DISCIPLE MAKING 101 – Introduction
Welcome to the adventure!
We’re glad you accepted the invitation, as many have before us. The first invitation was extended by Jesus himself in Matthew 4:17-22:
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 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. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. 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, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
There is a point in our journey toward spiritual maturity that we become concerned about what Jesus wants, and it becomes our desire to please him with our behavior. This flows out of a basic concept of the church: Jesus is Lord. We have a desire to repent, to turn toward Jesus Christ and away from all other directions, and then move toward him. As we focus on him in our desire to do what pleases him, we hear his calling: Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. We who once spread nets for fish will now be taught to spread nets for human beings. That is the call. The same call is extended to James and John, who are mending the nets; that mending is also a part of fishing.
This is the basic call upon all Christians: follow Jesus and learn how to fish for people.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
*Reflection Question 1.01: What do you believe would be your reaction if you were on the beach that day to receive the invitation from Jesus to follow him?
What problems would that solve for you?
What problems would arise?
SOURCES:
The photo “Disciple Making 101” is by David Kueker.
All Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.