Discipleship Is A Process

Mark 1:16-20

Introduction:

We are continuing our study through the different commands of Christ. The next command we will look at tonight in Mark 1:16-20 is: Follow Me. Simple to understand, not always easy to live out consistently

Question:

Where are you neglecting Jesus in your life?

Prayer:

Read The Text:

Mark 1:16-20

Context:

Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee, by the Sea of Galilee. He calls out to four fishermen with two words: “Follow Me.”

DISCLAIMER: This journey of following Jesus is not a straight and narrow path. If you are here tonight and your heart is in the right place with following Jesus, yet life has gotten in the way, and you feel like you have fallen short, welcome to the club! But… we can’t take our eyes off Jesus no matter what!

Walk Through The Text:

Four takeaways from this text:

Takeaway ONE: Jesus calls us where we are

Read Verse 16

Simon and Andrew were working when Jesus came their way. Oftentimes in our life, Jesus will call us to something we aren’t prepared for and not equipped for, but we still must go! Remember HE doesn’t call those that are already equipped but HE equips those that HE has called.

The Sea of Galilee and the town of Galilee were ordinary in the bigger picture of Israel before Jesus came

Galilee was not a prominent religious center in Israel, but was known for its fishing industry and trade.

A lot of Jesus' ministry happened on this lake and around the shores of it:

Jesus feeding the 5000 by multiplying the fish and loaves

He walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee

Calmed the storm in the boat with the Disciples

What I love about this is that we are here at East Side Baptist, that is not an accident. Many live in and around Liberty. That is not an accident. Don’t forget Jesus did a mighty work in an ordinary town of Galilee, imagine what He can do here in Liberty if we let HIM use us like He did the Disciples?!

Big picture: Everything really does change when Jesus comes into the picture.

Takeaway TWO: Jesus calls us to a bigger mission than ourselves

Verse 17

Two Words changed the lives of Simon and Andrew

Read John 1:35-41-

Simon and Andrew had already met Jesus!

I always emphasize the importance of truly experiencing Jesus. When you have, you understand the mission of “Fishers of Men”

I will make you fishers of men: Discipleship is an on-going process that we get to do with Jesus the rest of our lives! It will not be perfect, we will make mistakes, we will fall short. Yet we know what is at stake: Men and women need Jesus and we are called to go out and tell them about Jesus and be used by Him.

Takeaway Three: Jesus calls us to immediate obedience

Verse 18:

It provides context to the fact with two words and the authority of God spoken to them, two men responded this way.

Illustration: When I started sensing God call me away from what I knew in real estate and how to provide for my family to ministry, I did not respond with this immediacy. Yet the Lord in HIS mercy and in HIS design, HE never stopped pursuing me in that process. When God calls you to something specifically, He won’t stop.

These two men had no clue what was ahead, their lives ending by being killed for their faith in Jesus. There journey of following Jesus was not perfect, yet the key thing to know is they finished well. We are not called to question Jesus, we are called to Follow Him.

Henry Blackaby, who helped put together Experiencing God, says, "You can not stay where you are and go with God.”

Takeaway Four: Jesus has a plan for all of us

Verses 19 & 20:

Two more fishermen, same call from Jesus, same result- IMMEDIATELY they left everything

Not what they planned for their own lives but when Jesus called, He became the focus.

Big picture:

Four fishermen, working in Galilee. Jesus gave them the same command He gives us-FOLLOW ME. They left everything they knew and understood to follow Jesus. All four would be martyred in the name of Jesus. YET- the in between of saying yes to Jesus and dying for Jesus was different for each men. The Lord called them to different tasks, but the same mission.

Question repeated: Where are you neglecting Jesus in your life?

Application

Say yes to what Jesus is calling you to

Conclusion:

Respond to however God is calling you to. Repent, surrender something to Him, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.