Sermon Tone Analysis
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Today the big question is,
Am I a Fan, or a Follower of Jesus?
Pastor Kyle Idleman wrote a book back in 2011 called, not a fan.
As I was reading the passage we are looking at today, and thinking about at how many disciples stopped following Jesus, I found this graphic to use with the sermon that I thought captured what is happening in John 6.
After finding this graphic, I remembered a book I bought years ago, but did not yet read.
It is called, not a fan.
I picked it up and found it interesting that the book came from Pastor Kyle reading this passage in John.
I gave a quick read through the book this week, and appreciated some of the ways he expressed things, and examples he used to flesh out this concept of fans or followers.
So, I am using his terminology of fans and followers.
What is a fan?
fan noun
[probably short for fanatic] 1682
1: an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usually as a spectator
2: an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit) 〈science-fiction fans〉
A fan is someone who gets excited by something or someone, especially if they are doing something that brings pleasure to them.
A fan of a sports team is excited for his team when they do well, but if they have a long streak of doing poorly, they often lose interest in them.
A fan is after what they can get from the one they are watching.
What is a follower?
fol•low•er \ˈfä-lə-wər\ noun
before 12th century
1 a: one in the service of another: RETAINER
b: one that follows the opinions or teachings of another
c: one that imitates another
A follower is someone who is committed to the one they are following.
They don’t just watch.
They are involved.
They are in service.
That means they are doing what the one they are following wants.
Or, they are doing what the one they are following is doing.
I think the big difference between a fan and a follower would be two things:
Differences between a fan and a follower:
Focus
Commitment
Action
With this in mind, let’s remember the setting of the passage for today.
Jesus was popular.
He was healing people, and doing miracles.
He was teaching with authority.
He was showing Himself to be wiser than the Pharisees.
He was showing Himself to be compassionate.
So, when Jesus and His disciples went off to the Gentile side of Galilee to get away, the people followed.
When they got there, Jesus showed compassion once again, and fed them miraculously from a boy’s lunch of five barley loaves and two fish.
The miracle was so big that after they all ate--and it was no small crowd with 5000 men plus women and children—there were even enough leftovers for the disciples to each pick up a full basket worth!
It was a miracle!
It was something only God could do!
That evening, the disciples left in the boat, and Jesus stayed behind and went up on the mountain to pray.
In the wee hours of morning, Jesus went to his disciples who were struggling all night against a storm on the lake.
He was walking on the water!
He calmed the sea, and they arrived at their destination!
More miracles showing who He is, the Almighty God!
The people eventually made it back to the Jewish side of the lake to find Jesus, but they were not there because they understood the signs.
Jesus sees the hearts of all men, and he said,
The people go on to ask Him for a sign, as if they already forgot the signs He already showed them in the healings, the teaching and the feeding of them.
Actually, they didn’t forget, they just wanted more!
They were fans!
They were enthusiastic when He did the miracles, and both entertained them, and provided for them!
Jesus challenged them that they did not need daily food as much as they needed real eternal life!
What is eternal life?
Does anyone remember?
Eternal life is this:
Eternal life is a relationship with our Creator and source of all life, God! God the Father, and God the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
How does one have this life?
Jesus says one needs to believe.
Then, to help them understand, he uses the metaphor of coming for bread.
But even in this metaphor, He is still meaning we need to believe in Him to have eternal life.
Then, he goes on and uses the example of the Israelites eating manna in the wilderness to have physical life.
He uses that imagery then to try to help them understand how to have eternal life.
Let’s read this last section together now.
Notice, this section begins with the expression Jesus uses to indicate he is about to make a main point.
Amen, Amen.
It is true, it is true!
Listen up, here is the point: whoever believes has eternal life.
Now, I want to point something out here.
This word for believes is not written in a past perfect tense.
That is, it is not, “anyone who has believed.”
It is written in a present tense.
It is ongoing action.
The one believing has eternal life.
I think that is one difference between a fan and a follower.
A fan looks back at some great moment, some great event.
A follower is focused on the present.
A fan says, I decided, or I accepted, or I prayed (none of which is what Jesus says is required).
A follower says, I believe!
This is what Jesus says is required.
Are you a fan, or a follower?
Let’s go on...
Jesus uses the historical example of the Israelites in the wilderness.
They needed what God provided in the manna each and every day to live.
So too, we need Jesus as our daily bread each and every day to live!
We need his work on our behalf each and every day.
How do we receive His work of dying for our every sin and rising to give us new life, and new power to live as Sons of God?
By believing… daily!!
A fan focuses on an event.
A follower focuses on the present.
A fan feasts on an event for some time.
Just talk to a sports fan, and they will tell you how their team won the world series, or their team won the superbowl.
They will tell you how their team were the champs, for years after the event.
But they are not living on their team’s daily work.
A follower is walking with their Lord daily.
A follower daily remembers and receives forgiveness and power to live by faith in the Lord they are following.
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