Teaching Note 6

Faith Insight 6: “Follow Me”—The Call at the Center of Faith

“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”

— Matthew 4:19 (ESV)

Now we come to two words of Jesus that bring these truths together:

“__________  __________.”

When Jesus began calling His disciples, He did not merely ask them to agree with certain ideas about Him. Matthew tells us that Jesus saw Peter and Andrew casting their nets into the sea. He said to them:  “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Matthew then records their response:  “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”— Matthew 4:20 (ESV)

Something profoundly important is at work here.

Jesus __________.

They __________.

And a __________ began.

Living faith responds when God calls.

That is why Jesus later describes His relationship with His people this way:

“My sheep __________ my voice, and I __________ them, and they __________ me.”— John 10:27 (ESV)

Following Jesus is therefore much more than admiring Jesus. We can admire His compassion without following Him.  We can respect His teachings without obeying them.  We can know His words without letting them redirect our lives.  But Jesus' invitation is personal:  “Follow me.”

Following means that __________ else is __________.

The disciples did not receive a map of everything that would happen before they followed Christ.  They received a __________ to follow.

Christian faith is not confidence that we know exactly what tomorrow will bring.

It is confidence in the __________ we are __________ into tomorrow.

·      Sometimes following Christ means __________ something.

·      Sometimes it means __________ something.

·      Sometimes it means __________.

·      Sometimes it means __________.

·      Sometimes it means __________.

·      Sometimes it means ____________________.

·      Sometimes it simply means __________ what Christ has already made clear while __________ Him with everything we cannot yet see.

The essential question is not whether I can see the whole road.  The question is whether I trust the One who says:  “Follow me.”

FOR REFLECTION

What does following Jesus require of me today? Write your thoughts below:

A PRACTICAL RESPONSE

Read Matthew 4:18–22 slowly this week.  Imagine yourself standing beside the Sea of Galilee and hearing Jesus say, “Follow me.”  Then ask:

“Is there an area of my life in which I already know what Christ has taught, but I have hesitated to follow?”  Identify one concrete step of obedience you can take.

 A SIMPLE PRAYER

Lord Jesus, teach me what it means to follow You. Give me ears to hear Your voice, a heart willing to trust You, and courage to obey even when I cannot see the whole road ahead. Lead me, and teach me to walk faithfully with You. Amen.