A Call to Adventure

Introduction

Introduction

Who I am, where I came from and how I got here.

Kirby Whitley, married to Heather, three girls Raegan, Madison, and Harper.

Harper (10 weeks ICU)

Military Chaplaincy (ordained in 2017 and commissioned in April)

Sermon

•Ordinary men called to do the extraordinary. I suspect many of us are in this same category, making a living, seeking his guidance.

Jesus will call us to the extraordinary but we have to be responsive.

I love the story of the interactions with Jesus and his disciples, especially the ones that take place around the Galilee. Maybe that’s because I’m a coastal boy and can relate the wind and smells of the coastal scenery. Two of my favorites are when Jesus calls his disciples and when he challenges Peter to feed his sheep. -

Today we will be looking at the text found in “Jesus Calls the First Disciples” Read Passage>Pray

Recognize the Authority of the Call

If you’re a believer in Christ, God has called us to be disciples. The Great Commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

•It took believing/faith to follow. When we recognize the authority of God, we recognize the Call

•It took believing/faith to follow. When we recognize the authority of God, we recognize the Call

Disciples This word appears 266 times in the NT. It means abandoning the things of this world and following Jesus.

It also means, student or learner. Jesus was to groom his disciples

This section places the emphasis on following Jesus and the disciples response.

These men were skilled in their profession but God called them to be something greater. We all have skills and gifts which can be used to glorify the Kingdom

Jesus recognizes the availability of the brothers James and John (“and immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him”)

This shows the brothers were available and it wouldn’t be a burden on the family.

These four disciples promptly responded and were never reluctant to follow, Never did the brothers second guess their actions to follow.

Aren’t we reluctant (as believers)?

It took believing/faith to follow.

Jesus recognizes the availability of the brothers James and John (“and immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him”)

When we recognize the authority of God, we recognize His Call

This shows the brothers were available and it wouldn’t be a burden on the family.

God demands absolute obedience to His commands

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

The Gospel is established on these truths.....

The Great Commandment: love God with everything you’ve got

•Never did the brothers second guess their actions to follow.

The New Commandment: love one another, love your neighbor as much as you love yourself

•It took believing/faith to follow. When we recognize the authority of God, we recognize the Call

The Great Commission: Go........Make disciples.

Surrender to His Call

After hearing the command of Jesus, the disciples surrendered to the Call. v20“Immediately they left their nets and followed him”

The Vocational Call (leaving comfort zones of current occupations) Wouldn’t that be nerve racking?

For James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, the moment was right and would not leave burden on their family.

For me leaving the Aircraft maintenance side to join the chaplain ministry was exciting but I was a bit cautious because of the new territory.

Jesus disciples surrendered and moved forward.

Their surrendering was made easy because of their availability

For me leaving the Aircraft maintenance side to join the chaplain ministry was exciting but I was a bit cautious because of the new territory. Jesus disciples surrendered and move forward.

“And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.”

And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

The disciples moved forward for the purpose of learning more and gaining a more intimate relationship with Jesus.

According to A. B. Bruce The Training of the Twelve, there are 3 stages of discipleship

Declaration: This stage is a call to investigate the person and work of Jesus. With the goal of arriving at a place of commitment.

Development: Apprenticeship/training, the disciples observed Jesus in action and learned from his teaching.

Deployment: This is the reproduction and transformation of the old self to launching out and becoming a multiplier…e.i. “Soul Winner”

Responsive to the Call

Responsive to the Call

Allowing God to direct the Call.

Can you relate to these stages?

(He wants what is best for his children)

Acceptance of the Call

This is the Mission

v19 “and he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

This is Accepting the challenge, the role, the moment.

The disciples never hesitated, the mission was presented and the call was accepted.

but Why were the disciples so trusting and willing to serve Jesus?

They had seen Jesus prior to this event, written in .

John the Baptist called Jesus out one day while he was walking with two of the disciples...... “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

To put it all in perspective, before the disciples could accept this calling.....Jesus had to be accepting of the call

Before he ministered to his disciples, Jesus recognized his calling in he quotes

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;[a] he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;[b] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor”

Jesus willingly leave his father, his possessions, culture, comfort, safety and security.

Accepting the call places us in positions that maybe uncomfortable.

The acceptance of the call places you in the position to go.

You’ve heard the phrase, “ITS GO TIME, WELL ITS GO TIME”

For you, Recognize the mission is bigger than ourselves

This is what I love about the military. There is always a mission, every person has a role to achieve the goal. Goals could be to get the airplane in the air, rebuild a structure, tend to a sick patient.

Where are you today in your call to adventure?

Jesus suffered our sorrows and shared our joys. He identified with his people and died for us. That is the ultimate CALL TO ADVENTURE.

I want you to know this loving Savior. His example of unconditional love and desire to serve his people empowers us today.

Will you call him Savior and Lord? Will you accept his call to adventure?

React through prayers, giving, our time and stewardship

You’ve heard the phrase, “ITS GO TIME, WELL ITS GO TIME”

React through prayers, giving, our time and stewardship

God is always on the move, be still and be ready to respond.