The Adventure of Following Jesus
Summary and Discussion Questions
Based on a sermon by Pastor Trent Thomas
Sunday, October 11, 2026 | Christ Hills Church in Monroe, NC
Mark 1:16-20
What could get in the way of you following Jesus wholeheartedly?
It’s a question worth considering because following Jesus is not simply a matter of adding a few religious activities to an otherwise comfortable life. It’s an invitation to an entirely new way of living. And sometimes, the greatest obstacle to following Jesus is that we are too satisfied with the life we already have.
In other words, why would anyone leave what appears to be working to embark on a new journey or adventure?
Think of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Gandalf approaches Bilbo Baggins with an invitation to join a company of dwarves on a dangerous quest. The adventure will be difficult. There will be hardships and dangers. There is no guarantee that everyone will return home safely. But those who go will never be the same.
In Mark 1, Jesus extends an invitation of His own. As Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee, He sees Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the water. They are fishermen doing what fishermen do. This is their livelihood, their daily routine. Then Jesus invites them on an adventure: “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
They didn’t wait to sleep on it. Leaving their nets behind, they follow Him—immediately!
A little farther down the shore, Jesus calls James and John, who are mending their nets in a boat with their father, Zebedee. They leave their father and the hired servants and go after Jesus.
What just happened? Four ordinary men were invited into something extraordinary—the adventure of a lifetime.
Jesus is a Rabbi who chooses His students.
In those days, aspiring students often sought out a rabbi, hoping to be accepted as a disciple. But Jesus turns the arrangement around. He goes looking for His disciples. And He doesn’t begin with the religious elite, the most impressive scholars, or the most influential people. He finds common, everyday men doing regular, mundane work.
Man looks at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart. The Lord is not limited by our résumés, talents, education, or abilities. His work does not ultimately depend on our power or might, but on His Spirit. This should encourage us! Jesus does not call us because we are already special. He calls us to follow Him, and He does the work of transforming us along the way.
When Jesus meets us, everything changes.
Consider the fisherman. To catch fish, he must get into the water or go where the fish are. He cannot remain comfortably on shore and expect the fish to come to him.
Jesus calls His followers to go where people are, to love their neighbors, to serve their communities, and to proclaim the good news of the gospel. Following Christ will take us beyond our familiar routines and comfortable circles. Like those first disciples, we may find ourselves going to places we never expected and meeting people we would never have met otherwise.
The price of following Jesus is high. He wants our everything—not merely our Sunday mornings, our spare time, or whatever remains after we have satisfied our own desires. He calls us to surrender our lives to His lordship.
But look at what He promises: “I will make you become fishers of men.” Jesus doesn’t ask us to accomplish His mission in our own strength. He calls us to follow, and He promises to make us into the people He wants us to be.
As we follow Him, Christ makes us better friends, better spouses, better parents, and better Christians. Not because we have mastered a program of self-improvement, but because He is at work in us, shaping our character and transforming us to His image.
This is also a wonderful vision for a church plant like Christ Hills. Let the church be ordinary. Let its people be ordinary. Let its programs and gatherings be ordinary. That is perfectly fine—as long as Jesus Christ is extraordinary! We do not need to manufacture something impressive. We need to faithfully follow the One who has called us.
So, what’s your next step?
Perhaps it’s joining a growth group, participating in a “Go” night, or placing membership at Christ Hills. Perhaps it’s taking the gospel to a neighbor, serving someone in need, or beginning a conversation about Jesus with a friend.
Whatever it is, don’t wait until you feel qualified or have every detail figured out. The disciples didn’t receive a complete itinerary before they left their nets. They simply (and immediately) followed Jesus.
The adventure of a lifetime begins with those same two words: “Follow me.” Wherever He leads, will you follow?
Questions for Reflection & Discussion:
What might be keeping you from following Jesus wholeheartedly? Is there a comfort, possession, relationship, fear, or personal ambition you need to surrender to Him?
How have you seen Jesus use ordinary people and their everyday circumstances to accomplish extraordinary things? How might He want to use you?
What is one practical next step you can take this week to follow Jesus more faithfully at home, in your church, or in your community?