Jesus Calls Us to Follow | A Sermon on Mark 1:16-20

Introduction
Donnie Thaxton shared an interesting story on Facebook this week.  He shared how when he married Maxine in 1969, they moved to Dekalb County.  But they missed home, so they came home to Butts County almost every weekend to stay at the Redman House (Maxine's childhood home) where they had a 1.5-acre fishing lake.

The lake was full of bass and brim.  They would catch them all the time and save them up and have fish fries throughout the year.  They were delicious, but you had to be careful not to get a bone stuck in your throat--those fish were very boney.  Eventually, someone had the great idea to drain the whole lake, get rid of the brim and bass, and restock the lake with catfish.  Catfish could grow much bigger and then you could just fillet the fish and not have to deal with bones.

I have another fishing story for you today.  It’s about the day Jesus went fishing and He caught 4 fishermen!

Mark 1:16-20
¹⁶ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon^[g] and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁷ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ¹⁸ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

¹⁹ A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. ²⁰ He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Fishing for a Living
Many people like to fish for recreation.  I do that sometimes.  But Simon and Andrew fished for a living.  James and John were also fishermen by trade and worked for their father’s fishing enterprise.  Zebadee porbably had numerous boats out fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  Then they would sell the fish at the market for a profit.  

Fishing and tradition go hand in hand.  Many fishing techniques are handed down generation to generation.  And in a traditional enterprise like fishing, change is hard.  Many people don't like change.  I don't like change.  But for fishermen, change may be especially hard.

But when you fish for a living, sometimes you have to put success ahead of tradition.  If a new technique comes a long that is more effective than your old tradition, then you may need to adapt and evolve, or else your business may not succeed.

I Was Called to be a Methodist Minister
When Kelly and I got married, we were young. We started dating in high school at Southwest High School in Macon. I graduated in 1992, she graduated two years later in 1994, and we got married when she was 18 and I was 20.

And we had a plan.  We wanted to follow God. We were going to church. We were trying to live faithfully.  But our dream was simple: go to college, start a career, move back to Macon, stay there our whole lives, be good people in the community, and make a difference.  And I liked that plan—because it didn’t involve much change.

But God has a sense of humor.  Instead of letting me stay put, He made me a Methodist minister and moved us from town to town to town. And I’ve come to realize something over the years: His vision was just bigger than mine. I may not have stayed in one town, but I’ve stayed in one community—the North Georgia community—my entire married life.

In Mark 1, Jesus called Simon—later called Peter—along with Andrew, James, and John. He called them to leave their traditional careers as fishermen and follow Him. And He told them what they would do instead: fish for people.

And in His own way, Jesus called me to do the same.  When Kelly and I were in college, we attended East Cobb United Methodist Church in Marietta during our young adult years. As graduation got closer, I realized I was going to need a résumé. I’d need interviews. And I thought, You know what would look good on a résumé? Volunteering at church.

So I started volunteering.  I told Kelly one day, “I think I’m going to sing in the choir.”  She said, “You can’t sing.”  She was right. My voice cracked like a 13-year-old—but I joined anyway.

Then I started volunteering with the youth ministry. Eddie Bradford was the youth minister, and I helped out under him. I thought I was padding my résumé—but something happened. I fell in love with it.

I loved being at church. I loved working with the youth. I loved singing in the choir. If the church doors were open, I was there. Ski trips? I went. Events? I helped. I even started going to church council meetings for fun.  (Now that’s crazy!)

As graduation approached, I realized something troubling: I was sad. Not because I was graduating—but because I wouldn’t have as much time to volunteer at church.  And that’s when God started planting a seed in my heart.  What if you’re not called to be a textile engineer?  What if you’re called to work in the church?

The problem was—I didn’t talk to Kelly about it. I prayed about it. I thought about it. I wrestled with it in my own heart, but I didn’t talk to her for about a year.

I kept asking God for a sign. “Lord, if you want me to be a pastor, give me a sign.”  And one day—quietly, in my heart—God said, You don’t need a sign. You already know. The only reason you want a sign is so you can show it to other people… especially your wife.

Eventually, I did talk to Kelly. And she wasn’t ready yet. So we waited.  I graduated, got a great job as Director of Quality Assurance at 1888 Mills in Griffin. We made towels. It was a good job—better than I expected to get right out of college.  

But there was a catch.

We lived in Lithia Springs near Six Flags, and I worked in Griffin—an hour drive each way. That’s a lot of windshield time. You can only listen to so much music and so many audiobooks before you’re just alone with God.

And for a year, that drive became a prayer.  “I like this job,” I told God. “But this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing.”

After a year, I talked to Kelly again. And she said something I’ll never forget. She said, “Every day when you leave for work and kiss me goodbye, I think about it too. And I know God has called you to be a pastor. And if that’s what He’s called you to do, I’ll support you.”

In 1999, I gave up my career as a textile engineer and began the process of becoming ordained in the Methodist Church. It took nine years. I worked at the plant for two more years while serving in ministry. Then I left completely and became the youth minister at Lithia Springs United Methodist Church.

And I have no regrets.  Because when you do what God has called you to do—even when it involves change—it fits.  And it feels right.

