By: Preston Harrod Metro Church of Christ Grade: 9 th Category D Copyright©2015

Peter and his brother Andrew were fishing on the sea of Galilee one day... Any bites Andrew? Nope. Seems like they’re acting “fishy”. Get it?

And then Jesus came along and everything changed Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

He chose his disciples one by one. He picked people you would not expect and they left willingly without looking back.

21 Going from there, he saw two 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 they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:21-22

You’re a successful business owner. You have a family. You are healthy and are happy. Then, someone you have never heard of, or seen, comes up to you while you are hard at work and says, “Come, follow me for you will do many great things in my name.” But the catch is that you have to leave right now without looking back. What would you do? Would you be like the disciples and follow Jesus without a second thought? Now think about it…

The disciples followed Jesus and learned from him. They performed miracles and became great leaders.

One day Jesus was teaching and he needed a rest, so he told the crowd to go home and for the disciples to go to the other side of the lake.

While the disciples went across the lake a storm started to rock their boat.

Then they saw Jesus walking on the water.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:26-27

Peter wanted to come to Jesus. He walked onto the water, but when he saw the wind he became afraid and began to sink.

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

Don’t look back. Peter took his eyes off Jesus, focusing only on the storm around him. Jesus calls us out upon the water, “Come” he said. If we call on his name then his hand will be our guide. Our faith will be made stronger when we don’t look back, focusing only on Jesus and his promises. Lesson to be Learned

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62