Gateway Visalia
Three Invitations
Three Invitations Matthew 4:17-22 Pastor Lance Ainsworth November 7th & 10th, 2024 Follow Me
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM
Sunday 11:30 AM
Introduction
Matthew 4:17-22 NASB
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Repentance is orienting your life around Jesus.
18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they 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; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
The Invitation: Repent and Follow Me.
One and only, or one of many?
Disciple – learner, student, apprentice.
Discipleship is a relationship leading to imitation.
One and only, or one of many?
Disciple – learner, student, apprentice.
Discipleship is a relationship leading to imitation.
Luke 6:40 NASB
40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
The Result: Fishers of men.
Matthew 9:9-13 NASB
9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”
Matthew 9:9-13 NASB
9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”
12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
A disciple of Jesus will make other disciples of Jesus.
If you are not fishing, are you following?
A disciple of Jesus will make other disciples of Jesus.
If you are not fishing, are you following?
The Response: Immediate action.
Invite others in.
Connect through relationships.
Develop our purpose.
Serve our community.
Three Invitations
Matthew 4:17-22
November 7
Follow Me
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Who was the first person to witness to you?
Read Aloud: Matthew 4:17-22
1. v.18 “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me,” Is there a difference in your mind between a Christian and a Disciple? If so, what is the difference? When you think discipleship, do you think program or relationship? What excuses keep us from following Jesus?
2. v.19 “and I will make you fishers of men.” Are we all called to be fishers of men? Is being a fisher of man a goal of discipleship or a result? What’s the difference? Read 1 Cor. 11:1. What is Paul saying? Do you have disciples? Who is God calling you to disciple?
3. v.22 “Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” What keeps us from immediately following Jesus? What is more astonishing about this story, Jesus calling ordinary people or ordinary people dropping everything to follow Him? How does understanding Jesus as God in the flesh change our view of this great invitation?
Matthew 4:17-22
November 7
Follow Me
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Who was the first person to witness to you?
Read Aloud: Matthew 4:17-22
1. v.18 “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me,” Is there a difference in your mind between a Christian and a Disciple? If so, what is the difference? When you think discipleship, do you think program or relationship? What excuses keep us from following Jesus?
2. v.19 “and I will make you fishers of men.” Are we all called to be fishers of men? Is being a fisher of man a goal of discipleship or a result? What’s the difference? Read 1 Cor. 11:1. What is Paul saying? Do you have disciples? Who is God calling you to disciple?
3. v.22 “Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” What keeps us from immediately following Jesus? What is more astonishing about this story, Jesus calling ordinary people or ordinary people dropping everything to follow Him? How does understanding Jesus as God in the flesh change our view of this great invitation?