Matthew 4:18-20 "Follow Me" - Mission

Interesting, +++Instagram has followers. You follow someone on Instagram and get to observe what they post. Doesn’t mean there is relationship or any alignment of life but you get to follow from afar.

+++ Commando’s. We practiced following people. Neighbourhood training.

Series — How to Follow Jesus?

What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus or not is the most important question that any of us can ask in our life. Jesus says our eternity depends on this. But it also transforms how we live our lives today.

As a church, we are celebrating our birthday today. We started this church community around a common purpose and mission. Knowing Jesus + Making Him Known in Everyday Life - Together.

I want to speak today to our purpose and how this relates to what Jesus says about following him. Jesus tells us what it means to follow him.

(ESV)

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (ESV)

This verse really can be a summary of what it means to follow Jesus, to be a Christian. Definition of disciple.

Following + Fishing

OVERVIEW

Follow me: covenant relationship (“knowing Jesus”)

I Will Make You: continual reliance (“together”)

Fishers of People: kingdom responsibility (“making Jesus known”)

Follow me: covenant relationship

“Knowing Jesus”

Jesus invites followers not fans (life w/ Jesus isn’t like instragram). This is an invitation to relationship.

Knowing Jesus. Many say they are following Jesus when really they have invited Jesus to follow them.

How do we find our identity - follow Jesus! How do we become fishers of people? Follow Jesus!

I Will Make You: continual reliance

Process of maturity that leads to multiplication.

We don't "make something of ourselves." God makes us.

There is the work of God in us by His Spirit and there is the work of God in us through his people empowered by His Spirit.

++++ The Facility Miracles

2 phone calls.

Renovations started w/ crew from V.I

We can’t make ourselves spiritually mature on our own because we can’t become fishers on our own. When following Jesus is about content then we can control our maturity. But Jesus shapes us not just by study but by the work of His Spirit. Not just content but through his community, the church.

Work of the Spirit and community as we are shaped not by content but community. Imitation not just information. Paul says "father" not just teachers.

Imitation not just information. Paul says "father" not just teachers (1 Cor. 4:15)

Fishers of People: kingdom responsibility

Making Jesus Known

Jesus speaks in their language describing the new family business.

AMAZING! He invites us to join in his work of changing lives. We can’t change lives but he will mature us so we can be a part of it.

Fishing is an act of faith. ++Crabbing. You don't see the crabs, but you toss the net.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Fishing is an act of faith. ++Crabbing. You don't see the crabs, but you toss the net.

Making Jesus Known.

Disciples make disciples. They are to mature and become parents spiritually. Some of us have kids, some of us want kids but we must all remember that Jesus’ commission is to fish, to invite people into his kingdom, into his family. People become spiritual babies in God’s family and we all are to mature to be spiritual parents to others.

Fishing is an act of faith. ++Crabbing. You don't see the crabs, but you toss the net.

Making Jesus Known. This is our kingdom responsibility.

AGENDA. Yes God has an agenda and so do you when you follow him. It is the agenda of love and love leads to invitation, to proclamation, to demonstration, love leads to us to cast nets far and wide declaring that Jesus longs to save!

(ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

HERE IS WHAT I AM LEARNING

Covenant relationship leads to kingdom responsibility. Following leads to fishing.

When we are lacking in our responsibility, respond by following harder not fishing harder.