The Kingdom's Call

Aim: To recognize the changes necessary in order to be a part of the kingdom (church) of God.

Exegesis: We must change our allegiance. The church has citizenship in a higher city (v. 14), and the church owns and preaches a higher message (v. 15). We must change our profession. Christ's call alters our focus (vv. 16-17) and plans (v. 18). We must change our inheritance. Our hope is no longer in what it used to be (in) (vv. 19-20a), and our reward is no longer derived from its old sources (v. 20b).

Key verse: v. 17 ''Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.' ''