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 make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
1. I do, you watch. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. John 3:22
When Jesus defines the relationship he wants with us he makes it clear that being a fan who believes without making any real commitment to follow isn t an option. Kyle Idleman
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Mathew 5:1-2
1. I do, you watch. 2. I do, you help. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Luke 11:1-2
In teaching people what it means to be a Christian, we spend much of our time and effort bringing them to a point of belief without clearly calling them to follow. We have taken believe and we have written that in capital letters with bold print: BELIEVE. But everything that has to do with following has been put in small print: follow. Kyle Idleman
1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance." Mark 8:1-3
4 His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" 5 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied. 6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. Mark 8:4-7
1. I do, you watch. 2. I do, you help. 3. You do, I help. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve-- designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:13-15
And he went about among the villages teaching. 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. Mark 6:6b-7, 12-13
My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren t actually interested in following Christ. Kyle Idleman
Philadelphia Eagles-Nick Foles
40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40
1. I do, you watch. 2. I do, you help. 3. You do, I help. 4. You do, I watch. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
1 After this the Lord appointed seventytwo others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, Luke 10:1, 17-21
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:12-14
The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them. Kyle Idleman
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:7-8