SOCIAL NETWORKING: Join the GOOD NEWS


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SOCIAL NETWORKING: Join the GOOD NEWS Conversation “Work Your Network,” Mark 1:14-20 Intro: We have so many choices in our day for establishing and re-establishing our identities. People are actually recreating themselves on line with new names and profiles. My granddaughter surprised us with her new cheerleading postcard. She uses the name “Lizzie” at school though we cannot call her Lizzie at home. John the Baptist has been thrown in prison by Herod. Jesus may realize that his friend John will never emerge from that prison. He chooses this time to begin his first preaching campaign. He follows the pattern of the rabbis of his day and of John the Baptist by calling to himself disciples whom he wanted to be with him. We cannot study the social interactions of Jesus without spending time on the Twelve, this circle of friends and followers that Jesus deliberately created around him. This may be the most distinctive characteristic of the social interactions of Jesus. And it was the one thing he did to secure a future for his work and message beyond his own death. I. Life Changes on You: After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God (Mark 1:14). A. Jesus has been living a private life that I am sure was very fulfilling for him. He has developed into a winsome and powerful person with great intellect and great grasp of the message of God’s love and concern for people. He is now 30 years old. B. John the Baptist, his lifelong friend and relative, is in prison for preaching the truth. The winds of politics and government are blowing, and an urgency is developing in the mind and heart of Jesus. He senses and knows that it is time to act. C. John had developed a circle of disciples through the years of his ministry. Jesus is going to follow this pattern by establishing a circle of his own. A number of those who become part of the inner circle with Jesus were also followers of John the Baptist at one time. D. Jesus launches out on a new personal and social initiative. He is going to attempt things he has not done before including developing a network of followers. II. Your Network Offers Opportunity: “The time has come,” he said, “The kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the good news (v15) A. The message communicated: “Proclaiming the good news” B. The influence expanded: “Galilee” is his home to Jesus, and he is now seeking to impact his homeland as never before C. The vision extended: “The kingdom of God is at hand;” this is not just about today—it is about forever! This is not about earthly kingdoms only; it is about the heavenly kingdom! D. The urgency felt: “The time has come. Repent and believe the good news!” E. Nothing the devil fights more fiercely than you developing your network of followers. 1. Nothing that requires more discipline and intentionality. 2. Nothing is more rewarding or gives more lasting results. 3. No discouragement allowed in the development of your followers network. How many of the Twelve had a significant career after the death and resurrection of Jesus? Can you name them? How many do we know nothing about? You cannot measure your success by the percentage of followers who become fully committed. You measure your success in the one or two who launch out beyond you to impact your world. III. SUCCESS REQUIRES UNDERSTANDING: Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him (Mark 1:20)--I am talking about the social circles that you intentionally develop or join or are assigned to you, the friends and family with which you live your life that are in your orbit or in orbit around you. A. Jesus uses the metaphor “fishers of men.” He does so in the context of net fishing, not line fishing. This is important because net fishing is a different strategy than line fishing. B. Multiple CIRCLES. You have multiple circles of such relationships. They are how you configure your life. 1. Some of them are assigned to you like family members—siblings, uncles and aunts, cousins, and other relatives. “You don’t get to choose your relatives,” people say sometimes, and they speak a profound and life-changing truth.

2. Most of our circles are circles of choice. Even though we may think we have no choice about co-workers and fellow students, we are actually choosing to interact with these sets of people. C. Joining vs. building a network (choosing versus creating) 1. Jesus is creating and building a network around him with the apostles 2. His friends are joining a network or choosing a network 3. We all do the second; many of us do the first. ***When you open a Facebook page and start friending people, you are building a network. You are also joining the networks of others. IV. SUCCESS REQUIRES WORK (keep the work in network): He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake (Mark 1:16) A. I can identify two strategic Circles in the life of Jesus: the fish and the followers. Jesus is turning fish into followers as he calls these fishermen. 1. The “followers” network includes those who follow Jesus as life’s principle vocation 2. The “fish” network is composed of those who are potential followers. B. The followers network: Mark 3:14: He appointed twelve—designating them as apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. 1. First purpose: They might be with him. The apostles are the subject of this sentence. The key statement: “with him.” Jesus wanted some people who would be with him. He did not want to go it alone. 2. Second purpose: Send them out. They are the object of this sentence because Jesus has a mission for them. They are his friends, but they are also his messengers sent into the world. C. The fish network: D I want you to think now about the people in your followers network. Who are they? How many of them? I myself am convicted as I reflect on this truth, and I know that you are as well, but that is okay. We need to look at this honestly. I am challenging all followers of Jesus in this room who have more than three years of experience in the disciplines of our faith: prayer, Bible study, and active service—to launch in this new year a followers network. This does not have to be formal. It can be informal, but it must be real. V. SUCCESS INCLUDES CATCHING FISH (Keep the “NET” in “Network”): He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets (Mark 1:19) A. Cast the Net: determining focus and reach (of every kind). You are fishing, not just meandering around the world. ***Great fishermen are a little nerve-racking to go out with. They want to keep their hooks in the water at all times. They are driven. They don’t want you messing around either. B. Clean the Net: removing what is outside the purpose. You will have to do this continually. You must pay attention to the relationships you are developing and the methods you are using. C. Repair the NetWork: Your methods will grow old; the string in the net will get weak and frayed. Every fishermen has to be open to new equipment, baits, locations, and strategies. As followers of Jesus who are fishers of men, we must do the same. Conclusion: Someone is pulling a net through the human family, seeking to catch you. His name is Jesus, and he is continuing to build a network of friends and family members who have both an earthly purpose and an eternal purpose.