Choosing Jesus
All we’ve discussed in this study of Life in Jesus culminates in a choice. People often portray God as controlling, living up in the clouds, ordering us around like his little minions. By this point you know God is not far off in the clouds but here with us, full of love and grace. He’s also not a controlling god, he never has been.
God gave us free will from the very beginning. God loves us, he pursues us, he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, brought us into his kingdom, and forgiven our sins (Col. 1:13), while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8), but he will not force us to follow him. God gives us a choice.
But this isn’t a quick or light decision. Jesus says we must count the cost.
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?…In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.Luke 14:28, 33 NIV
Saying “Yes!” to Jesus costs you everything. Scripture makes it clear, it’s all, or nothing. The life God has to offer doesn’t come with a half yes. But if that seems like too steep a price, think back on the man who found the treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13:44). Remember what he did? In his joy he went and sold all he had. Why was he so joyful about giving up everything? Because what he had paled in comparison to what he had found.
The cost of choosing Jesus is high, but the cost of not is far higher. When we consider our lives outside of Jesus compared to our lives in Jesus, it becomes clear we’re getting quite the bargain! Our lives ruled by sin and destruction given up for a life of love, joy, and peace. The choice becomes clear.
If you believe Jesus is who he says he is, if you believe the gospel (that he forgives us and offers us real life in his new kingdom), and you haven’t chosen Jesus yet…then what are you waiting for?
This lesson is meant to give clarity to what making this choice looks like in scripture and to help you work through what might be keeping you from it!
- What is faith?
- What makes it hard for you to have faith?
Repentance in the Greek means a transformative change of heart.
- How do we practically turn from our sin and turn to God?
- Is there a time you’ve felt refreshment from leaving a sin in your life? Share about it.
- What are the two types of sorrow (sadness) over sin this verse talks about? How are they different from each other?
- How have you seen worldly sorrow in your life? Have you experienced Godly sorrow? What was that like?
- What does he say Godly sorrow produced? Have you ever seen those things in your own life? Share about it.
This is the first ever evangelistic sermon we have recorded!
- What does Peter tell them they need to do?
- What does he say happens in baptism?
- Who does he say this promise is for?
- How do we die in baptism?
- How are we given new life?
- Why do you think the eunuch got baptized so quickly?
- What can we learn from him?
- How do we balance “counting the cost” like we talked about in the last lesson, with the urgency we see in this story?
- Have you been baptized like the Bible talks about? If not, are you ready? Why or why not?
Check out these additional verses on baptism and write down what they teach us about it.
- John 3:1-7
- 1 Peter 3:21
- Matt 28:18-20
- Galatians 3:26-27
- Mark 16:16
- Acts 22:16
- Conversion stories: Acts: 2:36-42, 8:26-39, 9:1-19, 10:44-48, 16:13-15, 16:25-34, 18:7-8, 19:1-7