1. Matthew 1-4 8. Calling Followers 1. The Messiah King
Introducing Jesus
2. Overcomer of fear
3. Recognising Jesus
4. Repentance
5. Baptism
Matthew 1-4
6. Temptation
7. Kingdom of Heaven
8. Calling Followers

3. Matthew 4
18   As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

5. Matthew 3
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

6. Matthew 3
16   As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

7. Matthew 4
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil

8. What is following Jesus?
Matthew 4
18   As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What is following Jesus?

9. What is following Jesus?
Matthew 4
18   As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What is following Jesus?
Why follow Jesus?

10. What is following Jesus?
Matthew 4
18   As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What is following Jesus?
Why follow Jesus?
What is fishing for people?

11. What is following Jesus?
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What is following Jesus?
Jesus doesn’t want fans.
He wants followers.
Jesus wants people who will do more than simply sit in a pew and clap and cheer.
He wants people who will take up a cross daily, the cross of service and love.
John Ortberg,

12. What is following Jesus? Learning his teaching Love
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What is following Jesus?
Learning his teaching
Love
Forgiveness
Not judging
Mercy
Giving

13. What is following Jesus? Learning his teaching Loving
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What is following Jesus?
Learning his teaching
Loving
Obeying his words
Forgiving
Accepting
Caring
Giving

14. What is following Jesus? Learning his teaching Costly Forgiveness
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Sacrificial Love
What is following Jesus?
Learning his teaching
Costly Forgiveness
Obeying his words
Shocking Association
Copying his lifestyle
Generous Mercy
Wholehearted Giving

15. What is following Jesus? Learning his teaching Forgiving the lost
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Loving the hurting
What is following Jesus?
Learning his teaching
Forgiving the lost
Obeying his words
Copying his lifestyle
Accepting the outcast
Serving his mission
Saving the sinners
Rescuing the poor

16. What is following Jesus? Learning his teaching Obeying his words
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What is following Jesus?
Learning his teaching
Obeying his words
To the hurting
Copying his lifestyle
To our enemies
Serving his mission
To the lost
Going where he goes
To the sinners
To the poor

17. What is following Jesus? Learning his teaching Save the sinner
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Heal the hurting
What is following Jesus?
Learning his teaching
Save the sinner
Obeying his words
Copying his lifestyle
Teach the hungry
Serving his mission
Going where he goes
Love the unlovely
Fulfilling his actions
Helping the poor

18. Call of Jesus irresistible
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Why follow Jesus?
Call of Jesus irresistible

19. Call of Jesus irresistible Accepting Character of Jesus wonderful
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Loving
Why follow Jesus?
Forgiving
Call of Jesus irresistible
Accepting
Character of Jesus wonderful
Caring
Giving

20. Call of Jesus irresistible Save the sinner
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Heal the hurting
Why follow Jesus?
Call of Jesus irresistible
Save the sinner
Character of Jesus wonderful
Teach the hungry
Purpose of Jesus gives meaning
Love the unlovely
Helping the poor

21. What is fishing for people?
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What is fishing for people?
Intentionally catching people for Jesus ...
Desire for people to be saved
Actions that attract
Words that call

22. Career respectability?
Matthew 4
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What do we need to leave?
Financial ambition?
Relationship dreams?
Career respectability?
Easy life?

23. Saviour God
I choose to follow you
I will love you with all my heart,
soul, mind and strength;
Embolden me to go the people around me
Empower me to love my neighbours
Equip me to make disciples
Inspire me to obey you
And be with us, I pray.
For your glory
Amen

24. Almighty and gracious God, because of your great mercy to us
We offer our bodies as living sacrifices to you,
That we may be holy
And pleasing to you,
For this is true worship.
Help us not to conform to the pattern of this world
But transform us
By the renewing of our minds,
Enabling us to know and follow
Your good, pleasing and perfect will
Now and always.
Amen.
Adapted from Romans 12v1-2