Overcoming Hurdles to Following Christ
Matthew 10
Revelation of Christ:
- Jesus as the personal revelation of God's grace
- Colossians 2:9
Soteriology Significance:
- Jesus as our life, sacrifice, and sufficiency
- 1 Peter 3:18
Mimetic Significance:
- Call to imitate Christ
- 1 Corinthians 11:1
- Importance of discipleship and imitation
- Matthew 10:24-25
Doxological Significance:
- Jesus as the focal point of glory
- John 5:23
Charismatic Significance:
- Jesus as the source of spiritual gifts and power
Key Focus: Mimetic Significance of Christ
- Introduction to Imitation:
- Paul’s call to imitate him as he imitates Christ
- The concept of imitation in Greek thought
- Matthew 10:24-25:
- Explanation and importance of the verse
- The phrase "It is enough" and its implications
- Theological View on Jesus as a Model:
- Jesus as more than an external example
- Power for imitation provided by Christ and the Holy Spirit
Overcoming Hurdles in Discipleship
- Three Major Fears:
- Fear of being misunderstood
- Reference to Beelzebub accusation
- John 15:18-19
- Fear of persecution
- Matthew 10:28
- Importance of fearing God over humans
- Fear of alienation from family
- Matthew 10:32-39
- Micah 7:6
- Fear of being misunderstood
Conclusion
- Call to Commitment:
- Prioritizing love for Jesus above all relationships
- Understanding the cost and reward of discipleship
- Encouragement:
- Jesus’ promise of rewards for faithfulness
- Assurance of Jesus’ presence and support in overcoming fears
- Prayer:
- For strength, commitment, and overcoming hurdles in following Christ
*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.
About the Contributors

Mark L. Bailey
Dr. Bailey assumed the role of DTS Chancellor after serving for 19 years as the Seminary’s fifth President, and continues his role as Sr. Professor in the Bible Exposition department. In addition to his years at Dallas Theological Seminary, he has pastored various churches in Arizona and Texas. He was a seminar instructor for Walk Thru the Bible Ministries for twenty years and is in demand for Bible conferences and other preaching engagements all over the country and world. His overseas ministries have included Venezuela, Argentina, Hungary, and China. He is also a regular tour leader in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Rome. His board service includes Bible Study Fellowship, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and Word of Life.