2011-07-31
Training of the Twelve - Jesus Chooses the Twelve
Steve Lane

A. Review: Beginnings
You must engage your mind and your heart, and respond to what you hear from Him
Come and follow Jesus, and springs of living water will flow from within you!
A spiritual desire—they were hungry
"Come and see" (John 1: 35 - 51)

Chronological review from the "Come and see" in John 1: 39 to the calling of the twelve in Luke 6: 12

Are you called to follow Jesus? Is it different for us than for the disciples of old?
Are you called?
Romans 1: 6
1 Corinthians 1: 26
Ephesians 4: 4
2 Thessalonians 1: 11
2 Thessalonians 2: 14
1 Peter 1: 15
1 Peter 2: 9, 21
2 Peter 1: 3, 10

"The cement of knowledge comes only through the application of truth, brought alive by experience."
~Bill Hull

B. Catching the Vision from Jesus

Matthew 9: 37 They were about to catch a higher and deeper vision for Jesus' call
He turns to them/you as they pass through the villages and towns, and says... Matthew 9: 27
David just thought out loud: 'Oh, if I just had a drink from the well of Jerusalem'
The call to more! (Luke 10: 23 - 24; John 1: 50)
Like David's might men of old, they were eager to hear. They heard and went...

John 1: 14 They were drawn to the Messiah, Jesus
Admittedly, growth does often come through trouble and trial (Romans 5: 3 - 5; James 1: 2 - 4)
But, Jesus accelerated their growth by calling them to partnership with Him in His mission
Review the stages (Mark 6: 12 - 16:
Come and see
Come and follow Me
Come and be with Me

Luke 6: 12 After a night in prayer, Jesus chooses the twelve who would be with Him and be His witnesses, and with whom He would entrust the beginning of His church

2 Corinthians 12: 12
Signs of the Apostle; foundational—to authenticate the message and show the power

John 15: 15 - 16
From now on, the training of these men would be a constant and prominent part of the personal work of Jesus. He opened his heart and His life, and He trusted them with His mission. They became His friends
What he told them in quiet places, they would preach with power some day.
Matthew 10: 27; Acts 4: 13

C. The Twelve

Luke 6: 12 - 16
Mark 3: 13 - 19
Matthew 10: 1 - 4

D. Devoted Men
Jesus preferred devoted men, who had none of the advantages
Do you have the heart of these simple men?
Hungry spiritually?
Ready to hear the call?