What Would Jesus Do? 1 In tracing the beginning of this current fad, CNN reporter Ed Garsten said: “The bracelets were born from an idea in a book called ‘In His Steps’, written in the late 1800's by Charles Sheldon.” Mr. Garsten interviewed a denominational preacher who said a member of his church decided the phrase “would make a good bracelet for youth.” Part of the initial marketing concept was, if someone asks you what the initials mean, you have an opportunity to tell them about Jesus. At first, only a few bracelets were produced by small church groups and individuals. When the fad caught on, major manufacturing producers saw the profit potential and mass production now churns out thousands a week.

What Would Jesus Do? 2 Along those same lines, a small Tennessee town hospital ER reported that a high percentage of people hurt in fights, drunks brought in from wrecks while DWI, and drug overdoses wore WWJD bracelets. Obviously, the jewelry is not accomplishing the purpose of causing people to do only what Jesus would do.

What Would Jesus Do? 3 Submit To His Father’s Will He taught its importance - Matt. 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” Matt 7:21-23

What Would Jesus Do? 4 Submit To His Father’s Will He demonstrated its importance by dying on the cross Jesus had the power to deliver Himself from death on the cross - Matt. 26:52-53 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Matt 26:52-53

What Would Jesus Do? 5 Submit To His Father’s Will He demonstrated its importance by dying on the cross As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane shortly before His arrest, He experienced the understandable wish that the “cup” could pass from Him - Matt. 26:39 This petition was repeated two more times - Matt. 26:42, 44 Jesus never thought of rebelling against the Father's will. In His prayer that night, we find the words NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS YOU WILL - Matt. 26:39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matt 26:39 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” Matt 26:42 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Matt 26:44

What Would Jesus Do? 6 Submit To His Father’s Will He demonstrated its importance by dying on the cross When the deed was finally accomplished, Jesus spoke these words: "It is finished!" - John 19:30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Jn 19:30

What Would Jesus Do? 7 Submit To His Father’s Will Christians today must live in obedience to God's will - Rom. 6:16 Whomever we obey demonstrates who owns us God or Satan, righteousness or sin Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? Rom 6:16

What Would Jesus Do? 8 Would Seek The Lost Jesus was the Great Missionary -- His mission was saving souls - Lk 19:10; Matt 1:21 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.“ Lk 19:10 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matt 1:21

What Would Jesus Do? 9 Would Seek The Lost Jesus commissioned the apostles (and, indirectly, us) to preach the gospel to every creature all over the world - Mk 16:15-16 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16

What Would Jesus Do? 10 Would Seek The Lost Every Christian is obligated to care about souls - 2 Tim. 2:2 Every person in the world needs to hear the gospel. The great goal is world evangelization - Matt. 28:19 When that job is accomplished, there will be another new generation to teach - Col. 1:23 In the first century, Paul could say that the gospel “was preached to every creature under heaven.” Even then, the job was not finished. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Tim 2:2 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Matt 28:19 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. Col 1:23

What Would Jesus Do? 11 Would Condemn Hypocrisy & False Religion Jesus had many conflicts with the hypocritical religious leaders of His day. Eight times in the New Testament, you will find the phrase “scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” These people knew the word of God but they did not practice it in their lives - Matt. 23:15 They were deceivers leading others away from God There is no virtue in making converts to a false religion. Jesus used strong words in denouncing these hypocritical people. Look just in the 23rd chapter of Matthew: o"Blind guides" [vs. 16, 24] o"Fools and blind" [vs. 17, 19] o"Whitewashed tombs" [v. 27] o"Serpents, brood of vipers" [v. 33] Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Matt 23:15

What Would Jesus Do? 12 Would Condemn Hypocrisy & False Religion The religious world today is still afflicted with the same evils. It is evident to us in the larger religious world. Scandals among money-grabbing "televangelists" provide just one of many examples of hypocrisy among people who profess to be followers of Christ. We must be on guard against the same faults within the Lord's church. Peter and Barnabas were guilty of hypocrisy back in the first century - Gal. 2:11-13

What Would Jesus Do? 13 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. Gal 2:11-13

What Would Jesus Do? 14 Would Condemn Hypocrisy & False Religion The religious world today is still afflicted with the same evils. It is evident to us in the larger religious world. Scandals among money-grabbing "televangelists" provide just one of many examples of hypocrisy among people who profess to be followers of Christ. We must be on guard against the same faults within the Lord's church. Peter and Barnabas were guilty of hypocrisy back in the first century - Gal. 2:11-13 Love needs to be practiced without hypocrisy - Rom. 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Rom 12:9

What Would Jesus Do? 15 Jesus Would Honor Truth Jesus was a man of truth. Even His enemies knew that - Matt. 22:16 Jesus respected God's Word as the truth - Jn. 17:17 Jesus taught that people are made free by the truth - Jn 8:32 Jesus recognized that true discipleship comes from abiding in His word - Jn. 8:31 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.” Matt 22:16 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” Jn 17:17 “and you will know the truth, an the truth will make you free.” Jn 8:32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” Jn 8:31

What Would Jesus Do? 16 Jesus Would Honor Truth More so than at any time in recent centuries, people have a low regard for truth. If we follow the example of Jesus, we must not fall prey to this pitfall in popular thinking. We follow Jesus by speaking the truth. We follow Jesus, by looking to the Scriptures, as the source of all knowledge about the will of God. Sixteen times in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we find Jesus speaking the words "it is written.“ He is acknowledging the authority of the Scriptures as truth.

What Would Jesus Do? 17 It is wrong for us to fail to “practice what we preach.” Jesus faulted the Jews because they did not follow through with their convictions - Jn. 5:38-39 The Scriptures testify of Jesus as the Son of God. People who profess to believe in the Scriptures should accept what they say. Those who do not believe in and obey Christ do not have God's word abiding in them. Walk as Jesus walked - 1 Jn. 2:6 “You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. 39You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;” Jn 5:38-39 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 Jn 2:6