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INTRODUCTION:
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 Acts 11:26,
Acts 11:26 (KJV 1900)
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.
And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
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.
MAIN TEXT:
Matthew 4:18–22 (KJV 1900)
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
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:
I. JESUS DOESN’T CHOOSE THE GREATEST:
Matthew 4:18 (KJV 1900)
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
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?
II.
JESUS CHOSE YOU:
Matthew 4:19 (KJV 1900)
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
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!
III.
JESUS WANTS CONFORMITY:
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.
IV.
JESUS WANTS COMPLETENESS:
Matthew 4:22 (KJV 1900)
22 And they immediately left the ship 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.
Maybe God will tell you transfer your job to be part of a church plant.
Or leave your job and carry the gospel overseas.
For many of you, it probably won’t be that dramatic.
But you’ll have moments where you decide which holds greater sway over your life.
V. JESUS WANTS COPIES:
Matthew 4:19 (KJV 1900)
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Following Jesus means you subject everything in your life to His lordship.
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