Common Men: An Extraordinary Calling

Allan Vincent

Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

0 ratings

· 2 views

Notes

Transcript

Common Men: An Extraordinary Calundling

Common Men: An Extraordinary Calling

Mk 6:7-13

Introduction:

- There is a learning curve for all new tasks and responsibilities. Sometimes, the learning curve is obvious. We listen. We watch. And we learn. That is obvious and expected. What is not so obvious, but understandable, was that disciples who had watched, listened, and learned, were eventually called to do what Jesus did.

Mark’s account of Jesus’ calling four of the disciples to leave their fishing boats and businesses - Mk 1:20 - Matthew is likewise brief - Matt 3:18-22 Luke provide a broader context of Jesus’ teaching that preceded the call. - Lk 5:1-11 - John added that Andrew was initially a disciple of John the Baptist and heard John proclaim “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Andrew and those other disciple referred to by John stayed with Jesus that night. In the same as John the Baptist directed his disciples to Jesus, Andrew told his brother Simon, “We have found the Messiah.” Similarly, Philip told Nathanael, “We have found him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

So not only was there initial contact with John the Baptist, but hearing Jesus preach and the miraculous catch of fish.

Luke 5:1–11 ESV

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

- When Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him, they obeyed. Over the next months, they walked with Jesus, watching, listening, and learning as He proclaimed the Gospel and cared for people.

Now it was time for them, ordinary men with an extraordinary calling to proclaim and to care. Like every good teacher, before sending them out, Jesus reminded what they what they were to do and how to do it.

Jesus:

1. Sent them:

- Out

- Two by two

- With authority over unclean spirits

2. Charged them to:

- Travel dependently:

- A staff

- No bread, no bag, no money

- Sandals

- One tunic

- Serve contentedly:

- Accommodation

- Discernment

The Twelve:

1. Went:

- Out

2. Proclaimed:

- That people should repent.

3. Cast out many demons.

4. Anointed many who were sick.

5. Healed many.

On our discipleship learning curve, what new things is Jesus calling us to do?

1. What ministry responsibilities is He calling me/us to assume?

2. What does it mean for us to travel dependently & serve contentedly today?

3. As we serve where God has called us:

o Do we continue to clearly proclaim that people should repent?

o Does our compassionate caring for the oppressed and sick demonstrate God’s power?