A Willingness To Leave

Mark 1:14-20 A willingness to leave

1. Jesus did not begin his ministry by talking only with like-minded Galileans.

• Instead, he and his disciples made sacrifices and faced hardships

• They did the following work: helping, healing, teaching and preaching.

• They were good followers or good disciple

2. What makes a Good Disciple?

• At the beginning of the gospel of Mark, Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee, and there he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea. Jesus said to these two fishermen, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people” (Mark 1:16-17).

• Mark says that “immediately they left their nets and followed him” (1:18). Left net and family

• Although the Bible does not say anything about wives for these men, Mark tells us that Simon had a mother-in-law (1:30). Where there is a mother-in-law, there is usually a wife.

• Then Jesus saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee.. Immediately, Jesus called them, and they “left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him” (1:20).

• We gather from these readings A good disciple is one who leaves.

3. Imagine what may have happened when they took off

• Fishing was a family business, and Zebedee was not happy left holding the nets.

• Simon had a house in Capernaum, that he shared with family members that included Andrew and Simon’s mother-in-law. Simon and Andrew went with Jesus, who was paying the bills?

• We may be challenged to abandon whatever and begin a walk with Jesus in a new direction.

4. A good disciple is one who leaves normality.

• Leave the norm to Swing a hammer for Habitat for Humanity.

• Leave the norm of the daily routine and put a few hours a week in service

• Service brings us closer to Jesus, Recall he said, “He came not to be served but to serve” ().

5. A good Disciple is one who leaves comfortable for uncomfortable

• Good disciples leave the comforts of home to stay and live uncomfortable for a mission trip

• Good disciple shares the Gospel with family or friend even though its uncomfortable

• It’s not comfortable to challenge the traditions notice John “was put in prison” Mark 1:14

• It’s not comfortable to share the gospel or to share the Truth that’s why John was in prison because he challenged the King He told Herod it’s not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.

• Its Not Comfortable to preach the word Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

6. A good disciple is one who leaves the familiar for the unfamiliar.

• Jesus did not begin his ministry by talking only with like-minded Galileans.

• Jesus and his disciples faced “a man with an unclean spirit” (1:23). One who was unclean religious leaders avoided such people.

• Then Jesus “cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons”

• And instead of staying at home, Jesus said, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also” (1:38).

7. Jesus and Disciples were willing to leave or abandon normality, comfort, and familiarity

• They were willing to help, heal, teach, and preach good news to all people

• Disciples are going to have to make sacrifices and face hardships, a willingness to leave the comfortable, and leave the familiar Leaves safety for danger

• The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near” (1:15). We need a willingness to leave the old and seek the new