Providence Reformed Baptist Church – Sunday, November 1, 2020
Sermon Series: The Gospel of the Kingdom – Matthew
Message 13. Follow Me – Matthew 4:18-22 – Pastor Phillip M Way
Introduction: In Matthew’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we are given the location –
Galilee; the message – repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; and the methodology – calling
disciples.
I. Four Fishermen – vs. 18-22
A. The Earlier Call – John 1:35-51
B. The Special Call
- “He had called them by grace, now He calls them to work!” – CHS
- Jesus’ call of others is related in Matthew 9-10, but these 4 started earlier in Galilee
C. The Four Called - Simon Peter – first in every list – Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13
- Andrew – always brining people to Jesus – John 1:40-42; 6:8-9; 12:20-22
- James – first disciple to be martyred, killed by Herod – Acts 12:1-2
- John – the disciple whom Jesus loved – John 13:23; 19:26 – died naturally though in
exile on Patmos
II. Follow Me – vs. 19
A. An Imperial Call with Royal Promise - I will make you fishers of men
- Being an evangelist is very much like fishing – patience, persuasion, perseverance
B. An Effectual Call - They followed without hesitation
- They left their nets, boat, and even family
- “They came straightway at all cost, without question, to quit old haunts, to follow their
Leader without stipulation or reserve.” – CHS
C. A Call to Walk as He Walks - Salvation – to follow Christ we must turn from sin and self and to the Savior in faith
- Obedience – a command, immediately they left and followed – “Without obedience
there is no genuine Christianity.” – Boice – John 14:15 - Repentance – Jesus calls sinners! – Matt. 9:13; Luke 5:8 – we renounce sin to follow
- Holiness – to follow Jesus is to strive to be like Jesus – holy, without a sinful step, word,
or thought – 1 Peter 1:15-16 - Submission – put on His yoke – Matt. 11:29-30 – yoked for work, do the work He has
called you to do as His bondservant – 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23 - Trust – if you do not trust you cannot follow, do not follow yourself – Luke 9:62
- Perseverance – repeated, daily – Luke 9:23; a lifetime commitment until the race is
finished – Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Psa. 119:105, 112
III. Finish or Fall Away – Matt. 8:18-22
A. Consider the Cost - Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace
a. Jesus had no place to lay His head – Judea rejected Him (John 5:18), Galilee cast
Him out (John 6:66), Gadara begged Him to leave (Matt. 8:34), Samaria refused
Him lodging (Luke 9:53), earth would not have Him (Matt. 27:23), and heaven
forsook Him (Matt. 27:46) – Hendrickson
b. Boice Quote – “In days of hardship…”
c. Bonhoeffer quote – “Cheap grace…” - Family Obligations – Matt. 10:35-36
a. Let the dead bury their dead
1) Dead were buried same day they died
2) He wanted to wait until his father died, then follow
3) You cannot put discipleship off – now/today – James 4:13-17; 2 Cor. 6:1-2
b. “It was a grave fault to put the sepulcher before the Saviour.” – CHS
B. Priorities and Dangers - The radical demands of Christ’s kingdom mean following Jesus – this is not part time or
crowded out by other commitments - The unique authority of Jesus means that if He is God we owe Him immediate and total
obedience - The priorities of true discipleship mean that we must be willing to obey even if Jesus
asks us to sell all, forsake all – “Following Jesus is the most important thing in our lives,
even more important than our lives.” – Boice - GE Ladd Quote – “The most radical form….”
- The dangers of this hedonistic world – “If I can be kept from Christ by the normal and
proper love that I should have for parents, spouse, children, and siblings, as Christ
obviously teaches I can be, then how dangerous must the many other snares of this
world be?” – Boice - JC Ryle Quote – “It is not open sin…”
C. What Will Keep You from Following Jesus? – those are your idols
