Download - Walk With Christ
“YOU WERE CHEATED. TIMES WERE WHEN CHRISTIANS COULD GET THEM FOR FREE.”
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and
come after me cannot be my disciple” (Lk
14:27, ESV).
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and
come after me cannot be my disciple” (Lk
14:27, ESV).
In our text, Jesus calls two sets of brothers
to get their crosses & follow him.
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and
come after me cannot be my disciple” (Lk
14:27, ESV).
In our text, Jesus calls two sets of brothers
to get their crosses & follow him.
WHY WOULD THESE MEN FOLLOW A STRANGER THIS WAY?
Jesus is no stranger to these four men.
Jesus is no stranger to these four men.◦ Two of John‟s disciples spend an entire day
with Jesus (Jn 1:40).
Jesus is no stranger to these four men.◦ Two of John‟s disciples spend an entire day
with Jesus (Jn 1:40). Andrew was one of those disciples & he then
went to call Peter (Jn 1:40-42).
Jesus is no stranger to these four men.◦ Two of John‟s disciples spend an entire day
with Jesus (Jn 1:40). Andrew was one of those disciples & he then
went to call Peter (Jn 1:40-42).
The other disciples was likely John, the son of
Zebedee.
Jesus is no stranger to these four men.◦ Two of John‟s disciples spend an entire day
with Jesus (Jn 1:40). Andrew was one of those disciples & he then
went to call Peter (Jn 1:40-42).
The other disciples was likely John, the son of
Zebedee.
◦ While these four disciples knew about Jesus,
the Lord had not yet called them to follow
him.
Jesus is no stranger to these four men.◦ Two of John‟s disciples spend an entire day
with Jesus (Jn 1:40). Andrew was one of those disciples & he then
went to call Peter (Jn 1:40-42).
The other disciples was likely John, the son of
Zebedee.
◦ While these four disciples knew about Jesus,
the Lord had not yet called them to follow
him.
◦ Here he does so, & we see A BIDDING, A
BUSINESS, & A BREAK.
A BIDDING
vv 18-21
Jesus sees two sets of brothers & calls
them to follow him.
Jesus sees two sets of brothers & calls
them to follow him.
It‟s very strange that Jesus calls these
disciples to him.
Jesus sees two sets of brothers & calls
them to follow him.
It‟s very strange that Jesus calls these
disciples to him.◦ That wasn‟t the way Jewish rabbis operated
in the first century.
Jesus sees two sets of brothers & calls
them to follow him.
It‟s very strange that Jesus calls these
disciples to him.◦ That wasn‟t the way Jewish rabbis operated
in the first century.
◦ Rabbis set up shop & disciples came to
them.
Jesus calls these brothers to follow him.
Jesus calls these brothers to follow him.◦ The Greek is literally “Come after me.”
Jesus calls these brothers to follow him.◦ The Greek is literally “Come after me.” The
image is that the disciples were to follow
behind Jesus as he walked.
Jesus calls these brothers to follow him.◦ The Greek is literally “Come after me.” The
image is that the disciples were to follow
behind Jesus as he walked.
◦ This wasn‟t the way disciples behaved in
Jesus‟ day.
Jesus calls these brothers to follow him.◦ The Greek is literally “Come after me.” The
image is that the disciples were to follow
behind Jesus as he walked.
◦ This wasn‟t the way disciples behaved in
Jesus‟ day. Disciples strove to become greater than their
teachers.
Jesus calls these brothers to follow him.◦ The Greek is literally “Come after me.” The
image is that the disciples were to follow
behind Jesus as he walked.
◦ This wasn‟t the way disciples behaved in
Jesus‟ day. Disciples strove to become greater than their
teachers.
But, Jesus calls these men to a submissive
following after him.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT THE WAY JESUS CALLED THESE DISCIPLES?
First, Jesus is no ordinary teacher.
