The Bible: The Calling Of The First Disciples

Like us, the disciples thought that the danger to them lie outside their little boat. Jesus though was quick to teach them that the real danger lie within the boat, within their own hearts. In a word, as Jesus made very clear, they lacked faith. And without faith their lives were at risk to the storms which would inevitably come. There are some things to be observed about this storm on the Sea of Gallilee, and about the storms in our own lives.

To follow him means accepting the Christian way of life and treading in the footsteps of Jesus, following his examples as closely as possible. Obedience to the will of God and putting others first may lead to suffering as it did for Jesus. However, the invitation to “Follow me” also holds the promise of sharing in Christ’s resurrected life.

McMurphy takes 12 men on a fishing trip and explains to them the ways of life. Just as Jesus’ 12 disciples did in the bible. During the fishing trip McMurphy stays in the back while the patients accept their uniqueness. When the boat does not have enough life jackets for everyone, McMurphy grabs one for himself letting the patients most in need of believing in oneself go without one. When the trip is over, the Chief describes the patients “weren’t the same bunch of weak-knees from a nuthouse anymore” (Kesey 215). This proves that McMurphy is beginning to guide the patients, just as Jesus led his

Do you ever wonder if what you about to do is right in the sight of God? Do you have questions that you seek answers to from God’s word? We all get in situations when there appears to be no clear answer to satisfy that what we are about to participate in is right. The truth is that oftentimes our life is built around things that aren’t wrong; they just don’t have any spiritual value. We should ask ourselves, “How does this help me grow spiritually?” Is what I am doing or want to do going to benefit me in my Christian life? Will I glorify Jesus by doing it?

As an example, I can remember at one point in my Christian walk when I felt like I lost my zeal for God and the need to worship God. I felt like the gifts that he put on the inside of me were all gone. That feeling was very consistent until one day I began to pray and ask God to give me the zeal to want to worship him again. Through many months of praying and many influential spiritual leaders in my life, I was able to gain the zeal that I once lost back again. During that time in my life it was not an easy journey, but I knew that if I wanted to see change in my Christian walk that I had to meet God half way. I also knew that I had to make the effort to pray and read the word of God more. Today, I continue to pray and seek spiritual guidance to work through those challenges and many other challenges that come my way daily as a

In order to launch out into the deep you must be able to follow Jesus by obeying His Word. The blessings of the Lord come through His Word. All the men sat down as the disciples instructed them and because of their obedience they were blessed.

Jesus saw two ships by the lake but he entered onto Simon’s ship. He could have entered on any vessel on the lake, but He chose Simon’s. It is amazing how Jesus could choose whoever He wants to carry His Word to the nation, but He chose you. Have you ever felt you were not worthy to carry the assignment that the Lord placed within you? Have you ever felt that carrying His assignment was too much for you? You are not alone. When much is given then much is required from you. You do not know what is on the inside of you until you go through your test.

Since the disciples were not catching anything that day, Jesus shouted out to them that they should fish on the other side of the boat. Once they did, they caught so many fish that they couldn’t even lift the net onto the boat. After seeing this miracle, Peter immediately recognized that it was Jesus. He then jumped into the water to go to the shore and greet him. Jesus was standing by a fire warming his hands and this was a Reinstatement for Peter of when he denied Jesus 3 times since when the rooster crowed, he was standing by a fire of charcoal, also warming his

After these events took place, Jesus leaves to begin his preaching. In doing so, he also chooses his disciples while walking along the Sea of Galilee. Jesus took his disciples with him through Galilee and began his preaching there. He healed the sick and suffering, and also performed

This semester and field experience has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life because I have been stretched in several ways. I have been stretched in my professional, academic, spiritual, and personal life. Through this field experience, I have grown significantly spiritually due to having friends that consistently point me toward the cross when I cannot carry the weight of field experience on my own strength or merit. This section of verse 3, found in chapter 1, states “and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ”. This portion of the verse has become very real to me as I have been blessed with great friends who constantly remind me of the hope I have in my Lord Jesus Christ. Friendships that have deepened since starting field experience has caused me to see Christ in a completely new

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” There are four steps that are involved in the stage of declaration. Curious, convicted, convinced, and converted are the steps that have to take place according to Dempsey and Earley. When God begins to deal with a person’s heart, Jesus will be a curiosity to them. This is where they might visit a church or Bible study group. Then as they become more curious, God’s convicting power starts to stir their hearts and convict him or her of the sin in their life. It is at this point that one of two things will happen. The person will either ignore God’s call and the conviction of their hearts, or they will be convinced God is real and alive and that He wants to forgive them. Once the sinner is convinced, it should not be much longer before they take the final step of conversion. Conversion is where the person surrenders to the drawing and calling of the Holy Spirit and asks for forgiveness of their sins. Once repentance and conversion take place, the first stage of discipleship is completed.

We all can witness by using the acromion FISH - Friendly Initiate Story/Service Hope. It wasn't an accident that Jesus called fisherman to be his disciples. Remember Jesus said “Come, follow

sacrificed his life for the man. He had a lot of faith in Jesus that

The main thing that really gave me a lot of pause was reading through the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark chapter four. When the "great windstorm" came up, Jesus' disciples were terrified. They woke Jesus, who had been sleeping during the storm, saying "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Jesus answered by calming the seas (!), and responded to the men with a question of His own: "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" As I read this, I wondered what I would have done had I been in that boat during the storm, having just recently heard my sleeping teacher preach on faith. Then I realized...I don't really have to imagine what I would have done as a disciple, because I encounter what I perceicve to be storms frequently in the sea of my own life. When the winds start blowing, I act just like the disciples, panicking because I don't have everything under control. I have felt God leading me to more "faithful faith" lately, and this passage really encouraged me to focus on putting my trust on

In both Luke and John, fishing and the image of the net allude to discipleship. In Luke Chapter 5, the disciples have fished all night and returned the next morning with nothing. Jesus tells them to put