The main point of this sermon is to explore the call of Jesus Christ, understanding that while discipleship requires self-sacrifice, it brings immeasurable blessings and a new way of life.
Good morning, church family! Today, we are going to dive deep into the life-changing call of Jesus Christ, the cost that comes with answering that call, and the immense blessing it brings into our lives. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, "Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life." This quote will be our guide as we explore today's Scripture passage from Matthew 4: 19-22.
"And He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him."
Let's bow our heads in prayer. "Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of Your Word. As we study this Scripture today, open our hearts and minds to fully understand the call, cost, and blessing of following Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us learn to surrender all to You, knowing that the cost of discipleship pales in comparison to the immeasurable blessing it brings. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen."
As we delve into this sermon, remember that the call to follow Jesus is a call to a new way of life, a life of self-sacrifice, love, and unending joy. Let's get started, shall we?
The call to follow Jesus is an invitation to a transformative journey, a journey that begins with a simple yet profound decision to leave behind our old ways and embrace a new life in Christ. It is a call to discipleship, to a life of obedience and surrender to the will of God. This call is not a one-time event, but a daily invitation to walk with Jesus, to learn from Him, and to become more like Him.
When Jesus called His first disciples, He did not promise them wealth, comfort, or earthly success. Instead, He promised them a new identity: "I will make you fishers of men." This was a call to a higher purpose, a call to participate in the work of the Kingdom of God. It was a call to leave behind their nets, their boats, and their livelihoods to follow Jesus. The call to follow Jesus is not just about believing in Him, but about becoming His disciple, about dedicating our lives to His service.
This call is not just for the first disciples, but for all of us. Jesus is still calling people to follow Him today. He is calling us out of our comfort zones, out of our self-centered lives, and into a life of selfless love and service. He is calling us to leave behind our nets, whatever they may be, and to follow Him. Our nets could be our jobs, our possessions, our relationships, or anything else that we are clinging to instead of Jesus. The call to follow Jesus is a call to let go of these nets and to cling to Jesus alone.
The call to follow Jesus is also a call to a life of faith. When Jesus called His disciples, they did not know where they were going or what they would encounter. They did not have a detailed plan or a clear roadmap. All they had was the promise of Jesus: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." They had to trust Jesus, to have faith in Him, and to follow Him even when the path was uncertain and the future was unclear. The call to follow Jesus is a call to a life of faith, a life of trusting in Jesus and relying on Him.
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