SERMON TITLE: Jesus Chose Disciples
SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:13-17, Mark 3:7-19 (ESV)
SPEAKER: Chandler Turpin
DATE: 07/12/2026
Take notes here
Good morning Gateway Church! Whether you’re at our County Road 9 Campus or at our North Main Campus, I’m so thankful to be in God’s Word with you today. If we haven’t met yet, my name’s Chandler Turpin and I’m a Pastoral Resident here at Gateway Church.
Now that we’ve finished our series in James — this week I get the pleasure of starting off a new series with you called the Gospel Project. Over the summer we’re going to walk alongside the curriculum our kids are learning in Kidway. We’ll spend the next 9 weeks studying Jesus’ ministry in the gospels — and for those of you with children in Kidway — you’ll have the opportunity to discuss passages covered in the sermon, since the passages we’ll be studying during our time in this series are the same passages our kids are studying. Today we’ll look at the Gospel of Mark — and how Jesus chose his disciples. We’ll cover four main points — our purpose found in calling — mercy for misfits — Jesus, hero of the people — and finally diverse disciples, united purpose.
Now since we’re on the topic of disciples, I’d like for us to quickly revisit our mission here at Gateway — which is
“To glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ.”
And our vision of those disciples is as follows:
Word and Spirit Christians
Generous
Family
Disciples Who Make Disciples
Kingdom-minded
And lastly we have our discipleship process, which is to:
Worship - regularly with God’s people.
Connect - in a Life Group.
Serve - the people in our church family.
Go - share the Good News of Jesus.
I bring up our discipleship process because it’s one of the things that Jesus specifically called us to do in Matthew chapter twenty-eight verse nineteen where we read…
Matthew 28:19 ESV
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
In order to make disciples, we must first become disciples of Jesus Christ. Today we’re going to see Jesus choosing disciples, some of them you may’ve never expected to be called. That’s the beauty of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today we’ll be in Mark chapter two verses thirteen thru seventeen — and Mark chapter three verses seven thru nineteen. Again — we’ll be looking at passages in both Mark chapter two and chapter three. We’ll start with Mark chapter two — starting in verse thirteen. There we read…
Mark 2:13–17 ESV
13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
And in Mark 3 we start in verse seven where we read…
Mark 3:7–19 ESV
7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. 13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
As we dive into our first point, finding purpose in our calling, we’ll look at Mark chapter two verses thirteen and fourteen. We will see a man named Levi, also called Matthew, who finds his purpose when Jesus calls him to be a disciple. Again, we’re in Mark chapter 2 verses thirteen and fourteen where we read…
Mark 2:13–14 ESV
13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
Now the way this happens never ceases to amaze me. I picture Jesus walking by and not even breaking stride, saying “follow me.” I have to think that Levi had already heard of all the great things this man named Jesus was doing in his town, and that he was likely waiting eagerly for the chance to follow Jesus. When Jesus calls him, our passage doesn’t say that Levi said “let me think about it,” or “I’ll get back to you.” No, all Mark says after Jesus calls him is…
And he rose and followed him.
You see, Levi had found his purpose in Jesus calling him to be a disciple. Years of being a tax collector, likely the most hated profession in all of Capernaum, had likely worn on Levi. Levi would have been working near the Sea of Galilee, collecting taxes from fishermen at the sea. Not only would Levi had been collecting taxes, but tax collectors were known to take beyond what the Roman government required for their own benefit. Because of the proximity of Levi to the Sea of Galilee, Levi’s calling to follow Jesus would have been very public. Jesus not only calls Levi, a reviled tax collector, but does so in front of crowds of people — making his point — that he has come to call not the righteous, but sinners.
If you are here today and you’re not sure where Jesus fits into your life, or you’re not sure you “deserve” his calling, let this passage today put you to rest. If Jesus is willing to call a tax collector in Capernaum to follow him, why couldn’t he call you? If God is calling you, he’s not sitting around waiting on your permission. He isn’t waiting on you to get through this list of “things” to do before you choose to follow him. The Holy Spirit opens your heart to him, and draws you to him irresistibly. We see this with Levi in our text — there’s no hesitation — no questioning — no “getting affairs in order”. He just goes — because Jesus has called him to follow him. That’s the irresistible grace our heavenly Father offers to those he calls. He calls you to repent — or to turn away from — and believe in him, which leads you to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is ready to give you purpose in your life — to designate you as one of his disciples. He is ready to bear your burdens, your anxiety, your stress, so that you can go out and do what he is calling you to do — to be a disciple of him — to go out and share the good news.
