Jesus Calls His Disciples Series

I. Introduction

A. This is another of Pastor Tim’s clean Jokes. The day I immigrated to the United States, I was given an alien ID card that featured a cute photo of me at age 15. Years later, when I went to the courthouse to become a citizen, a clerk confiscated my card. "What will you do with it?" my wife asked. "We burn it" was the answer. "Could you please cut the photo off and let us keep it?" asked my wife. "Certainly not," said the clerk. "This card is official U.S. government property. As such it cannot be mutilated before it's destroyed."

B. This passage applies to the call of the twelve Apostles who were sent to the lost sheep of Israel.

1. In many ways this passage does not apply to the church

2. However, there are lessons to be learned which can be gleaned from even this Scripture.

C. In Matthew 4:18 - 22; Matthew 9:9, and John 1:35-51 Jesus called various disciples

Matthew 4:18-22 (NKJV)

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. {19} Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." {20} They immediately left their nets and followed Him. {21} Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, {22} and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

1. These four men, fishermen, became fishers of men, evangelists

a. And so spread the net to catch men, to win souls to Christ

b. As we are to be soul winners as well

Matthew 9:9 (NKJV)

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.

2. This one man came to Christ and the first thing he did was invite his acquaintances to meet Jesus

a. Phil Lutz worked for me in Hawaii. He had been saved one week end and the first thing he wanted to do was share his new faith with me

b. And so ought we all

(1) We do not have to allow our ardor to cool

(2) Christ can and will rekindle the flame we once had if we ask

John 1:34-43 (NKJV)

And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." {35} Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. {36} And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" {37} The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. {38} Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" {39} He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). {40} One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. {41} He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). {42} And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). {43} The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me. {44} Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. {45} Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." {46} And Nathaniel said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." {47} Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" {48} Nathaniel said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."{49} Nathaniel answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" {50} Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." {51} And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."