FOLLOWERS BECOME FISHERS
FOLLOWERS BECOME FISHERS
Something we all have in common, is that we were all at a time in need of hearing about Jesus. Think back to that time, what was it that caused you to say yes to following Jesus? Maybe for some it was experiencing his presence and knowing you didn’t want to go another second without Him in your life, for others maybe God met you in a time of brokenness where you needed Him to show up and show himself to you.
However, it is that we discover Jesus to be our One, we know that Gods heart is for us to then show others that He can be their One.
When Jesus calls his disciples, he says ‘follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.’
Jesus purpose for us is clear.
Out of all the things Followers can do, the main purpose for us is to follow him and invite others to follow Jesus – to become fishers of men.
REFLECTION
Share what God revealed to you or something that resonated with you from Sunday’s message ‘Followers Become Fishers’.
SCRIPTURE
Mark 1:16-18 As Jesus was walking by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon (Peter) and Simon’s brother, Andrew, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
CALLED
Have you ever wondered what it was that caused grown men to ‘immediately leave their nets’ and follow Jesus off the back of two words, ‘Follow Me’?
Imagine what that would look like today, if your husband/wife, parent, or friend decided just like that to quit their job, leave the family business, and follow a man into the unknown. We’d think they were crazy! But when we understand the context and what was happening at that time, we learn that when Jesus calls the disciples, their response comes from a place of overwhelming excitement to get in on what God is outworking on the earth. To be called to share the message of God was the best thing anyone could be a part of, and Jesus despite traditional ways of the time to select top of the class schooled disciples, choose to walk by the sea and invite ordinary men that were willing to lay down their life to make the world a better place for others. Jesus invites and calls us all today to partner with him to spread the message of a new life, new hope and Gods love to all.
QUALIFIED
The path to become a disciple in Jesus’ day was not an easy one! Although it was a much sort after position. In fact, every Hebrew boy wanted to be a disciple. To get to the end goal there were 3 stages to pass.
- First stage was from the age of 6 you would need to be able to memorize the book of Leviticus. Many families didn’t have access to scripture, so you’d need to rely on your father to teach you. At any point that you couldn’t keep up with knowing the scriptures off by heart you were told, sorry you just don’t cut it to go to the next stage.
- Stage two was from 6-12 years of, and it was ‘The School of the Book’ where you would learn and need to know off by heart the entire Torah – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. If you were not able to memorise the Torah, you were told ‘sorry you don’t qualify, go back home and learn the family business.’
- If you passed the first two stages, you would go onto stage 3, ‘The School of Disciples’ where you would sit at the feet of your rabbi from 18 – 30years of age and learn his teaching and practices of life. If at the end of that you were not able to show you could recite, understand, and teach every scripture, you would be disqualified from ministry, sent home, and told ‘you just don’t measure up for ministry, go home and learn your family business.’
Now working as a fisherman in his family business, we know that at some point Simon Peter would have desired to become a disciple, but along the way, at some stage, he’s been told ‘sorry you just don’t qualify for ministry, go back and learn your family business.’
Yet as Jesus walks past the sea, he sees Simon Peter, calls him, and qualifies him to become His disciple.
This is why Simon Peter immediately let’s go of his net and follows Jesus.
He would have been ecstatic!
‘You mean, you choose me to follow you? To outwork Gods plans here on earth, even though I’ve been disqualified from ministry?!’
Jesus calls and qualifies each of us, despite our past, despite what we know or don’t know. When we choose to say yes to follow Jesus, he calls and qualifies us to walk with him, learn from him and share the good news of His message.
When we Follow Jesus, we are called and qualified to be a God influence on One.
DISCUSSION
Take a moment to share what it means to you to ‘follow’ Jesus.
We may not need to leave jobs etc… but what changes in your life have you made or continue to make, to become a follower of Jesus?
Have there been a time that you don’t feel qualified to share Jesus with people?
We can disqualify ourselves, thinking we’re not good enough, our past mistakes or think we need to know all the answers or know the bible off by heart to share God’s message with others. However the story of Peter teaches us that Jesus calls and qualifies all of us to share Jesus with others.
Who are we perfectly positioned to be a God influence on?
Think about where you are positioned to share God’s goodness with others. Your work, family, friends… God has perfectly positioned you to be a God influence to one!
ACTION
What can our personal next step look like to be a part of discipleship this year?
Being a part of a group, committing to bible course to learn more, or as we’ve been hearing about this year, ‘Who we can be a God influence on this year’, what can be the next step in pointing them towards Jesus?
A coffee, an invitation to Easter, a conversation with questions that points people towards Jesus.
Closing prayer: Pray for a fresh confidence to know we are called, qualified, and positioned to be a God Influence on others this week.