It’s Better than you Imagine

October 6, 2024 Confirmation and First Communion

Today is a wonderful day! Addison, Avery, Evan, Camden, Bella, and Mallory, today you promise to follow Jesus! It’s a big deal! Not everybody makes this choice, because there’s a big difference between the way of the world and the path of a follower. It’s important to notice there’s a difference. The way of the world is to be selfish, to only think of yourself. Following Jesus is very different.

When you’re part of the church community, on a regular basis, you’re going to be exposed to a whole different atmosphere. You hear the word of God in Scripture. You’ll be surrounded by people who will lovingly call you out when instead of following where Jesus is leading, you go the way of the world. And in church you have opportunities to use your gifts for the good of others. Being around caring people, you start to focus on caring for others.

So, you’re a step ahead of most people because you’re part of a church, part of a community committed to loving God, loving others and making a difference. A lot of people think it’s foolish to live your life for God and others, but they’re missing out! Following Jesus is amazing–better than you imagine!

You made an amazing banner this summer with a verse from Galatians 2:20: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” It has a big colorful butterfly: symbol of Christ’s resurrection! That verse from Galatians at first sounds sad: I no longer live. Well, it means, I’m not just living for me. I’ve made a choice to, as best I can, to live like Jesus wants me to, so Christ lives in me. It’s an amazing thing when you follow Jesus. You don’t do whatever you feel like. But you end up with the best life ever! Your life is better because you love others deeply, relationships with other people are better, and you have peace and joy in God!

Jesus said in Luke 9:23 Whoever wants to be my disciple has to deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow me.

So, what does it look like to follow Jesus? I think a great example is one of Jesus’ disciples 2000 years ago: Peter! I love Peter! He jumps into things: ready for action, sometimes without thinking. He’s the guy brave enough to say out loud what everybody is afraid to say. But what I really love about Peter is he doesn’t always get following Jesus right, but God uses him anyway and Peter makes a huge impact!

When Peter first meets Jesus, the Lord calls Peter to leave fishing and follow him, and he does! Later Peter and the disciples are in a boat on the Sea, and they get caught in a storm. They see a figure walking on the water, then realize it’s Jesus! So, Peter, being the guy he is, says, Lord, if that’s you, let me come out and walk on the water with you. So, Jesus says, “Come!” And Peter steps out, thinking this is really amazing and cool, I’m walking on water! But just a little bit later doubt creeps in his heart and Peter begins to sink! Jesus rescues him and says, you have little faith.

Another time Jesus asks his disciples, who do you think I am? And Peter says, “You’re the Christ, the Son of the living God!” And Jesus says, Ding, ding, ding! That’s an excellent answer! Peter’s feeling proud, he’s got this right! But soon enough, Peter is telling Jesus, “There’s no way you will suffer and die.” And Jesus gets angry at him.

So, with Peter it’s up and down. When Jesus goes to the cross, Peter denies that he even knows Jesus three times. But then Peter experiences meeting the resurrected Jesus. And Peter preaches on the holy day of Pentecost, where 3000 people decide to be baptized, join the church and follow Jesus! By this time Peter knows he didn’t do this on his own. He realizes he did his best, and God did the rest! God worked through him. It’s better than he imagined!  

This year you had great teachers and learned a lot! You helped at the food pantry, you did announcements for the Souper Bowl of Caring, and raised money and walked in the Crop Hunger Walk to end hunger. You walked dogs and petted cats at the S.P.C.A. You prayed for each other. You invited friends to a church party. And you made a great banner! There’s so many awesome things you’ve done for God. I hope you know that following Jesus is worth the sacrifice. It’s better than you imagine!

Let’s pray, Holy God, we thank you for this day, thank you that we can follow you and do your work. We want to let our light shine and do good for others. Help us all trust and keep on following you! Amen.