Mark 1:17
Verse
Context
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- John Gill
- Tyndale
John Gill Bible Commentary
And Jesus said unto them, come ye after me,.... Leave your worldly employments, and become my disciples, and I will make you to become fishers of men: which will be a much more excellent and honourable employment, as men, and the souls of men, are more excellent, and of more worth than fishes; See Gill on Mat 4:19.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:17 Mark uses Jesus’ invitation—Come, follow me (1:20; 8:34)—and the expression “to follow him” (1:18; 2:14-15; 3:7; 5:24) to indicate what it means to be a Christian (see “Following Jesus” Theme Note).
Mark 1:17
The First Disciples
16As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.17“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”18And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
A Spirit Hath Not Flesh and Bones
By Tim Keller15K33:43EasterMAT 6:33MAT 22:37MRK 1:17LUK 2:52LUK 24:37JHN 20:29ACT 17:30In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the message of Easter, which is that by uniting with Jesus Christ, believers will miss out on nothing. He encourages the congregation to relax, sacrifice, and give themselves to others, following the example of Jesus who sacrificed himself and served others. The preacher references C.S. Lewis' sermon, "The Weight of Glory," to illustrate that the physical pleasures we experience in this world are only a faint reflection of the incredible joy and fulfillment that awaits believers in the presence of God. The sermon concludes by highlighting the passage in Luke 24:37-43, where Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection, proving that he is not a ghost but a physical being, and even asks for something to eat to further demonstrate his physicality.
Esther - Prayer Meeting
By Leonard Ravenhill9.2K1:07:21BrokennessEXO 32:11EXO 32:22MAT 22:14MRK 1:17ACT 9:4In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a fixed heart in times of trouble. He warns that America is heading towards serious trouble and those whose hearts are not fixed will go to pieces. The preacher encourages believers to trust in God and not fear man, even in the face of persecution. He also highlights the story of Daniel and the lions, illustrating how God can shut the mouths of the lions and protect His faithful servants. The sermon concludes with a mention of a man who is prepared to pay a large sum of money, emphasizing the concept of talents as money in the biblical context.
The Call of a Prophet
By A.W. Tozer4.7K39:44Prophets2KI 2:9MAT 4:19MAT 16:24MRK 1:17LUK 9:62LUK 14:33JHN 10:27In this sermon, the preacher talks about individuals who were called by God at a young age and finished their work early. He emphasizes the importance of not wasting time and energy on things that are not aligned with God's calling. The preacher shares a personal story of a man who made a decision to leave his old life behind and serve the Lord wholeheartedly. He encourages the audience to listen to the Holy Spirit's guidance and respond to God's call, even if it means giving up their old ways and embracing a new life in Christ.
Sunday #1 the Welsh Revival of 1904-05
By J. Edwin Orr4.7K43:06Welsh RevivalPSA 27:14MAT 24:42MRK 1:17ACT 2:17ACT 2:421TI 4:12HEB 10:25In this sermon transcript, the speaker describes a powerful revival that took place in a church called Moriah Church. The revival was characterized by the presence of people of all ages, from young to old, coming together and being moved by the preaching of the word of God. The speaker, Evan Roberts, had initially planned to organize a team of young evangelists but felt a strong calling to speak to the young people in his own church. He returned home and began preaching to the young people, leading to a remarkable response from 17 individuals. The revival continued to grow, with various meetings and services being held throughout the week, and eventually leading to a widespread spiritual awakening in the country.
Friday #1 Dr. Orr's Personal Testimony
By J. Edwin Orr4.3K1:12:26TestimonyPSA 110:3ISA 40:31JOL 2:28MAT 6:33MRK 1:17ACT 16:31ROM 10:9In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal testimony of his conversion and his journey into preaching. He recounts how he and a friend decided to go out and preach, despite having no experience. They gathered a crowd by inviting each other to preach and using an interpreter. The speaker then shares an experience of seeing revival and the power of God's work in people's lives. He concludes by expressing his desire to pray for the conversion of 240 young men.