We Are All Called by Christ
But Christ’s calling isn’t just for me.  And it isn’t just for the people who were in the Bible.  We are all called by Jesus.  

Remember my message from last week? What did Jesus say?  He said, “Come to me all of you…” The call is for all. And He said, “Take my yoke upon you…”

Jesus invitation is for everyone who realizes we’re lost with out Him. Everyone is lost (just some haven't realized it yet).  So, we’re all called by Jesus.  But what are we called to do?  Well, according to the Bible, there are several things we are called to do.  Let me share some.

What Are We Called to Do?
We are called to follow Jesus.  (Mark 1:17)
Before anything else, we are called to: Walk with Jesus.  Listen to His voice.  Shape our lives around Him.  Christianity is not just believing in Jesus—it’s following Him.  Are you following Him?

We are called to leave what keeps us from following. (Mark 1:18)  We are called to let go of:
Anything that defines us more than Christ.  Anything that keeps us from obedience.  Anything we trust more than Jesus.  Not everyone leaves the same “nets,” but everyone leaves something.  What “nets” do you need to lay down?

We are called to be changed by Jesus.  Jesus said, “Let me teach you…” (Matthew 11:29)  The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Jesus reshapes our hearts.  We are called to grow, learn, and become more like Christ.

We are called to love God and love others.  (Matthew 22:37–39)  This is the heart of the Christian life.  It’s what we were created for.  We are to Love God with everything we are.  And, love people the way Christ loves us.

We are called to fish for people.  Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of people.” (Mark 1:17)
How do we fish for people?  We share hope, point people to Jesus, and live in a way that draws people toward Christ.

I’ve only been at Stark Methodist for a couple weeks, but I can already tell this church loves missions & outreach.  You have been very, very active, and it’s wonderful.  I love hearing about your River of Life missions event, your blood drives, your helping hand neighbor program, and all the many things you do.

But there can be a danger in this too.  Because sometimes we forget the most important thing people need:  People need Jesus.  When we look around at a world of people in need, we see:  they need home repairs, food and clothing, maybe a ride to work; and the list of needs goes on and on.  But the greatest need—and the one that helps address all the others—is they need Jesus.

Jesus saw a world full of needy people too.  There were the blind and deaf, the lame, the sick.  He healed some of them.  But He knew their greatest need went deeper than these surface issues.

Our Deepest Need
The deepest problem in the human heart is we want to live life on our own terms.  We’re OK with a little God, a little Jesus, in our life as long as we get to keep living our lives pretty much the way we want.

But you see, that’s the problem.  Our lives are not our own.  We belong to God.  He is Lord.  

Jesus didn’t come to help Peter, Andrew, James, and John be more successful fishermen.  He said, “Leave your nets behind.  Come follow me.”

And Jesus comes and says the same to us.  “Leave your old life behind.  Come follow me in a new life.”  And that’s what He wants to say to our neighbors in Jackson through us:  “Come follow me.  Leave your old life behind (because it wasn’t working anyway).  Come follow me and I will give you a new life.”

I think about that old pond at the Redman House.  Do remember what they did?  They drained it.  Got rid of all the bass and brim.  And restocked the pond with catfish.  The brim and bass were too boney.  The catfish were bigger and you could make filets.

That’s sort of what Jesus says we need in our life.  We need to let Him drain it all out and start over fresh.  That’s what our neighbors in Jackson need too.  Sure, we can help with a power bill or rent. 
We can try and help with the practical physical needs they have.  But these are just the surface issues. The real needs go way down deep in the heart.  And we’ve got to invite them to come follow our Savior, our Lord, because He knows how to get down deep in their heart where the real change has to happen.

Jesus Is Still Calling Us To Follow Him
Church, the most important thing I want you to hear today is this:  Jesus didn’t stop calling people in Mark chapter 1.  He is still walking along the shoreline of ordinary lives.

He is still calling people who are busy trying to make life work.  And He is still saying the same simple words:  “Come. Follow Me.”

For some of you, that call may sound familiar.  You remember a time when Jesus first called you—maybe years ago.  Today, I’m inviting you to remember your calling and renew your commitment to live it out.

For others, this may feel new.  You’ve heard about Jesus. You’ve admired Him from a distance.  But today, you sense He may be calling you to a deeper relationship.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John didn’t have all the answers.  They didn’t know where Jesus would lead them.  They just knew who was calling.

And that’s still the question for us today—not: Do I have everything figured out?  but:  Do I trust the One who is calling me?  Jesus is not calling you to add Him to your life.  He is calling you to follow Him with your whole life.

Invitation / Reflection
I invite you to bow your heads and close your eyes for just a moment and reflect on a few questions:

• When did Jesus first call you?
• Are you still following Him—or just believing in Him?
• What “nets” might Jesus be asking you to lay down?
• Is Jesus calling you to take a next step of obedience today?

If you feel Jesus calling you to follow Him for the first time, or calling you back to a deeper walk with Him, I want you to know—you don’t have to have it all together.  You just have to say yes.

Final Gospel Invitation
Jesus left heaven to come to us.  He lived the life we couldn’t live.  He died the death we deserved.  And He rose again to offer us new life.

And today, He simply says:  “Come. Follow Me.”

If you’d like to respond to that call—whether for the first time or in a fresh way—I’ll be here after the service. I would love to pray with you.

