The Ambassador Group

Luke-- Jesus, Our Savior and Friend

00. An Introduction to the Book of Luke

01. Luke: The Coming of Jesus

02. Luke: Baptism and the Temptations

03. Luke: Who Is Jesus Christ?

04. Luke: The Call to Discipleship

05. Luke: Christ as Lord of the Sabbath

06. Luke: Women in the Ministry of Jesus

07. Luke: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Prayer

08. Luke: The Mission of Jesus

09. Luke: Jesus, the Master Teacher

10. Luke: Following Jesus in Everyday Life

11. Luke: The Kingdom of God

12. Luke: Jesus in Jerusalem

13. Luke: Crucified and Risen

Welcome to Our Savior and Friend, the Book of Luke by John M.

Edited for audio by the Ambassador Group.

Exploration 4, The Call to Discipleship Then he said to them all, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke chapter 9 verse 23 New Kings James Version.

The word disciple occurs more than 250 times in the Bible, mostly, but not exclusively, in the Gospels and Acts.

Being a disciple energizes the spirit, challenges the mind, and demands our utmost in our relationship with God and our fellow men.

Without total allegiance to Christ and the demands of His life and message, There can be no discipleship.

The Spirit of God received into the soul will quicken all its faculties.

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the mind that is devoted unreservedly to God develops harmoniously and is strengthened to comprehend and fulfill the requirements of God.

The weak, vacillating character becomes changed to 1 of strength and steadfastness.

Continual devotion establishes so close a relation between Jesus and his disciple, that the Christian becomes like him in mind and character.

White in her book, The Desire of Ages, on page 251.

In this exploration, we'll look at how Jesus called those who were to follow him, and discover what lesson we can learn that can help us in our continuation of the work that he had started on earth.

Seasoned fishermen, they knew the art of fishing, and they knew when to quit.

In the midst of their disappointment came an unsolicited command.

Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.

Simon's response was 1 of hopelessness and anguish.

We have toiled all night and caught nothing.

Who is this carpenter counseling a fisherman about fishing?

Simon could have turned away, but is it possible that Jesus' comforting and authentic preaching earlier had some effect?

Hence the response, nevertheless, At your word.

Thus the first lesson of discipleship, obedience to Christ's word.

Andrew, John, and James also soon learned that the long and fruitless night had given way to a bright and astonishing dawn, with a multitude of fish caught.

At once Peter fell to his knees and cried out, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.

Recognition of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of oneself is another essential step in the call to discipleship.

Another example of someone taking that first step is Isaiah.

His experience is detailed in Isaiah chapter 6 verse 5, which says, Then I said, Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.

For mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Let's consider the miracle, the astonishment of the fishermen, the confession of Peter, and the authority of Jesus in 3 different accounts of the same events.

What does each 1 of these accounts say about the path of discipleship?

And it came to pass, that as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw 2 ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets.

And he entered into 1 of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.

And he sat down and taught the people out of the ship.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering, said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and taken nothing.

Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net." And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes, and their net break.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them.

And they came and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter sought, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.

And so was also James, and John the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.

And Jesus said unto Simon, fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him." Luke chapter 5, verses 1-11.

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw 2 brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers.

And he said unto them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' And they straightway left their nets and followed him.

And going on from thence, he saw other 2 brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets.

And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed him." Matthew 4, verses 18-22.

Now, as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers.

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

And straightway he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Do not be afraid, From now on you will catch men." Luke chapter 5 verse 10 New King James Version.

The transition from being fishermen to becoming fishers of men is extraordinary.

It requires absolute self-surrender to the Master, recognition of one's inability and sinfulness, a reaching out to Christ in faith for the strength to walk the lonely and unknown path of discipleship, and continual reliance on Christ and Him alone.

The life of a fisherman is uncertain and dangerous, battling ruthless waves, unsure of a steady income.

The life of a fisher of men is no less so, But the Lord promises, Fear not!

It has its ups and downs, its joys and challenges.

But a disciple is not called to walk alone.

The 1 who said, Fear not, is by the side of the faithful disciple.

Listen again to Peter's confession about being a sinful man.

Notice how his sinfulness prompted him to want to be separated from Jesus.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

What is it about sin that does that to us, That pushes us away from God.

Selection of the 12 Discipleship is not self-made.

It is a result of responding to the call of Jesus.

Luke mentions that Jesus has already called Peter, Andrew, John, James, and Levi Matthew, the tax collector.

Luke 5 verses 11, 27 through 32 provides a glimpse into the details of Jesus inviting 5 of the 12 disciples.

Speaking of Peter, Andrew, John, and his brother James, verse 11 says, And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all and followed him.

Verses 27-32 continue, And after these things he went forth and saw a publican named Levi sitting at the receipt of custom.

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his own house.

And there was a great company of publicans, and others that sat down with him.

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Now the writer places the selection of the 12 in a strategic location in his narrative.

Immediately after the Sabbath healing of a man with a withered hand.

And it came to pass, also on another Sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught.

And there was a man whose right hand was withered.

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against him.

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, rise up, and stand forth in the midst.

Series

Luke-- Jesus, Our Savior and Friend

04. Luke: The Call to Discipleship

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