Becoming a Disciple

Two weeks ago we talked about “What is a Christian?”

1. A Christian is someone who hears the Good News of Jesus Christ.

2. Believes this Good News.

3. Repents and turns from where they are going and turns to the Lord.

4. And that someone becomes a disciple.

Last week we answered the question, using scripture, “What is a Disciple?”

1. A Disciple is a follower of Jesus.

2. A disciple is someone who denies themselves and makes Jesus his #1 priority.

3. Someone who is totally committed to Jesus and his call on them.

4. Someone who denies themselves, taking up the cross daily and following Christ.

So today, I want us to see the beginnings of discipleship up close.

1. We’re going to look at James, John, Peter, and Andrew from Matthew 4.

2. We’re going to look at the steps they took that day to become a disciple of Jesus.

3. And we’re going to consider their steps for ourselves today.

Step 1: Being called.

Read Matthew 4:18-21

Matthew 4:18–21 NKJV

18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,

The Peter, Andrew, James and John were going through their normal day.

1. They were not religious leaders.

2. They weren’t Pharisees or experts of the Scriptures.

3. They were fishermen. They were rough, uneducated, stinky, smelly fishermen.

4. And yet Jesus calls them to, follow him.

5. Jesus calls but you must respond. Is Jesus calling you this morning to follow Him?

Being called to follow involves several life changing moments in your life.

Becoming born again John 3.

Becoming a follower of Christ

God doesn't just save you to sit soak and soar in a pew.

God has purposefully called you in relationship with Him to:

surrender

serve

shine

(Short personal testimony about personal call - Gorman Tx then Sweetwater Tx.

Step 1 in becoming a disciple is being called.

1. And if you’re a Christian, a believer, you HAVE been called.

2. And if you’re not a Christian yet, you may be hearing the call right now.

Step 2: Putting down our nets.

Read Matthew 4:20

Matthew 4:20 NKJV

They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

The nets were their tools of the trade.

Their lives depended on those nets catching fish.

Without those nets, their present and future lives were out of their hands.

If they laid down those nets, their faith would no longer rest in their own abilities.

Their faith would be in the One who called them.

They had a choice to make.

They had heard the call.

They were willing to let go of their lives to follow Jesus.

They placed their God given faith in Jesus.

What are you trusting in to get you through life?

People today have their own nets: their jobs, their wealth, their abilities, their strength.

Our culture today praises those independent spirits, who follow the beat of a different drum.

Many people live this way, but what do they have in the end to show for it?

Jesus said, For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mt 16:26.

When you lay down those nets, your faith no longer rests in your hands. That is what it means to surrender all.

When you hear the call, you have a choice to make.

The committed let go of their lives to follow Jesus in the future.

The committed lay down their lives for Jesus.

They place faith, their lives, and everything they have, in Jesus Christ.

Will you lay down your nets today and follow Christ?

Step 3: Getting out of the boat (v. 22).

Read Matthew 4:22

Matthew 4:22 NKJV

and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

They didn't just lay down their nets they got out of the boat.

Faith was not real until it was acted on. Faith without works is dead. Faith takes action, in their cast not just laying down the nets but getting out the boat and following Him.

They could claim faith in Jesus but until they got out of the boat, it was all just talk.

Were they going to be hearers, or were they going to be doers?

They made the decision to get out of the boat and follow Jesus

We can’t follow Jesus until we get out of the boat.

It’s nice to hear people say they have faith in God.

It’s nice to see people at church every once in a while. But faith is not real until it affects every facet of their lives.

There’s so many who think they are true followers of Christ today who haven’t got out of the boat. They are not true followers they are only fans of Jesus not followers of Him.

What would our families look like if people acted on their faith and followed Jesus?

What would our country look like if people acted on their faith and followed Jesus?

What would our church look like if Christians acted on their faith and followed Jesus?

Step 4: Walking with Him (vv. 20, 22).

Read Matthew 4:20

Matthew 4:20 NKJV

They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Matthew 4:22 NKJV

and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Look closely at what they did, they IMMEDIATELY left nets, boat and their father.

This reminds me of something Jesus spoke about what it takes be a disciple of Christ.

Matthew 10:37–38 NKJV

37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

They left their net and their family, got out of the boat and they following Him.

Why do we hesitate to fully follow the Lord?

Because it is HARD to forsake ALL for the sake of Christ.

The whole world is God’s mission field. As a disciple we are called to fish for men.

We catch them God cleans them.

Jesus is calling

How will you respond to His call?

Will you turn your back and walk away?

Will you drop your nets get out of the boat and follow?