Church, may we be a people who don’t just hear His call,
but who are willing to leave our nets and follow.

Amen.

 

The Journey of Faith (My Last Sermon at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church)

Introduction
Do you remember the first sermon I preached here at Pleasant Grove?  Probably not.  That’s OK.  You probably won’t remember this last sermon either. 

But I do hope you will remember me.  I know I will always remember and thank God for you.  You have been a blessing to me and my family.  Most important of all, I want you to remember how good, how faithful, how wonderful is God.

I have preached over 700 times since I came to PG 15 years ago.  But this last sermon I only get to preach once.  So, I have prayed a long time about what I should say.  And through prayer, God told me this last sermon doesn’t need to:  summarize my ministry, justify why I am leaving, or secure my legacy.  Instead, I simply want to:  be a witness to God’s faithfulness, trust God with what I cannot carry forward, and release you.

Hebrews 11:8-16
⁸ It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. ⁹ And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. ¹⁰ Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

¹¹ It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed^[a] that God would keep his promise. ¹² And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

¹³ All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. ¹⁴ Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. ¹⁵ If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. ¹⁶ But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Abraham & Sarah
Abraham trusted God enough to leave his homeland and go to a “Promised Land”.  Abraham didn’t even know where he was going, but trusted God to show him how to get there. 

Obviously, I feel a kinship to Abraham.  I spent my childhood moving from town to town.  Then I became a pastor who moves from church to church ever so many years at the Lord's direction.  So, I I can relate to Abraham in the sense of literally following the Lord by leaving a place you love to go where the Lord is sending you.

Sarah also had great faith.  She left her hometown too, going with Abraham.  I am so thankful for my wife, Kelly.  She lived in the same home for her entire childhood.  Then she married me and has been moving every since, because the Lord has moved me and she has been so faithful to go with me everywhere I've gone.  And that takes a lot of faith and dedication.

Sarah also trusted God to give her a son, even though she was old and barren.  And He did.  Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac; and through him came countless descendants.  Sarah and Abraham had many biological descendants: the 12 tribes of Israel.  

But their descendants also included are many non-biological descendants.  Anyone who chose to follow the God of Abraham became a one of Abraham’s children.  In John 8, Jesus explained being a descendant of Abraham is not about bloodline;  it’s about faithfulness.

Hebrews 13a
Hebrews 11:13a says:  “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it.”

These people who trusted God with everything died without receiving what God promised.  Yet they still believed.

Now think about that.  That takes some deep faith.  Can you trust God even if you die before receiving and answer to your prayers?  True Christian teaching holds that we are saved by God’s grace when we have faith.  God promises that all who repent of their sin and trust in the atonement on the cross shall be forgiven their sins and welcomed into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.  Do you believe God’s promise to you through Jesus Christ?

God Has Been Faithful to Us
God has been faithful to me. 15 years ago, I was sitting in a hunting blind in the woods on a spring day, hunting turkey in Forsyth, GA.  My District Superintendent called.  That’s the only reason I answered the phone while hunting!  He said, "I know you've enjoyed serving your church in Smarr for 5 years, but it's time to move.  The Bishop plans to appoint you to Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Dalton."  

I didn't know much about Dalton, except the made a lot of carpet.  And it was on the complete opposite side of the North Georgia Conference.  But I promised to go where they sent me.  So, we packed up everything and moved to Dalton.

For 15 years, God’s been faithful to me as I’ve shepherded this flock. He has taken care of my family.  My children each knew your love in ways that shaped them for the rest of their lives.  Kelly and I have been shaped by you too.  I've learned so much , grown as a pastor and a Christian from having been with you.  Thank you for loving me and my family.  And thank you for growing in Christ along with me.

God has used me to bless many here in Whitfield County—not because of my talent or anything good in me.  God has blessed you through me simply because I said yes.  If anything good has come from my ministry here, it is because of God’s goodness and blessing.  Any mistakes or harm that's been done is on me.

Trusting God Means Letting Go
Trusting God means letting go.  You may have your own ideas about how things should go. But you can’t be a control freak about your life and put your trust in God.  It requires letting go.  You may not understand His ways, but you trust His way is always best. 

It’s hard for me to let go when it comes to you.  I love you.  

For 15 years, I’ve focused so much of my heart on you.  And I have a shepherd’s heart.  I always want to protect you.  I always want to lead you in the right direction.  But now God has called me to go shepherd another flock. And I trust God above all else.  And that means I have to let go.  I have to entrust you to another shepherd God will send.

So I will not cling to you.  I will not try to meddle in your affairs after I leave.  I will not compete or hinder your next pastor in any way.  Because I trust God is sending you just the right shepherd He has chosen to lead you as God wants you to be lead.  So, I will be very careful not to do anything that interferes with you accepting and following the new shepherd God brings to lead you.

I’ve spent the last few months preparing to depart.  I’ve tried to get things ready.  I’ve turned over duties to different leaders I trust so Pleasant Grove can continue to serve God.

I’ve helped setup a transition team to lead you until God sends a new pastor here.  Amy Harris, David Crawford, Sherry Dickson, and Kelsey Ikerd have agreed to take turns preaching on Sunday mornings.  They already have the next 8 weeks scheduled.

