OPENING SCRIPTURE:

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “COME, FOLLOW ME,” Jesus said, “and I WILL SEND YOU OUT TO FISH FOR PEOPLE.” AT ONCE THEY LEFT THEIR NETS AND FOLLOWED HIM. (Matthew 4:18-20 NIV)

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and IMMEDIATELY they LEFT THE BOAT AND THEIR FATHER AND FOLLOWED HIM. (Matthew 4:21-22 NIV)

• He interrupted their routine; He challenged their security.

The Call: “Follow Me” is never a casual suggestion.

The Call is about surrendering whatever keeps you from following Christ.

“The call of God is not to special work; it is to Himself.” Oswald Chambers

• The call is about proximity with Christ.
• In proximity: He transforms, He renews, He equips.

LESSON 1: The Call Requires Immediate Obedience

In 1858, a Sunday school teacher felt a strong nudge from God to visit one of his students who worked at a shoe store. Despite being nervous he immediately obeyed and he led that young man to the Lord. That young man was Dwight L. Moody.

• Founder of Moody Bible Institute.
• Pioneered an evangelism movement reaching millions.
• Authored and inspired so many Christian resources.

But it all started with one ordinary Sunday School teacher who chose immediate obedience.

AT ONCE THEY LEFT THEIR NETS AND FOLLOWED HIM. (Matthew 4:20 NIV)

• It was not an irresponsible decision – It was a calculated one.

He said to another man, “FOLLOW ME.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-60 NIV)

• Jesus is not saying this because it was bad to bury your dead father. He wanted the man to not look back.

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” (Luke 9:61 NIV)

• Jesus is not saying this because it bad to say goodbye to your family. He wanted him to not look back.

The Explanation:

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and LOOKS BACK is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62 NIV)

Looking back will stop you from obeying and doing what Jesus wants you to do.

But be DOERS OF THE WORD, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 NKJ)

• Hearing without action is deception

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Identify one area where God has been prompting you – Take one concrete step this week. What’s making me look back?

LESSON 2: The Call Requires Total Surrender

In 1909, William Borden, heir to the Borden dairy fortune, graduated from Yale, he shocked his wealthy family. Instead of taking over the family empire, he felt called to missions in China.

In his Bible, he wrote two words: “No Reserves.”

After his father’s death, he inherited a massive fortune but gave much of it away. Before leaving for the mission field, he wrote two more words: “No Retreats.”

He died of illness before reaching China. In his Bible, they found two final words: “No Regrets.”

The world would say he wasted his life, but he would say I answered the call.

The world would say he wasted his inheritance, but he would say I inherited the Kingdom of God.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must DENY THEMSELVES and TAKE UP THEIR CROSS and FOLLOW ME. (Matthew 16:24 NIV)

• The Call is not self-improvement, it is self-surrender.

I Have Been Crucified With Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV)

“I have been crucified with Christ” – The old life is now surrendered to the lordship of Christ.

“I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” – Christ becomes the center of my attitudes, thoughts, desires

“The life I now live… I live by faith” – Surrender leads to daily trust.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Begin each day with a simple prayer of surrender. Lord, guide my decisions, my thoughts, my actions so that every part of my life follows Christ.

LESSON 3: The Call Redefines Purpose

During a train ride in 1946 a young Albanian teacher by the name of Anjezë Bojaxhiu from a convent school in India experienced what she called a “call within a call”. She believed God was asking her to leave the security of the convent and serve the poorest people in the streets of Kolkata. It meant giving up comfort, resources, and predictability. Yet that step of obedience changed her identity—from teacher to missionary servant of the poor—and eventually led to the founding of the Missionaries of Charity, a movement that has served millions of people around the world. She became known as Mother Theresa.

In a single moment, God redefined her purpose.

The same was true for Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

“FOLLOW ME, and I will make you FISHERS OF MEN.” (Matthew 4:19 NKJ)

Jesus did not discard their skills – He redirect them

• Their patience and courage in fishing became spiritual perseverance.
• Their teamwork in the fishing business became ministry partnership in God’s business.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Ask- How can God use my currently skills for eternal impact?

CONCLUSION

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?