“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)
Discipleship begins not with what we know, but with whom we follow. In the last study, What is a Disciple, we learned about Jesus’ call to repent and believe the good news (gospel). After understanding what it means to be a disciple, the next step is answering Jesus’ personal call. On the shores of Galilee, He spoke two simple words: “Follow Me.” The lives of those who followed were changed forever. Those words still echo across the centuries, inviting us to leave behind what is familiar and step into a life shaped by His presence, His purpose, and His power.
When Jesus spoke these words to Peter and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee, He was not offering them a part-time hobby or a spiritual improvement. He was inviting them into an entirely new way of life, one that would shape their identity, transform their character, and give them a mission that stretched beyond their imagination. This short verse contains all three dimensions that describe what discipleship is all about: the call to follow Jesus Himself, the call to be transformed by His power, and the call to participate in His mission. This was Jesus’ first call to truly follow Him as a disciple.
“Follow Me” – the Call to Be with Jesus
The starting point of discipleship is not an abstract idea, a moral code, or even a religious tradition. It is the call to a Person – Jesus Christ. When He said, “Follow Me,” He was calling Peter and Andrew into relationship and a life change. While following Jesus, they would of course learn His teachings, but first they would learn His voice, His walk, and His heart. To follow Jesus is to orient your entire life around Him.
This is radically different from simply following Him at a distance. Many admired Jesus. Crowds listened to His sermons, marveled at His miracles, and even praised Him as a prophet. But discipleship begins when following turns into faithfulness. To follow is to leave behind all former loyalties to world and step into a new identity centered on Christ. For Peter and Andrew, that meant dropping their nets. For us, it may mean leaving behind habits, ambitions, or patterns of self-determination that keep us from wholehearted pursuit of Him.
This call is also deeply personal. Jesus did not issue a general announcement; He looked at individuals and said, “Follow Me.” He does the same today. Discipleship is not anonymous. It is about hearing His call to you and responding in obedience. The beginning of discipleship is always relational: knowing Christ, trusting Him, and walking step by step with Him.
“And I will Make You” – the Call to Transformatioin
Jesus does not merely invite us to follow; He promises to remake us. “I will make you” is a declaration that discipleship is not about self-improvement but about divine transformation. The New Testament uses the language of metamorphosis, like a caterpillar that changes completely into a butterfly. While it is the same creature, it is a new creation. In fact, Paul uses this same word in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed (Greek: metamorphoō) by the renewing of your mind.”
This transformation is total. Jesus is not interested in adding a religious layer into our old lives; He intends to renew our thinking, reshape our desires, and redirect our actions. Becoming a disciple reshapes how we see the world, how we treat others, how we spend time, and how we use resources. It is not overnight but ongoing, a daily renewing of the mind by the Word and Spirit of God.
Transformation begins inwardly but always flows outwardly. As our minds are renewed, our habits change. Pride gives way to humility, bitterness to forgiveness, anxiety to peace. We begin to value what Christ values: justice, mercy, purity, and love. The old way of thinking which were dominated by self, culture, and sin, is steadily replaced by the mind of Christ.
Importantly, Jesus Himself is the one who transforms us. “I will make you” is His promise. We will not force our own metamorphosis, but we can surrender to His Spirit’s work. Our part is to yield, through faith, trust, prayer, Scripture meditation, community, and obedience. This is how we yield to His power to reshape us from the inside out. Discipleship means letting Jesus be the potter while we willingly become the clay in His hands.
“Fishers of Men” – The Call to Mission and Purpose
The goal of discipleship is not only personal renewal but also participation in God’s mission. Jesus did not say, “Follow Me, and I will make you better people.” He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” From the very beginning, our transformation is purposeful. We are called “… according to His purpose. (Romans 8;28). The transformed life always turns outward.
One important purpose, of course is to become “fishers of people.” To be a fisher of people is to recognize that our lives are not random but intentional. Jesus places us in families, neighborhoods, and workplaces as His ambassadors. Some are called to go across oceans; others are called to walk across the street. Some cast wide nets in public ministry; others quietly disciple a few in faithful conversations. But the mission is the same: to invite people into the life of the kingdom.
What this Means for Disciples Today
Every believer is given place a within Christ’s purpose. Scripture tells us that the Spirit gives gifts to each member of the body (1 Cor. 12:7), not for personal pride but for service. These gifts, whether teaching, mercy, encouragement, leadership, generosity, or others, are divine tools for building up the church and reaching the world. No disciple is left purposeless. God uniquely shapes each of us, weaving together our personalities, experiences, and spiritual gifts for the Kingdom of God.
This calling also speaks to identity. For fishermen like Peter and Andrew, casting nets was their trade, their livelihood, their identity. Jesus took that and completely redefined it. He didn’t erase their skills; He redirected them. The same is true today. Whatever our backgrounds – teachers, engineers, artists, parents, students, Christ repurposes our lives for mission. Our talents and passions no longer ends in themselves but are means to glorify Him and serve others. Here is a bold statement: If you are not using your spirital gifts, then you are “stealing from the Holy Spirit. He gave these gifts to us to be used. If they go unused, the church is robbed of what the Holy Spirit provided it.
Discipleship is not about perfection but direction. It is not about having everything figured out on day one but about daily saying yes to Jesus and letting Him shape the journey. This same Jesus who called Peter and Andrew also calls us. The same Spirit who transformed them into bold apostles also works in us. The same mission to fish for people continues in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. The call has not changed; the invitation still stands.
To be a disciple is to follow Christ, be transformed by Christ, and serve Christ in the world. It is to embrace the lifelong adventure of walking faithfully in His footsteps, knowing that every step matters in His kingdom.
Following Jesus is not just about leaving something behind, it’s about becoming someone new. As the first disciples walked with Him, they quickly discovered that following meant learning: watching, listening, and being transformed by His teaching. The journey of discipleship begins with obedience, but it deepens through understanding. In the next lesson, Disciples Learn from Jesus, we’ll explore what means to sit at His feet and let His truth renew our minds and shape our hearts.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
What do you think Peter and Andrew understood when Jesus said, “Follow Me”?
How might that command have sounded in their ears and what would it sound like if Jesus said it to you today?
The study describes discipleship as a call to relationship, transformation, and mission.
Which of these three do you find most challenging right now. Why?
Following Jesus prompted Peter and Andrew to drop their nets immediately.
What are some “nets” such as habits, fears, ambitions, or comforts that might keep us from fully following Jesus?
Jesus promised, “I will make you.”
How does this promise remind us that discipleship is a process of being transformed, not just a list of things to do?
The call to follow Jesus is also a call to a new identity.
How has following Christ changed the way you see yourself, your priorities, or your purpose? How did it change the way others see you?
“I will make you fishers of men” points to a mission.
In what ways are you are participating in God’s mission in where you live, where you work, were you serve, and where you fellowship.
Discipleship is not about perfection but direction.
What does it look like in practical terms to keep walking toward Jesus. What do you do when you stumble or get distracted?
My name is Michael Adkins. For several decades I’ve been studying Scripture, developing discipleship resources, and teaching others how to walk more closely with Christ. Currently, I serve as the Discipleship Pathway Leader at Riverside International Church in Cascais, Portugal, where my passion is helping believers grow into mature disciples who live out their faith in everyday life.