B-SIDES | The Left Behinds

ScriptureMark 1:14-20 1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." 1:16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 1:17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 1:18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 1:19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 1:20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Sermon Listen to the sermon: The Left Behinds.

Moral of the Story You can’t hold the kingdom of God in one hand and your net in the other.

Stuff that Gets in the Way How will you know when the kingdom of God is calling you? When he calls will you pick up the phone or let it keep ringing? Finding Joe is a movie thought-provoking exploration of the hero’s journey and how to recognize it in our own lives. I’d be happy to lend you my copy.

Let’s say you’ve recognized the call, you know that Jesus is tapping on your shoulder to “repent, and believe in the good news.” But where do you find the courage to turn around and leave what you’ve created behind? Here are some stories that may inspire you:

But there’s at least one more question to ask yourself after reading today’s scripture: What is keeping you from following Jesus? Here’s an article to get your thoughts flowing on this one. Who knew fig leaves and cell phones had anything in common?!

Inquiry and Reflection Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

  • How will you know when Jesus is calling you to join him?
  • How are you fostering a two-way communication with God?
    • Are you willing to see, hear, feel, and acknowledge his call?
    • Are you open to dropping your nets to follow Him?
    • What have you grown attached to that would keep you from following Him?
  • How would you find the courage to leave it all behind?
  • When in your life have you been inspired to take action and followed through? When have you felt inspired and turned away?

Playlist These are the songs that didn’t make it to the stage this week, but may inspire you in your reflection. Here's a little playlist we put together for you on Spotify.

  • Abigail Washburn - City of Refuge; City of Refuge is a song about leaving the hardships of life.
  • Hem - We'll Meet Along the Way; A song about Jesus's journey and the trials faced along the way.
  • The Doc Watson Family - Your Long Journey; A song about missing someone who takes a journey, typically a journey to heaven.

An All-Ages Show These bite-size questions are designed specifically for the younger crowd. Parents, give these a whirl at the dinner table:

  • Where did you see God in your day?
  • How do you know when God is trying to get your attention?

Just for Fun Initially released as the B-Side of the single “Reason to Believe,” “Maggie May” became Rod Stewart’s first big hit.

DOWNTOWN SPARK, EVERYTHING DOWNTOWNJeannie Sullivanb-sides, inquiry