First, Jesus is no ordinary teacher.◦ Jesus taught vastly differently than the typical
Jewish rabbi.
First, Jesus is no ordinary teacher.◦ Jesus taught vastly differently than the typical
Jewish rabbi. Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have
the words of eternal life, and we have believed,
and have come to know, that you are the Holy
One of God” (Jn 6:68-69, ESV).
First, Jesus is no ordinary teacher.◦ Jesus taught vastly differently than the typical
Jewish rabbi. Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have
the words of eternal life, and we have believed,
and have come to know, that you are the Holy
One of God” (Jn 6:68-69, ESV).
Nicodemus: “Rabbi, we know that you are a
teacher come from God, for no one can do
these signs that you do unless God is with him”
(Jn 3:2, ESV).
First, Jesus is no ordinary teacher.◦ Jesus taught vastly differently than the typical
Jewish rabbi.
◦ Because Jesus is no ordinary teacher, we
need to heed his words.
First, Jesus is no ordinary teacher.◦ Jesus taught vastly differently than the typical
Jewish rabbi.
◦ Because Jesus is no ordinary teacher, we
need to heed his words. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit
and life” (Jn 6:63, ESV).
First, Jesus is no ordinary teacher.◦ Jesus taught vastly differently than the typical
Jewish rabbi.
◦ Because Jesus is no ordinary teacher, we
need to heed his words. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit
and life” (Jn 6:63, ESV).
“The one who rejects me and does not receive
my words has a judge; the word that I have
spoken will judge him on the last day” (Jn
12:48, ESV).
Second, following Jesus involves great
humility.
Second, following Jesus involves great
humility.◦ We dare not be out in front of Jesus.
Second, following Jesus involves great
humility.◦ We dare not be out in front of Jesus.
◦ Following Jesus means that we give up our
own lives & live as he did.
Second, following Jesus involves great
humility.◦ We dare not be out in front of Jesus.
◦ Following Jesus means that we give up our
own lives & live as he did. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer
I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the
life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me” (Gal 2:20, ESV).
Second, following Jesus involves great
humility.◦ We dare not be out in front of Jesus.
◦ Following Jesus means that we give up our
own lives & live as he did. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer
I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the
life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me” (Gal 2:20, ESV).
“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk
in the same way in which he walked” (1 Jn 2:6,
ESV).
ARE WE SEEKING TO LIVE LIKE JESUS?
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.◦ Why did Jesus call these four men?
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.◦ Why did Jesus call these four men? Jesus gave serious consideration as to who
would be his apostles—before calling them,
Jesus spent all night in prayer (Lk 6:12-16).
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.◦ Why did Jesus call these four men? Jesus gave serious consideration as to who
would be his apostles—before calling them,
Jesus spent all night in prayer (Lk 6:12-16).
Only those uniquely suited could be apostles.
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.◦ Why did Jesus call these four men?
◦ There are always tasks uniquely suited for
certain people.
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.◦ Why did Jesus call these four men?
◦ There are always tasks uniquely suited for
certain people. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you; I
appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer
1:5, ESV).
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.◦ Why did Jesus call these four men?
◦ There are always tasks uniquely suited for
certain people. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you; I
appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer
1:5, ESV).
Different people have different abilities that
allow them to serve in different ways.
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.◦ Why did Jesus call these four men?
◦ There are always tasks uniquely suited for
certain people. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you; I
appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer
1:5, ESV).
Different people have different abilities that
allow them to serve in different ways. We know that from the Parable of the Talents (Mt
25:14-30).
Not everyone is cut out for the work of
being an apostle.◦ Why did Jesus call these four men?
◦ There are always tasks uniquely suited for
certain people. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you; I
appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer
1:5, ESV).
Different people have different abilities that
allow them to serve in different ways. We know that from the Parable of the Talents (Mt
25:14-30).
