Bible
Study Notes
Most of
these notes came from Into Thy Word – a Bible study website. I have highlighted
the main points that I made during our time together. As I have begun to understand the meaning of discipleship
and how that fits into my life, I realize that I have always thought of myself
as a disciple – sometimes a lousy disciple in practice to be sure, but at least
one with a heart for God. As I
study Jesus’ call of his 12 disciples and then as I consider The Great
Commission at the end of Matthew, I realize that I too must disciple
others. That’s kind of scary
because I don’t feel qualified to disciple others – but it is a command of
Christ to all of us, so I can’t just walk away from that. The term that Dr. Krejcir uses is
‘reciprocal.’
We ARE
discipled and we DO disciple others.
Then another real question emerges – What does that look like? Hmmm….
Matthew
4:18-22
By Dr.
Richard J. Krejcir
Becoming
Fishers of Men
General
Idea: An uncommonly incredible, strange,
and insightful person approached a small group of young fishermen working in
their family fishing business to challenge them to make a life changing
decision. They were in wonder of this Man's teaching, and the miracle of the
fish as recorded by Luke that was performed for them. Their substance and
living depended on fishing. They provided a much needed and vital food to their
region-fish--which they caught with nets suspended from the back of their
boats. The floats and weights that spread out the nets to catch as many as possible
as they rowed in the Sea of Galilee, was done much the same as fishing boats
operate today. Then the fish were dried, cured with salt or pickled to preserve
them, and then sold. They were perhaps in a business that provided them with a
much higher standard of living than many other people around them. A call was extended to them and a response
was given, a call without irresistible pressure, yet with passion and
conviction. "Follow me." That call was unprecedented in their
culture and understanding. Normally a student would seek out a teacher, a
Rabbi. A Rabbi would never seek students, as it was a pride issue. Jesus broke
the pride and arrogance to model that we are to be seekers of disciples and not
just wait for them to come to us. We are to challenge each other to leave
our comfort zone and enter the realm of His worship and service.
Jesus' main
goal for His interrelations with humanity was "discipling" above any
other activity (Matt. 9:9)!
Jesus taught
the need for repentance publicly. He further taught and challenged His
disciples, both personally and systematically that Christianity does not end at
repentance and conversion begins there!
Because of
His primary goal of molding disciples, Jesus went directly and personally to
call those with whom He wanted to work. He took them from the normal ways of
life. He did not go to the universities or synagogues, but literally to the
"man on the street."
Jesus built
His own group of select "disciples."
1. He
called Peter and Andrew (Matt. 4:18-20)
2
He called James and John (Matt. 4:21-22)
1. He
called Matthew (Matt. 9:9)
2. The
rest are chosen (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-19)
3. He
sent them out (Matt. 10:1-15)
4. Jesus
ended His time on earth with an imperative command for them to make more disciples
(Matt. 28:19-20), which is also our call!
John the
Baptist did the same with his disciples (Matt. 9:14)
Having
disciples was a normal way for Rabbis to train and develop the people who would
follow them in leadership. Even the Pharisees had disciples (Matt. 22:15-16)
Before WWII,
this was the primary way ministers received their training in the U.S. They
still went to a divinity school for formal teaching, but personal instruction
from someone who is well experienced and versed was the best way to learn and
develop ministry skills, and it still is! Sadly, few will undertake this
because of pride, lack of time, and/or misplaced priorities. Thus, many young
pastors will make many mistakes at the expense of their congregation because
there was too little supervised experience beforehand.
What is a
disciple?
1. Jesus
said, Follow Me (Matt. 4:19; 9:9). Jesus did not mean that they should
just physically follow Him on the road. Just as they had worked at catching
fish, now they would be catching men (Luke 6:39-40)!
2. The
word "disciple" literally means someone who pledges to be a
"learner." Moreover, it is someone who follows another's teaching,
and adheres to it. It is a commitment and a process. It involves commitment,
and time to undertake the learning, and, as a Christian, a yearning to imitate
Jesus!
3. Discipleship is also reciprocal, that
is, when one learns, he/she makes the commitment to train someone else. That is
what Jesus meant by, "I will make you fishers of men." It is not
just catching them and then storing them (fish were processed and sold for the
betterment and use of the community), it is training, and placing, so they, too,
can catch, train, and place!
4. Discipleship
is the primary earthly goal of the Church as a whole, and the Christian as an
individual. It is our duty, and the one thing Christ directly commands us to do
(Matt. 28:19-20). In so doing, we will become like Him in character and share
His outlook and concerns (Luke 6:39-40). We are never to make disciples
in our image, like whom we are, how we think, feel, and act, but like
Christ!
i. We
are to become His disciple!
ii. We
are to be discipled!
iii. We are to disciple others
so they can in turn disciple others.
"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Are you doing
that? Let us allow the power of the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, and break our
will, so we can be receptive to our Lord and Savior, and so we can do as He
called!
Questions:
1. How can
you embrace what discipleship means?
2. Jesus
broke the pride and arrogance to model that we are to be seekers of disciples
and not just waiting for them to come to us. What is in your way from being
discipled, and/or taking in someone to disciple?
3. Jesus ended His time on earth
with an imperative command for us as individuals, and as a Church, to make more
disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). Consequently, what has been your church's response
to this? At Lake O we are giving birth to disciples!
4. What does discipleship look like for you? For our church?
