In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus calls his first disciples. In some ways, Peter and Andrew, James and John and the rest had it a little easier. They were direct disciples, with an audible command to follow, and a simpler duty to just go where Jesus went and listen to what he taught. They could ask clarifying questions, get feedback from him, etc. However, they had to literally leave their nets. But we, too, are called to follow, but without that literal, physical call to follow a Jesus we can see. So what do we do? How do we "follow". Well, it means learning the lifestyle Jesus taught, then working individually and as a church community to change our lives and communities to match his plan. Are you willing to take your next step? This sermon introduces the Growth Guide, a tool that will become a part of the culture of First Reformed as we learn how to follow Jesus in our day and time.

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus enters the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Satan hits him with three different offers. Not all bad; in fact, things had God promised to His Son. But Satan's offer comes with a couple catches, namely that Jesus would surrender his identity and worship to the Tempter and would receive the "prizes" outside of the Father's timing. As Eugene Peterson wrote, this amounts to trying to achieve God's plan with the devil's tactics. Jesus resists and sets the example for us.

In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus's cousin John Baptizes him in the River Jordan. This was an important step for Jesus and the fulfillment of his calling, yet John was hesitant. John was incredibly humble, despite being a bold witness for righteousness, and being around the incarnate Son of God made him feel unworthy. But he consented and baptized Jesus, after which Jesus's humility is rewarded by a voice from Heaven. In contrast, the Pharisees and Sadducees are asking to be baptized out of wrong motives, and John calls them on it.

In Matthew 3:1-6, we are introduced to a wild man in the wood, John the Baptist. John, like Jesus, is a predicted character fulfilling God's predicted mission. What would this preparer-of-Jesus's-way call listeners to? Repentance! Confession, repentance, and a washing to symbolize this internal renewal. Is confession and repentance a regular part of your life? Though difficult and humiliating, true repentance is positions you to embrace the teaching of Jesus, and the teaching of Jesus leads to life!

In Matthew 2:13-23, we have a story that is most often heard around Christmas time, but this story is a wealth of insight for how to be a godly dad. Joseph is led by the Spirit to not just raise God's own Son, but to protect his very life from a jealous king, involving becoming international refugees. Though we normal dads aren't raising the Messiah, we like Joseph need to depend on the leading of God to protect and bless our children.