We know that from the miraculous gifts in Corinth.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same
Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the
same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but
it is the same God who empowers them all in
everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the
Spirit for the common good. For to one is given
through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to
another the utterance of knowledge according to
the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to
another the working of miracles, to another
prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish
between spirits, to another various kinds of
tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are empowered by one and the same
Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as
he wills” (1 Cor 12:4-11, ESV).
This passage deals with miraculous gifts no
longer available in the church.
This passage deals with miraculous gifts no
longer available in the church.◦ But, I‟m certain the principle still applies.
This passage deals with miraculous gifts no
longer available in the church.◦ But, I‟m certain the principle still applies.
◦ Notice that God gives abilities “to each one
individually as he wills” (v 11, ESV).
This passage deals with miraculous gifts no
longer available in the church.◦ But, I‟m certain the principle still applies.
◦ Notice that God gives abilities “to each one
individually as he wills” (v 11, ESV).
Are you using the unique abilities God has
given you?
A BUSINESS
v 19
Jesus called Peter & Andrew to A
BUSINESS—to be fishers of men.
Jesus called Peter & Andrew to A
BUSINESS—to be fishers of men.
Fishing was big business in ancient
Palestine.
Jesus called Peter & Andrew to A
BUSINESS—to be fishers of men.
Fishing was big business in ancient
Palestine.◦ Most Jewish people depended on fish for
food, so fishermen were quite important to
the Judean economy.
Jesus called Peter & Andrew to A
BUSINESS—to be fishers of men.
Fishing was big business in ancient
Palestine.◦ Most Jewish people depended on fish for
food, so fishermen were quite important to
the Judean economy.
◦ Jesus takes an important part of the Judean
economy & makes it even more important.
Jesus called Peter & Andrew to A
BUSINESS—to be fishers of men.
Fishing was big business in ancient
Palestine.◦ Most Jewish people depended on fish for
food, so fishermen were quite important to
the Judean economy.
◦ Jesus takes an important part of the Judean
economy & makes it even more important.
No longer would these men catch an
important staple in the Judean diet, but they
would be catching the souls of men.
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple.
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple. It was he who first preached to both Jews &
Gentiles.
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple. It was he who first preached to both Jews &
Gentiles.
He was given ministry to the Jews: “Peter had
been entrusted with the gospel to the
circumcised” (Gal 2:7, ESV).
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple.
◦ John also played an important role.
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple.
◦ John also played an important role. He was seldom in the forefront.
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple.
◦ John also played an important role. He was seldom in the forefront.
But, he was often right at Peter‟s side.
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple.
◦ John also played an important role. He was seldom in the forefront.
But, he was often right at Peter‟s side. John was with Peter when the lame beggar was healed
(Acts 3).
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple.
◦ John also played an important role. He was seldom in the forefront.
But, he was often right at Peter‟s side. John was with Peter when the lame beggar was healed
(Acts 3).
John was with Peter when they dragged before the
Sanhedrin to answer for healing the lame beggar (Acts
4).
Andrew, Peter, James, & John carried out
this BUSINESS with vigor.◦ Peter was an important disciple.
◦ John also played an important role.
◦ James was making waves, for his martyrdom
by Herod “pleased the Jews” (Acts 12:1-3).
Jesus calls upon us to be in the BUSINESS
of fishing for men.
Jesus calls upon us to be in the BUSINESS
of fishing for men.◦ “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19,
ESV).
Jesus calls upon us to be in the BUSINESS
of fishing for men.◦ “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19,
ESV).
◦ “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of
the earth” (Acts 1:8, ESV).
How are we doing in that regard?
How are we doing in that regard?◦ The average member of the churches of
Christ has heard 4,000 sermons, sung
20,000 songs, participated in 8,000 public
prayers, & converted zero sinners.
How are we doing in that regard?◦ The average member of the churches of
Christ has heard 4,000 sermons, sung
20,000 songs, participated in 8,000 public
prayers, & converted zero sinners.
