2. When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali–to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: (Matthew 4:12-25)

3. “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles–the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:12-25)

4. 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. “Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:12-25)

5. At once they left their nets and followed him. 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, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:12-25)

6. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, (Matthew 4:12-25)

7. those suffering severe pain, the demon- possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. (Matthew 4:12-25)

9. This or That: Choosing to Follow Jesus

10. Change

11. Follow this way… It works! We like what has been tried and proven true.

12. Choosing Jesus means leaving the tried-and-true for a new, but unknown, truth.

13. Jesus changes everything: God’s grace is not gained by forms of worship, but by being transformed as you follow Jesus.

14. Jesus models this new truth in his reaction to John the Baptist’s arrest.

15. Jesus models this new truth in his preaching about repentance.

16. Repentance means turning to Jesus with an undivided loyalty to him and God’s kingdom.

17. Jesus models this new truth in his calling of disciples to follow him in his mission.

18. The disciples model this new truth when they immediately change their lives to follow Jesus.

19. Those who were healed by Jesus model this new truth in their experience of new life because of Jesus.

20. We model this new truth when we turn from our old lives to new life in Jesus.

21. To choose Jesus you need to continually repent and follow his lead… immediately.

22. The disciples changed their way of life, business, and religion to follow Jesus. What would be different if we did the same?