WEEK 1: CALL OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES
Jesus calls the first four disciples
Matthew 4: 18-22; Mark 1:14-20; Luke 5:1-11
Jesus went to the shore of Lake Genesarret to preach the gospel. He went aboard a boat and pushed out a little from the shore, where the audience stood facing him. He sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he finished teaching, he asked Simon, who owns the boat, to push out his net into the deep water for the catch. Simon replied that he and his companion had worked all night and caught nothing but at Jesus’ word, he would let down the net.
And when Peter did, they caught an enormous shoal of fish. It was so big that their nets began to tear. Thus, they signaled their partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, in the other boat, to come and help them. They came and both boats were filled to a sinking point. Simon was so surprised that he fell at the feet of Jesus and asked Jesus to depart away from him because he, Peter, was a sinful man. Jesus told him that he should not be afraid, adding that Simon would now be catching men. Simon and his partners brought their boats ashore. They left everything and followed Jesus. The others were Andrew, James, and John.
The call of the twelve Disciples/Apostles
Mark 3:13-19
Jesus selects His disciples
Matt 4: 18-22; 9: 9, Mark 3: 13-19
Jesus chose twelve disciples to be with him and to assist him in preaching the gospel. He called them one by one and told them that he would make them fishers of men. They immediately left their jobs and followed him. Some of them were fishermen, while some were tax collectors. Four of them were referred to as members of the inner circle. This is because they were especially close to him. They were Simon Peter, Matthew, James, and John sons of Zebedee.
When Jesus was on a mountain, he called the men of his choice after healing some people in Galilee. Out of these men, he selected twelve as his immediate companions and friends. These he wanted to send out to proclaim his message, the gospel, with the authority to drive out demons and heal all kinds of diseases.
These twelve are as follows:
Simon Peter
James
John
Simon the Canaanites
Andrew
Philip
Bartholomew
Thomas
Thaddeus
Matthew
James the son of Alphaeus
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him
They all willingly responded to the call of the master without excuse, the most important qualification Jesus sought was willingness and self-denial. We learn a lesson here to be obedient to the call of God.
These twelve were to be his messengers, who would carry the message of Christ to all parts of the world and all people. In the Acts of the Apostles, these disciples were referred to as apostles. After the death of Judas, following his betrayal of Jesus, Matthias was elected as the twelfth apostle.
WEEK 2: CALL OF THE DISCIPLES - THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP
To be a disciple of Jesus has its demands and obligations. Jesus’ encounter with three would-be disciples shows the cost of being a disciple of Jesus. To the one who voluntarily told Jesus would follow him, Jesus told him that birds and foxes have holes but he, the son of man, had no home. Another one who decided to follow him asked for a time to say farewell to his relations.
Jesus told him that anyone who put his hands on the plough and looked back was not fit for the Kingdom. The one whom he invited to follow him requested to be allowed to go and bury his father. Jesus told him to let the dead bury the dead.
There was a time when many people were following Jesus. He turned and told them that any would-be follower who did not love him more than his father, mother, wife, children, family, and even his self could not be his disciple. Jesus concluded that no one could be his disciple unless he or she was ready to give up everything he or she had.
Jesus started by calling the first four disciples. They were Peter and his brother Andrew and the two brothers James and . Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea. He called them and they immediately followed him. He saw the two sons of Zebedee (James and John) with their father.
He got into Simon’s boat and asked him to row the boat further. Jesus continued teaching the people from the boat. When he stopped preaching, he asked Simon to cast the net into the sea.
Simon told him that they had worked all night without catching anything but since he had said it, he (Peter) will let down the net. When they had done this, they caught a great shoal of fish that their nets were breaking.
WEEK 3: THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP
(Mathew 8:12-2 )
Jesus uses this story to teach us the demands of discipleship. Jesus
responded that foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but theson of man have nowhere to lay his head. To the other disciple, who
wanted to go and bury his father first before following Christ, he
answered “leave the dead to bury their own dead”. Luke’s account
added the third disciple who wanted to go and bid his family farewell
before following Christ. Jesus answered “No one who put his hand on
the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”.
Moral Lesson:
1. Jesus response teaches us that there is hardship being a disciple of
Jesus.
2. The second response teaches us to put the preaching of God first
before any other thing.
3. It teaches us to put to total commitment of the work of God and let
not anything distract us.
not anything distract us.
