Gospel Light Church Matthew Series #6

April 19th, 2026

“Follow Me: The Call, The Cost, and The Character of the Kingdom”

Matthew 4:18–5:4 (NKJV)

18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately

left their nets and followed Him.

21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then [a]His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from [b]Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the [c]earth.

Intro: The Invitation That Changes Everything

There are many invitations in life—but only one changes your eternity and identity. He says:

“Follow Me.” (Matthew 4:19)

This is not casual—it is costly, immediate, and transformational.

“Jesus didn’t call people to a philosophy, but to Himself—and that changes everything.” – Skip Heitzig

Today we see three movements:

1. The Call to Follow
2. The Cost of Following
3. The Character of Those Who Follow

THE CALL TO FOLLOW JESUS (Matthew 4:18–20)

“Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (v.19–20)

The Call is Personal

Jesus calls individuals, not crowds.

• • • Simon Peter
    • Andrew

This wasn’t a general announcement—it was direct and relational.

The Call is Transformational

“I will make you…”

Jesus doesn’t just call you—He changes you.

• • • From fishermen → fishers of men
    • From ordinary → kingdom-impacting

“Jesus doesn’t simply command change; He promises to produce it in those who follow Him.” – David Guzik

The Call Requires Immediate Response

“They immediately left their nets…”

No delay. No negotiation.

• When a fire alarm sounds, you don’t debate—you move.
• What “nets” are you still holding onto?
• Is your obedience immediate or conditional?

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS (Matthew 4:21–22)

“And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (v.22)

Following Jesus Costs Comfort

They left:

• • • Their career
    • Their security
    • Their predictability

Following Jesus Costs Relationships (at times)

They left their father—not out of dishonor, but greater allegiance to Christ.

“We cannot follow Jesus casually—He is either Lord of all or not Lord at all.” – John Bevere

The Cost Reveals the Value

You only leave something behind if you’ve found something greater.

• A man sells everything for a treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13).
• What is Jesus asking you to leave behind?
• Are you trying to follow Jesus without surrender?

THE CHARACTER OF TRUE FOLLOWERS (Matthew 5:1–4)

Now Jesus shifts from calling disciples → shaping disciples.

“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain… Then He opened His mouth and taught them…” (5:1–2)

This is the constitution of the Kingdom.

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (v.3)

“For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Meaning:

Spiritual poverty = recognizing your need for God

Not:

• • • Self-sufficient
    • Spiritually proud But:
    • Dependent
    • Humble

“Pride keeps us from God; humility positions us to receive everything from Him.” – John Bevere

• • • Do you depend on God daily—or only in crisis?

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn (v.4)

“For they shall be comforted.”

This is not general sadness—it is mourning over sin.

• • • Personal sin
    • Brokenness of the world
    • Distance from God

“Those who truly see their sin will mourn it—and those who mourn it will be comforted by God.” – David Guzik

• Peter wept bitterly after denying Jesus—and was restored powerfully.

The Progression of Kingdom Character

Notice the order:

1. Poor in spirit → I need God
2. Mourning → I grieve my sin
3. (Leads to meekness, hunger, etc.) This is the pathway of transformation.

KINGDOM CONTRAST: FOLLOWERS VS. THE WORLD

The world says:

• Be self-made
• Be strong
• Be independent Jesus says:
• Be humble
• Be broken
• Be dependent

“The Beatitudes flip the world’s values upside down—what the world avoids, God blesses.” – Skip Heitzig