March 31
Lesson 5 (KJV)
Called to Follow
Devotional Reading: Psalm 91
Background Scripture: Matthew 4:12–22
Matthew 4:12–22
12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Photo: gustavofrazao / iStock / Thinkstock
Key Verse
He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.—Matthew 4:19
Discipleship and Mission
Unit 2: Call to Ministry
Lessons 5–9
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Recall the reason for the need to repent.
2. Explain the relationship between repentance and the kingdom of heaven.
3. Make a plan to identify a sacrifice to make for better discipleship.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Be Reasonable?
B. Lesson Context
I. Two Transitions (Matthew 4:12, 13)
A. John in Prison (v. 12a)
B. Jesus to Capernaum (vv. 12b, 13)
Light in a Dark Place
II. One Light (Matthew 4:14–17)
A. Prophecy’s Fulfillment (v. 14)
B. Fulfillment’s Result (vv. 15, 16)
C. What Must Happen (v. 17a)
D. Why It Must Happen (v. 17b)
Home Transitions
III. Four Responses (Matthew 4:18–22)
A. Simon Peter and Andrew (vv. 18–20)
B. James and John (vv. 21, 22)
Conclusion
A. Boat Time, Dock Time
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
Capernaum
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Kuh-per-nay-um.
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Esaias
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E-zay-us.
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Herod Antipas
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Hair-ud An-tih-pus.
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Naphtali
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Naf-tuh-lye.
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Nazareth
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Naz-uh-reth.
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Nephthalim
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Nef-thuh-lim (th as in thin).
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Sepphoris
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Sef-uh-ris.
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synagogue
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sin-uh-gog.
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Tiberius Caesar
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Tie-beer-ee-us See-zer.
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Zabulon
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Zab-you-lon.
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Zebedee
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Zeb-eh-dee.
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Zebulun
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Zeb-you-lun.
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What Do You Think?
Were someone to quote the old axiom “Bloom where you’re planted” to convince you not to move, how should you respond, if at all?
Digging Deeper
Which biblical figures influence you most in forming your answer? Why?
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What Do You Think?
How will you use Isaiah 9:1, 2, if at all, when witnessing for Jesus to someone who has never even heard of Isaiah?
Digging Deeper
Consider which parts of Paul’s evangelistic approach in Acts 17:22–32 are relevant in a modern context in this regard
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Visual for Lesson 5. This question can be posed for discussion at various points in the lesson. It is particularly well suited for the lesson’s conclusion.
What Do You Think?
What steps can your church take to help its members avoid equating allegiance to any particular nation with allegiance to the kingdom of Heaven?
Digging Deeper
Consider nationalistic errors such as the phrase Gott mit uns (“God with us”) as inscribed on German equipment during World War II.
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What Do You Think?
Were you to perceive a call from Christ to a certain ministry tomorrow, how would you test the validity of that call?
Digging Deeper
How will you know whether God is calling you to immediate action vs. to a ministry that involves a degree of delay? Consider in your response the urgencies (or lack thereof) in Luke 9:59–62 and John 11:6.
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What Do You Think?
What is one transition you need to make (and perhaps have been putting off) in order to serve Christ better?
Digging Deeper
In addition to the transitions made by the first four disciples, consider how the transitions in these passages influence your response: Genesis 12:4; 31:3; Exodus 3; Nehemiah 1, 2; Acts 8:26; 9:15; 26:15, 16.
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To print the reproducible activity page, simply click the highlighted text below to create a pdf file on your hard drive. Then open the pdf file in Acrobat Reader and print.
Activity Page (March 31: Called to Follow)
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