Likes & Followers

1. YOUR LIFE REVEALS WHO/WHAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Proverbs 4:23

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:2

Genesis 25:27-34 (NLT)

Despised (Hebrew “bazah”) - to treat something as worthless, to lightly esteem it, or hold it in contempt

2. YOUR PURSUITS REVEAL YOUR HEART

● ARE YOU PURSUING THE BLESSING MORE THAN THE BIRTHRIGHT?

“Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.”

2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6 (NIV)

Follow (Hebrew rādaph) = to pursue, chase, and attend closely upon

3. CULTURE SAYS: EARN APPROVAL TO BE WORTHY. GOD SAYS: YOU’RE ALREADY WORTHY AND APPROVED.

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave

him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)

Victory Group Questions:

1. If someone followed you for a week, what do you think they would learn about who/what influences your life?

2. What does it mean to “guard your heart” (Proverbs 4:23) in practical terms?

3. How does understanding that we are already approved and loved by God

(Ephesians 1:4 5) change the way we pursue goals or relationships?

4. How can you start following Christ more intentionally this week, rather than following cultural influence or your own desires?