fast, he told Him to turn the stones to bread.

c. Jesus responded with Scripture.

2. Second, Satan tempted Jesus with "the lust of the eyes."

a. He took Jesus "on the pinnacle of the temple" and quoted

Scripture to Him.

b. Jesus wasn't in the business of performing signs to attract

people.
 c. He again defeated the evil one with Scripture.

3. Third, Satan tempted Jesus with "the pride of life."

a. He showed Him "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory"
and promised to give them to Jesus for one act of worship.

b. Jesus owned all those kingdoms anyway.

c. He wasn't going to take His crown without facing His cross.

B. To Do What Jesus Would Do Means Defeating Temptation.

1. In each case, Satan was defeated with Scripture.

2. If you and I are going to overcome temptation, we MUST use

Scripture!

3. We can defeat temptation.

(1 COR 10:13) "THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN

YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN: BUT GOD IS
FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE
TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH
THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE,
THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT."

IV. Jesus Gave Encouragement.

A. Jesus Continually Built-up His Followers.

1. Peter was by far the loudest, most impetuous disciple and often
suffered from the "foot-in-mouth" disease.

2. As a result, Jesus often had to speak or act to bring Peter under

control.

(LUKE 22:31-34) "AND THE LORD SAID, SIMON, SIMON,

BEHOLD, SATAN HATH DESIRED TO HAVE YOU, THAT
HE MAY SIFT YOU AS WHEAT: {32} BUT I HAVE PRAYED
FOR THEE, THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT: AND WHEN
THOU ART CONVERTED, STRENGTHEN THY BRETHREN.
{33} AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, I AM READY TO GO
 WITH THEE, BOTH INTO PRISON, AND TO DEATH. {34}
AND HE SAID, I TELL THEE, PETER, THE COCK SHALL
NOT CROW THIS DAY, BEFORE THAT THOU SHALT
THRICE DENY THAT THOU KNOWEST ME."

3. In Lk.22:31-34, Jesus gave Peter great encouragement by telling him

that He had "prayed" for him.

4. He even foretold Peter's denial and repentance.

5. In Jn.21, after the resurrection, Jesus restored and forgave Peter.

6. A few days later, Peter emerged as one of the greatest leaders of the
early church.

B. To Do What Jesus Would Do Means Encouraging Others.

1. Jesus looked at a rag-tag group of men and saw apostles.

2. He looked at these men and saw their potential... these men would
carry the message to the world.

3. Who in our lives need a bit of encouragement?

If Jesus Christ were here in the flesh today, what would He do? How would He act?
The truth is, He would do and act just as He did. The Word of God reveals to us all we
need to know about Him. He left us an example, that we might follow in His steps. He
left an example of integrity, compassion, victory, and encouragement.

He loved us and gave Himself for us. He was willing to die on Calvary that we might
be saved. He took our place in death, that we might have eternal li

Background Information for the Teacher

Objectives:

1. The student can quote the following phrase and cite its source:
“leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps” (1 Pet. 
2:21).
 2. The student can quote the following phase and cite its source: 
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil.
2:5).

3. The student can explain why we need to use Jesus as our example.

4. The student can repeat from memory five ways in which we should
seek to “follow in His steps.”

Preparation:

1. Have a 3 by 5 index card for each student.

2. Have pencils/pens available as needed.

3. Cut out about 15 footprints and stick them on the floor of the
classroom where class members can line up and step on the
footprints.

4. Have access to a board so you can write something on it.

5. Have the words for the first verse of Footprints of Jesus—either

songbooks or printed out.

Theme:  We should follow the command to “follow in His steps” by focusing on five
qualities of Jesus:  Tell, Serve, Exemplify, Pray, and Sacrifice.

Lesson Plan for Conducting the Class

Introduction:  (15 minutes)

1. If this is a new group of students, spend a couple of minutes in

getting acquainted.  Let each person tell his/her name, if that is
appropriate for the number or, if not, let each person introduce
himself/herself to those sitting nearby.

2. Introduce visitors (and have a plan for making future contact with
them).  Make necessary announcements.

3. Have a prayer for the class.  If there are those in the class with
special needs, remember them.

4. If appropriate for the group and if you have cut out the footprints,
ask class members to line up and walk on them and then return to
their seats.
 5. Q:  Based on what you have done, what are we going to study this
quarter?  A:  Following in the steps of Jesus.

