Jesus invites us to serve Him.

SCRIPTURE | Mark 2:13-17; 3:7-19

CENTRAL TRUTH

Jesus called the twelve disciples to three things: to be with Him, to go out and preach, and “to drive out demons.” We must first be with Jesus—we must know Him—to speak about Him. All those who are called to be with Jesus (1 Cor. 1:9), those called out of sin and into the light of the gospel (1 Pet. 2:9), are then also sent out by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20).

KEY QUESTION

Why did Jesus call the twelve disciples to Him? What were they sent out to do? What about us?

KEEP IN MIND

Comparing ourselves to others has never been easier than it is now. Students measure their worth against others, but in our culture of edited photos, filters, and highlight reels, insecurity runs rampant. Students may ask, “I’ll never be as good as them, so why even try?” This insecurity comes from what some call “the comparison trap,” and when left unchecked by the truth of the gospel, comparison leads to envy, lust, and even self-hatred. This distorted view of their value and worth infects our students’ view of God’s calling on their lives; insecurity convinces them that though they are saved, they still aren’t worthy enough to participate in God’s mission. But when Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He invited them to join Him in reaching others (Mark 1:17; Matt. 10:5-8). When we fall into the comparison trap, we discredit the power of God to transform us! The gospel calls us out of comparison and into security because of who Jesus is and what He has done.

APPLICATION

How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus called them? What fears could they have felt? How does this encourage you?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: We may think that other people following Jesus have it all together and never struggle, but that’s likely untrue. Like the disciples, we are imperfect humans. And like them, God calls us to follow Him, even as we battle fear and doubt.

FOR THE LEADER: The disciples are encouraging to us as leaders today because they weren’t heroes; they were real people who struggled to follow Jesus. We can be encouraged by this and lean on the Holy Spirit to empower us to lead well.