Follow Me: The Call and Challenge of Discipleship

Bible Passage: Mark 1:14–20

True transformation only comes when the pain of change is less than the pain of staying the same.

Fast and Furious effect in the 90’s

Cars with all the toys but ran horrible

Looked cool but ran awful

Working out

You only gain muscle by tearing

If you eat horrible, then you will never see the product of all your work

Jesus starts by preaching the gospel

Why does He wait until after John was arrested?

1. Proclaiming the Kingdom

Mark 1:14–15 NLT

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Jesus started proclaiming the Kingdom is near

Then why are we still waiting?

Was Jesus off on His timing? Was He confused?

2. Prompt Obedience

Mark 1:16–18 NLT

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

There was no hesitation, no program, for these men to follow Jesus.

Simon and Andrew walked away from their livelihood to follow a man they had only heard about.

Would you have followed so immediately?

What has Jesus asked you to step away from that doesn’t make any sense?

Why haven’t you followed Him?

3. Profound Sacrifice

Mark 1:19–20 NLT

A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Obedience often resembles sacrifice.

Why is Zebedee mentioned, but not Andrew and Simon’s father?

He wasn’t in the boat with them?

Must we leave our old security for new adventure?

Jesus never calls us to the comfortable or the convenient. At least that is my experience.

Baptism is a willful walking away from the old and embracing Jesus. It is identifying with His death, burial, and resurrection.

Today we celebrate those who, in obedience, have chosen to pass through the waters of baptism.