Following Jesus

• First of the apostles to follow Jesus (recorded)

  • John 1:35-51

    • Andrew

    • Peter

    • Phillip

    • Nathanael

  • Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11

    • Peter (Simon, called Peter)

    • Andrew

    • James

    • John

  • Matthew 9:9-13

    • Matthew

    • Who Jesus is seeking?

• The four gospel accounts appear differently

  • Not everything is in the same order.

  • Not everything is included in all four accounts.

  • It appears there are differences in sequences of some events.

• How to reconcile

  • Gospel accounts are not historical accounts per se.

  • There are other Biblical accounts not in chronological order.

    • Some not consecutive.

    • Some recount things in different levels of detail

  • They were not meant to be all inclusive. John 21:25

  • Only one account is stated to be recorded in order. Luke 1:3

Timeline to the call

• Many things have happened up to this point

  • Jesus baptized in the Jordan – Matthew 3:13-17

  • The temptation – Matthew 4:1-11

  • John’s testimony that Jesus is the Lamb of God – John 1:19-34

  • Jesus followed by Andrew, Peter, Phillip, Nathanael – John 1:35-51

  • Jesus turns water into wine at Cana – John 2:1-11

  • Jesus cleanses the temple – John 2:13-25

  • Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night – John 3:1-21

  • John testifies again concerning Jesus – John 3:23-36

  • John imprisoned, Jesus leaves for Galilee – Matthew 4:12

  • Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well – John 4:5-42

  • Jesus arrives in Galilee and teaches there – Luke 4:14-15

  • Jesus, at Cana, heals the nobleman’s son – John 4:46-54

  • Jesus makes his home in Capernaum – Matthew 4:13

  • Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, John to follow Him – Luke 5:1-11

  • In the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus casts out a demon – Mark 1:21-28

  • Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law – Mark 1:29-34

  • Jesus preaches throughout Galilee – Mark 1:35-39

  • Jesus heals a leper, tells him to keep quiet – Mark 1:40-45

  • Paralytic lowered through roof of house for Jesus to heal – Mark 2:1-12

  • Jesus calls Matthew – Mark 2:13-14

The local church is authorized to support the preaching of the gospel at home.

• I Corinthians 9:7, 9, 11, 13-14 – Paul gives six reasons why mean should be supported for preaching the gospel.

• II Corinthians 12:13

The local church is authorized to support the preaching of the gospel away from home.

• Philippians 4:15-16

• II Corinthians 11:7-9

• Sponsoring church advocates argue that Thessalonica and Berea sent funds to the church in Philippi to support Paul,but that does not match the scriptures. All churches sent money directly to Paul.

Brethren, let the church be what God assigned it to be!

Ezra 7:1, 6-10

Ezra 9:1-4, 6

Spend time in the Bible

• Psalms 119:161-168 – We should be happy to spend time in the Bible!

• Colossians 4:16

• I Thessalonians 2:13

Live the Bible

• Matthew 7:15-23 – People are known by their actions.

• Am I living the Bible in my home?

• Fathers need to be taking the lead in this.

• Genesis 12:11-13; 2:2; 26:6-7 – Isaac did just as Abraham did!

• I Kings 12:28-29; 15:25-26 – Jeroboam set a terrible example of idolatry.

Plan with the Bible

• Genesis 17:7-9; 18:19

• Deuteronomy 6:7

• Psalms 78:6-7

• II Timothy 2:2

• II Peter 3:18

Doesn’t Numbers 14:18 show that everyone is born inheriting the sin of their parents? (continued)

• Conclusion from the context

  • God will surely punish those who continually sin against Him.

  • God is longsuffering and merciful.

  • The person who sins shall die for His own sins.

• Other Bible principles on the subject

  • Jeremiah 31:29-30

  • Ezekiel 18:

    • Ezekiel 18:1-4 – The soul that sins shall die.

    • Ezekiel 18:5-9 – The righteous man shall live.

    • Ezekiel 18:10-13 – If a just man’s son is evil, the son shall die.

    • Ezekiel 18:14-17 – If an evil man’s son is righteous, that son shall live.

    • Ezekiel 18:24 – It’s not once-saved, always saved!

  • Romans 5:12

  • II Corinthians 5:10

What does God think about observing special religious holidays?

• Attitude check: Acts 18:23-28

• Is it possible to worship or perform some religious act and be unapproved by God?

  • Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17

  • Exodus 32:5

  • Leviticus 10:1-2

  • I Kings 12:28, 32

  • Mark 7:6-8

  • Galatians 5:2-4

  • John 4:24; II John 1:9 – God has always cared about how He is worshiped!

• Christmas and Easter are not authorized as religious observances in the Bible.

  • The Bible records the birth of Jesus, but never authorizes us to make a religious memorial of His birth.

  • The Lord’s Supper has been authorized as a weekly memorial of His death and resurrection (I Corinthians 11:18-34; Acts 20:7).

• Hopefully we can use these holidays to stir up people’s interest in the truth!

  • Acts 17:22-24 – These holidays give us an opportunity to speak about Jesus.

• We may engage in cultural practices that do not involve unauthorized worship or religious service.

  • Circumcision

    • Galatians 2:3-5

    • Acts 16:3

  • Eating of meats

    • I Corinthians 8:1-8

• Let’s honor Christ the ways He wants to be honored, remembering the Bible’s repeated warnings not to go beyond Divine authority for religious practices (Colossians 3:17; II John 1:9). But like Paul, let’s also use whatever opportunities we have to teach and practice the truth!

• Apostles – disciples, but more than that
• Where they came from
• Their selection
• What and how they learned
• What was their function?
• Where did they go?
• What we know and what we don’t know
• Apostolic succession
• Veneration of apostles and saints

• Apostle or disciple? Matthew 10:1-2; 20:17; 26:20
  • Squares and rectangles
    • Apostle = ambassador (apostle: one chosen and sent)
    • Apostles were disciples
    • Not all disciples were apostles
    • Not all apostles were apostles – Acts 13:1-3; 14:14
      • Barnabas and Paul were listed as apostles here because they were specifically sent on a limited commission to preach the gospel. This does not mean that Barnabas was now one of the twelve apostles.
• Where did they come from?
  • Humble or despised means
    • Fishermen
    • Tax collectors
    • Political radicals
  • From where did the wise come?
    • Jerusalem
    • Babylon – Matthew 2:1-2
  • Why did God not choose the wise?
    • Luke 10:21-24
    • Most of the apostles not from Jerusalem or Babylon
    • Not from among the rabbis or scribes or other scholars
    • What can I teach a scholar?
    • What can I teach an infant?
• Really, where from?
  • Don’t know physical origins of all
    • Peter, Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew (Nathanael) – Bethsaida (John 1:43-51)
    • Peter, Andrew – Capernaum (WHAT?) (Mark 1:21-22, 29; Luke 4:31-32, 38)
    • Where was Jesus from?
      • Bethlehem? Nazareth? Capernaum? Matthew 4:13
    • James and John, sons of Zebedee – by the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-22)
    • Matthew – Capernaum (Matthew 9:9)
    • Paul (Saul) – Tarsus
    • Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Judas (not Iscariot), Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot, Matthias – Unknown

• When the apostles were just disciples
• Choosing the apostles
• Schooling the apostles
• Duties of the apostles
• Tradition and history
• Veneration of apostles and saints
• Apostolic succession