Untitled Sermon (2)

Mark 1:16–20 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. 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.

Don’t miss who God called to be His followers.

(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.

THE FIRST DISCIPLES

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.

Jesus called everyday men to follow him.

(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.

Illus: Think to the story of the angels anouncing Jesus birth… who did they go to, they went to shepherds.

When Jesus called his disciples, he called 4 fishermen, a tax collector (who would have been known as a roman sell out), a zealot (who carried a knife on his inner thigh to knife roman soldiers and sell outs), and seven men whom we know nothing about.

what we know is that he did not call any of the upper religious community, but instead called blue collar men and those who lived as rejects of the modern religious world.

Illus: (CSB) 26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.

(CSB) 26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.

BOASTING ONLY IN THE LORD

26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.

Jesus’ call was not about who the disciples were, but instead about what he would do in their lives.

(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.

Illus: God does not look at men and think, “Yes, I need wes faulk” or, “I need this person”. When God calls us, it is not bassed upon our works, but instead by God’s grace.

All the good we are is that God does God through us.

The disciples were failures until God’s spirit worked in their lives.

We have to come to a place where we realize that all we have is God.

Illus: (CSB) 12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

(CSB) 12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Look closely at what he called them to do.

Look closely at what he called them to do.

LIGHTS IN THE WORLD

Look closely at what he called them to do.

12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Look closely at what he called them to do.

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

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

Jesus didn’t ask them to take a step they were not ready for.

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

Illus: One of my favorite stories in scripture is the parable of talents. God gave talents based on what each servant could handle. When they were faithful, God called them to greater responsibility. When they were unfaithful, God took away responsibility.

Is God giving you more responsibility, or is he taking it away?

Illus: little by little, Jesus called his disciples to more and more.

(CSB) 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

Jesus redefined the calling of their lives.

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

Illus: Think about the different ways we define ourselves.

I am a dad, a husband, pastor, doctoral student, runner… etc.

If I am not careful, I become defined by these roles simply.

Jesus calls me to more than a dad, but instead a father who uses his influence to lead his children to love Jesus.

He calls me to be a husband who exists to disciple his wife in love.

I us my job to influence others with the gospel.

I run and use my hobby to build relationships with others who do not know Jesus.

Illus: (CSB) 16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

(CSB) 16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! How will you respond?

How will you respond?

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

How will you respond?

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! How will you respond?

(CSB) 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.

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.

God’s call for you is no different than his call for the disciples.

Illus: One time I talked about reaching people for Jesus, and a woman came to me and told me she didn’t know anyone who was lost.

The problem is not that we don’t know lost people, it is that we aren’t looking for them and intentionally engaging them.

Illus:

Matthew 9:36–38 CSB

36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”