Matthew 4:17–22 ESV 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Notes:

1. Jesus’ proclamation of the imminent kingdom of heaven was RADICAL, CONTROVERSIAL, and DANGEROUS.

2. Jesus doesn’t choose the best, he chooses the WILLING.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

3. He CHOSE US, not we Him.

Ephesians 1:4 NLT 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

4. Our primary calling is to be WITH HIM.

5. To follow Him, we have to LEAVE ALL.

Luke 14:26 NLT 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

6. He calls us to spiritually REPRODUCE.