Live a Real Life
By K.P. Yohannan2.4K37:23RealityMAT 28:19MRK 1:17In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal testimony of how he was living a sinful life on an Australian warship until a colleague led him to Jesus Christ. He made a promise to share Jesus with at least 10 people a day, and despite some obstacles, he remained committed to this mission. The speaker challenges the audience to examine their own actions and asks why they are studying and what their purpose is. He emphasizes the importance of having a passion for the lost world and urges the listeners to carry gospel tracks with them and share the message of Jesus wherever they go.
Discipleship I
By Stephen Kaung2.0K1:13:59DiscipleshipMAT 4:18MAT 6:33MAT 8:34MRK 1:17LUK 9:23LUK 14:26LUK 14:33In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being a disciple of Jesus. He highlights that even though Jesus is no longer physically present on earth, he continues to call people to be his disciples through the work of the Holy Spirit. The preacher mentions the Great Commission, where Jesus instructed his disciples to go and preach the gospel to all nations. However, the preacher emphasizes that the purpose of this gathering is not just to listen to sermons, but to encourage and challenge each other to share Christ with one another and deepen their understanding of him.
The Spirit's Power
By J. Glyn Owen1.7K46:02Spirit's PowerMAT 28:19MRK 1:17LUK 19:10ACT 1:8EPH 3:8EPH 3:162TI 4:7In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the truth and power of the Gospel. He acknowledges that the story of salvation is not a mere imagination but a reality that has transformed countless lives over the past 2,000 years. The preacher highlights the immense power of God that Christians can draw upon and experience in their lives. He mentions the Apostle Paul's recognition of God's power in giving birth to the Gospel and also in transforming the lives of believers. The preacher encourages the congregation to focus on God's provision and forgiveness, and to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the good works that God has prepared for each individual.
He That Winneth Souls
By John R. Rice1.6K22:05PRO 11:30EZK 3:17MAT 28:19MRK 1:17JHN 14:15JHN 15:4ROM 1:14This sermon emphasizes the importance of winning souls, highlighting the seven sins of those who do not engage in soul-winning. It discusses the disobedience to the Great Commission, the lack of love for Jesus, the failure to follow Him, not abiding in Christ, dishonesty in neglecting the sacred trust of sharing the gospel, the folly of short-sightedness in not focusing on eternal rewards, and the grave consequence of spiritual manslaughter by failing to warn the wicked. The message urges Christians to repent of this sin and prioritize soul-winning.
An Invitation to Follow Him
By K.P. Yohannan1.2K20:29Following JesusIntimacy With GodGEN 1:26PSA 42:7ISA 40:31EZK 22:30MRK 1:17JHN 4:34JHN 5:19JHN 15:4ACT 1:41CO 3:13K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the profound invitation from Jesus to follow Him, which transcends mere evangelism and calls for a life of obedience and surrender to God's will. He reflects on how Jesus lived in total dependence on the Father, demonstrating that our actions should stem from a deep relationship with God rather than mere duty or need. Yohannan illustrates this with the story of three stonecutters, highlighting the importance of understanding the 'why' behind our actions. He urges believers to prioritize intimacy with God, as true ministry flows from a life that reflects Christ's love and purpose. Ultimately, he calls for a commitment to live as Jesus did, focusing on eternal values rather than worldly distractions.
He That Winneth Souls - Part 1 of 3
By John R. Rice1.2K07:22MAT 4:19MAT 28:19MRK 1:17JHN 14:15JHN 15:4This sermon emphasizes the importance of winning souls as a fundamental duty of every Christian, highlighting the sevenfold sins of those who do not engage in soul-winning. It explores the commandment given by Jesus in the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations, stressing the disobedience, lack of love, failure to follow Jesus closely, and the necessity of abiding in Christ to bear fruit. The message urges believers to align with Jesus' teachings and actively participate in soul-winning to fulfill the main command He left for His disciples.
When Jesus Appears
By Brother Yun8061:00:26JesusMAT 6:25MRK 1:17JHN 21:12In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of the word of God and the importance of spreading it to the world. He highlights the struggles faced by media companies in their attempts to influence people, but emphasizes that the word of God is unbreakable. The preacher encourages viewers to surrender their lives to Jesus and have a new encounter with His resurrection power. He also mentions a device used to distribute Bibles in North Korea, which appears as a keychain with a digital photo, but can reveal a Bible when the correct sequence of buttons is pressed.
