Disciples of Jesus Have a Mission based on Matthew 9:9-13

I. Has anyone ever invited you to follow them?

II. Jesus calls us to Move Up. That is what He called Matthew to do. Matthew 9:9 states, “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’”

III. Desire to acquire and “if only” thoughts.

IV. Jesus still wants us to Move Up!

V. How do we move up?

VI. Stunning promises! Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 55:10-11 states, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Psalm 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

VII. The Word of God for creation, Abraham, Moses, and Elijah.

VIII. The words of Jesus still have meaning for our lives today. Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

IX. Matthew moved up toward Jesus. Matthew 9:9-10 tells us, “And he (Matthew) rose and followed Him (Jesus). And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.”

X. Army inspection of barracks story.

XI. No Lone Ranger Christians.

XII. Disciples of Jesus Move Up and Move Out! Matthew 9:11-12 states, “And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.’”

XIII. Matthew 9:13 tells us a key thing in our lives as Passionate Disciples of Jesus. There Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

XIV. Thank God for mothers.

XV. High school graduates, Mikel Luinstra, Jaydee Bremer, Keytin Elser, and college graduate, Tristen Bremer: Words of Encouragement.