Church on the Move - Come and Follow

Main point: A church on the move is a church of people following Jesus.

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. —Mark 1:16-20

Jesus’ invitation to “come and follow” is issued to all of us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16

Whenever we accept an invitation to something there’s a cost involved.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” —Mark 8:34-35

Some invitations require a heavy cost upfront but promise a greater reward later.

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. —Mark 10:29-30

Jesus’ invitation doesn’t come with a detailed itinerary; just the words, “Follow me.”

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” —John 13:15

Takeaway – Jesus invites us to follow him to a life that makes a difference.

Questions
1.When did you first recognize that Jesus was calling you to “come and follow”? How did that invitation come to you?

2.What have you had to give up, let go of, leave behind as you have followed Jesus? Do you regret any of that?

3.Why do you think the first disciples of Jesus were so ready to follow him? What are your reasons for following Jesus?

4.What’s the hardest part of following Jesus for you? Where do you need help or the encouragement or prayers of others as you seek to follow Jesus more closely?

Table Discussion Question: Do you think Jesus sought followers so that he could get more “likes”? Was it about becoming popular? Why do you think Jesus invites people to follow him?