Sermon for 7/14/2002
I’d fish more
Colossians 4:2-6
Introduction:
In the movie called the Dead Poet’s Society, Robin Williams plays the role of a teacher in an exclusive eastern prep school. On the first day of school, he takes the class of boys out into the hallway to look at the pictures of past, now dead, graduates of the school. He motivates them to learn and excel in life with the following words: "We are food for worms, Lads! Believe it or not each and every one of us in this room one day will stop breathing, turn cold, and die. Step forward and see these faces from the past. They were just like you are now. They believed they were destined for great things. Their eyes are full of hope. But, you see, gentlemen, these boys are not fertilizing daffodils. If you listen real close, you will hear them whisper their legacy to you. Lean it. What do you hear?" Then Robin says in an eerie grave-like voice, "Carpe Diem!" (Latin for seize the day) "Seize the day boys! Make your lives extraordinary!"
That’s good advice for every Christian! Seize the day while you may!
WBTU:
A. If I had to do it all over again, I would fish more. I haven’t put a line in the water while I have been here. My own fault.
A. Oh, let’s just forget it all and go fishing. I’d rather be fishing. Let’s just leave our troubles and disturbing thoughts behind and go fishing.
B. My grandpa and fishing. He taught me how to fish.
C. On my barber’s wall, there is a sign that says. The Lord created the world with 6X more water than land. Therefore, anybody can see that the Good Lord intended man to fish more than he works.
D. Fishing for fish is good for the soul.
E. I would think that if we kept on fishing, our whole lives would be wasted.
B. Wait a minute, I thought you said that fishing was the answer. Forget it all you said. I did. That is not the kind of fishing I’m talking about. I’m talking about being fishers of men. This is a worthwhile pursuit.
C. Jesus saw Peter and Andrew on the lake and he called to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." I’d fish more.
D. We have had a lot of decisions here. Oh, but I would fish more. This is what the Lord has created us to be fishers of men. Seize the day while you may!
A. My fishing sermon
B. We need to pick up the pole. We need to have the courage and faith to know that Jesus is the answer for many people’s problems. When the people begin to buck us much like fish, this pole, this confidence, will get us through.
C. We need to have a rod and reel. This will give us the ability to go and tell the message wherever it is possible. Some people may be only to have a cane pole but it is so much easier to have the ability to fish all over.
D. We need to have some fishing line; this is prayer and the Word of God, the Bible. Without a thorough knowledge of the Bible and a strong prayer life, our line will snap under the strain of the fish.
A. We need a hook. This hook for people is the goodness of God and the forgiveness of sins. This hook is the death of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection from the dead for our sins so that we could be set free. This is the central message the cross and the empty tomb.
H. We need a good church where we can keep the people we have caught. This is something that we as a church need to keep working on and that is getting people involved in the church and in service. We need to continually teach them and challenge them to go out and fish for themselves.
I. The bait that we use is our testimony. The goodness of God in our lives. What he has done for us. This is the bait. The fish are attracted to the bait because of their own needs in their lives.
J. We must have our bait look attractive. If our testimony and witness is nothing but negative and coming from a complaining attitude, we will not attract any fish.
K. It is the same way with the fisher of men, hook the fish. There must come a point when we see that their hearts are softened to the gospel that we must set the hook.
E. We also need a bobber, which is a sense of when people are ready to bite. We need to listen to others and communicate the message as we know best and then pay attention to them to see if they are ready to make a decision. This takes common sense and also prayer.
E. A lot of fishing is just paying attention and looking at the bobber.
F. Operation Andrew- I would fish more.
Thesis: In fishing for men, we need to look around, look up, look out, look forward, and look after.
For instances:
I. Look around.
A. By design, God has placed us near people where we live, work, or go to school who need Jesus Christ.
B. We need to view them as the pond where we fish. Throw out smelly fish attractive stuff.
C. We need to keep in our minds that people around us need Jesus Christ. Many times we do not do that.
D. (2 Cor 5:15 NIV) And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.(2 Cor 5:16 NIV) So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.
E. The waitress or waiter, clerks at the grocery store, mechanic, boss, those under us at work, mailman, UPS man, those relatives that drive you crazy. We regard them from a worldly point of view.
F. Went to the Taco Bell and the lady behind the counter asked about my shirt. Didn’t think anything about it.
G. Those who get mad with us or we get mad with them, many times we take our eyes off of the goal. Different attitude will hopefully change them.
