Istrouma Baptist Church (BR)
Mar 5, 2023

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March 5 l Drop Your Nets
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We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
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March 5, 2023 | Tim Keith
Matthew 4:18-22

Are You A Fan Or A Follower?

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭22‬‬
As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 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. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

WHEN JESUS SAYS "FOLLOW ME"
(Matthew 4:18-22)

Who is it for?
Everyone who knows Jesus (4:18)

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭11‬‬
As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.

What does He want?
Focus on living out the message of salvation (4:19)

When do I respond?
Immediately, if not sooner. (4:20)

Where do I go?
Go with Jesus --> wherever He leads… (4:20)

Why do I go?
It’s Jesus calling…

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭16‬‬
And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

How do I respond?
Be willing to leave everything.
Drop your nets (4:20)

Look at what they left...
- their comfort and safety
- their careers and possessions
- their families and friends
- their sin and selfishness

‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬-‭37‬‬
Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? What can anyone give in exchange for his life?

What if they would have asked, “Should we do it?”

What am I holding on to too tightly?

What am I doing that only makes sense in light of the Gospel?

Looking at my life, how do I know that I’m a follower of Jesus?

What is God calling me to do?


The call is not to sit, it is to go!

To be a follower of Jesus is not about making decisions, it’s about making disciples!

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭33‬‬
In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬‬
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.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭44‬‬
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.

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