Rev. Don Dexheimer—a retired Methodist minister—will cover pastoral needs that require an ordained minister (holy communion, baptisms, funerals, etc.).  He will also facilitate Wednesday night discussions (resumes Jan 14^th).

Sherry Dickson will teach Thursday morning Bible study (resumes on Jan. 15^th).

And I have never tried to micromanage you because I know God has given each one of you a special gift to help uplift this congregation and carry out the mission to make disciples of Christ.  So, I trust God will help each one of you to step up and support this church in your own way.

I can’t tie up every loose end.  But I’ve done what I can.  Now I want to bless you and commend you to God.  I trust Him to take care of you, just as I trust Him to take care of me and Kelly and our family.

Home is Not A Place on Earth
One of the main ideas in Hebrews 11 that really resonates with me and is so important for us is:
Home is not a place on earth. 

Hebrews 11:14-16a says Abraham’s descendants were, “…looking forward to a country they can call their own. ¹⁵ If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. ¹⁶ But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland.”

Whether you've around a lot or lived in the same home your whole life, I want to leave you with this important truth from Scripture.  Our true Home is yet to come.  God has promised eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven for all who trust Christ as their Lord and Savior.  And that will be our true Home, our Promised Land.

I hope I will see you again in this life.  But even if I don't, I hope we will be together for eternity in our Heavenly Home.  We will gather around the throne of God.  And we will never have to leave each other again, because we will live together with God and each other in perfect harmony.  And there will be no more sickness or sorrow or suffering or death.

Closing Ceremony 
As I close today, I want to have a special ceremony to symbolically release and bless each other as I pass the light of Christ on to you to carry it forward.

I would like to invite some members of the transition team up to the altar.
[David Crawford, Amy Harris, Kelsey Ikerd, Don Dexheimer, and Sherry Dickson]

Pastor:  “The light that has guided us does not belong to any one pastor or season. It is the light of Christ.”

[Light transition team's candles from the Christ candle]

Pastor:  “This light is now carried not by one voice, but by many.  And it belongs not only to those who preach, but to all who serve.”

Pastor Asks the Transition Team:  “Will you serve faithfully in this season, listening for God’s voice and caring for this congregation with humility and courage?”

Transition Team Representatives:  “With God’s help, we will.”

Pastor Asks the Congregation:  “Will you continue in the worship and mission of this church, trusting God to lead you into what comes next?”

Congregation:  “With God’s help, we will.”

Pastor Asks All:  “Will you pray for one another, speak the truth in love, and remain open to the work of the Holy Spirit?”

All:  “With God’s help, we will.”

 

"Tied for Fourteenth" - A Guest Blog by Rev. Ken Freshour

This past Sunday, we were blessed to welcome Rev. Ken Freshour back home to Pleasant Grove Methodist Church for our Homecoming Service. Ken served as our associate pastor in 1986, and after nearly forty years of faithful ministry, he returned to share a powerful message titled “Tied for Fourteenth.” With his trademark humor, humility, and heartfelt storytelling, Ken reminded us of the cost of true discipleship and the transforming power of the cross. His words were both nostalgic and deeply challenging — a beautiful reflection on faith, commitment, and God’s grace through the years. I’m honored to share the full transcript of his message below.

Tied for Fourteenth

A Homecoming Sermon by Rev. Ken Freshour
Pleasant Grove Methodist Church - November 2, 2025

---

Homecoming Reflections

Before I start my sermon this morning, I’ve been thinking about being here for some time. You all made a lasting impression on me, my wife, and our child. We came here on February 1st — Chris, Shannon, and I — to serve as associate pastor.

We walked in the door back near the office, and the first person we met was Sarah Brooker. Five minutes after we met Sarah, she had already taken Shannon to a Sunday school class. I turned to Chris and said, “I think I’m going to like it here.”

The love, support, and encouragement we received here jump-started forty years of ministry. I knew I loved the Lord — that was about all I knew about ministry when I came here. The three of us arrived, and now we have twelve children, thirty-four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

As I look out across the congregation today, I see some empty places — folks I loved dearly, who were so active in our church’s growth and in our spiritual growth.

There were also some funny memories along the way. I played on the church softball team — Eddie Marlow was the manager. One night, I was playing first base and chased a foul ball. I stepped in a hole, and instantly, my ankle swelled up about this big. Eddie sat me down on the bench, taped my ankle, and I finished the rest of the game.

When I got home — we were living in the house across the street — Eddie called Chris and said, “Chris, you probably ought to bring Ken to the doctor tomorrow. That ankle’s probably broken.” Chris said, “But Eddie, he played five more innings!” And Eddie said, “We would have had to forfeit.”

Anybody who knew Eddie knows I’m telling the truth.

---

Reflections on Ministry

I retired twelve years ago. I was planning to be a full-time grandpa, but I had mentored a young pastor about twenty years earlier — back when I was serving at Trinity Methodist Church in Rome and he was at Lindale. We became close friends. We were both disabled veterans, and we stayed in touch through the years.

When he became sick, they asked me to fill in for a couple of months at his church. They didn’t have a leadership team or a budget, but I agreed to help for two months. Well, I’ve been there ten years now. Apparently, I’m a slow learner.

