Unstoppable! Part 1Radical Living
“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it
is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces
itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is
destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever,
real and eternal. “If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be
where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward
anyone who serves me.
John 12:24-26 (Msg)
A Radical “L.I.F.E” Is:
1. An Invitation to “A Loving and Intimate Relationship.”
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and
his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus
called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And
they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore Jesus saw
Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once,
and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired
men.
Mark 1:16-20 (NLT)
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God.
Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The
person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is
love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for
us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind
of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he
loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve
done to our relationship with God.
1 John 4:7-10 (Msg)
From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears,
saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared
right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose
that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took
shape before us. We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can
experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and
his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this,
too. Your joy will double our joy!
1 John 1:1-4 (Msg)
2. An Invitation to “A Functioning Community.”
The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and
John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in
the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13 (NLT)
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three
thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’
doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came
upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all
who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their
possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So
continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to
house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and
having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who
were being saved.
Acts 2:41-47 (NKJV)
All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned
was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified
powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon
them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or
houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
Acts 4:32-35 (NLT)
Every day they spent time in the temple and in one home after another. They
never stopped teaching and telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 5:42 (CEV)
Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your
Creator, and you will understand him better. It doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a
Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and
you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of
us. God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind,
humble, meek, and patient.
Colossians 3:10-12 (CEV)
3. An Invitation to “An Exhilarating New Life.”
“If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If
you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will
find it.
Matthew 10:38-39 (NLT)
Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we
get?” Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man
sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or
brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive
a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the
greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now
will be the greatest then.
Matthew 19:27-30 (NLT)
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has
to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering;
embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is
the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get
everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Matthew 16:24-26 (Msg)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am
the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
Revelation 1:8 (NLT)
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