WEEK 4: SERMON ON THE MOUNT – THE BEATITUDES
(Matthew 5:1-12)
Beatitude means “blessed, successful, happy or supreme blessedness”. It represents the blessings in the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ as recorded in the book of St. Matthew 5:3-12.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall inherit the earth.
2. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
3. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
4. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
5. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
6.Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
7. Blesses are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Every true Christian enjoys these blessings as children of God. The Christians, however must fulfill certain conditions to enjoy the blessings. Beatitudes reveals the conditions and the blessings following each condition.
For example, the poor in spirit inherit the kingdom God. While they that mourn shall be comforted. The meek shall inherit the earth while they that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.
WEEK 6: CHRISTIANS AS SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD - SERMON ON THE MOUNT
(Matt 5:13-16)
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ described Christians as the salt of the earth. By this, Jesus meant that Christians should live a good lifestyle in order to make our society a better place to live in, just as salt give taste and makes our food to be sweet for us to eat.
In other words, Christians should behave in such a way that they become the agent of preserving and improving the quality of life in the society so that there is a good relationship between men and God and between one another.
But if by our lifestyle we cannot influence others positively towards good work, then we are said to have lost our taste as salt.
Christianity
Jesus also described Christians as the light of the world.
As Christians, we are to behave in such a way as to become the source of light to others by our words and deeds. This means our lives should serve as an example for others to follow.
WEEK 8: JESUS TEACHING ON REVENGE
(Matthew 6: 14-15)
One of the Jewish Law that Jesus Christ modified was the law on revenge or retaliation.
The law state we should repay the evil done against us with evil, but Jesus taught us to tolerate and bear with others no matter the evil they must have done to us, we should rather return good for evil done against us.
We must not revenge but do everything within our power to pursue peace with all men by paying them good for the evil done against us.
WEEK 9: JESUS TEACHING ON PRAYING, FASTING AND FORGIVENESS
JESUS’ TEACHING ON PRAYING AND FASTING” (Matt 6: 5-18)
Jesus Christ gave some advice and made some corrections on the wrong practice of fasting and prayer by the Jews.
On prayer, Jesus taught that we should not say our prayers openly in order to be seen by men as the hypocrites do, rather, we should pray behind closed doors in our rooms.
He said when saying our prayers, we should not be full of vain repetitions because God already knows what we need before we ask Him. So, we should be precise in our prayers.
Jesus then taught us how we should pray using this pattern- acknowledging God as our father, praising Him, having a pure motive, making a request and asking for forgiveness and grace to overcome any evil.
Concerning fasting, Jesus said, when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale so that people will admire them for their fasting. Jesus assured that that is the only reward they would ever get.
But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
JESUS’ TEACHING ON “FORGIVENESS”(Mathew 5:38-42)
Our father in heaven forgives us our sins. He expects us to forgive
others who sin against us. In the daily prayer, there are some words
that teach forgiveness. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us”. In other words, we pray to God to forgive us
like we forgive others. If we do not forgive others, our heavenly father
will not forgive us. We as Christians should forgive others even when
they do not say sorry. (Mathew 5:38-42.
WEEK 10: JESUS TEACHING ON LOVE OF MONEY, WORRY AND ANXIETY
JESUS TEACHING ON LOVE OF MONEY (Matt 6:14-15)
In Jesus' teaching on love of money, He emphasized the need for us to love God above riches. Jesus enjoined us to be more interested in heavenly things or doing things that are of more eternal value than engaging in the acquisition of worldly possessions which does not last.
Jesus said we cannot serve two masters, that is, we cannot love both God and money or material gain equally. It is either we choose between serving God and serving mammon (money).
This is because the love of money draws the hearts of people away from God, thus, it is difficult for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus then advised that the rich should not set their hope and faith in their riches but on God who is the giver of riches and the rich should be liberal and generous with their riches.
JESUS TEACHING ON WORRY AND ANXIETY (Matt 6:25-34)
On worry and anxiety, Jesus emphasized the need for us to put our trust in God. He said that we should not be anxious or worry about our needs such as our health, food, clothes, shelter and our education etc.
Jesus said if God cares for the birds and flowers then we should know that He cares for us because we are of more value than they, therefore, Jesus advised that instead of worrying, we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things we desire shall be given to us by God.
