NOTES:
1] v.15 could be called Jesus' agenda or political manifesto (of the politics of God). 2] Also in v.15, we need to understand  Jesus is challenging us to believe in the Good News, not believe about it; to believe in him, not about him. 3] Peter, James, & John (but not Andrew) form an inner circle throughout Jesus' ministry.

WARMING UP: How do we respond when someone expects us to drop everything & come?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Identify God at work in anything this week?

ENTERING INTO THE STORY:

14-15    Given Jesus' recent testing in the desert (12-13) have any of our own testings either confirmed us in a course of action (as his have done) or turned us from one? Of the things Jesus proclaims: a) It's time! b) God's Rule's come near! c) Repent (change the direction your heart's pointing in!) d) Believe in the good news! which is most important? Does any one have priority over another, or are they inseparable?

Does the fact that God's time is always NOW play any part in our life? What about the 'God's Rule has come near' bit? What direction is our own heart pointing in? What kind of a 'compass' do we need to tell that? To what degree do we believe in the Good News Jesus proclaims, as distinct from believing about it? Or, are there too many ifs & buts these days? (If there are, who puts them there?) How would we answer someone who says the kind of thing Jesus is talking about is: a) past history?
b) didn't or doesn't work? &, c) isn't relevant today?

16-18     Is it reasonable of Jesus to walk past & call upon Simon & Andrew - or anyone else - to follow him? Why would we expect God to be reasonable about anything? Have we ever found God's unreasonableness a barrier either to belief or action? Does the traditional Christian view of God not having to account for his actions or demands find as ready acceptance today as maybe it once did? Did it, really? Does even the idea of 'fishing for people' have to be justified in people's eyes today? (What right do we / does God have to go 'fishing' for anyone?!) On a scale of 1-10, how would we say our 'fishing expedition' is going these days? Why might it be going so well / so poorly in our situation? Have we ever been called on to give up something we were involved in doing in order to answer God's call in some way? Or, has our following God been more a matter of us volunteering, rather than responding to God's call?

19-20   Do you detect any essential difference between the call of James & John, & that of Simon & Andrew? If, as it appears, Simon & Andrew have been fishing with each other, whereas James & John were with their father & hired hands, would it have been easier or harder for one or other pair to drop everything & go with Jesus? Is the immediacy of both pairs of brothers' responses something we need to take on board? What part, if any, does immediacy / urgency play in church life today? If it is a factor, does it apply to the items on Jesus' 'agenda', or more to those on our own? If we are a follower of Jesus today, where are we following him to? What are we following him to?