Answering the Call: Following Jesus in Everyday Life

In Matthew 4, Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee and calls four ordinary fishermen—Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John—to follow Him. They respond immediately, leaving behind their nets, boats, and even family to step into a new life with Jesus. This moment is not just a story from the past; it’s a living pattern for every follower of Christ. Jesus’ call is deeply personal, cutting through the noise of our lives and inviting us into relationship before responsibility. He doesn’t call the best or the brightest, but those willing to listen and respond, transforming ordinary people into participants in His extraordinary mission.

The call to follow Jesus is not about having all the answers or being perfectly qualified. It’s about trusting the One who calls and being willing to leave behind whatever holds us back—whether it’s comfort, control, fear, or the expectations of others. Jesus’ invitation is first to be with Him, to learn from Him, and to become like Him. Only then does He send us out to do what He does: to reach others with the hope and love of the gospel.

This mission is not reserved for a select few; it’s the calling of every believer. Jesus’ words in Matthew 28—“Go and make disciples”—are not a polite suggestion, but a command that applies to our everyday lives, wherever we are. Our mission field is not just across the world, but right next door, in our workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. God places us strategically in these places, and He asks us to pay attention to the people around us—those who may be just one conversation, one prayer, or one act of love away from encountering Jesus.

God’s heart is for the lost, and He relentlessly pursues those who are far from Him. If we have been found by Jesus, we are called to join Him in that pursuit. The good news is that we are not sent out alone or unequipped. The same Holy Spirit who empowered the first disciples lives in us, giving us the boldness and power to be witnesses for Christ. The challenge is to lay down our “nets”—whatever keeps us from fully embracing this mission—and to trust that what Jesus offers is far greater than anything we leave behind. Today, the invitation remains: to step out of comfort, to pray for those God places on our hearts, and to boldly live out the calling to be both followers and sent ones for Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus’ call is personal and transformative, inviting us into relationship before responsibility. He doesn’t wait for us to be qualified or perfect; He calls us as we are, promising to make us into who we are meant to be as we walk with Him. The first step is always to be with Jesus, not just to do for Him. [10:32]
• 2. Following Jesus always involves leaving something behind—whether it’s comfort, control, or the expectations of others. The willingness to drop our “nets” is a sign of trust in the One who calls, and it’s the gateway to a life of deeper purpose and freedom. What we surrender is always less than what we gain in Christ. [15:00]
• 3. The mission of God is not a side project or a task for a spiritual elite; it is the core identity of every believer. Our everyday places—homes, workplaces, neighborhoods—are our mission fields, and God has placed us there intentionally. The call to “go” is about living on mission as we go about our daily lives, not waiting for a special assignment. [19:18]
• 4. God’s heart relentlessly pursues the lost, and He invites us to share in that pursuit. The stories of the lost sheep, coin, and son in Luke 15 reveal a God who spares no effort to bring people home. If we have been found by Jesus, we are called to pray for, reach out to, and love those who are still far from Him, trusting that God is already at work in their lives. [23:21]
• 5. We are not sent out alone or unequipped; the Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses for Jesus. Mission is not a chore or a box to check, but the natural outflow of a Spirit-filled life. When we feel inadequate or afraid, we can trust that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us and will give us the boldness and words we need. [27:14]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:00] - Introduction: Missing the Call
• [03:10] - The Call of the Fishermen
• [06:12] - Personal Story: Hearing God’s Call
• [08:15] - Holy Interruptions in Ordinary Moments
• [10:32] - Relationship Before Responsibility
• [12:27] - What the Disciples Left Behind
• [13:29] - The Cost of Discipleship
• [15:00] - Following Jesus Means Leaving Something
• [16:28] - Sent on Mission: Not a Side Project
• [19:18] - The Great Commission: As You Are Going
• [20:48] - Your Mission Field is Right Where You Are
• [23:21] - God’s Heart for the Lost
• [27:14] - Empowered by the Holy Spirit
• [28:58] - What’s Your Net? Overcoming Excuses
• [33:28] - Responding to the Call Today
• [35:19] - Praying for Divine Appointments
• [36:03] - Invitation to Respond

Bible Reading

Matthew 4:18-22 (ESV) — > While walking 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 fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) — > Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Luke 15:1-7 (ESV) — > Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Observation Questions

1. What did Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John leave behind when Jesus called them, and how quickly did they respond? (Matthew 4:18-22; [08:15])
2. According to the sermon, what was the first thing Jesus invited the disciples into before giving them a mission or responsibility? ([10:32])
3. In Matthew 28:19-20, what command does Jesus give to his followers, and what promise does he attach to it?
4. What do the three stories in Luke 15 (lost sheep, lost coin, lost son) reveal about God’s heart? ([23:21])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose ordinary fishermen instead of religious experts or the “best and brightest” to be his first disciples? What does this say about who God calls? ([08:15])
2. The sermon says that following Jesus always involves leaving something behind. Why is this act of surrender so important for a disciple? ([15:00])
3. How does the idea of “relationship before responsibility” challenge the way people sometimes approach serving in the church or living out their faith? ([10:32])
4. The Great Commission in Matthew 28 is described as not just a “side project” but the core identity of every believer. How does this change the way we think about our daily lives and interactions? ([19:18])

Application Questions

1. The disciples left their nets, boats, and even family to follow Jesus. What is your “net”—something you might be holding onto that keeps you from fully following Jesus or stepping into his mission? ([21:34])
2. The sermon talks about how Jesus’ call is personal and cuts through the noise of our lives. What are some “noises” or distractions in your life that make it hard to hear or respond to Jesus’ call? ([10:32])
3. Jesus calls us to be with him before doing for him. In your current season, do you find yourself more focused on “doing” for God or “being” with God? What would it look like to shift that balance? ([10:32])
4. The mission field is described as “right where you are”—your home, workplace, school, or neighborhood. Who is one person God might be putting on your heart to pray for, reach out to, or show love to this week? ([20:48])
5. The sermon mentions that God’s heart relentlessly pursues the lost. Is there someone in your life who feels “far from God”? What is one practical step you can take to show them the love of Jesus? ([23:21])
6. Fear, comfort, routine, or feeling unqualified are all “nets” that can hold us back. Which of these (or another) is most likely to keep you from living on mission, and what is one way you can begin to lay it down? ([28:58])
7. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses for Jesus. When have you felt inadequate or afraid to share your faith? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit for boldness and the right words in those moments? ([27:14])