Our special guest speaker was Rev. Dr. Peter Rigby, the new district superintendent of the Central Canada District of the Wesleyan Church.  He spoke about what it really means to be a follower of Christ.

Scripture: Luke 9:18-24; 46-48; 51 and Luke 9:57-62 (below).
The Cost of Following Jesus
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Some Highlights
Following Jesus is our identity.
Jesus definition of follower...

• “For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”   
• The great don’t vie for position.
• The great serve 

Why the tough demands?...

• To follow is to identify with his mission
• To follow is to connect with God

Elevated Living...

• Not distracted
• Not self-centered
• Christ-centered with purpose

Questions...

• What could you accomplish if each of you pledged to be a follower of Christ committed to serving him?  
• Where does Christ want to lead you as people who are committed to his mission of bringing men and women, boys and girls into a living relationship with God?

Question for Reflection
What's the difference between being a fan versus being a follower?

Key Verse from Sunday: John 5:6, NIV
When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

Recap
John 5:1-15 (Click here to read scripture from Sunday>)
1. Jesus goes where the need is.
This story reveals God's heart.
God's heart is with those who are hurting.
2. Jesus wants to make people well.

• i.  This man needed someone to help him.
  
• ii. This man may have been comfortable where he was.  Our pain is familiar, wellness, perhaps, is not.
  

3. Jesus does the miraculous.
4. Jesus puts people first.
5. Jesus deals with sin.

Are you hurting?  Jesus is with you.

Question for Reflection
Our pain is sometimes familiar.  Wellness, perhaps, is not.  Has fear of change ever kept you from stepping out in faith?

 “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?  Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the wella and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Recap
Jesus offers each of us Living Water.
1. Living Water is for Everyone.

• If our church doesn't intentionally open our doors to everyone regardless of race or social standing, we are not following Jesus' example.
  

2. Living Water Satisfies.

• If our church doesn't dispense living water, people will leave thirsty.
  

3. Living Water Comes Only from Jesus.

• If our church doesn't dispense living water, people won't be attracted to Christ.
• View video from this point above (click the big arrow button in the centre).

4. Living Water's Source Can't Be Exhausted.

• If our church hasn't tapped into the source of living water, we won't have enough to share with others.
  

5. Living Water Flows to Others.

• If our church hasn't tapped into the source of living water, we won't have enough to share with others.
  

Question for Reflection
How can you dispense living water in your daily dealings with people?

Key Scripture from Sunday

Isaiah 53:5, NLT
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. 
He was beaten so we could be whole. 
He was whipped so we could be healed.

Recap
It was a privilege to share communion together.  As we stopped after each element; the bread and the juice; we reflected on what they mean for each of us.  The bread of course represents Christ's body, broken for you and I.  Brokenness points to something missing.  Christ gave up his life so the "missing piece" of each person's life could be restored.  The juice of course represents Christ's blood.  We are sinful people.  The Bible and our own experience makes this clear.  Christ paid our debt with His own blood.  Because of His sacrifice, we can be free!

Question for Reflection
When we turn to the things of this world, we turn away from Christ.  Are there things or people in your life you need to turn away from so you can turn back to Christ?