Overview:
“Do you want your life to count for something?”
This question was as intriguing in the first century as it is today. To a group of ordinary men and women, Jesus first said, “Follow Me.” Those who chose to answer His call were transformed by their experience . . . and they turned the world upside down for Christ!
In this single message from Chuck Swindoll, we look closely at Jesus’s early ministry and at His encounters with the first four men whom He called to be a part of His team. What were their reactions to His invitation? They followed immediately. However, the ultimate question is, “How will you respond to His call?”
Message Summary:
In “Saying Yes to Christ’s Call,” Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the life-altering moment when individuals encounter the invitation of Jesus to “Follow Me.” Drawing from the callings of the first disciples and Matthew the tax collector, Swindoll highlights that Christ’s call is often sudden, deeply personal, and requires a decisive break from the status quo. This message emphasizes that saying “yes” to Jesus is not merely about joining a religion, but entering into a transformative relationship that redirects one’s purpose, priorities, and ultimate destination.
Message Key Facts:
- The Nature of the Call: Jesus initiates the relationship; He seeks out the ordinary and the “outcasts” to do extraordinary things.
- Immediate Response: The hallmark of the first disciples was their lack of hesitation—they left their nets and their livelihoods immediately.
- Grace for the Unlikely: The call of Matthew (Levi) demonstrates that no one is too far gone or too “sinful” to be invited into Christ’s service.
- A Change of Allegiance: Following Christ necessitates a shift in authority, where the fisherman’s nets or the tax collector’s booth no longer define their identity.
- The Purpose of the Call: Jesus calls us not just from something (sin/vocation), but to something (becoming “fishers of men”).
Message References:
Main Points & Outline
1. The Shoreline Invitation (Matthew 4:18–22)
Swindoll examines the call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
- The Ordinary Setting: Jesus meets them in the middle of their daily labor, showing that His call reaches into the secular world.
- The Simple Command: “Follow Me” is both an invitation and a command that demands a volitional choice.
- The Radical Abandonment: They left their “nets” (security) and their “father” (tradition/family) to prioritize the Kingdom.
2. The Tax Collector’s Transformation (Matthew 9:9–13)
The focus shifts to Matthew, a man despised by society for his profession.
- The Look of Grace: Jesus saw Matthew not as a traitorous tax collector, but as a potential apostle.
- The Scandal of Grace: Jesus’ willingness to eat with “sinners and tax collectors” reveals the heart of His mission: He came to call the sick, not the healthy.
- The Great Physician: Swindoll explains that admitting our “sickness” (sin) is the prerequisite for responding to Christ’s call.
3. The Cost of the “Yes”
Following Jesus involves a deliberate “no” to self-will and a “yes” to His Lordship.
- Personal Sacrifice: There is always something to leave behind—whether it is a career, a reputation, or a comfort zone.
- New Priorities: Our skills and talents are not discarded but redirected for God’s glory.
Primary Scripture References
- Matthew 4:18–22: The calling of the first four disciples by the Sea of Galilee.
- Matthew 9:9–13: The calling of Matthew and Jesus’ subsequent teaching on the purpose of His mission.
- Luke 5:1–11: A parallel account emphasizing the miraculous catch of fish that preceded the call.
- Matthew 16:24: The requirement of self-denial in following Christ.
Practical Application
To respond faithfully to Christ’s call today, believers are encouraged to:
- Listen for the Voice: Be attentive to how Christ is calling you in the midst of your “ordinary” life and work.
- Act Without Delay: Recognize that the most important response to Jesus is an immediate one, rather than a delayed “someday.”
- Identify Your “Nets”: Honestly evaluate what you are holding onto that might be preventing you from following Him fully.
- Embrace Your New Mission: Understand that following Christ means your life now has the purpose of drawing others to Him.
