Ordinary men doing extraordinary things. Mark 3:13-19
Intro… Superhero’s and comic books have been popular for years. Why? Because of the story line of the average guy doing superhero stuff.
Jesus picked average guys to carry on his ministry. Matt. 4:18-22, 9:9
Text: Mark 3:13-19 12 points today…12 disciples…
Big Pic: If God chose 12 ordinary men to do extraordinary things and to carry on the future of the Christian faith, he can use you and me to accomplish his goals in our lifetime.
As Christians, we are his disciples today.
A follower of the doctrines of a teacher or a school of thought
As his disciples today we need to:
Cast a wide net. Matt. 4:18
Let’s not limit ourselves on who we can and cannot reach for Christ.
Ask God to bring people into your life and share the gospel in a variety of ways.
The wider we throw the net, the more we catch.
Let God do the sifting.
Whatever skills you’ve acquired over the years in regards to influencing people, now use that skill for Jesus.
For the disciples, they went from fishing for fish to fishing for men.
Sales, teaching, coaching, organizing block parties, room mom, party planner at work, throwing great parties, etc.
Drop everything and go (immediately). Matt. 4:20
There are times in our lives when we recognize the urgency of something and we drop everything and go.
Fire, earthquake, emergency’s (LilyAnna choking)
When it becomes evident to you that you need to follow Jesus, you need to be willing to drop what seems so important and go.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Follow the master. Matt. 4:20
We need to make sure we are following the right leader.
There are plenty of people out there with great ideas looking for followers.
Any kind of godly leadership is worth following.
Jesus CEO
What a great thing to say to others, “I’m following Jesus…”
God calls those whom he desires. Mark 3:13
We need to listen to God’s calling and come to him.
Like I mentioned earlier about letting God do the sifting…God has predestined who will come to him.
Instead of getting all freaked out over that, let’s assume everyone we come in contact with is predestined…
God has sent us out to preach. Mark 3:14
You may not preach in front of a church every week, but your audience is just as important as those who gather with us on Sunday mornings.
And, our preaching doesn’t always have to be verbal.
Be different, counter cultural, but not to be rebellious, be a rebel for Jesus.
Jesus was a rebel.
He helped people think about life in a different way.
When we live moral, godly lives, we are “rebelling” against societal norms.
Leave a legacy.
When you look up “disciple” in the dictionary… “one of the 12 personal followers of Christ.
Any other professed follower of Christ.
What do you want to go down in history for?
Sell out for Jesus.
He/she’s a sell-out…normally not a good thing to be known for.
“Jesus freak” DC Talc
Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”
Be willing to give your life for the cause.
Most of the disciples died for their belief in Jesus.
World Mag. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
Here’s some of the things these ordinary men/disciples accomplished because they were willing to drop everything and follow Jesus:
Andrew: preached to the Scythians [modern day Georgia] and Thracians [modern day Bulgaria], and was crucified, suspended on an olive tree.
Bartholomew: preached in India the Gospel according to Matthew, and was crucified with his head downward.
James, Son of Alphaeus: “ When preaching in Jerusalem, was stoned to death by the Jews, and was buried there beside the temple.
James, Son of Zebedee: The brother of John, the disciple "that Jesus loved".
According to the Book of Acts in the New Testament, James was killed by Herod:
Act 12:1-2 And at that time Herod the king threw on his hands to oppress some of those of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
John, brother of James and son of Zebedee: John was one of the few disciples that did not die a cruel death, but of "old age".
John was banished by Domitian to the Isle of Patmos, and later died in Ephesus
Matthew: Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could."
Simon/Peter :
Peter and Paul founded the Church in Rome:
Peter was put to death under Nero in Rome:
It is, therefore, recorded that Paul was beheaded in Rome itself, and that Peter likewise was crucified under Nero. This account of Peter and Paul is substantiated by the fact that their names are preserved in the cemeteries of that place even to the present day.
(Paul was a Roman citizen and couldn’t be crucified but got an "easier" death sentence)
Philip: Philip preached and was executed in what today is eastern Turkey:
Philip preached in Phrygia, and was crucified in Hierapolis with his head downward in the time of Domitian, and was buried there.
Simon the Zealot: Simon the Zealot was the second Bishop of Jerusalem.
Thaddaeus son of James: preached to the people of Edessa, and to all Mesopotamia, and fell asleep at Berytus, and was buried there.
Thomas: An active missionary, he met his fate in India:
And Thomas preached, he was thrust through in the four members of his body with a spear and was buried there.
Judas: We all know what happened to him...
Most of these guys had things happen to them that will never happen to us.
Yet so many people today are afraid to be identified as followers of Jesus or Christians.
Remember, once you become a Christian you are a disciple of Christ and need to represent him accurately to the world.
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