Apprentice to Jesus - A Deeper Dive
Part 1 of practicing the way
scripture: Matthew 4:18-22
Editor’s Note: We’re adding a new feature to our blog posts this week. At the end of each post, you will find several questions to consider. We hope these questions lead to further reflection on the message and how the themes apply to your daily life.
message summary
This week, we begin the sermon series, “Practicing the Way,” with a message based on scripture from the Gospel of Matthew that describes Jesus calling his first disciples. One of the significant elements of this passage is how the disciples immediately respond to Jesus’ call. Seemingly, without a second thought, they left their lives behind to follow Jesus.
For all who follow Jesus, it’s not enough to simply believe. To be faithful disciples, we must position ourselves as apprentices of Jesus and actively practice his teachings and way of life. The original name for the followers of Jesus was “the way.” Following Jesus gave these disciples direction and a path for living. We, as apprentices, are learning those same lessons and following the same path to become more like Jesus.
You can find a link to the full video of this week’s message below. Here are some of the key points:
The call of the first disciples - Matthew 4:18-22 describes Jesus calling Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow him. The men, who were fishermen, immediately responded to Jesus’ call and left their nets and families behind.
The meaning of ‘immediately’ - Many of us find it challenging to do something immediately - to drop everything and follow someone just because they asked. For the disciples in the passage from Matthew, responding to Jesus immediately signifies that they found direction and purpose in following.
Who do you follow? - Everyone follows someone or something. It might be someone in the public eye, like a politician or celebrity. Or it might be an idea, career, or wealth. Whoever or whatever it is that you follow, it pulls, directs, and shapes you into the person you become.
The role of rabbi and disciples - Jesus approached his first disciples as a rabbi. In the Jewish tradition, the rabbi was considered the ‘master,’ and a rabbi’s disciples would entrust their lives to their rabbi. Disciples would follow their rabbi so closely they would literally be covered in the dust the rabbi kicked up. A disciple was said to be ‘covered in the dust’ of the rabbi’s teachings.
Becoming an apprentice of Jesus - An apprentice learns by doing. They mimic precisely what the master is doing. The violin maker Antonio Stradivari produced the world's most well-known and valuable instruments. He could not read or write, so to train his apprentices, he would have them stand right next to him, elbow to elbow, and follow exactly what he did to build the violins. As apprentices of Jesus, we should be at the elbow of the master learning so we can become more like him.
Jesus believes in us - Jesus believed in the potential of the disciples he called despite them not meeting the traditional standards of the educational system of the time. Even now, we are encouraged to respond to Jesus’ call with humility and trust, as Jesus believes in our ability to follow him.
The Paradox of Humility
Humility, often considered a virtue, presents a curious paradox. To demonstrate humility, we are taught to avoid boasting about being humble. Yet, recognizing and striving for humility can lead to pride. How, then, can one be genuinely humble without falling into the trap of self-satisfaction?
Humility requires an honest evaluation of ourselves and a balanced awareness of both strengths and weaknesses. The paradox comes when, while striving to become humble, we begin to pride ourselves on our efforts. The more we seek to be humble, the more we risk becoming self-focused. True humility requires a genuine focus shift from self-centeredness to thinking of others. The humble person is not motivated by recognition or praise.
However, humility isn’t about thinking less of ourselves; it’s about thinking of ourselves less. This mindset frees us from the need for constant validation. It allows us to serve others and recognize their worth. The paradox is solved by accepting that humility is not an achievement to be attained but an ongoing practice of letting go of self-importance.
Ultimately, our humility grows not from a conscious effort to be humble but from a sincere commitment to living with grace, gratitude, and compassion, regardless of recognition.
Questions to Consider
What does it mean to you to 'immediately' follow Jesus, and have you ever experienced a moment of immediate conviction or calling in your faith journey?
Who or what do you follow in your daily life, and how does that compare to following Jesus?
How does the story of Jesus calling the fishermen as disciples speak to times in your life when you've felt inadequate or 'not good enough'?
Apprentice to Jesus - Full Sermon Video