Foundations of Faith Week 1: The Call to Follow

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Worship:

Rattle

2. Tremble

3. Holy Ground

Introduction:

We starting our series this week on “Foundations of Faith”. The purpose of this series is to discover what it means to truly follow Jesus and to begin the journey of discipleship. This morning, we will be talking about “The Call to Follow.”

Following Jesus is more than believing the right things. It’s more than agreeing with doctrine.

Following Jesus always involves movement—it requires a response.

Transition: Before we walk through this passage, let me tell you a story about a man who pulled into a gas station with his truck still running…

Illustration (Threaded Throughout)

“The Truck Left Running”

A man pulled his old pickup truck into a gas station on his way to work. While the tank was filling, his phone rang. A contractor offered him the job he’d been praying for—steady work, better pay, a fresh start—but added, “If you want it, you need to come now.”

The pump clicked off. The engine was still running. Tools in the back. Coffee in the cup holder.

He had a decision to make—stay with routine or step into something new.

He walked away from the running truck.

That moment helps us understand what’s happening when Jesus walks up to these fishermen in Mark 1 and the tension that is being felt.

Mark 1:14–20 CSB

14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” 16 As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Transition: Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.” In other words, God’s reign has stepped into everyday life. Let’s talk a little bit this morning about the call to follow.

Body:

I. Jesus Calls in Ordinary Life (vv. 14–15)

Mark 1:14–15 CSB

14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

ILLUSTRATION CUE – POINT 1:

Jesus calls us in the middle of ordinary routines—like a workday at a gas station. And that’s where Jesus shows up—right in the middle of real life.

Jesus doesn’t call His disciples in a synagogue service or during a religious event. He meets them while they’re working. Just like that phone call at the gas station—Jesus interrupts routine with kingdom purpose.

John’s Gospel tells us that some of these men had already heard about Jesus before this moment (John 1:35–42 Come and See).

John 1:35–42 CSB

35 The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”).

This wasn’t ignorance—it was a deeper call.

If you’re waiting for a “perfect moment” to follow Jesus, you’ll wait forever. Just like waiting for the perfect time to get married or have a child. No one is ever totally prepared but they can take steps to getting ready. No one is perfect so if you are waiting until certain areas of your life are taken care of or you start living life better, etc. then it will never happen because we are always going to have something that we will need to work on.

Transition: When Jesus calls, He doesn’t ask us to pencil Him in later. The only way to answer the call is to realize this next point:

II. Jesus Calls with Urgency (vv. 16–18)

Mark 1:16–18 CSB

16 As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

The call requires urgency—delayed obedience often becomes disobedience.

“Follow Me.”

“Follow Me” is a command, not a suggestion.

Not later. Not eventually. Not “consider it,” not “think about it,” not “get back to Me when you’re ready.”

Mark says they immediately left their nets.

ILLUSTRATION CUE – POINT 2: “When the contractor said, ‘If you want it, come now,’ waiting would’ve cost him the opportunity. That’s why Mark keeps saying ‘immediately.’” Remember, delayed obedience often turns into disobedience.

Matthew records the same moment and emphasizes the urgency:

Matthew 4:20 CSB

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Immediate response shows trust, not recklessness.

Jesus’ call demands a response.

Transition: Urgency always forces a decision—what do we do with what we’re holding? This question leads us to our next point:

III. Following Jesus Means Leaving Something (vv. 19–20)

Mark 1:19–20 CSB

19 Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

ILLUSTRATION CUE – POINT 3: “Walking away from a running truck feels reckless—but hanging on would’ve meant missing the call. In the same way, the disciples had nets in their hands just like that.”

Following Jesus means leaving what feels secure.

Nets were security. Boats were identity. Family had expectations.

They left nets, boats, and family expectations. James and John even left their father.

Luke adds that they “left everything and followed Him” (Luke 5:11).

Luke 5:11 CSB

11 Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.

Jesus never calls us to follow Him without calling us to leave something behind.

This is where we can get stuck. We do want to follow Jesus but we also don’t want to let go of what we are holding onto either.

I want to follow Jesus but I also want to hold onto: my friends, my romantic relationship/friend with benefits, job, habits that are destructive, etc.

If we are so focused on what we are losing or giving up, we truly don’t understand what we are gaining by following Jesus.

Why?

Transition: But Jesus never calls us away from something without calling us into something better.

IV. Jesus Calls Us into New Purpose (v. 17)

Mark 1:17 CSB

17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Walking away wasn’t loss—it was the doorway to purpose.

Jesus doesn’t just say, “Follow Me.” He adds, “I will make you fishers of men.”

Following always leads to mission. (I will make you)

Following always leads to purpose. (Fishers of men)

What felt like loss became mission. (What’s my purpose in life)

Discipleship always leads outward.

Following precedes fruitfulness.

Conclusion:

ILLUSTRATION CUE – CLOSING: Remember the opening story?

“Some of us still have the engine running. The question isn’t whether Jesus is calling—it’s whether we’re willing to step away.”

The question isn’t whether Jesus is calling. The question is whether we’re willing to follow.

Gospel Invitation

Church, before we talk about leaving nets or surrendering habits, we need to talk about WHY Jesus calls us in the first place.

Jesus didn’t call these fishermen because they were impressive or worthy. He didn’t wait for them to clean themselves up.

He called them because He loved them—and because He was going to the cross for them.

The gospel is this: We have all sinned and gone our own way. We’ve all held onto our own nets, our own routines, our own way of doing things. But Jesus came announcing the kingdom—and then He proved it by laying down His life. He died for our sin, rose from the grave, and now calls us not just to believe facts about Him, but to follow Him with our lives.

Following starts with surrender.

So today, if you’ve believed about Jesus but never trusted Him with your life—this invitation is for you.

You can respond right where you are. You can pray something as simple as:

Romans 10:9–10 CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

If you prayed that prayer, I want you to know—you didn’t just start believing. You started following.

When we start following, He will show us more things we will need to let go of in order to follow Him. Not because He is wanting to take all the fun and good things away from us. But, because He has better things for us and He can’t give those to us if we are hollding onto other things instead.

If you have prayed a prayer to follow Christ, I would love to hear from you. Our journey with Jesus is not meant to be solo but to be done with others and I want to be the first to welcome you on this journey and to walk with you!

Devotion Summary

Discipleship begins when we trust Jesus enough to leave what holds us back.

We are about reaching the lost and discipling the found.

Get into prayer groups (men and women)

If you are still wrestling with answering the call to follow Jesus, I would encourage you to pray and talk to someone about it. I would love to talk to you as well! Maybe ask yourself these questions:

Questions

What might Jesus be asking you to leave?

What nets are still in your hands?

What comfort or control might Jesus be asking you to release?

Closing Challenge

Identify one distraction or habit to surrender this week.

Remember, we reproduce who we are. Am I striving to be more like Christ or am I so concerned about what others think about me or what happens to and for me?