Right after I retired, I was also asked to fill in for about ten weeks during the summer at a church across from Chatsworth. They were transitioning from a full-time pastor to a student appointment.

The last thing I told that church before they received their new pastor was this:

“You have a great opportunity to do something amazing. You can help that person — who doesn’t yet know how to be a pastor — learn how to be one. You can love them, encourage them, support them, and create the beginning of a great ministry. Or you can nag, whine, gripe, and complain about what they don’t know how to do — and put a damper on what could have been a wonderful ministry.”

Thank you, Pleasant Grove, because you all loved us when I didn’t know what I was doing. You encouraged us when I made mistakes. You overlooked my errors and lifted up my successes.

For forty years, I’ve loved this place. On my last Sunday before retirement, I wore the same robe you gave me when I left here in 1987 — the same robe that had been with me for forty years.

Thank you, Pleasant Grove. You are a wonderful congregation.

---

Scripture Reading: Luke 14:25–33

I studied long and hard about what I would preach this morning, and I believe I chose wisely. Please stand as I read from God’s holy Word.

“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them, He said:
‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be My disciple.
And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”
Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.’”

— Luke 14:25–33 (NIV)

The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

Please be seated.

---

The Cost of Discipleship

You know, I’ve always struggled a bit with that word “hate” in this passage. When Jesus says, “If anyone does not hate his father and mother…” — that sounds harsh, doesn’t it?

I’ve graduated from two of the best seminaries in the country — I have both a master’s and a doctorate — and I even looked it up on Google! The word “hate” can indeed mean hate, but in this context, it really means “to love less.” It’s a matter of priority.

If a person does not love these less and love Christ more, he cannot be His disciple. I believe that’s what Jesus was trying to teach us here.

---

Tied for Fourteenth

Years ago, Time Magazine ran an article asking a group of Americans to list the top 100 most significant events in the history of the world.

The results were fascinating. The number one event was the discovery of America by Columbus. But here’s what stood out to me: three events tied for fourteenth place — the discovery of X-rays, the Wright brothers’ first flight, and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Tied for fourteenth.

What does that tell you? To me, it says that we’ve not done a very good job explaining what the crucifixion of Jesus really means.

The poll suggests we haven’t helped people understand what the cross does for us.

Tied for fourteenth.

Someone once said, “The heart of the Bible is the Gospel, the heart of the Gospel is the cross, and the heart of the cross is the very heart of God Himself.”

The Cross and What It Means for Us

Christian Century once published an article about a young man named Lou Marshall. He had been a divinity student at Harvard, but at the time of the story, he was living in New York City, working to bring peace between two rival teenage gangs — the Young Untouchables and the Playboys.

These gangs had been at war, and Lou was trying to mediate, to help them find peace. He managed to get them to stop the fighting. But one night, while traveling home, four gang members — who clearly didn’t appreciate what he was doing — attacked him. They beat and kicked him and left him lying in a pool of his own blood.

He was rushed to the hospital, but two days later, he died.

At his memorial service, both gangs attended — the very people he had been trying to help. The service was conducted by Rev. Howard Moody, pastor of Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village.

Rev. Moody said these words at Lou’s service:

“Lou’s death is a testimony to us as human beings and as a city of people — to build a place where we can dwell together in peace.
Some people say that the pavement on which he died wasn’t worth a life so full of promise and hope. Others might say he was foolish to get involved in something so dangerous.
Still, I believe that this place has been made holy because of the blood that was shed — the blood of a man whose courage to stand for what he believed was right has sanctified this ground.”

Every Christian believes that the blood Jesus shed for you and me was more than adequate. The cross is the greatest symbol not only of humanity’s cruelty, but also of God’s love.

It is the most complete act of affirmation we can find anywhere.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

---

The Worth of the Cross

I want us to think for a moment about what the cross means for us.

First, the cross means that God sees us as people of vital worth.

We are worth something to God.

It’s easy to grow pessimistic if you watch the news. I quit watching the news about five years ago, and you know what? The world has managed to get by just fine without me paying attention to it. I’ve got enough strife in my own house! Even though I’ve got my kids out of the house, if I could just get them out of my billfold, I’d be okay — but that hasn’t happened yet.

---

An Illustration of Sacrifice

There’s a story from World War II about a captain leading a group of soldiers. One day, he heard that one of his men had been shot and was lying out on the battlefield, crying for help.

The other soldiers warned him, “Don’t go out there! It’s too dangerous!”

But he went anyway. He ran out under fire and dragged the young man back to safety. In the process, the captain was shot between the shoulder blades. He later died from that wound, but the young man he rescued survived.

After the war, the captain’s family invited the soldier to their home for dinner. He arrived late, half intoxicated, ate the meal, and left without saying a word about the sacrifice that had been made for him.

The mother of the slain captain burst into tears and said to her husband, “To think our son died for someone like that.”

And I can imagine God looking down at us and saying, “Do you think My Son died for people like that?”

We squabble, we fight, we call each other names. We sin, we fail, we forget. And yet — He still calls us worth it.

---

No Price Too High

There’s an old story about a woman vacationing in Florida who loved art. She found a beautiful piece she wanted to buy, but it was very expensive. She sent a telegram to her husband, describing it, and asking what to do.

