Invitations: Follow for the Win
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2026-03-01 Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Matthew 4:18–22 (CSB) As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19“Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 1. The call was clearVs 19a “Follow me,” he told them…Vs 21b …and he called them· Jesus wasn’t vague in his call to the men. He stated clearly what they were to do, and they did it.· He also doesn’t give us other options. He makes it clear our job is to follow Him to become what He desires for us.· Stuart Weber said, “Jesus was saying, “Live with me and learn by watching me. Own my values and priorities. Learn to become passionate for the things I live for. And follow my example by doing the ministry I have come to do.”[i] 2. The call was visionaryVs 19b …“and I will make you fish for people.”· This was an unusual request for these men to walk away from their old ways of life and follow a new path.· Yet, Jesus used the context of their old lives to inform their new way.· This call is mentioned in all four Gospels (Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 5, John 1)· Warren Wiersbe - “Fishermen have to be courageous and patient people. It certainly takes patience and courage to win others to Christ. Fishermen must have skill; they must learn from others where to find the fish and how to catch them. Soul-winning demands skill too. These men had to work together, and the work of the Lord demands cooperation. But most of all, fishing demands faith: fishermen cannot see the fish and are not sure their nets will enclose them. Soul-winning requires faith and alertness too, or we will fail.”[ii] 3. The call was immediateVs 21-22 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.· Emma Danzey said, “The focus is on Jesus, not on our abilities. A fisherman cannot control the outcome of what he catches, but he can be faithful to get into his boat and cast his net, leaving the results to God.”[iii]· Jesus is calling us all to be faithful and get in the boat. He has made it clear what our mission truly is for the rest of our days.Our Mission:1. Know Him better2. Serve Him faithfully3. Let others in on the secret4. Follow Him for the win
[i] Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 45.[ii] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 20.[iii] https://www.ibelieve.com/christian-living/how-can-christians-be-fishers-of-men.html
Matthew 4:18–22 (CSB) As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19“Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 1. The call was clearVs 19a “Follow me,” he told them…Vs 21b …and he called them· Jesus wasn’t vague in his call to the men. He stated clearly what they were to do, and they did it.· He also doesn’t give us other options. He makes it clear our job is to follow Him to become what He desires for us.· Stuart Weber said, “Jesus was saying, “Live with me and learn by watching me. Own my values and priorities. Learn to become passionate for the things I live for. And follow my example by doing the ministry I have come to do.”[i] 2. The call was visionaryVs 19b …“and I will make you fish for people.”· This was an unusual request for these men to walk away from their old ways of life and follow a new path.· Yet, Jesus used the context of their old lives to inform their new way.· This call is mentioned in all four Gospels (Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 5, John 1)· Warren Wiersbe - “Fishermen have to be courageous and patient people. It certainly takes patience and courage to win others to Christ. Fishermen must have skill; they must learn from others where to find the fish and how to catch them. Soul-winning demands skill too. These men had to work together, and the work of the Lord demands cooperation. But most of all, fishing demands faith: fishermen cannot see the fish and are not sure their nets will enclose them. Soul-winning requires faith and alertness too, or we will fail.”[ii] 3. The call was immediateVs 21-22 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.· Emma Danzey said, “The focus is on Jesus, not on our abilities. A fisherman cannot control the outcome of what he catches, but he can be faithful to get into his boat and cast his net, leaving the results to God.”[iii]· Jesus is calling us all to be faithful and get in the boat. He has made it clear what our mission truly is for the rest of our days.Our Mission:1. Know Him better2. Serve Him faithfully3. Let others in on the secret4. Follow Him for the win
[i] Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 45.[ii] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 20.[iii] https://www.ibelieve.com/christian-living/how-can-christians-be-fishers-of-men.html
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