Last week, we said…
Being a disciple (literally, a student) is about getting closer to Jesus and becoming more like him.
And I said disciples do four things:
- A disciple walks in fellowship with the teacher.
- A disciple listens to the words of the teacher.
- A disciple follows the pattern of life of the teacher.
- A disciple brings others to the teacher.
And I want to expand on that last one today. Why that one? Because…
Every disciple of Jesus lives as one sent into the world with the good news of God’s Kingdom.
Mark 1:14-20 NRSV
[14] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
[16] As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-for they were fishermen. [17] And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” [18] And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
[19] As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. [20] Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
1. God has a message of good news for everybody about his kingdom.
There were TWO main components of Jesus’ message.
A new kind of kingdom – God’s kingdom – has come and Jesus is its King.
- It’s a forever kingdom.
- It’s an upside down kingdom.
- It’s King is good, always.
Anybody can come into Jesus’ kingdom by repenting and believing.
- To repent is to turn away from the sin that has enslaved you and stolen your identity.
- To believe is to fully trust that Jesus is the Redeemer and Savior.
2. God has called YOU to be a messenger of the good news of his kingdom.
To become “fishers of men” is NOT simply to give someone a quick presentation of the facts about how God saves people, get them to say a prayer, and tell them they will now escape hell and go to heaven.
To become “fishers of men” means to represent King Jesus with your life.
- We do this when we live according to Jesus’ teachings.
- We do this as we love people the way Jesus loves them.
- We do this as we serve people the way Jesus served people.
- We do this as we tell the good news to anyone who wants to hear it.
God’s kingdom is inclusive and he wants you in it!
So, will you allow Jesus to be your King?
