FOLLOW ME: The Call to Discipleship

SLIDE: Today’s Scripture

John 14:6 (NLT)

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

SLIDE: Welcome Home

SLIDE: Title

Introduction

In his book Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live, David Platt says, “Making disciples of Jesus is the overflow of the delight in being disciples of Jesus.”

If you’ve been around church for a while you may have heard this word “disciple”. Here at Curry’s we ask each new member if they are a “disciple of Christ”. But even with that do you really understand what a disciple really is and what it means to be discipled; that concept is what we will be working through today and the next 3 Sundays.

SLIDE: Meaning of Disciple # 1

“The word for “disciple” is a learner who follows a master teacher. In contrast to our current Western era, learning in Jesus’ time was very relational and holistic. “Discipleship meant much more than just the transfer of information . . .

SLIDE: Meaning of Disciple # 2

it referred to imitating the teacher’s life, inculcating his values, and reproducing his teachings.”

Christian discipleship connotes a relationship with a master teacher, following them, and adhering to their way of life.[1]”

[1] Accessed here; https://seminary.grace.edu/what-is-the-true-meaning-of-christian-discipleship/

The call to discipleship is two-fold. It's about leaving behind what we know, and it's also about embracing the incredible rewards that come from following Jesus.

All of Jesus, with all your life.

For the next four weeks we’re going to explore together what it means to be Discipled, why it matters, and how a life of discipleship will cost you everything. Sounds pretty great right?

As Steve Lawson says, “The demands of following Christ will cost you everything. But you gain far more than you give up. You give up dirt for diamonds.”

That’s a solid investment strategy that anyone can get behind, dirt for diamonds.

Main Teaching

SLIDE: The CALL # 1

The call to discipleship is not a casual suggestion or a mere request; it's a compelling command to abandon our old ways and embrace a new life in Christ. The discipleship journey begins with a call, a divine summons that stirs something deep within us and awakens the spirit. It's a call to leave behind the familiar and venture into the unknown, a call to surrender our lives to Jesus and follow Him wholeheartedly.

Here’s how it looked for Peter, Andrew, James, and John;

Read Matthew 4:18-22

Matthew 4:18–22 (NLT)

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 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. 21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

The Call to Discipleship

In this passage we see Jesus calling His first disciples. These were ordinary men, fishermen by trade, going about their daily tasks. But when Jesus called them, they immediately left their nets and followed Him. They didn't hesitate or make excuses; they didn't say, "Let me finish my work first" or "Let me consult with my family." They simply dropped everything and followed Jesus. That's the essence of the call to discipleship - it's an immediate and total response to Jesus' invitation.

SLIDE: The CALL # 2

It’s also a call to radical transformation. When Jesus called Simon and Andrew, He said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." He was calling them to a new vocation and purpose. They were no longer going to catch fish or tend their nets; they were going to catch people for the kingdom of God. Discipleship is not just about following Jesus; it's about becoming like Him and participating in His mission. It’s a holistic overhaul where much will be sacrificed and much gained.

When James and John heard Jesus' call, they left their boat and their father and followed Him. They left their source of income, their family, their security - everything that was familiar and comfortable. They chose to follow Jesus, even if it meant leaving everything behind. Discipleship requires a willingness to give up our own desires and plans and submit to God's will. This can be a huge sacrifice depending on your life and situation

When I was 20, I worked for a collection agency called Minteens & Hutchinson located in the greater metro area of Washington, DC. We worked with all the large department stores and credit companies collecting their bad debts. This was the early 1970s; there no national credit card companies except American Express (which was only accepted in those days at exclusive restaurants. I was the companies best collector. I rose quickly to the position of general manager. I was earning withe salary, commissions and overrides around $100,000 a year. In terms of today’s dollar that would be the equivalent of around $565,000 annually. Mr. & Mrs. Minteens we not able to have children, but they took me under their wings and treated me like their son. In fact, they had promised me that I would own the company when they were ready to retire.

Well, this was during the same time that I have told you about when I was dating 2 wonderful Christian girls at the same time and living in the same dorm. (Which by the guys is NOT a good idea. Long story short about the girls is: I saw a joy, happiness, peace and calm that I did not have. I wanted what they had. Over the months that I dated them I came to understand that they had Jesus in their lives.

On Sunday, July 4, 1976 at Bethesda Presbyterian Church; I had a vision of Of Christ being tried for my sins and then put to death for my sins. I accepted and dedicated my life to Jesus that very day.

I soon found that I could no longer justify my new found beliefs with the cruel manner I had to treat debtors in order to a successful debt collector. In order to clear my conscience and follow my Lord, I parted way with the Minteens tearfully. And went to Taylor University to follow the desire of my heart to be a disciple of Jesus.

Many might say that was foolish and monumentally bad decision. I calculate that if I had stayed and inherited the company I would have earned well over $25,000.000 over the course of time. I would not have had any worry about money. I literally left everything behind.

But what would have that cost me. I would never have met Nancy (my wife), nor would I have had to great kids of whom I am very proud. And I would not be here today serving and speaking to you today.

The cost is expanded in Mark 8:36

Mark 8:36 (NLT)

36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

So when I say that being a disciple of Jesus the Christ will cost you everything, I do so as one who knows. Now ask me if I have any regrets.