He replied, “No price too high, buy it.”

She took him at his word, purchased the piece, and proudly brought it home to show him. He was furious. “I told you not to buy that!” he said.

She handed him the telegram: “See? You said no price too high, buy it.”

He read it and realized his mistake — punctuation matters. What he meant to send was: “No, price too high! Don’t buy it.”

Punctuation makes a difference.

And when it comes to our salvation, God says something different too. He doesn’t say, “No, price too high.” He says, “No price too high.”

It’s beyond our comprehension that God would look at us and say that — but He does.

I have twelve kids, and I wouldn’t want to lose any of them. I might lend you one or two for a weekend, but I wouldn’t give them up. Yet God looked at the world and said, “No price is too high.”

The cross means that God sees us as people of vital worth.

---

Our Infinite Potential

Secondly, the cross means that God sees our infinite potential.

There’s a story about a young man who arrived too early for his date. The girl came to the door — her hair was a mess, half done, and she tried to make light of it. She said, “Well, what do you think of my hair?”

And the young man said, “It looks like it’s about to become something wonderful.”

Now that’s diplomacy!

But I think that’s how God looks at us. He looks at us and says, “You’re about to become something wonderful.”

---

God Sees the Potential in You

There was once a young Polish girl named Maria Sklodowska. One day, her professor told the class, “Some of you have the stars at your fingertips.”

Maria went on to study at the Sorbonne in France, where she met and married one of her professors, Pierre Curie. Together, they pursued science — and failed again and again. But one evening, they came into their lab and saw something glowing faintly in a dish. They had discovered a new element — radium.

They truly had the stars at their fingertips.

We might never achieve greatness like that, but if we pick up our cross and follow Jesus, mighty things can happen.

A Mission Trip and a Miracle

I was on a mission trip to Tampico, Mexico, about twelve or fourteen years ago. We were building a church over the course of the summer. I was part of the first crew that went in — we poured the foundation and set the corner blocks. We also taught Vacation Bible School.

Now, we were staying in what they called a hotel. I’m not sure that’s what I would have called it, but that’s what they called it!

There was a maid who worked there, and as we were preparing to leave, the bus was ready to go. Everyone was loaded up and ready to head back to the United States when the translator came to me and said, “Dr. Freshour, the maid wants to talk to you.”

So I went back inside to speak with her. She asked, “Why are y’all here?” (that’s good Southern Spanish right there).

The translator repeated it, and I said, “We’re here because we’re Christians.”

She gave me a blank look. I asked, “Ma’am, are you a Christian?”

She said, “I’m a Catholic.”

I said, “I didn’t ask you that. I asked if you are a Christian.”

She said again, “I’m a Catholic.”

I repeated, “That’s not what I asked. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?”

She looked confused. She didn’t understand what I was saying at first. But as I explained it — that being a Christian means personally believing in Jesus, receiving Him, and following Him — she began to listen closely.

Finally, there in the back hallway of that hotel, we knelt down together, and I led that maid to the Lord.

The stars were at my fingertips.

That moment may not have seemed like a big miracle to anyone else, but for that woman, it was the miracle of a lifetime. And that’s what it’s all about. That’s what it means to take up the cross.

---

Taking Up the Cross

When we recognize our worth in the eyes of God, and understand the potential He has placed within us, there’s no telling what might be accomplished through our obedience.

Then we have the power to take up the cross — the cross of commitment, love, and service — and walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

There’s nothing more discouraging to me than to hear a congregation sing mournfully, like it’s a funeral dirge, “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone.”

Have you ever heard a church sing like that? It’s pitiful — as if the cross were some terrible burden, something that robs us of joy.

But that’s not what the cross is.

The cross isn’t a chain that holds you down — it’s the wings that lift you up.

---

Running from the Call

I’ll tell you something personal: I ran from the call to preach for twenty years. Jesus called me to ministry when I was sixteen, and I didn’t want to do it. I thought I’d never have another good time again if I said yes.

So I ran. I dragged Chris and Shannon all over the country, working various jobs, trying to hide from God.

But let me tell you something — if God can find you in Adairsville, Georgia, He can find you anywhere.

There’s no point in hiding. Eventually, I stopped running, went to seminary, and said yes to the call.

---

The Birds and Their Wings

There’s a story — almost a parable — about how birds got their wings.

When God first created the birds, they had beautiful voices and bright plumage, but they didn’t have wings. God decided to give them wings, but when they saw them, they didn’t know what they were for.

They picked them up in their beaks and carried them on their backs like a burden. They walked around with these heavy wings, complaining about how cumbersome they were.

Finally, they learned how to attach them properly and fold them over their hearts. And when they began to move them, those burdens became what lifted them into the sky.

What they once thought were weights became wings.

And that’s exactly how it is with the cross.

What feels like a burden at first — the cost of discipleship, the sacrifice of following Jesus — becomes the very thing that allows us to soar.

The cross gives you wings.

Bearing the cross of Christ allows you to do things you never thought you could do.

---

Talent Is Cheap, Dedication Is Costly

There was a sculptor named Bertoldo di Giovanni. You’ve probably never heard of him, but you’ve certainly heard of one of his students — a young man named Michelangelo.

