Fishers of Men

Mark  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Call to Worship

3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.

2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.

3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.

4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

Stand to sing first hymn/song.
Prayer list.
Join in singing second song.

Introduction

ATTN: Call to Ministry.
Re-enlist and enjoy regular paychecks, healthcare, and promotion?
Or leave behind my comforts and friends to follow God into the unknown?
We all need a change of desires from building our kingdoms on earth to storing up treasure in heaven.
In Mark 1:14-20, we will see how the King commissions his people to build his kingdom.
But how does the King commission you to build his kingdom?
“Who is your king, and what are you building?
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Sermon Idea: The King Commissions His People to Build His Kingdom
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There are three ways:

Scene 1: By Surrendering Our Lives (1:14-15)

Context

John Mark (Acts 12:12).
Likely wrote according to Peter’s teaching.
Beginning of ministry (Mk. 1:9-13).
Jesus had just been baptized by his cousin John in the Jordan River.
God spoke from heaven announcing Jesus’ Messianic identity.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and endured Satanic temptation.
“John was arrested”
Herod took his brother Philip’s wife unlawfully.
John confronted him, which resulted in his imprisonment (Mt. 14:3).
Jesus then headed north and withdrew into Galilee. (Mt. 4:12).
Galilee had a large lake (12 miles north to south, and 7 miles west to east) connected to the Jordan River.
It was a great place to catch a variety of fish and make a living.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

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Explain

“The time is fulfilled”
God had created a good world and mankind in his image (Gen. 1:26).
Sin, suffering, and death entered the world when humanity rebelled against God (Gen. 3).
The promise God made to Adam & Eve:
Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
The promise God made to Abraham:
Genesis 12:1–3 “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
The promise God made to Moses:
Exodus 6:7 “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
The promise God made to David:
2 Samuel 7:12–17 “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.”

His rule is thus imminent, which gives rise to the expectation of the restoration of life to its state before the fall of mankind.

“Gospel” of God
εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ
Means “good news” that God was establishing his kingdom on earth.
It is good news because...
Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—”
Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“Kingdom” of God
God used to walk with Adam & Eve.
God spoke to Abraham and Moses in visions and theophanies.
God was present with Israel in the tabernacle.
God dwelled in the Jerusalem temple.
But now God is fully present in the person of Jesus Christ.
He will later dwell inside the very believer through his Spirit.
And one day will reign and rule on earth at the consummation.

the essence of the kingdom is God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule.

Jesus is the kingdom of God as it invades this alien world of rebellion against the kingdom.

The only right response to God’s immanence is to “Repent” and “Believe.”
Repentance comes first.
It is the conviction of sin that propels one to “turn back” toward God.
Like a smoker, drug addict, or alcoholic deciding to quit for better health.
One cannot improve their (spiritual) health unless they surrender that which is damaging it (sin).
Belief comes second.
It is the understanding of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.
Perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection.
Ascension and imminent return.
Nothing we can do to earn God’s favor.
Trust in the person and works of Christ for salvation.

The essence of faith is to put personal, childlike trust in God’s existence, presence, and purpose.

Climbing a rope, growing weary, and letting go; cannot hold on and let go at the same time (repent).

Scene 2: By Surrendering Our Occupation (1:16-18)

Jesus begins his search for those who would not only respond to his message, but proclaim it also.
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Jesus Calls the First Disciples

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

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Explain

Simon
Known as Peter or Cephas also.
Jesus had been in his boat and told Simon to cast his net after fishing all night.
His obedience resulted in a massive catch and his admission of sinfulness before the Lord (Lk. 5:8).
We can infer that he “repented” and “believed.”
Andrew
Had heard John’s message about Jesus and believed.
He introduced Simon to Jesus and acknowledged him as the Messiah (Jn. 1:41).
Fishermen
They had occupations like many of us.
Everything was normal until God entered their world and gave them a mission.
“Fishers of men”
Jeremiah 16:15–17 writes, “but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers. “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.”
Jesus fulfilled this prophecy and invites his followers to proclaim the same message to others (“repent...”).
To catch a fish, you must remove it from the world it had been living in.
To catch a man, he must be removed from his selfish ambitions and be reconciled with his Maker.
In Matthew 13:47, Jesus explains that, “the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.”
“Follow me,” left, and followed.

In the rabbinic schools of the day, the aspiring student sought out the respected rabbi. Further, the student’s allegiance was to the Law, not to the teacher. Jesus’ form of discipleship is fundamentally different! Jesus seeks them out, and their allegiance will be to Him.

Leaving a comfortable, familiar job for a risky endeavor with great reward.
Left the military (steady pay) for seminary (lower pay, great reward!)

Scene 3: By Surrendering Our Friends & Family (1:19-20)

19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.

20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

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Explain

James and John
Received the nickname “Sons of Thunder” due to their strong personalities (Mk. 3:17).
When the Samaritans rejected the gospel, they asked to rain down fire on them (Lk. 9:51-56).
They sought high-ranking positions in the Kingdom of God (Mk. 10:35-45).
James
Was killed by Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:2).
John
Became the author of his Gospel, three epistles, and Revelation.
Witnessed several powerful events:
Jairus’ risen daughter (Mk. 5:37).
Jesus’ transfiguration (Mk. 9:2).
Jesus’ Gethsemane agony (Mt. 26:37).
Called, left, and followed.
Mark 3:35: “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Luke 14:26: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
Some of us would rather stick around in a toxic relationship because it is familiar than risk being alone.
When we find our fulfillment in our occupation or social setting, we can miss our mission for kingdom work.
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Conclusion

Reiteration

The King Commissions His People to Build His Kingdom.
By Surrendering Our Lives to His Lordship.
By Surrendering Our Occupations to His Mission.
By Surrendering Our Relationships to His Purpose.
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Application

Who is your king, and what are you building?
Jesus calls us to be ready and willing to forsake any and everything for the Kingdom of God.
What are you holding onto?
Your job, because you feel powerful?
Your accomplishments, because you feel noticed?
Your hobbies, because they bring you comfort?
Your family, because they make you feel secure?
Repent; let it go, and follow him.
Jesus calls us to proclaim the gospel; to tell the world what God has done.
What is stopping you from sharing this life-changing news with someone in your life?
Are you afraid of what they will think about you? Say about you? How they will treat you?
Repent; let it go, and follow him.
Because Christ is King, we can turn away from building idols and herald his message to build his kingdom!
Gospel Invitation.
Closing Prayer.
Stand for Worship.

God Bless You

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