Can I Really Live Like Jesus?

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Can I Really Live Like Jesus?

This week I was very inspired by our pastor’s message, “Can I Really Live Like Jesus?”. I’d like to share this sermon resource with you because it was just so good and so practical. I loved Pastor Whit’s stories, analogies, and visual/video clip examples that he used (funny, relatable, and some tear-jerkers). You know I love a good analogy! 😉 It reminded me of how Jesus would use parables to illustrate his teachings. I would love to encourage you to go watch or listen. I sometimes fancy myself a “curator of resources”, and this is a good one!

I’ll post the YouTube Video (message starts at 37:45), and below that I’ll include a message summary, adding some of my own notes and complementary scriptures that came to mind. BONUS: I’ve also added an instructional image straight from my brain at the bottom (Well…almost straight from my brain; I did my best!).

Message summary with some of my own notes and complementary scripture additions:

“The destiny of your life is to become like Jesus.”[1] The idea is…Yes, it is possible to live like Jesus! In fact, we are told to do so in several places in scripture. Jesus even says to numerous people, “Follow Me…”

“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29 (NLT)

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6 (NLT)

“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:15 (NLT)

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 (NLT)

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)

“Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” John 12:26 (NLT)

God wouldn’t tell us to do something that’s impossible to do. If he tells you to do it (i.e. live like Jesus), then it’s completely achievable.

The word used to describe this is “discipleship”. A modern day equivalent could be “apprenticeship”, except a disciple takes learning a step further into becoming exactly like the person they are following or learning from.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40 (ESV)

“The call to follow Jesus is a call to follow the way of Jesus.”[2]

God wouldn’t tell us to do something that’s impossible to do. If he tells you to do it (i.e. live like Jesus), then it’s completely achievable.

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Take Some Practical Steps to Live Like Jesus:

There are 4 phases of a journey that every Christian goes through.[3]

  1. Know God
  2. Grow in Freedom
  3. Discover Purpose
  4. Go Make Disciples, Go Make a Difference

These are also recurring phases throughout your lifetime, NOT a linear checklist of events. Over the course of your lifetime you will experience each of these phases multiple times. Pastor Whit described it like an upward spiral where you go through these phases several times over the course of your life, growing closer to God through the process and becoming more and more like Jesus. These phases are how we learn to live like Jesus.

Know God

This phase consists of not only learning ABOUT God but also in growing in relationship with him. There’s a difference in knowing about someone and truly knowing them. Pastor Whit gives an example of having a celebrity’s autograph versus their cell phone number.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” Ephesians 1:17 (NIV)

Practical Steps to Know God (hyperlinks are helpful posts about topics):

Grow in Freedom

As we grow in our relationship with God, he will start to show us areas in our life where we need some freedom…freedom from sin, past hurts, wrong thinking, bad habits, blind spots, etc. This process of making us more like Jesus is also called “sanctification”.

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)

Practical Steps to Grow in Freedom:

  • Small groups
  • Vulnerability
  • Sabbath (regular time of rest)
  • Tithing
  • Disconnecting from technology

Discover Purpose

God has given each and every one of us gifts and talents. He has a purpose and a calling for us to use those gifts, our past, our experiences, and our passions to advance his kingdom and point people to God. Discovering your gifts, talents, and purpose will be an ongoing process.

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” Romans 12:6a (NLT)

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)

Practical Steps to Discover Purpose (hyperlinks are helpful posts about topics):

Go Make Disciples, Go Make a Difference

As we discover our purpose, we need to go make a difference in the world for the benefit and advancement of God’s kingdom. We need to make the world better. Just as things got better everywhere Jesus went, so should it be with us. Like I’ve mentioned before, making disciples is a process not an event. Discipleship and evangelism are two sides of the same coin, and we should be doing both to accomplish Jesus’ command to us in Matthew 28:19.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (NLT)

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

Practical Steps to Go Make Disciples, Go Make a Difference (hyperlinks are helpful posts about topics):

A visual image of the 4 ongoing and recurring phases

I’m a big visual person, and I often see or correlate images in my head of what I’m learning. As Pastor Whit mentioned the spiral upward going through these 4 phase multiple times throughout our life, I immediately pictured 4 vertical lines (each named with one of the 4 phases: Know, Grow, Discover, Go) with a spiraled line hitting each of the phases multiple times. I also imagined it to be like a helix, similar to a DNA structure with lines crossing over through the middle…as if we are connecting 2 or more phases at the same time (i.e. Know and Grow). Then this made me picture a spiral staircase, each step representing connecting phases while moving upward. (see image below)

I could even see in my own life where I have gone through each of the phases multiple times, sometimes even concurrently (at the same time, like the DNA image). For example, I am presently experiencing “Know God” through my daily quiet times with Bible reading and study, and I’m also participating in a Bible study on the Gospel of John with my church. I’m also currently “Growing in Freedom” as God is correcting some of my bad attitudes, some struggles with offense, and learning not to act on my emotions quite so much.

I am “Discovering Purpose” as God is starting to reveal some new ways that my gifts and talents can and are helping people. Finally, I purpose to “Go Make Disciples and Go Make a Difference” in a variety of areas: in my family, teaching my college classes, at Glory House (a women’s restoration home where I teach/volunteer), leading a small group in our church youth, and with this blog.

Here’s an image I put together (not exactly the way I pictured it in my head…but close):

Know Grow Discover Go Spiral instructional images

How have you learned to live like Jesus? Share it with us by leaving a comment below!

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are rude, disrespectful, sarcastic, offensive, or off-topic.  By posting on this site you agree to my Comment Policy.

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

  1. George, Whit. “Can I Really Live Like Jesus?” Series: Good Question. 1 Mar. 2020, Tulsa, Church on the Move. ↑
  2. George, Whit. “Can I Really Live Like Jesus?” Series: Good Question. 1 Mar. 2020, Tulsa, Church on the Move. ↑
  3. George, Whit. “Can I Really Live Like Jesus?” Series: Good Question. 1 Mar. 2020, Tulsa, Church on the Move. ↑
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