Michelangelo came to work for him when he was fourteen years old. It was obvious he had enormous talent. But Giovanni also knew that people with great talent often like to take the easy way — to coast along without much effort.

One day, Giovanni walked into the studio and saw Michelangelo working on something far below his potential. He picked up a hammer, smashed the sculpture to pieces, and said,

“Michelangelo, talent is cheap — dedication is costly.”

And he was right.

Talent is cheap. Dedication costs everything.

It cost Matthew his life by the sword in Ethiopia.
It cost Mark his life at the hands of a mob in Alexandria.
Luke was hanged on an olive tree in Greece.
The once-doubting Thomas died from a spear in India.
James the Greater was beheaded in Jerusalem.
James the Lesser was thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple and beaten to death.
Bartholomew was flayed alive.
Peter was crucified upside down in Rome.
Andrew preached the Gospel until his dying breath on a cross.
Jude was shot with arrows.

Make no mistake — the Gospel we treasure was paid for with blood.

Talent is cheap. Dedication is costly.

---

The Cost of Following Christ

We need the message of the cross because sometimes we forget that real faith involves sacrifice.

Husbands and wives want strong marriages — but they don’t always want to do the hard work.
Parents want to raise good Christian children — but they don’t always want to pay the price by showing them how to live a Christian life.
Church members want a church that’s vibrant and growing — but they’d rather someone else do the serving.

Each of us wants to make a lasting difference in the world — but too often, we try to do it from the recliner, remote control in hand.

Let me tell you something, friends: it cannot be done.

You must take up your cross, and you must serve.

---

Closing Prayer

Let us pray.

Our gracious God,
Thank You, Father, for all the blessings You’ve given us — for the joy of being Your children.
Help us, Lord, to take up the cross, even when it feels heavy.
Give us courage, strength, and faith to follow You wherever You lead.
Bless us, Father, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Fish for People | A Sermon on Matthew 4:19

Matthew 4:19
In Matthew 4:19, Jesus called his first disciples.  Matthew 4:19 – Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

Fish for People
This wasn’t just a call for the first disciples.  It’s a call Jesus gives to all of us.  To fish for people means to join Jesus in His mission of drawing others into God’s Kingdom through our witness, love, service, and proclamation of the gospel.

Jesus taught His disciples to fish by doing it.  Let’s look at a few examples of Jesus fishing for people. 

Jesus calling the disciples (Matthew 4:18-22) – Jesus meets fishermen where they are and uses their own experience to invite them into a new kind of fishing.  You have to understand people's lives and the needs and struggles and meet them where they are.  As Jesus called the disciples to be “fishers of people,” He didn’t just walk up randomly and make the invitation. He had watched these fishermen—He knew their daily lives, their routines, and their struggles. He understood what their work meant to them. Then He took something familiar—their skill in fishing—and gave it a greater, kingdom-minded purpose. Jesus said, in effect, “This thing you’ve been doing, I’m inviting you to do it in a whole new way. Not to catch fish, but to reach people. And I will show you how to do it.”  

The Woman at the Well (John 4) – Jesus engaged in personal conversation and drew the Samaritan woman to faith.  Here we see that Jesus isn’t just reaching out to people like Him—Galileans who grew up in the same region, or fellow Jews of the same background. Instead, He crosses cultural and social boundaries to speak with someone considered an outsider, someone others would have avoided. Jesus walks through Samaria, sits by a well, and notices a woman coming to draw water in the heat of the day. Why is she here now, when no one else is? Why not in the cool of the morning? He sees her situation, understands her deeper story, and begins a one-on-one conversation. Through truly seeing her and knowing her, He leads her to faith.

Feeding the Five Thousand (Mark 6:30-44) – Jesus includes the disciples in the act of caring for the crowd, showing them that “fishing” can also mean meeting practical needs that open hearts.  Jesus says, “I want you to take care of these people’s practical needs. They’ve been with us all day, and they’re hungry.” The disciples want to send them away, but Jesus responds, “You give them something to eat.” They’re confused—“How can we possibly feed them?”—and then He shows them how, performing His miraculous work. In doing this, Jesus teaches His disciples, and us, that fishing for people often begins with meeting practical needs. If someone is hungry, homeless, or without clothing, how can they truly hear about eternal life until their immediate needs are met? Care for their physical needs first, and hearts will be open to receive the hope of Christ.

Sending out the Twelve & the 72
Jesus didn’t just show the disciples how to fish for people by doing it all Himself.  He challenged the disciples to get out in the world and do some fishing themselves.  In Matthew 10:1-15, Jesus sends the 12 disciples out to practice preaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom.  In Luke 10:1-20, He sent a broader group of 72 disciples out to share the message, showing that “fishing” is a task for all followers, not just the original twelve.

And the disciples learned well.  By the time we get to Acts 2, we see Peter preaching in Jerusalem and leading 3,000 people to believe in Jesus and be baptized.  But it wasn’t just about big numbers.  Every single person was important to the disciples because every person belongs in God’s Kingdom.  That’s why I love the story of Philip.  The story is found in Act 8:26-40, but let me summarize it.

