Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor
A Story of Yes: Matthew 4:18–22
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
God’s invitation to a potential disciple:
John 1:43–51 (New Living Translation)
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”
44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.
49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
A personal invitation: “Come and .”
47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
This is a gentle but sarcastic moment. Jesus is having some fun!
48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you. 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
A heartbreaking statement you hear in the counseling world: Hurt people hurt people.
But when Jesus steps into the conversation:
Forgiven people people.
Healed people people.
Found people people.
Invited people people.
These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Acts 17:6b (New King James Version)
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
Small Group Questions
- What did you do on the first warm day of this season?
- What do you think of when you hear the word disciple?
- Which of the three calls (Come, Follow, and Become) is the most compelling to you? Why?
- What is the main excuse you use for not inviting people into a relationship with Jesus? How can you partner with God to overcome that struggle?
- Read Nathanael’s conversation with Jesus. What stands out to you about how Jesus connects with this new follower? How can you apply Jesus’ strategy in your own invitations?
- How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?