Matt Nelson - November 21, 2021
Counter Cultural
STREAMS IN THE DESERT Counter-Cultural 11.21.21 We must gain a vision for Christlikeness We must be aware of how we’ve been de-formed We must implement the rhythms and practices of Jesus formation John 6:26-27 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” John 6:35-36 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. John 6:53-58 53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Half-hearted discipleship to Jesus is not discipleship at all and leads to spiritual death. Jesus knew that maximum kingdom impact would not happen through the multitudes but through the few who were true disciples of Jesus. John 6:60-61 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? John 6:66 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. The crowd will rarely lead us to true discipleship to Jesus.