It’s the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch was a high official, the treasurer to the queen of Ethiopia, riding in his chariot on the road home from Jerusalem. He had gone there to worship, but because he was a eunuch, the Law of Moses said he could not fully participate in the temple. So here he is, hungry to know God, yet feeling excluded. As he rides, he’s reading aloud from the prophet Isaiah about the Suffering Servant—someone who was despised and disfigured—and he’s wondering what it all means.

Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit tells Philip, “Go to that chariot.” Philip runs alongside and hears the eunuch reading Isaiah. He asks, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” The eunuch replies, “How can I, unless someone explains it?” He invites Philip into the chariot, and Philip begins to share the good news: this prophecy is about Jesus, the Messiah, who gave His life so that all may be welcomed into God’s family. No barrier from your past, no wound, no exclusion can keep you out—because through Jesus, you are made whole.

The eunuch hears this, sees some water by the road, and says, “Look, here’s water. What’s to stop me from being baptized?” And in that moment, he is baptized into the family of Christ—fully included, fully loved, fully His.

Whether it was the 3,000 who responded to Peter’s preaching, or the one man Philip led to Christ, the disciples were faithfully doing it. They had learned well what it meant to fish for people.

Other Aspects of Fishing
It occurs to me that there’s a lot more to fishing than just the moment you cast out your nets.  My brother-in-law Joey is one of the best fishermen I know. Anytime we go to the beach on vacation, I get excited because I know Joey will be there—and that means we’re going to catch fish. Now, Joey isn’t necessarily better at casting a line or reeling in a fish than I am. I know how to rig the hooks, cast accurately, and set the hook just right. I’m as good at the mechanics of fishing as he is.

But here’s what makes Joey a great fisherman: he starts fishing long before we ever get to the beach. Months in advance, he’s studying the tides, the kinds of fish in season, the best times of day, and the best spots to fish. He asks around, gathers information, and prepares. By the time we show up, Joey knows exactly what bait to use, where to cast, and what to expect. I just get to do the fun part—cast the line and reel them in—because Joey has already done the hard work.

On top of that, Joey knows what kind of fish we’re catching, whether they’re keepers, how to clean them, and how to cook them. That’s what makes him an excellent fisherman—it’s not just the moment of casting a line, but the preparation, knowledge, and care that go into it.

Now let’s take that idea into our spiritual call to be fishers of people. Too often, when we think about fishing for men and women, we only think about the moment itself: What am I going to say? Will I know what to do? But real fishing begins long before the moment of encounter.

We prepare by spending time with Jesus, reading His Word, and letting Him shape us. That way, when we come alongside someone—like Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch—we’re ready. He just “happened” to be reading Isaiah, and Philip was able to say, “I know what that’s about.” That didn’t happen by accident; it was God at work in both of them. And God can do the same in you.

You may think, I don’t know the Bible well enough. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to know it all. God knows what’s coming. He may nudge you today to read Isaiah 40, and you might not know why. But four weeks later, you’ll find yourself in a dentist’s waiting room, and someone will bring it up—and suddenly you’ll realize God had you preparing for that moment all along.

It’s like maintaining your fishing gear. I’ve been there: I show up at the beach, throw my line out, and the reel locks up because I never cleaned it from last year. Is your spiritual life like that? When someone opens their heart and says, “My wife just told me she wants a divorce, and I don’t know what to do,” do you freeze up? Or are you ready because you’ve been walking with the Lord, keeping your nets clean and your heart prepared?

And fishing doesn’t end with the first catch. When someone says, “I’m coming to church with you Sunday,” don’t just say, “Great, see you there.” Meet them on the front porch. Walk in with them. Sit beside them. Help them find a small group, a class, or a place to serve. If they love to sing, introduce them to the choir. That’s what it means to cast the net and to follow through.

Fishing for people is so much more than one moment. It’s preparing beforehand, being ready in the moment, and walking with people afterward. That’s the full picture of what Jesus calls us to.

Essential: Casting Our Nets
Preparation is important—but at some point, you have to cast the net. You can do everything right beforehand, but if you never cast, you’ll never catch.

Jesus called His disciples to be “fishers of people,” and that same call comes to us today. So, let me ask you—who are you fishing for? Who in your life needs to experience God’s love, hear the good news, or see faith lived out through your example? Every one of us has family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers who need the hope of Christ. Following Jesus means not just being caught by His grace, but also casting our nets wide so that others might be drawn into His Kingdom.

World Communion Sunday
The disciples’ faithfulness in becoming fishers of people led to the rapid expansion of the Christian Church. As more and more people became followers of Christ, they too became fishers of people. Being fishers of people is not optional—it is essential. Any generation that fails in this calling faces decline and eventual death. But faithful disciples across the centuries have carried the gospel, and now followers of Christ are found in every corner of the globe. Today, on World Communion Sunday, we celebrate this witness to the spread of the faith. Though we speak different languages, eat different foods, and live in different nations, we are united as part of Jesus’ fishing crew—bound together by His sacrifice and the power of His resurrection. World Communion reminds us that all Christians are interconnected, breaking down denominational and cultural barriers. It is also a call for us to remember our mission to be fishers of people. What our world, our country, and our community need now more than ever is to live out the principles of forgiveness, grace, love, sacrifice, and service that Christ taught us. This is the only hope for our world.  Will you answer Christ’s invitation:  “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”