Matthew 4:12-23

 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As he walked 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. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.  [NRSA]

The call to follow is an invitation to 

• Listen
• Learn
• Follow
• Transform 
• Call others

We talking about the need to listen last week

We hear the week before what it means to follow

The most important part of this challenge is the call to impact the lives of others

Q: What am I doing that others see, hear and know that Jesus is healing, calling, working through me?

Step back to the do no harm rule:

What am I doing that is harming my witness and getting in the way of others experiencing Jesus in me?

What can I do? To disciple others. 

1. Discern one person before the end of the month that God is calling you to reach out to disciple. 
   1. Pray for them every day
   2. Find multiple ways to reach out to them and show the love and power of Jesus Christ 
   3. Persistence and variety. Many gifts and avenues
   4. Call theirs friends and co-workers
   5. She scriptures that invite learning and following
   6. Take them to follow with you in your faith journey
   7. Make it easy, no pressures salesmen.
   8. Some will follow others will be reached by someone else. 
2. Repeat each month. 

The goal of your own 12 disciples.. 

A year of reaching our own dozen for Christ. 

Now go and make Disciples of Jesus Christ 

( next week food for the journey)