Sermon Tone Analysis

Last week we looked at the verse where Jesus likened the kingdom to a fishing net.

There are all types of people in this net.

And one day there is going to be a great separation where God will separate those that have followed Christ and those that haven’t.

I told you that it is our job to participate in the spreading of the kingdom net, the gospel of Christ, as it gathers up as many as possible.

God is going to do His part, and He wants all of us to be a part of the process.

But it all starts with a divine invitation.

Today, I want to look at what that invitation looks like.

If you have your Bibles go with me to the book of Mark.

I want to read from chapter 1, beginning at verse 16.

Verse 16 sets up the story for us.

In all reality, the Sea of Galilee is a large lake, It is 650 feet below sea level, about 150 feet deep and it is surrounded by hills.

Fishing was the main industry for the approximately thirty towns that surrounded the Sea of Galilee during Jesus’ day.

The word “beside” means alongside.

Jesus was walking on the beach.

He knew the fishermen for whom he was searching would be in this location.

Simon and Andrew were using a common method of fishing.

They were fishing with nets.

It was a circular net about 10 to 15 feet in diameter.

They would cast this net into the sea.

Then they would draw it up and the catch was hoisted into the boat.

The method they were using was like gathering and harvesting.

These men were strong and very busy as most of the fishermen were.

If you look at the Gospels you will find that this was not the first time that the two brothers had met Jesus.

In John’s gospel we read that Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist who, when introduced to “the Lamb of God,” turned and followed Jesus.

Andrew would then bring his brother Simon to Jesus.

It is that this moment in John 1:42 that Jesus says...

These men understood and believed who Jesus was.

Jesus arrived on the shore that day to change their lives forever.

Jesus would give them eleven life-changing words that day.

Those words are found in verse 17.

Come - Before Jesus can do anything in your life, you must begin to move in His direction.

The whole of the Christian life involves coming to Him—culminating in that great day when you will live with Him forever.

Follow - When you start following Jesus, you do not know where you will go.

But, one thing is for sure, you will go with Him.

Better to go with Him than anyone else.

Me - Jesus does not call you to follow an ethical system, a religious ideal, or a code of restrictions.

His invitation is personal.

It calls for exclusivity—follow Him, and no other.

And - Jesus has more in mind for you than just being a follower.

The “and” connects you to a larger meaning of your existence.

Without the “and,” you are only responsible to follow, but He has bigger plans for you than you have for yourself.

I - Jesus proposes to take charge of your life.

All of us have family and friends who influence us—but Jesus brings deep change.

We know Simon and Andrew because they were known first to Jesus.

He revolutionized their lives, as He also seeks to revolutionize yours.

Will - Jesus does not say “may.”

There is no uncertainty in His voice.

You can rely on His ability to transform you.

Make - From the Gospels, it is clear that the making didn’t happen all at once He may have to demolish some stuff in your life in order to make room for His splendid purposes, but you will love the makeover of His finished work in you.

You - That means you specifically!

His call is not generic—it is personal.

He knows your name and what you are doing with your life, just as He knew the names and occupations of His first disciples.

Fishers - Simon and Andrew, by trade, fished.

That is the only natural ability ever noted of them.

You probably are not a fisher, but you have some interests, some talents, Jesus will build on what you offer Him

Of

Men - Is wealth your goal?

The accumulate things.

Is being smart your goal?

Then gather facts.

Is fame what you seek?

Then find whatever brings you attention.

but Jesus offers something far better than wealth, smartness, or fame.

He calls you to people.

These eleven words in the English Text of Mark’s Gospel changed the destiny of Simon and Andrew.

They dropped everything at once and followed Jesus.

COME FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN! Eleven words that changed their life and they will change your life.

But our story doesn’t stop there.

Look at verse 18.

They knew that the judgment was coming; they had to respond at once.

Their lives had changed; their allegiance was now to their teacher.

Every great person has first learned how to obey, whom to obey, and when to obey.

- William A. Ward

But Jesus was done yet, collecting fishermen.

Look at verse 19 again.

Here was another pair of brothers, James and John.

Luke tells us in chapter 5 that they were Simon Peter’s partners.

These men were sitting in their boat mending their nets.

The weight of a good catch of fish and the constant strain on the nets certainly meant that the fishermen had to spend a lot of time keeping their nets repaired and in good shape.

Holes had to be mended in preparation for the next night’s fishing.

John had met Jesus at the same time that Andrew did.

But, we have no record of James previously meeting Jesus, but he probably knew about Jesus from his brother.

So, James and John were ready for the call as well.

Verse 20 says...

Jesus had made such a great impression on these men that they left everything behind and followed without hesitation.

The invitation of Christ is a simple one.

It’s not flashy, it’s not padded in promises of the good life, and it’s definitely not the kind of compelling sales pitch that you’d normally think would elicit the levels of response that we see throughout Jesus’ life.

The invitation is simple and the invitation is extended to you.

Jesus says to us, “Come follow Me.”

How many of you have ever had some good news to share?

What do we do?

We share it with anyone who will listen.

The gospel means, “good news.”

All of us have good news to share everyday.

The gospel is inviting by nature because “good news” is always worth sharing.

This is a great reminder for us as we spread the kingdom net to others.

If we’ll share pictures of our kids with strangers on airplanes, then why wouldn’t we also share the good news of Christ with them as well?

These four men knew the urgency of Christ’s invitation.

In fact, they literally walked off their jobs.

Can you imagine walking out of your job to answer the call of Christ?