Three Levels of Discipleship

Using Matthew 4:17-22 as our text once again, it says, From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (18)  As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  (19)  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (20)  At once they left their nets and followed him.  (21)  Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,  (22)  and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

This morning we look at the three levels of discipleship as found in the Bible.  If you look closely, you can see in the Bible a a progression in the lives of these disciples (primarily Peter, James, and John) that sets up a pattern for us. We can see beginner, intermediate, and advanced discipleship.

Beginning

In John 1:40-42 we see them bringing souls to Jesus when it says, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.  (41)  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).  (42)  And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).

Intermediate

In Matthew 4:18-22 we find them forsaking something to follow Jesus when it says As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  (19)  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (20)  At once they left their nets and followed him.  (21)  Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,  (22)  and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Advanced

In Luke 5:2-11 we see them forsaking ALL to follow Jesus when it says,  he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  (3)  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  (4)  When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." (5)  Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."  (6)  When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  (7)  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  (8)  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"  (9)  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,  (10)  and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." (11)  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.