“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

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Matthew 18-22 (NASB)

18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Matthew 18-22 (NASB)

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; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

C_____ A_____ M__!

1. Why follow Jesus?

2. What does it mean to follow Jesus?

3. Will I follow Jesus? How?

C_____ A_____ M__!

Why follow?

Jesus walked… (v 18, 21)

Jesus saw… (v18-21)

Jesus said/called… (v 19, 21)

We are called to be disciples only through the meritless grace and invitation of God.

C_____ A_____ M__!

Why follow Jesus?

Jesus walked… Jesus saw… Jesus called…

Grace is a gift from God. It is not something we can earn or make any effort to obtain it. By His grace, Jesus chose us to be His disciples.

“But humanity’s religious instinct, Bonhoeffer wryly observes, is ever on the alert to acquire God’s grace at the cheapest possible price.”

Stephen Westerholm, Understand MATTHEW, Baker: Grand Rapids, 2006, pg 137.

God’s gift of grace may be free, but it doesn’t come cheap!

C_____ A_____ M__!

“Follow Me”

Mentioned by Jesus a total of 20 times…

Matthew: 6 times

Mark: 4 times

Luke: 5 times

John: 5 times

Come After Me!

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Following Jesus is not just…

A. Having an Affinity for Him

B. Believing in Who Him is

C. Doing Church

Come After Me!

What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus is… 1. Making disciples (v 19- ‘fishers of men’)

2. Spending time with Him (v 19- ‘make’)

3. Leaving behind things that hinder our relationship with Him (v 20, 22- they left behind)

“Tributes pour in for long-serving pastor Ernest

Poulson who counselled death-row inmates.” Straits Times October 23rd 2017

Criteria for a follower of Jesus Christ

F Full of faith & Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5)

A Accountable (Hebrews 13:17)

I Integrity (Proverbs 13:6)

T Teachable/Teach (Pro. 22:17; 1 Tim. 3:2)

H Humble (Phi. 2:3)

F Fear of the Lord (Ps. 128) Fruitful (Jn. 15:2)

U Understanding (Proverbs 4:5)

L Love God, love people (Matthew 22:37-39)

Come After Me!

Summary

A disciple comes about through the meritless grace and call of a loving God. No one can earn to be called a disciple; it is a gift from God. The disciple is to make disciples, to leave everything behind to come after Jesus, to be like Him, to confess Him, to love Him, all for the glory of God.

Come After Me!

What is Jesus saying to you?

1. Are you actively following?

2. Need to leave behind thing/s or area/s?

3. Not actively ministering, confessing, witnessing, making disciples, helping, caring others etc?

4. Never actually followed Jesus?