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INTRODUCTION
Consider what comes to mind when you think about a politician, a CrossFit fanatic or a millennial.
Odds are you have certain mental associations with each.
Now, what comes to mind when you hear the word Christian?
Odds are you associate that word with certain characteristics as well.
The broader culture also forms impressions of what a Christian is and whether or not they are one.
The first followers of Jesus didn’t call themselves Christians.
It was a derogatory term used by people outside of the faith.
In , we see that the first Christians were known as disciples.
The word Christian is used three times in the whole Bible; the word disciple is used 281 times.
Disciple is a far more accurate and compelling description of what it means to follow Jesus.
And, as we will see, the concept of a disciple exposes the fact that many who claim to be Christians are not actually disciples of Jesus.
READ MAIN TEXT
Main Idea: Jesus calls disciples to make disciples.
Key Question: Are you a disciple?
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• All Hebrew boys went to Torah school starting at age 5.
• By age 10, all young boys knew the Torah and the best students went on to study the remainder of the Old Testament.
The rest returned home to work in their families’ businesses.
• At about age 17, if you wanted to go on and make a career out of religious studies, your next step was to find a rabbi you admired and apply to become one of his disciples (talmidim).
• When you found one, you would go and sit at his feet.
That was your request to learn.
And the rabbi would examine you with questions and put you through a series of tests to see if you were worthy to be his disciple.
• The rabbis could choose the smartest, most talented boys to be their disciples.
• Another reason the rabbis were so picky is that when they chose a disciple, they were choosing someone whom they believed could become just like them—to not just know what they knew, but to do what they did.
• For several years, these young disciples (talmidim) would follow their rabbis, imitating them in every way.
The goal of a disciple was to be like the rabbi.
PASSAGE OUTLINE:
1. Jesus calls us.
(v.
19)
“Follow me,” he told them ...
As I explained, the normal way this all went down is that if you were among the best of your class, you applied to a rabbi, and if he liked what he saw, he’d choose you back.
Now, his selection gave them a great deal of confidence.
If they were struggling, they could say, “Ah, but my rabbi believed in me!
He chose me.”
But Jesus started the process back even further.
They didn’t even come to sit at His feet.
He came seeking them when they weren’t even looking for Him.
As I explained, the normal way this all went down is that if you were among the best of your class, you applied to a rabbi, and if he liked what he saw, he’d choose you back.
Now, his selection gave them a great deal of confidence.
If they were struggling, they could say, “Ah, but my rabbi believed in me!
He chose me.”
But Jesus started the process back even further.
They didn’t even come to sit at His feet.
He came seeking them when they weren’t even looking for Him.
Some of you are struggling now—marriage, career, parenting.
Believe this, friend: If you are Jesus’ disciple, then He chose you!
You did not choose me, but I chose you.
I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that what- ever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
(, CSB)
2. Jesus doesn’t call the best, he calls the willing.
(v.
18-19)
As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew.
They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.
In Matthew chapter four, Jesus, this new rabbi, chooses Peter and Andrew, who are fishermen.
The fact that they are fishermen shows you what?
They were part of the B-team.
They weren’t the best of the best.
Ladies and gentlemen, let that sink in: When Jesus chose His squad to build His movement, He chose the B-team!
So, of course, they went to follow Him.
This rabbi had chosen them—guys without much potential or personal power—to follow Him and to become like Him, to know God like He knew God, to know what He knew, to do what He did and be filled with His power!
John MacArthur: “God skipped all the wise of the day!
The great scholars were in Egypt; the great library was in Alexandria; the great philosophers were in Athens; the powerful were in Rome.
He passed over Herodotus the historian and Socrates the great thinker and Julius Caesar.
He chose men so ordinary it was comical.
No Rabbis, no teachers, no religious experts...”
Jesus chose the B-team because His work in the world wouldn’t come from their abilities for Him, but from what He would do through them.
People with a lot of talent and ability would only get in the way because they would never learn to lean on His power.
Jesus taught that His power in the weakest vessel was infinitely greater than the greatest talent without Him.
God wants to use you in your family, at your workplace.
Stop making excuses that you are not able.
He doesn’t need your ability; He requires only your availability.
As we often say, He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.
Have you made yourself available?
3. Jesus calls us to be with Him, first.
(v.
19)
“Follow me,” he told them ...
He didn’t tell them where they were going or what assignment He had for them.
His primary call is not to do something; it is to become like Him.
And to become like Him, you have to know Him.
To know Him, you have to know His Word.
He didn’t tell them where they were going or what assignment He had for them.
His primary call is not to do something; it is to become like Him.
And to become like Him, you have to know Him.
To know Him, you have to know His Word.
You have so many outlets here for this—weekly messages, small groups, special studies.
If you are really serious about being His disciple, you’ll take advantage of a lot of these.
Get His Word inside of you until it dominates all your thinking and all your behavior.
Until you think it and talk it and quote it.
4. Jesus calls us to follow him, leaving all.
(v.
20-22)
matt 4
Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Why identify these two things?
Because these are usually the two most significant things in our lives:
• Boat: Our careers (the way we take care of ourselves)
• Father: Our most significant relationships\
To follow Jesus, He has to take precedence over both.
Most of you won’t literally lose your father and mother over Jesus ... Some might.
For some, God may tell you to change careers.
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