1. In order to follow Jesus, you have to obey Jesus. Obedience matters, and it’s not optional for followers of Jesus. What area of your life is outside obedience? How do find out? V16 – “hold firmly to the word of life” – you have been given everything you need to follow, so ignorance is no excuse

2. True obedience is birthed out of love. Remember, Jesus said it: If you love me, you’ll obey me (John 14:23). But again, this is not forced compliance. V14 – don’t complain about obeying Jesus. Forced compliance is not the life God blesses. Obeying because you got caught is not the life God blesses.

3. A life of obedience to Jesus is counter-cultural in the church today. Paul said in V15, that those that live in obedience shine in the culture like stars in the sky. When you follow Jesus, you stand out – hear the term “radical obedience” a lot today – obedience is obedience – only reason it’s called radical is because so few people live it.

4. Obedience is easier when you are connected to the voice of God. V13, is it God who works in you to fulfill his purpose in you. In order to obey, you must first RECEIVE. This is secret place living.

5. Obey what God has put in front of you today. Back to Elliot’s quote: Stop trying to innovate something new when God has something simple in front of you. Or stop asking God to bless you when you’re living in disobedience.