Matthew 4:18-22 (NLT) 18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers--Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew--throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
1. LEAVE
- The goal here is establishing Lordship!
- The principles of leaving something
- Abraham left
- Jacob left
- Moses left
- Elijah left
- God meets us when we are willing to separate ourselves.
- Every time Jesus called somebody, following required leaving.
- Peter and Andrew left NETS.
- Others left old identities, ambitions, priorities and ways of living.
- You can’t go somewhere great unless you’re willing to leave where you are!
- Leaving determines Lordship
- Luke 14:26 (NLT) “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else--your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
- The truest test of your discipleship is LORDSHIP! - Who is in Charge
- Jesus doesn’t become part of my life. Jesus becomes LORD of my life.
- A fan can admire Jesus and retain control.
- A disciple submits control.
- My sexuality belongs to Jesus.
- My money belongs to Jesus.
- My relationships belong to Jesus.
- My ambitions belong to Jesus.
- My time belongs to Jesus.
- My future belongs to Jesus.
- My opinions are submitted to Jesus.
- The question is not merely, “Do I believe in Jesus?”
- The deeper question: “Am I actually following Jesus?”
2. LEARN
- The point here is establishing a heart to study, watch, learn from Christ. He wants to teach us.
- Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
- This is the posture of a disciple.
- Jesus is my TEACHER. I am His STUDENT.
- We are not simply learning information ABOUT Jesus.
- The old picture of discipleship was a student walking so closely behind his rabbi that he would be “covered in the dust of the rabbi.”
- The idea: stay close enough to watch him, hear him, learn his ways, and eventually become like him.
- Our goal is to stay so close to Jesus that HIS DUST GETS ON US.
- We are learning HOW TO LIVE from Jesus.
- Learn to THINK like Christ — our philosophy
- Learn to BE like Christ — our character
- Learn to ACT like Christ — our ministry
- Jesus, teach me how You think about money.
- Teach me how You handle enemies.
- Teach me how You treat people.
- Teach me how You forgive.
- Teach me how You handle suffering.
- Gradually, HIS WAY BECOMES MY WAY.
How Does Jesus Form Us?
- Looking at mature disciples, four things continually show up:
GOD MOMENTS
- There are moments when God encounters us and something changes.
- Some are planned — baptism, communion, worship, prayer.
- Some are unplanned.
- They come from pursuit — draw close to God.
- My life has been shaped by God moments.
SPIRITUAL RHYTHMS
- Revivals are exciting, but rhythms are sustaining.
- Bible
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Gathering
- Serving.
GODLY RELATIONSHIPS
- Proximity to people changes people.
- Jesus could have chosen any strategy. He chose PROXIMITY and TIME.
- Three years — meals, roads, boats, campfires, conversations.
- People will be formed by the relationships they choose to embrace.
IDENTITY RENEWAL
- Jesus was infamous for changing people’s identities.
- Peter — Jesus saw Simon, but spoke toward who he was becoming.
- People who cling to old identities and cannot find their new identity in Christ are always stifled.
- Teach yourself to see the distinction between the old self and the new self.
- All four are helping us LEARN CHRIST.
3. LOVE
- The point here is that we are not just invited to learn from Christ, but we are invited to be loved by Him, and to love Him.
- John 15:14-15 (NLT) 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
- Our discipleship with Jesus is RELATIONAL, not TRANSACTIONAL.
- Christianity is not: I obey Jesus → Jesus gives me blessings.
- Jesus does not merely want students who can pass an exam.
- He wants people who LOVE HIM.
- The Ephesians Church
- Revelation 2:4-5 (NLT) 4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
- The Ephesian church had doctrine, endurance and discernment — but lost their first love.
- The danger: learning the ways of Jesus while slowly losing affection for Jesus Himself.
- Don’t let Bible reading become merely a discipline — you’re meeting with Someone.
- Don’t let prayer become a task — you’re talking with Someone.
- Don’t let worship become music — you’re loving Someone.
- John 13:35 (NLT) Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
- You cannot become like Jesus without becoming more loving.
4. LIVE
- Eventually Jesus says: Now do what you’ve seen Me do.
- Matthew 10:1 (NLT) Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.
- Matthew 10:7-8 (NLT) 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
- One of the coolest things about following Jesus is that we get to do what HE DID!
- Jesus healed people. We can heal people
- Jesus served people. We can serve people
- Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom. We can too
- Jesus cared for outsiders. We will too.
- Eventually the student begins doing what the Teacher does.
- John 14:12 (NLT) “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
- Part of LIVING like Him will be to LEAD like him.
- You are called to help others follow Jesus.
- A true disciple will eventually help somebody else follow Jesus.
- Discipleship is simply HELPING OTHERS FOLLOW JESUS.
- You don’t need to lead a group.
- You just have to be following Jesus closely enough that you can turn to somebody behind you and say, “Come with me.”
Closing:
- Recap
- LEAVE — What do I need to surrender?
- LEARN — What is Jesus trying to teach me?
- LOVE — Is my relationship with Jesus actually alive?
- LIVE — Where am I becoming like Jesus, and who am I helping follow Him?
- Luke 6:40 — “The student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.”
- Imagine an entire church becoming like Jesus.
- The more like Christ people become, the more like heaven earth becomes.
- We are not trying to produce better church attenders.
- We are trying to become like Jesus.
Table Talk:
- Question 1 - How has your view of Christianity been different from what we discussed in this session? Have you viewed Christianity as a religion, a belief, or an invitation to discipleship?
- Question 2 - What is the hardest thing for you to leave right now, that you feel Christ is asking you to leave behind in order to follow Him?
- Question 3 - How would you describe the way you perceive Christ’s love towards you, and your love towards Him? Is it alive or dead?