The Call to Discipleship

Jesus personally calls every one of us to recognize his lordship, surrender everything to him, and join his mission.

Speakers

New summer sermon series from the Gospel of Luke — nine scenes from Jesus' life on the theme "Follow me." Jake and Nick will preach other books of the Bible with guest elders and members. Event details
Prayer meeting, Sunday nights, 5–6 p.m., twelve times a year; six of those focus on sharing and praying for evangelism. The elders have asked church members to commit to coming once a month. Event details

Jesus preached from Peter's boat to a pressing crowd, but his words landed on one man. Many heard the word; Peter received it and responded.
Charles Spurgeon, the nineteenth-century London Baptist preacher, was converted at fifteen after a snowstorm forced him into a Primitive Methodist chapel.
The substitute preacher — a thin man, a shoemaker or tailor — stuck to his text, "Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth," then fixed his eyes on Spurgeon: "Young man, you look very miserable."
Nathan told David a parable in 2 Samuel 12; David only heard God when Nathan said, "Thou art the man."
Sunday morning is not gathering interesting facts or being entertained. It is learning to hear your Master speak to you personally.

Peter had just won the lottery in his modest trade — but he wasn't smiling. He fell at Jesus' knees and begged him to depart.
Seeing Jesus' mastery over the animals, Peter realized he was more than a teacher. In verse 8 Peter becomes the first person in Luke to call Jesus Lord.
Biblical pattern: encountering God's holiness undoes people — Moses hid his face at the burning bush; Isaiah cried, "Woe is me, I am lost."
Many of us are alive to entertainment, work, and money but dead to the holy, coasting through prayers and church.
Holiness produces fear, but holiness combined with grace draws us near. Peter's "depart from me" was met with "do not be afraid."
Practical growth this summer: read Luke, watch Jesus closely, obey what he says, and pray God would reveal his Son in his holiness.

Bilbo Baggins ran out of Bag End without hat, stick, money, or handkerchief — and life in the Shire was never the same.
"Catching men" is more literally "catching men alive." Catching fish is a death sentence; Jesus turns that bloody picture on its head — capture people to set them free.
Not every Christian is a missionary or a gifted evangelist, but every follower of Jesus is an enlisted soldier in his mission. No exceptions.
Other churches — Cornerstone, McLean Bible, Hamilton Baptist — are not rivals but different outposts on one team.
Every pastor's job description is identical at the top; the specifics come at the bottom. So it is with disciples.
Every Christian's job description begins the same way: we follow Jesus and we help other people follow Jesus.
Ask honestly: who in your life are you pursuing and praying for, that they might begin following Jesus?

"They left everything and followed him." The cost for Peter and the first disciples was everything.
But Peter kept the boat — in John 21 he is fishing again. The Bible never teaches that all Christians must permanently abandon what they own.
Discipleship does not mean abandoning your life; it means surrendering it. You may have nice things, but they can no longer have you.
To the wealthy: surrender your wealth, beware how it deceives the heart into trusting it, and practice radical generosity.
Turn from all your sins — no sin is off limits, nothing held back. Ask over lunch what idols and disordered loves need to go.
After twenty-something years of following Jesus, the things he once feared giving up look awfully small. He's better.

Jesus personally calls you to recognize his lordship, surrender everything, and join his mission.
Following Jesus begins with hearing his word as spoken directly to you — and responding.
Part of being a disciple is making disciples; have a name you are praying for.
You don't have to be perfect to be Jesus' disciple, but you do have to surrender.