Acts 9:1–2 (NLT) — 1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
Acts 24:14 (NLT) — 14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
1. The PERSON of the way
- John 14:5–6 (NLT) — 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
- To follow the Way is to follow Jesus. Nothing more, nothing less.
- Proximity – At all times, in this life, we are to remain close to Jesus. We falter when we drift away from him.
- Relationship – The power is in staying close.
- Philippians 3:8 (NLT) — 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.
- Christianity is about staying in a constant relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Staying – Our only job is to follow—not to impress, not to perform—just to stay near Jesus.
2. The PRICE of the way
- Price 1: Others
- Matthew 4:19–20 (NLT) — 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
- Price 2: Dependency
- Luke 5:27–28 (NLT) — 27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
- Price 3: Sacrifice
- John 21:18–19 (NLT) — 18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
- Reward: Glory
- John 14:3–4 (NLT) — 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
3. The PATTERN of the way
Not only a direction but a daily pattern of life. The early church embodied the rhythm of Jesus.
Early Church Pattern (Acts 2:42–47; Acts 4:32–35):
- One of devotion
- Devoted to teaching – They fed on the Word.
- Devoted to prayer – They sought God constantly.
- One of fellowship – They shared life, food, and burdens.
- One of faith
- Faith & hope – They abandoned everything because they believed something better was coming.
- Miracle-minded – Their faith expected God to show up daily.
