May 31, 2026 
Chiseled by the Call 
 
Matthew 4:17 (NIV) 
 
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 
 
Matthew 4:18 (NIV) 
 
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. 
 
Matthew 4:19 (NKJV) 
 
Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 
 
1.  Following Jesus (submission to His authority) 
 
2.  Being transformed by Him ("I will make you") 
 
3.  Mission to others ("fishers of people") 
 
He knows what's in you because He put it in you. 
 
Matthew 4:20 (NIV) 
 
At once they left their nets and followed him. 
 
Bad habits have a cost; good habits have a price 
 
Matthew 4:21 (NIV) 
 
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 
 
Matthew 4:22 (NIV) 
 
and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 
 
Movements start with movement 
 
Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV) 
 
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "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 will find it. 
 
Matthew 19:29 (NIV) 
 
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 
 
Romans 12:1 (NIV) 
 
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship. 
 
What do you need to leave behind to answer the call of Jesus?  
 
Acts 4:13 (KJV) 
 
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.