The Call To Every Disciple: Follow Jesus and Fish for People
/Mark 1:16-20 ESV
16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
What is a disciple? As Jim Putman points out… “The definition is in invitation.”
A disciple is someone who:
Follows Jesus. - “Follow Me” - This is knowing who He is and following Him as the leader in your life. (HEAD)
Being Formed by Jesus. - “I Will Make You” - This is allowing Him to transform you from the inside out. (HEART)
Is on Mission with Jesus. - “Fishers of men” - This is the inevitable result for every disciple. You can not know who Jesus is and not be on mission for him.
In modern American Christianity, we have separated evangelism from disciple-making. Evangelism is the starting point of making a disciple. In separating into two separate categories “Evangelism and Discipleship,” churches and believers within them have gravitated towards focussing the largest part of their energy and resources towards believers and not the lost. The tendency is to do what we are more comfortable with and since we are not comfortable sharing our faith we neglect that area. We rationalize away this responsibility with the excuse that we “don’t have the gift of evangelism.” (The Bible actually doesn’t every mention a gift of “evangelism” to an individual but mentions the office of evangelist as a corporate gift to the body of Christ to the church. The call of the evangelist is to equip the church for the works of ministry as related to evangelism.)
The Scriptures are clear that every believer is called to “share good news.” (Evangelism = Share Good News!) Here is a 12 pack of verses from 12 different books of the New Testament and from at 6 different authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and Peter.)
There is obviously no doubt that the early church clearly expected every believer to be “sharers of Good News.”
Matthew 28:19-20 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 13:10 - And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
Luke 24:47 - and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 20:21 - Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Romans 10:13-16 - for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
1 Corinthians 11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17,20 - herefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! … We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Philippians 1:14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answerto everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
As God calls everyone to follow him, the inevitable result is that we would become fishers of men. Our bait in this fishing is the gospel. When Jesus was done with his 3 year project of making disciples he calls them to go and make disciples.
There is a need. God is calling. Will you go?
There is a need - “Go into the world.” - When we look at the world, there is a tremendous need.
God is calling - “ Make Disciples.” - This is the great commission, not a the great suggestion. It is a command in the imperative and not an option. God’s solution is that disciples would make disciples who would make disciples. That is solution to the need of the world. And he is calling those who already follow him to make new followers of him.
Will you go? - “Behold, I am with you.” - Jesu is with you. Will you go and make disciples. Couch potatoes will not fulfill the great commission. Will go and live on mission for him?