In the quiet moments at home you may be struggling with feelings of unworthiness or guilt from past mistakes. It’s easy to think that those failures define who you are — and that they disqualify you in some way from serving Jesus. This week, I’d challenge you to write down those thoughts of feeling unworthy as they come to mind — and beside each one write a corresponding truth from Scripture that refutes that thought. One you may use is Romans chapter 8 verse 1 which states…
Romans 8:1 ESV
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
And others, that assure us that there is no way for us to earn our way into a relationship with Jesus,
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
and…
Romans 3:23–24 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
As you work through your list, let it empower you to live life with purpose, knowing that your worthiness is rooted in Christ.
As we move to our next point, mercy for misfits, we’ll see Jesus continuing his fellowship amongst Levi and other sinners and tax collectors. We’ll also see a group known as the Pharisees, who aren’t too happy with Jesus’ choice of company. Let’s read from Mark chapter two verses fifteen through seventeen…
Mark 2:15–17 ESV
15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus sat at the table and broke bread with misfits. Those who didn’t fit the mold of what the Pharisees considered to be worthy of such attention. One scholar makes this point — that Jesus' interaction with the tax collectors is bringing him back into contact with “unclean” people — like the cleansing of the leper found earlier in the book of Mark that reads…
Mark 1:40 ESV
40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”
Except this time Jesus isn’t condemned for touching a person afflicted with disease, but instead people who are considered to be morally unclean. Another scholar said that “it may be that contact with Levi was actually more offensive than contact with a leper since a leper’s condition wasn’t chosen whereas a tax collector’s was.” Jesus takes it a step further, and instead of just stopping with Levi he joins him for dinner where Scripture tells us there were many tax collectors and sinners. The word sinners used here isn’t just people who occasionally step out of line, but people who fundamentally and purposefully live outside of God’s law.
Verse seventeen reads…
Mark 2:17 ESV
17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus came to call sinners. Jesus is sitting at the table with sinners because he is the only way they can be saved. To the believer, you have a seat at Jesus’ table — only by his grace and mercy. To those of you who may still not be sure of this whole Christianity thing — Jesus is offering you a seat at the table. He makes it clear that he has come to call you! Regardless of your past — regardless of what you think you’ve done to not deserve his love — regardless of who others say you are. Who does Jesus say you are?
Matthew 10:29–31 NLT
29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
My friends — there is someone here for you. Someone who is ready to destroy the shame and guilt that haunts you. Someone who loves you unconditionally. Someone who made you in their very image. Turn to the Father — embrace the grace offered by him. The good news is something will change when you do this — and it won’t be him.
What steps can you take to reach out to those in your life who may feel like misfits? How can you show the same grace and mercy that Jesus has shown you by inviting you to his table?
Is it reaching out to the family member that everyone else has disowned? What difference could you make in someone’s life who feels like they have no one left — by personally reaching out to check on them, or inviting them to your home. What example could you set for your own family by doing this? What generational curses could you break by knocking down the walls that bitterness, resentment, envy and hate try to build up around us. Jesus shows grace and mercy to the most reviled in Capernaum — and if we are to follow his example — to be disciples of Jesus we must embody this as well.
Now for our next point we’ll look at how Jesus draws people to him through the works of his ministry. Let's read from Mark chapter 3 verses seven through twelve. There we read…
Mark 3:7–12 ESV
7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
Jesus' ministry was so powerful that it attracted people from all different walks of life. People came from all of the surrounding places to hear what he had to say. When our Scripture here in verse seven says that Jesus withdrew with his disciples, they were just leaving Capernaum after Jesus had healed the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. Jesus had caused such an uproar with this act that the Pharisees immediately began planning on how to kill him. Jesus is having to withdraw to escape the religious authorities who were constantly putting him to the test and harassing Jesus.
But once Jesus had reached the sea, a “great crowd” had followed. Our text said they came from all over — Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, from Tyre and Sidon. Some of the places mentioned in our text — such as Idumea — would have been upwards of 120 miles due south. In our minds today we may be thinking — well that’s not terrible — but remember, they didn’t have cars! So for a great crowd to gather from places as far as 120 miles away speaks greatly into the impact of Jesus’ ministry.
One importantdistinction I don’t want us to miss here is in verse eleven. Let's read it one more time…
Mark 3:11 ESV
11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
You see, the crowds had shown up to witness the miracles that they had heard of. They had surrounded Jesus like you see the media surround celebrities on TV, just trying to get close enough for a sound byte or photo. But verse eleven captures the difference perfectly. It tells us that the crowds may be falling “on” him, but the unclean spirits were falling “before” him. They knew who Jesus was, even calling him the Son of God.
