(10 minutes)
Learners will study Matthew 4:18-22 and examine the response of the first disciples to Jesus’ call.
(10 minutes)
Provide a dry erase board and markers.
Ask: If you had to succinctly express what exactly it is Jesus calls each of us to do with his life, what would you say? Record responses on the board. Read Matthew 4:18–22. Ask learners to identify what Jesus was calling Simon, Andrew, James and John to do (Come and follow me.). Indicate this continues to be basically what Jesus calls each of us to do as well.
Erase the previous responses and write the phrase “Follow Me” on the board. Ask: According to what else you know of Scripture, what all is involved in following Jesus? Write learners’ responses all around the phrase. Emphasize to learners though we have a greater understanding of what it means to follow Christ from our understanding of God’s Word, these initial disciples had little idea of where exactly Jesus would lead them. Yet they dropped everything about their lives and followed Jesus. Explain how their exposure to Jesus had convinced them Jesus was worth abandoning everything for, which would ultimately mean laying down their lives.
Ask: How would you respond in Simon, Andrew, James and John’s same situation? How do you respond? Is He worth it?