What does First B Jackson teach about following jesus?
Drawn from the messages where it was actually addressed: the words said from the front, the passages taught, and where to hear the whole thing.
At First B Jackson, the teaching on following Jesus keeps returning to a single conviction: following Jesus is not a one-time decision but a sustained, costly, and deeply relational way of life. The messages that have addressed this most directly draw from Luke, Mark, and John to show that Jesus never hid what He was asking of people. He laid out the conditions plainly, counted on people to count the cost honestly, and then walked with those who came.
The cost itself comes up again and again. Working through Luke 14, the preacher described three conditions Jesus sets out: loving Him above every other relationship, taking up your cross daily, and holding every possession with an open hand. The cross image carries real weight in the teaching here. When someone in the ancient world took up a cross and walked with Roman soldiers, everyone watching knew that was a one-way trip. Luke alone adds the word 'daily,' which means the dying to self is not a single event but a recurring one. At the same time, the messages are careful not to leave following Jesus sounding like only suffering. Working through Mark 10, the preacher said plainly that he does not experience his walk with Christ as only suffering, but as something that also carries joy, purpose, peace, and contentment, even through the hard things.
The stories of individual people encountering Jesus fill out what this looks like in practice. Blind Bartimaeus shouted past a crowd that tried to silence him, received his sight, and immediately followed Jesus down the road. Peter, in both Luke 5 and John 21, shows that following is built through accumulated trust, one act of obedience at a time, and that failure along the way does not cancel the original call. The rich young man, by contrast, heard the invitation 'come follow me' and walked away grieving, which the teaching holds up not as a story about wealth alone but about whatever it is that keeps a particular person from actually coming. The question underneath all of it is the one Jesus put to the Twelve after the crowds thinned out in John 6: will you go too, or will you stay?
Taught from Luke 14:25-35 · Mark 10:46-52 · Mark 10:32-45 · John 6:66-69 · Luke 5:1-11
The passage taught · 1 Peter 2:20-21
20 For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,
World English Bible
The messages that teach on it
- May 28, 2023 He Is No Fool Who Gives What He Cannot Keep Jesus lays out three plain conditions for discipleship in Luke 14: putting Him first, carrying your cross daily, and renouncing all else. Pastor Ray walks through each one.
- November 6, 2022 My Time Is Not Yet Here Sermon exploring discipleship's cost through Luke 9 and John 7, as Jesus walks toward Jerusalem and calls followers to commit fully without looking back.
- August 21, 2022 Jesus Walks Jesus walks away from a crown, walks on water, and walks with twelve who stay. A study in following Christ for who He is, not what He gives.
- May 23, 2022 Monday Night @ Frist B May 22nd Jesus hears blind Bartimaeus cry out in faith and stops to heal him. A study of Mark 10:46-52 on mercy, faith, and what it means to follow Jesus.
- May 2, 2022 To Follow Jesus Is to Serve Others In Mark 10, Pastor Felix walks through Jesus predicting His death and redefining greatness: true followers serve others, just as Jesus gave His life for many.
- March 26, 2017 What We Have With Him Is Better Without Him The preacher preaches on Luke 5:1-11, showing how Peter's trust in Jesus grew through relationship and why that trust is the foundation of following Christ.
- March 26, 2017 What We Have With Jesus Is Far Better Peter trusted Jesus one small step at a time, and it changed everything. A sermon from Luke 5 on how trust built through relationship leads us to follow Christ with abandon.
Mentioned along the way
- November 29, 2023 Hope Was Born This Night Pastor Carl walks through Mark 3, where crowds press in on Jesus, the twelve are chosen, and religious leaders call him demon-possessed while his own family thinks he has lost his mind.
- September 24, 2023 What Am I Still Lacking Jesus meets a man who keeps all the rules but walks away sad. Pastor Mark explores what the rich young ruler reveals about what we truly trust.
- August 21, 2022 Sunday Aug 21st 11 am (Traditional Service) "Jesus Walks" Jesus walks on water, feeds thousands, and teaches that He is the bread of life. What does it mean to keep walking with Him when the crowd walks away?
- July 17, 2022 As You Are Going Pastor Ray walks through Matthew 9, Mark 6, and Matthew 13, exploring faith, compassion, and what it means to minister to others as you go about daily life.
- April 25, 2022 Where Your Treasure Is, There Is Your Heart Jesus meets a rich young man who has kept every commandment yet walks away sad. Pastor Mark explores what it really means to treasure God above everything we own.
- March 8, 2022 As For You, Follow Me Peter denied Jesus, yet Jesus met him with breakfast and restoration. A study of John 21 on what it means to be forgiven, called, and told simply: follow me.
- December 24, 2018 Christmas Eve Service - 4.30pm (2) A Christmas Eve service at First Baptist Jackson: the nativity story read aloud, carols sung by candlelight, and a straightforward message about Jesus as the light of the world.
- July 17, 2016 Set Your Face Towards His Mission Eric Wacham walks through Luke 9 to show how Jesus kept His mission clear and what that means for how we set our own priorities and purpose.
- July 17, 2016 Set Your Face Toward Your Mission Eric Wachob examines Luke 9 to show how Jesus kept His mission clear and calls Christians to set their faces toward God's purposes with the same undivided focus.
- April 7, 2013 From John 21, Morning Praise (2) John 21 closes the Gospel with four movements: Jesus manifesting Himself, inviting His disciples to eat, restoring Peter through love, and calling every believer to follow Him.