H. As we look around at other people, many times we say that they are not worthy of our time. What a waste of time! Need to make time to look around.
I. Philippians 2:4- Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
J. More concerned about our own projects than people.
K. Those we come into contact with every day, make a deliberate attempt to fish, give them a few encouraging words, God bless you! Don’t worry if they are Christians or not Christians.
II. Look up.
A. God answers prayer!
B. Set aside time each day to pray for those we come into contact with that we want to influence.
C. Samuel said to Saul- 1 Samuel 12:23- Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.
D. Pray seven things for them. God will convict them of sin. Eyes, minds will be opened to the truth. Pray for ourselves as we witness to them, natural opportunities. Hearts will be softened to the gospel. Be protected from the enemy. Should have no peace until they find Christ. God will draw them to himself.
E. Keep on praying at all times for them, no matter what their reactions to the gospel are, show them his love.
F. Colossians 4:2-4
G. 1 Peter 3:15- Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
H. Sometimes they will ask us when we least expect it.
III. Look out.
A. Watch for ways to build friendships with these people and earn their confidence. Do some things together. An invitation to dinner or some sporting event, children event. Build bridges that can open the way to talk about Christ.
B. I bought basketball tickets at ECU to do this. I got a wife.
C. Must spend time, resources to build friendships.
D. Luke 16:8-9- For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
E. What does the world do for people who are willing to buy their products? Wine and dine them.
F. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside.
G. Jesus talked about giving a banquet for those unable to repay. Do good to those who need to hear the message. Build a storehouse of love. Tom Landy had friends who continued to love him. Felt embarrassed to refuse to go to a Bible study.
H. The soldier Cornelius invited all of his friends and close relatives to come and hear Peter speak about the gospel. He fed them and wined and dined them.
I. We need to stretch ourselves and make friendships with those who do not know Christ. This takes patience and tolerance.
J. Most of us have the problem with time. We are so busy. Weed out unessential responsibilities in our lives so that we will have room for people. We place possessions above people.
K. Many times people will talk freely about their faith or lack of it in a less formal setting.
IV. Look forward.
A. Think of events at the church and how we can invite people to these events.
B. Have a definite date in mind.
C. Jesus talked about in his parables how a man would have a banquet and invite guests and the guests would not come. If they do not come, invite some other people from your pond.
D. Many people will come if we invite them. Church growth secret: Invite.
E. Satan wants nothing more than to fill our hearts with fear and not ask anyone to come. He tells us that no one is interested. No one will take me seriously.
F. Follow through is the most important thing. They will come if we make them feel comfortable. If we have been praying. If we have shown them love.
G. Need to plan now what dates, how we will do it, etc.
H. Seize the day. Make the most of our chances to tell others the Good News, be wise in all our contacts with them.
V. Look after.
A. Stay close to those who respond to Christ. They need our encouragement more than ever.
B. Satan wants more than anything to snatch them away.
C. The difference between catching men and catching fish: We catch fish that are alive and they die, but we catch men that are dead and they are brought to life.
D. We need to nurture that life. We need to be their confidants and encouragement.
E. A little baby needs help and consolation and strength.
F. All of us need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. New believers have a lot of fear and trembling. We need to help them. They have a lot of questions. We need to be there to answer them.
G. Those who do not come to Christ now may later on, so continue to love them and pray for them.
H. Don’t be frustrated if nothing happens. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Some people it takes years.
I. Put out attractive bait and one day they might bite. It takes time.
J. Many times it takes more than one person, more than one message, and more than just a few acts of love.
K. Persevere for the sake of other’s souls.
L. Not just to answer them but to answer them well.
M. May our language always be filled with grace that is salt.
N. Recommend Christianity to them by all fit means.
Conclusion:
A. Parable of fishless fishermen.
Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
Week after week, month after month, and year after year, these, who called themselves fishermen, met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of a fisherman. Continually they searched for new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing. These fishermen built a large, beautiful building called "The Fishing Station." The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish. One thing they didn’t do, however, they didn’t fish.
After one stirring meeting in the Fishing Station on "The Necessity of Fishing," one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to other fishermen.
Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who don’t catch fish were really not fishermen, no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet it did sound correct. Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches a fish? Is one following if he isn’t fishing?
B. Many times in the church we talk about fishing, but how many are really fishing? No one who is fishing for men should come away skunked.
C. Ephesians 5:15-16- Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
D. One day there will be no more fishing. How many fish have you caught?
E. One day there will be no more chances to take the bait. Have you been hooked?