Obedience and Commitment
By George Verwer61722:51ObedienceMAT 6:33MRK 1:17MRK 2:14ROM 1:1ROM 12:1The video in the sermon transcript is about the importance of total commitment to Jesus Christ, especially in regards to world mission. The speaker acknowledges that some people may be resistant or fearful of responding to an invitation due to past experiences or confusion. The devil is portrayed as a specialist in selling fraud and bringing doubt. The speaker emphasizes the need for a deeper commitment to Christ and the importance of spreading the message of the Gospel through films, particularly in languages that are often overlooked.
Coming to Christ
By Ernest C. Reisinger601:10:32ChristMAT 11:28MRK 1:17MRK 10:52JHN 6:35REV 22:17In this sermon, the preacher discusses what coming to Christ is not. He emphasizes that it is not a physical experience, purely mental, mystical, or simply a volitional act. Instead, he explains that coming to Christ involves recognizing a spiritual need and understanding one's lost condition. The preacher also highlights the concept of man's inability to come to Christ without the assistance of God the Holy Ghost, drawing parallels to the animal world to illustrate this point.
Pew and Pulpit #02: The Pew Looks at the Pulpit
By Ernest C. Reisinger371:11:15PreachingPSA 62:5MRK 1:17ACT 20:27ROM 3:23EPH 5:142TI 2:242TI 4:2In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that man is born to be a slave, either to self and sin or captivated by Christ. He argues that there is a free moral agent but no free will since the fall, stating that individuals are free to act according to their fallen nature. The preacher highlights the importance of the Lordship of Christ, using the example of the leper who humbly cries out to God for healing. He also discusses the role of a faithful minister, emphasizing the need for preaching in the demonstration of the Spirit's power rather than relying on enticing words of human wisdom. The preacher concludes by mentioning the simplicity of preaching and the qualities that a servant of God should possess, such as being gentle, kind, able to teach, and patient.
The Lord's Coming and Revival
By Peter Brandon544:21EvangelismSpiritual ReadinessMAT 4:19MAT 11:28MRK 1:17LUK 10:2JHN 4:35ROM 10:131CO 1:10GAL 6:11TH 3:101TH 5:2Peter Brandon emphasizes the urgency of spiritual readiness for the imminent return of Christ, urging believers to prepare for a revival and an ingathering of souls. He draws from the book of Thessalonians to highlight the importance of repentance and the call to evangelism, using the example of Jesus calling His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Brandon stresses that God seeks those who are diligent in their work and ready to follow Him, illustrating the need for both public and private evangelism. He encourages the congregation to be active in their faith and to bring others to Christ, especially in light of the current spiritual climate. The sermon concludes with a call to be spiritually and morally prepared for the Lord's return.
Fishers Follow Him
By C.H. Spurgeon0Following JesusEvangelismMAT 28:19MRK 1:17C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that true effectiveness in winning souls for Christ comes only from following Jesus closely. He warns against using worldly methods that deviate from Christ's teachings, asserting that such approaches will not yield lasting results. Spurgeon encourages believers to preach the full gospel with the same gentleness, boldness, and love that Jesus exemplified, relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance. He stresses that only by adhering to Christ's example can we become successful fishers of men. Ultimately, the call is to prioritize Jesus' methods over sensationalism in ministry.
But Where's the Vineyard
By Richard E. Bieber0MAT 20:1MRK 1:17LUK 10:2EPH 4:16HEB 12:1Richard E. Bieber preaches on the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, emphasizing the concept that in the kingdom of God, the last shall be first and the first shall be last. He highlights the importance of finding our calling and working in the vineyard, which represents a foretaste of heaven where our spirits find rest. The sermon focuses on the continuous commitment required in the vineyard: to Jesus, to a walk of faith, to the body of Christ, and to the harvest, stressing the need for unwavering dedication and service.