6. Sing the first verse of “Footsteps of Jesus.”

Learning Experiences:  (20 minutes)

1. Someone read 1 Pet. 2:20-22.  Q:  Why does Peter suggest that

Christians should be willing to suffer for doing good?  A:  Because
that is exactly what Christ did.  Q: In what two ways does Peter
express the idea that we should be like Jesus?  A:  We are to follow
His example, and we are to walk in His steps.

2. Q: In what specific qualities does Peter say we should seek to be

like Jesus?  A:  Suffering, not sinning, telling the truth.

3. Read 1 Pet. 1:15.  Q:  Who is “he who called you?”  A:  Christ.  Q: 

What quality did he have that we should seek to have?  A: 
Holiness.  Q:  What does it mean to be holy?  A:  To be set apart. 
To be different.  And thus to be morally clean, pure, upright.

4. Read Phil. 2:5.  Q:  What attitudes do the verses around this

statement show that Jesus had?  A:  He humbled Himself.  He
sacrificed much to leave heaven to come to earth and die.

5. In our study this quarter, we are going to focus on how we can

become more like Jesus and, in so doing, to become more fully
engaged as Christians.  Our lessons will seek to clarify in our minds
qualities Jesus had, study how we can demonstrate these same
qualities, and then to commit ourselves actually to taking action to
be more like Him.  By the time this series is finished, the elders
hope that each of you will have found some specific steps you will
take to be more like Jesus in each of these five ways.

6. I will write on the board five letters.  Each of these is the first letter in
a word that describes something Jesus did in which we should
follow in His steps.  So here are the five first letters. (Write them
vertically along the left side of the board with space to the right for
you to record possible answers.) 

7. Here are the ones which we will use for this series of lessons. 
Serve, Tell, Exemplify, Pray, Sacrifice.  Let’s repeat those together. 
You should begin now to  think of how Jesus did these things and
how you should be sure that you are following in His steps to—
Serve—Tell---Exemplify—Pray—Sacrifice.
 8. Q:  Why should we use Jesus as our example?  (Let the class give
several answers and write the key words on the
board.)  A: (Possible answers might be because (1) we are told to
do it, (2) He was perfect in every way and so sets a model for us to
follow, (3) we need show how Jesus has made a change in our
lives, (4) demonstrating what Jesus was like will draw others to Him,
(5) our lives will be much happier if we are doing what Jesus shows
us to do, (6) becoming like Jesus will make Him happy.

Application:  (10 minutes)

1. Q:  What is a famous book that tells a story about people who were
seeking to follow the example of Jesus?  A:  In His Steps.  Q:  Can
anyone tell us about this book?  A:  (In this book a preacher
challenges people in his congregation to take a pledge that before
taking any action, they will ask “What would Jesus do?”  The story
then tells what happens in the life of a singer, a newspaper owner, a
banker, a college president, and a rich woman, as well as the
change in made in the preacher.  The idea of the WWJD bracelets
came from this book.

2. Q:  What activities we do would be affected if we are using Jesus as

our example?  A:  (Be sure all of these are mentioned even if you
have to insert some of them.) How we work on our job, raise our
children, do our recreation, watch our TV and movies, read our
books, choose our language, treat our neighbors, spend our money,
and treat our spouses.  (Discuss these changes as time allows.)

3. Even as we begin this study, let’s each promise that we will look for
ways to do a better job to “follow in His steps.”

4. Let’s review what we are to memorize.  (Repeat the verses a couple

of times.)

1. 1 Pet. 2:21.  “Leaving us an example to

follow in His steps.”

2. Phil. 2:5.  “Your attitude should be the

same as that in Christ Jesus.”

3. Now let’s say the 5 ways we are to follow

in His steps.  Serve, Tell, Exemplify,
Pray, and Sacrifice.

Assignment:
 1. Here is a card for each of you.  Write on it at the top our five words
for STEPS.

2. Carry that card with you all the time—in your purse, in your pocket,
in your wallet where you can see it.  Let it be a reminder of our
study. 

3. As you may see an example of either something you do to be like

Jesus or someone else is doing, note it on your card so you can
mention it later to the class.

Back to Follow In His Steps

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