◦ Are we any better than average?
How are we doing in that regard?◦ The average member of the churches of
Christ has heard 4,000 sermons, sung
20,000 songs, participated in 8,000 public
prayers, & converted zero sinners.
◦ Are we any better than average?
“Would it matter to you if someone sent you
an important message—the most important
in your life—and year after year the urgent
message was never delivered?”
How are we doing in that regard?◦ The average member of the churches of
Christ has heard 4,000 sermons, sung
20,000 songs, participated in 8,000 public
prayers, & converted zero sinners.
◦ Are we any better than average?
“Would it matter to you if someone sent you
an important message—the most important
in your life—and year after year the urgent
message was never delivered?”
Are we delivering the most important
message in all the world?
A BREAK
v 22
When Jesus calls James & John,
“immediately they left the boat and their
father and followed him” (v 22, ESV).
When Jesus calls James & John,
“immediately they left the boat and their
father and followed him” (v 22, ESV).
Notice the decisiveness with which they act
to this life-altering call.
When Jesus calls James & John,
“immediately they left the boat and their
father and followed him” (v 22, ESV).
Notice the decisiveness with which they act
to this life-altering call.◦ They don‟t run to Zebedee to get his opinion.
When Jesus calls James & John,
“immediately they left the boat and their
father and followed him” (v 22, ESV).
Notice the decisiveness with which they act
to this life-altering call.◦ They don‟t run to Zebedee to get his opinion.
◦ Doesn‟t this tell us something about the
urgency with which we need to act?
When Jesus calls James & John,
“immediately they left the boat and their
father and followed him” (v 22, ESV).
Notice the decisiveness with which they act
to this life-altering call.◦ They don‟t run to Zebedee to get his opinion.
◦ Doesn‟t this tell us something about the
urgency with which we need to act? Life is so very short: “Come now, you who say,
„Today or tomorrow we will go into such and
such a town and spend a year there and trade
and make a profit‟— yet you do not know what
tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you
are a mist that appears for a little time and then
vanishes” (Js 4:13-14, ESV).
When Jesus calls James & John,
“immediately they left the boat and their
father and followed him” (v 22, ESV).
Notice the decisiveness with which they act
to this life-altering call.◦ They don‟t run to Zebedee to get his opinion.
◦ Doesn‟t this tell us something about the
urgency with which we need to act? Life is so very short.
The longer we delay, the more likely our hearts
will be hardened to the call: “Take care,
brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil,
unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from
the living God. But exhort one another every
day, as long as it is called „today,‟ that none of
you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of
sin” (Heb 3:12-13, ESV).
DO YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO URGENCY THIS MORNING?
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.◦ They left their boat.
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.◦ They left their boat. Fishermen made good
salaries in the ancient world.
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.◦ They left their boat. Fishermen made good
salaries in the ancient world.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than money.
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.◦ They left their boat. Fishermen made good
salaries in the ancient world.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than money. “No one can serve two masters, for either he
will hate the one and love the other, or he will
be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and money” (Mt 6:24,
ESV).
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.◦ They left their boat. Fishermen made good
salaries in the ancient world.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than money. “No one can serve two masters, for either he
will hate the one and love the other, or he will
be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and money” (Mt 6:24,
ESV).
Do we understand that God is more important
than money?
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.◦ They left their boat. Fishermen made good
salaries in the ancient world.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than money.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than family.
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.◦ They left their boat. Fishermen made good
salaries in the ancient world.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than money.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than family. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his
own father and mother and wife and children
and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his
own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26,
ESV).
In following Jesus, James & John make A
BREAK with their family & career.◦ They left their boat. Fishermen made good
salaries in the ancient world.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than money.
◦ James & John understood that God is more
important than family. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his
own father and mother and wife and children
and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his
own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26,
ESV).
Do we truly put God before family?
DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A BREAK WITH A LIFE OF SIN & COME TO JESUS?