Mark 1:1-20 [NLT]

The Arrival of God’s Kingdom

— Jesus announces this “Good News” Kingdom as the central of his ministry.

• 14...where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

The Purpose of God’s Kingdom

– Jesus redefined our purpose as .

• 17 “Come, follow me...and I will show you how to fish for people!””

The Cost of God’s Kingdom

– Jesus revealed the cost of our apprenticeship : radical .

• 16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
• 19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

What Now ?

• “Leave your nets” to prioritize Jesus & His Kingdom above all others.

My Kingdoms Distract Me From Building God’s

10 examples of “kingdoms” we might be building or living for in our lives:

1. The Kingdom of Career & Success
2. The Kingdom of Comfort & Leisure
3. The Kingdom of Relationships
4. The Kingdom of Self
5. The Kingdom of Control
6. The Kingdom of Materialism
7. The Kingdom of Popularity & Influence
8. The Kingdom of Causes or Activism
9. The Kingdom of Family
10. The Kingdom of Religion

“Jesus himself does absolutely everything he's calling us to do. When he called James and John to leave their father in the boat, he had already left his Father's throne…He followed his thread to the cross so you can follow yours into his arms.” ~ George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin

Continuing The Conversation Group Questions

1. Read these two contrasting descriptions out loud. Write down, circle or highlight any word or phrase that strikes you and explain why:

• God's Kingdom: In God’s Kingdom, the full and final authority is God Himself, who rules sovereignly and justly. Jesus, as the King of this Kingdom, is the ultimate authority. All decisions, actions, and values are governed by God's Word and His eternal purposes. The Kingdom is shaped by God's will, His love, and His justice.

*Key Verse: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

• My Kingdom: In my kingdom, I am the ruler. I decide what is right, what is important, and how things should unfold. The authority is self-derived—whether it's based on personal desires, experiences, or societal norms. This can lead to subjective decisions that prioritize my happiness, security, or success over God's purposes.

*Key Verse: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)

2. Describe any of the reasons why you decided to (or not to) “leave your nets” and follow Jesus?

3. Which of these “kingdoms” listed do you find most distracting to your focus on following Jesus in God's Kingdom? The Kingdom of:

• Career & Success, Comfort & Leisure,
• Relationships, Self, Control, Materialism,
• Family, Religion, Popularity & Influence, Causes or Activism

4. How might you intentionally reprioritize your time & resources to reflect a more radical surrender to God's Kingdom, rather than your own?