You see friends, it’s possible to be interested in Jesus, like the crowds were, but until we surrender to his Lordship we can’t call ourselves disciples of him.
The crowds were interested in receiving something from Jesus, instead of surrendering themselves to him. We may come to church on Sunday because we need help in our marriage, our finances, parenting, or anxiety, and while those are good reasons to seek out Christ, it’s not enough. Jesus calls for your surrender, to give all for him.
For our last point we’ll look at how even though Jesus chose disciples from all different backgrounds and walks of life, they were united in their purpose — to share the gospel — and to show the same love to others that Jesus has shown to us. In our next text we will see how Jesus carefully and purposefully considers those whom he has called to follow him. Let's read, starting in Mark chapter three verses thirteen through nineteen…
Mark 3:13–19 ESV
13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Jesus going up on the mountain in verse thirteen is more symbolic than one may think at first glance. Throughout the Gospel of Mark the mountain is used to mark significant events in the story of Jesus’s ministry. This is important because it shows the significance of Jesus calling his disciples.
In the next part of verse thirteen it’s made clear to us that Jesus determines the call. There is nothing you can do in your life to “will” Jesus into taking you under his discipleship. You don’t just get to decide to follow Jesus, but his call is greater than any other calls on your life. This diverse group of disciples have nothing in common except one thing — God’s sovereign calling on their lives — to follow Jesus. Jesus first chooses you — and then because of his irresistible grace — you will come to him, just as the disciples did when called.
Jesus chose a diverse group of men, but they were united in purpose. Their purpose is made clear in verses fourteen and fifteen.
Mark 3:14–15 ESV
14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.
One author points out that even though our translation uses the word “appointed” when referring to the twelve, the Greek says he “made” twelve. That to appoint someone is to merely select someone from an existing group and raise them to some new status. Jesus is not just selecting his disciples — he is making them into a new creation. He is making all things new in you, to prepare you to follow him — and to carry out his will.
Jesus first and foremost — before sending them out to preach, and before granting authority to cast out demons — says that they are “with him.” Before you can take on any “task” that Jesus may have called you to do, you must first know him, and be in a relationship with him. You may be serving here at the church, or in your community in some way. But have you missed step one?
Your relationship with the Son, Jesus Christ, matters more than anything else. That's why our Bible has this calling order. First you must know your Lord. We come to know our Lord Jesus through God’s Word. That’s why it’s so important to be in God’s Word daily. God’s Word is where he reveals himself to us.
Friends even though we all come from different places — we can all be united in the calling that Christ has put on our lives. Something like getting to know him intimately is not only something you should be doing on your own time, in daily devotional prayer and scripture reading — but something that we can do together as well — through Life Groups and Equip Classes. Jesus didn’t call one disciple. He called twelve. You don’t have to do this alone.
As we close, I’d like to point out that the big picture here today is that Jesus can call anyone to follow him. He called fishermen, zealots and tax collectors alike. Jesus — when he calls us — gives us our purpose. A purpose that isn’t wrapped up in the things of this world. We see Levi literally just get up and walk away from all that he had to follow Jesus when he was called. He gives us a purpose far greater than anything else we can imagine.
He has mercy for misfits like you and me. Lord knows I didn’t deserve — But I couldn’t have earned it anyway. There is nothing that you can do to receive God’s mercy and grace. He offers it freely.
Jesus led a ministry so strong that people came from hundreds of miles away just to see him perform the miracles they had all heard about. Those who showed up just to “see” may have had a good time — but those who showed up desperate, ready to leave everything behind to know this man named Jesus — they received everything.
No matter where we come from, or what we’ve done, we can take rest that none of it is in our control anyway. God gives a grace that cannot be earned — and issues a calling that — through the work of the Holy Spirit — you will not want to refuse.
Let’s pray.
Gracious Heavenly Father we lift the name of Jesus up today — we thank Jesus for his call on our lives. We thank him for being our teacher, our instructor, and corrector, and our Savior.
Father today I pray for those who aren’t sure about Jesus — for those who haven’t made that decision to follow him just yet. Who are still holding on to the things of this world. Holy Spirit I pray that you soften hearts today. I pray that you show them what a relationship with you can look like — and just how freeing it can be.
And for those who are on a journey with you Jesus I pray that they have the courage and strength to stay in the fight. That no matter what comes their way — they know that nothing else matters but you. Nothing that this world can throw at them is mightier than you. In Jesus name, Amen.
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