Jesus Calls Us to Follow and Fish—Are You Answering?

Jesus’ call to follow Him is more than just a personal journey of faith—it’s an invitation to be transformed and to invite others into the same life-changing experience. As we look at His ministry, we see that He not only gathered disciples but also sent them out to bring others into His kingdom. This dual call to follow and invite is at the core of evangelism.

In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus calls His first disciples, saying, “Follow me … and I will make you fish for people” (Matthew 4:19). Immediately, they left everything to follow Him. This passage reveals the nature of discipleship: it requires a response. Jesus doesn’t just call us to observe His teachings from a distance; He calls us to walk with Him, learn from Him, and be transformed by Him.

Following Jesus means more than just personal faith—it’s about becoming fishers of people. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, He shapes us into those who reach others with His love and truth. If we aren’t actively sharing our faith, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly following Him? Because to follow Jesus is to be made into someone who invites others into His grace.

As Jesus ministered, He saw the crowds and had compassion on them, recognizing they were “distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). His response? “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37). This statement is as true today as it was then. There are countless people near us who need the hope of Christ, but few are stepping forward to share it.

Jesus calls His disciples to be workers in this harvest. He summons us to spend time with Him, to be shaped by His presence, and then to be sent out to make Him known. We gather in worship and community, but we also go—to our neighborhoods, workplaces, and beyond—to invite others into the life-changing message of Jesus.

The simple act of inviting someone to church or to hear the gospel can be life-changing. Research shows that personal invitations are the most effective way to bring new people into the church. In fact, 82% of unchurched people say they would likely attend if invited by a friend or relative. Yet, only 2% of churchgoers actually extend that invitation.

This is where we must take action. Who in your life is close to you but far from God? Who is your “one”—the person you can pray for, invest in, and invite into a relationship with Jesus? Whether it’s through a conversation, a shared testimony, or a simple invitation to church, God has placed people in our lives for a reason. We are called to reach them.

Jesus’ final command to His followers was clear: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Evangelism isn’t just for pastors or missionaries—it’s for every believer. It begins with a willingness to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and extends into a commitment to invite others to experience His transforming love.

The question is simple: Are we following Jesus in a way that leads others to Him? Are we actively fishing for people, being workers in the harvest, and inviting those around us to experience the kingdom of God? The time to act is now. Let’s be faithful to follow and bold to invite, trusting that God will use our obedience to bring people into His eternal family.

This blog is based on a message preached by Lead Pastor Dr. Brian Stone as part of the Modern-Day Evangelism series on Sunday, March 2. You can watch the full message here.