Absolutely NOT. My only regrets are those related to my failures to serve Christ to the fullest degree that I could and should have

We will all have stories of sacrifice, but I want to be clear. It’s not just about the things we give up; it's also about the reward. Jesus promised His disciples that they would become fishers of men. They would participate in the greatest mission of all - bringing people into the kingdom of God. They would have the privilege of working with Jesus, learning from Him, and experiencing His power and presence in their lives. This shows that discipleship, while demanding, is also incredibly rewarding.

SLIDE: The CALL # 3

This is a call that every believer must answer. To follow Jesus, to become like Him, to participate in His mission, to sacrifice our own desires and plans, and to experience the rewards of being in a relationship with Him. It's a call that requires a total and immediate response, a willingness to leave everything behind, and a readiness to embrace a new life in Christ.

Leaving Everything Behind

In our passage from Matthew we see that all the men had to leave their vocations, their ways of life, and even their families behind. We must also be willing to abandon our old ways, our old lives, and our old selves to fully embrace the new life that Christ offers us.

SLIDE: Leaving Everything Behind

This is not a call to physical abandonment but rather a spiritual and emotional one. It's about letting go of our worldly attachments, our sinful habits, our selfish desires, and our self-centered ambitions. It's about surrendering our will to God's will, our plans to God's plans, and our dreams to God's dreams.

C.S. Lewis once said, "The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."

This quote reminds us that it's not about being good enough or doing enough to earn God's love. It's about surrendering to God's love and allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. It's about letting go of our self-efforts and self-righteousness and relying on God's grace and mercy. It's about dying to ourselves and living for Christ.

SLIDE: The COST

It can and will be costly at times, but again, the reward far outweighs the loss. The eternal promise far exceeds the temporary possibility. It’s like trading dirt for diamonds.

The Rewards of Following Jesus

When we think of rewards, our minds often go to material possessions, worldly achievements, trophies and other tangible objects that we can gain. Or like the money I could have earned.

SLIDE: The REWARDS # 1

But the rewards of following Jesus are far richer and more profound than anything this world can offer, and there are several tangible things we can experience from following Him.

SLIDE: The REWARDS # 2

The first reward is a transformed life. When we choose to follow Jesus, we are not merely adding a religious aspect to our existing life. We are given a new life in Christ. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

17 ...anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

or as the NIV puts it: “The old has passed away, and the new has come.”

This transformation is not just about changing our behavior; it's about a complete change of our heart, our mind, and our spirit. And along with a new heart comes new motivations and new purpose.

SLIDE: The REWARDS # 3

When Jesus called His disciples, He gave them a new purpose: to become fishers of men. He gives us a new purpose too.

As I mentioned earlier, they were no longer just catching fish for a living; they were now involved in the eternal business of saving souls and their training as fishermen would come in handy in the open seas of life.

SLIDE: The REWARDS # 4

In addition to transformation and purpose we can also look forward to an intimate relationship with God. When we follow Jesus, we are not just following a set of rules or doctrines. We are entering into a personal relationship with the living God.

We get to know Him, love Him, and experience His love for us. We can talk to Him in prayer, hear from Him through His Word, and experience His presence in our lives. This relationship is not just for this life; it's an everlasting one.

Remember this, Jesus promised His followers that “whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

SLIDE: The REWARDS # 5

This is not just about living forever; it's about experiencing the fullness of life in the presence of God, free from sin, sorrow, and death. This eternal life begins the moment we choose to follow Jesus and continues on and on and on.

There are obstacles and difficulties in this life but in the age to come there is freedom. The book of Revelation tells us,“

Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

What a compelling reason to answer the call.

Conclusion

It’s hard to imagine how those first disciples must’ve felt when they heard the voice of Jesus calling out to them, “Come! Follow me!” In fact, if someone were outside the church today saying the same thing, we’d probably think there was something wrong with them… We’d probably feel a little nervous around them. It’s a frightening invitation to say the least.

In the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis there’s this amazing exchange about Aslan the lion. The beaver says,

SLIDE: Is it safe?

“Safe?! Who said anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

I can’t promise you today that following Jesus will be easy or that He’ll make everything right in your life… In fact there are a lot of things that might get even more difficult. But I can tell you, with full confidence, that He is the King. “He’s the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) and choosing to follow Jesus will easily be the best decision you’ll ever make in this life. It indeed has been so for me.

We’ll talk more in upcoming weeks about what it means to be Discipled and why it matters, but for now I want you to think about the promise of eternal salvation and the reality of living a transformed life.

It’s like trading dirt for diamonds, and the choice is yours to make.

I invite you today to START or RENEW you commitment to our Lord, our Savior; Jesus the Christ.

Check out these quotes:

SLIDE: The Greatest Adventure # 1

>> 0 “To adventure is to find yourself whole.” Anonymous

>> 1 “Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller

>> 2 “You must go on adventures to find out where you belong.” Anonymous

>> 3 “The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.” J.R.R.Tolkien

SLIDE: The Greatest Adventure # 2

Will you join me in this the greatest adventure ever; to be a disciple of Christ?

Let’s pray together.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, open our hearts to fully understand the call to discipleship and the sacrifices it entails. Help us to grasp the rewards that await us when we choose to follow You. Guide us, Lord, as we strive to become more like Jesus every day.”

Amen!