Evangelical Perfection
By Thomas Cook0GEN 17:1DEU 30:6MAT 5:48MRK 1:17EPH 4:13PHP 3:12PHP 3:152TI 3:17HEB 13:201JN 4:18Thomas Cook preaches on the Scriptural terms 'holiness,' 'perfect love,' and 'perfection,' explaining that they all refer to the same state of grace. He emphasizes that perfect love represents the moral atmosphere in which a sanctified Christian lives, while perfection signifies spiritual completeness achieved when all internal struggles are overcome. Cook discusses the importance of understanding the term 'perfect' in a spiritual context, as it is frequently used in the Bible to describe human character under the influence of grace. He clarifies that while absolute perfection belongs only to God, evangelical perfection is attainable in the present life through continuous growth and development in love and service to God.
What Do I Get Out of It?
By K.P. Yohannan0Selflessness in ServiceFaith and CommitmentMAT 19:27MAT 25:40MRK 1:17LUK 9:622CO 5:15PHP 2:3HEB 6:10HEB 12:2JAS 4:31JN 3:17K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the self-centered mindset that often accompanies our decisions, even in spiritual matters, as illustrated by Peter and Andrew's initial question to Jesus about their rewards for following Him. He challenges believers to move beyond asking 'What do I get out of it?' and instead focus on the eternal impact of their actions, particularly in missions and service to others. Yohannan highlights the importance of spiritual maturity and faith, urging Christians to prioritize the needs of the lost over personal gain. He shares examples of sacrificial giving and commitment from individuals who serve without seeking personal benefits, illustrating the joy that comes from serving God faithfully. Ultimately, he reassures that God remembers our efforts and will meet our needs as we labor for His kingdom.
God Sent Laborers
By Walter Beuttler0MAT 6:28MAT 11:28MRK 1:17MRK 4:34LUK 9:1LUK 10:1JHN 4:35Walter Beuttler preaches on the importance of being prepared and called by the Lord for ministry, emphasizing the need for missionaries to understand cultural differences and be equipped by God for their work. He shares personal experiences of divine encounters and the transformation needed in the lives of ministers. Beuttler highlights the urgency of the hour and the hunger for the Word of God around the world, stressing the need for Christ-centered laborers who are sent by God.
Early Lessons for Christ's Disciples
By Raymond Golsworthy0EXO 21:5DEU 32:2PSA 119:18ISA 1:6ISA 52:11ISA 53:6MRK 1:17MRK 9:7MRK 16:15LUK 6:12JHN 1:1JHN 6:63JHN 14:122CO 5:21EPH 5:8EPH 6:11PHP 2:121TI 1:11TIT 2:14HEB 1:31PE 2:241JN 1:1Raymond Golsworthy preaches on the lessons from Mark 1:16-45, focusing on the events that followed Christ's call to His first disciples. The sermon highlights seven vital spiritual lessons illustrated through the disciples' experiences with Jesus, emphasizing the importance of listening to His teachings, recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare, understanding the power of prayer and unity, discerning true versus false testimonies, learning the essential secret of spending time in prayer with the Master, embracing the call to reach out to all in need, and reflecting on the profound cleansing accomplished by Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
The Call of God
By Walter Beuttler0PSA 5:3ISA 50:4EZK 1:1DAN 5:12MRK 1:17MRK 3:13JHN 5:19JHN 14:10REV 3:8Walter Beuttler emphasizes the importance of being called by God and the process of transformation that should follow. He stresses the need for personal application of biblical truths, leading to a life-changing experience. Beuttler highlights the significance of being with the Lord before engaging in ministry, focusing on the relationship with God above all else. He shares personal experiences of submission, obedience, and being led by the Spirit in various ministry opportunities, showcasing the faithfulness of God when one is faithful to Him.
- John Gill
- Tyndale
John Gill Bible Commentary
And Jesus said unto them, come ye after me,.... Leave your worldly employments, and become my disciples, and I will make you to become fishers of men: which will be a much more excellent and honourable employment, as men, and the souls of men, are more excellent, and of more worth than fishes; See Gill on Mat 4:19.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:17 Mark uses Jesus’ invitation—Come, follow me (1:20; 8:34)—and the expression “to follow him” (1:18; 2:14-15; 3:7; 5:24) to indicate what it means to be a Christian (see “Following Jesus” Theme Note).