P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS The Master’s Call to Follow Him and Become Fishers of Men Mark 1:16-22

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:16-17a Now as he walked by the sea [lake] of Galilee, he saw Simon [Peter] and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them…. Notice the initiative of God!

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark Gets Right to the Point But in John 1 we learn that Jesus had a relationship with these men before he called them to be disciples

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. We follow Christ’s example by building relationships with unbelievers with the goal of calling them to follow Jesus!

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Jesus (we) Found Them Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Apart from divine intervention

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, – Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Matt 4:18 – Follow me. Same Story

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS “Follow Me” Is a call to be a Disciple!

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS A Disciple Is one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: a convinced adherent of a school or individual [in this case Christ] Synonym: Follower

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Just to be Clear! Let’s make sure we agree that the NT does not distinguish between becoming saved and becoming a disciple of Christ. The message of the gospel includes a call of repentance toward God and faith as a follower of Christ.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 2:14 Follow me. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus [Matthew] sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS I am Concerned! I am concerned that a new more palatable gospel has slipped into church of the 21 st century; whereby, people are being assured of eternal life without any expectation that they become followers of Jesus.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS But Jesus Said Mark 8:34 Whosoever will come after [follow] me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after [follow] me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Turn to Mark 10:17-27 Q: Can I have eternal life and not be a follower of Jesus?

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS What does Romans 1:16 say? Is the power of God to turn the people in the world into followers of Christ.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Luke 9:59-60 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Jesus Said John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: There aren’t “ sheep” who don’t follow him; they are goats!

and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Jesus Said John 8:31 If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; As opposed to pseudo disciples

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Jesus Said John 10:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS This pass out a tract, pray a prayer evangelism is not NT evangelism. Fishers of men call people to follow Christ.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Turn to John 21 Someone asks, “Is it going to cost me anything to be a Christian?”

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Some segments of 21 st century Christianity seem to have this idea that as long as people say they have asked Jesus in their heart its “ok” if they don’t become followers of Jesus.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Notice their Response Mark 1:19 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. What does this mean?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. He is the Teacher; I am the pupil.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Rabbi 15 times Mark indicated that Jesus taught (also v. 22; 2:13; 4:1–2; 6:2, 6, 34; 8:31; 9:31; 10:1; 11:17; 12:14, 35; 14:49), 12 times Mark referred to him as a teacher.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. Why?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Jesus had the authority to call them out of the darkness and into the marvelous light and then teach them what it meant to walk in that light.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS This is a New-Old Message Turn to Jeremiah 6:16

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Early Church Acts 6:1 The disciples increased in number Acts 9:1 The disciples of the Lord Acts 9:19 the disciples at Damascus Acts 11:26 the disciples at Antioch Acts 13:52 the disciples were filled with Acts 18:23 strengthening all the disciples Acts 19:1 there he found some disciples Acts 20:1 Paul sent for the disciples

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Think about all the resources that are available to you to help you learn how to be a follower of Christ.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS In the Early Church In the early church there is not a distinction between being saved and being a disciple. If a person was not a disciple then he was not considered saved because saved people were followers of Christ.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS The Great Commission Go ye therefore, and teach [make disciples] all nations, The mission of the church is to teach people in all nations what it means to be a follower of Christ.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS The Great Commission Go ye therefore, and teach [make disciples] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Question Who should we baptize? Anyone?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Answer People who give evidence that they are followers of Christ.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Acts 2 Who was baptized?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Only the Repentant Acts 2:37-38 Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Who did “John the Baptist” baptize? Luke 3:8

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS John Said Luke 3:8 “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy [in keeping] of repentance.. and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Conclusion Luke 14:25-33

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.