Amen. Please join me in standing for the reading of God's Word. Our text for today comes from Matthew

chapter 4 verses 12 through 25. Again that's the gospel of Matthew chapter 4 verses 12 through 25. I'll read the text in its

entirety when I finish reading the text. I'm going to say this is the word of the Lord, at which point

I would appreciate very much if you would respond by saying thanks be to God. One final time,

our text today is the gospel according to Matthew chapter 4, verses 12 through 25. The Bible says

this. Now, when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving

Nazareth, he went and lived in

Kaepernon by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naftali, so that what was spoken by

the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naftali, the way of the

sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light. For those dwelling in the region and shadow

of death, on them a light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, repent, for the kingdom

of heaven is at hand. While walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called

Peter and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, follow me,

and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother. In the boat was Zebedee, their father,

mending their nets, and he called them.

Immediately they left the boat and their father

and followed him.

And he went throughout all Galilee,

teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming

the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every

affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick,

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