Following Jesus - Hook, Line, and Sinker
October 23, 2005
These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.
"Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
Luke 5:4
INTRO: Last week – fishing / following Jesus – same thing – “catch men”
• Thought after that message – “Now go fishing!”
• Felt I should talk about this matter of fishing a little more.
• “Lord – what is your heart on this matter?”
• “How do you want me to communicate this truth?”
• The following outline began to materialize - had a lot of fun!
How many fishermen? – if went fishing on opening day – serious fishermen
• Remember exhilaration of first fish?
• Or first fish your kids caught or grandkids?
• Nothing quite like it – not everyone convinced…
Why some don’t fish…
1. They don’t know how. - never been
2. They don’t want to. - indifference
3. They don’t like fish. - fish smell
4. They are afraid of the water. – Fear
a. Might drown
b. Might catch too big a fish (shark)
c. Might run the fish off for everyone else.
Well, I want to fish some day I’ll get around to it…
Fish Facts…
1. No one ever drifts into a lifestyle of fishing. - No one ever drifts into a
lifestyle of evangelism.
2. There are more fish being born everyday than there are being caught. –
Jesus said the fields are white unto harvest.
3. The primary reason that people are not catching fish is that they are not
fishing. - Less than 5% of Christians ever lead one soul to Christ.
4. The two main reasons that people do not catch fish are:
a. Don’t know how / Don’t see any need to fish.
The two main reasons that people do not share their faith are:
a. Don’t know how / Don’t see the need.
5. We need to learn how to fish.
a. Formal lessons
b. On the job training
Don’t be like the guy who… “knows how to saddle up but never rides…”
I want to encourage you to begin to fish – if don’t know how – I’m going to cover that this morning – but that won’t do any good if don’t see the need…
N eed - See it.
When Jesus called to follow – called to fish – professional fishermen – but didn’t know how to catch men – nor why – something Jesus would teach…
Jesus’ _Stated_ purpose.
LK 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed
me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
LK 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."n
• Good news that men could be reconciled to God.
• God’s design to catch men for Himself
Parables: Lost sheep, coins, son – “…rejoice with me – that which
was lost is now found…”
Some of Jesus’ own words…
MK 1:38 Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
JN 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." – always said He did the Fathers will – why came!
JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,n that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
JN 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
LK 19:9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
His stated purpose was to seek and save the lost, bring life eternal, preach!
Jesus’ _Imparted_ purpose.
It was always “Go..” - do the same!
Jn 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
JN 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Part of their training…
LK 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-twon others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
LK 10:8 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, `The kingdom of God is near you.
The Great Commission
MT 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inn the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
That’s His purpose imparted to you! - That’s your responsibility
The church’s _Accepted_ purpose.
AC 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
AC 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
AC 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
AC 11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
1CO 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
• Some – not all
The church is to continue the ministry of Christ to seek and save…
That’s the first thing you need to see!
E nter the lake. (READY)
Equipped…
Holy Spirit given…
It takes _TIME_.
• From splashing around to technician
• Go – you see the need – enter the lake…
It takes a _MENTOR_.
• Dad / Grandpa – strung, tied, baited, coached, netted, etc.
o Be around people who witness…
• Then you go solo – learning (Tuffrey Res. / jetty)
o Speak the Word of God yourself - boldly
• Train others – Greggy – children –
o Take someone with you…
It takes an _INVESTMENT_.
• From others stuff – to ownership (tackle, boat, etc.)
• Pocket testaments, tracts, etc.
• Just get started – some tracts at the back.
• Everyone take one – commit to hand it to someone this week.
READY? - Just GO – get started - Enter the lake – get wet!
T alk about Jesus. (WILLING)
Not just generic God – speak the Word of God boldly!
COL 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
• Why? - Purpose to catch – want them to take bait – hook, line, sinker
HOOK - A life that is _WINSOME_.
Transformed – what Jesus did for me – Testimony
LINE - A message that is _POWERFUL_.
The gospel – do you know?
RO 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,n just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."n
• P.O.G. – Power of God! – for salvation
• If not using line – just chumming – drawing crowd – not landing any fish!
• If no gospel – may draw crowd – but won’t catch men.- no salvation!
SINKER - Taking it to the “FISH”.
• The hook, the line – no good unless among the fish
• Got to put it all together where the fish are.
• Your sphere of influence
• Or a planned trip to a specific place for a specific fish
Are you willing? – Open your mouth – tell what God’s done for you! Hook
Open your mouth – tell what God’s done for them! Line
Put those two together where the fish are.
Put them together when He brings a fish to you.
2TI 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
• Fishing season won’t last forever! - “make most of every opportunity”
1 PET 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Willing to talk about Jesus? – only name given…
AC 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
S et the hook. (ABLE)
Lots of bites – but many not caught – not landed – hook not “set”
• Remember – catching fish is goal – not just wasting time on the lake
• Not catch and release – catch and commit.
• We want to set hook solidly – so we can land the fish.
Ask the diagnostic _QUESTIONS_.
To diagnose means – to analyze for the purpose of discovery.
• Questions help you to understand - if they understand
1. “If you were to die tonight, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven?”
2. “Let’s say you did die – standing before God – “Why should I let you into my heaven?” – “What would you say to Him?”
“Do you understand (agree w/God) that you are a sinner?”
“Are you willing to turn away from your sin?”
Give the _INVITATION_.
“Would you like to have your sins forgiven?”
Now reel them in!
• Baptism
• Church attendance
• Training Heart -Transformed
• Fellowship Head -Trained
• From fish to fishermen Hands -Engaged
Time is short… Season will end…
• Do you have loved ones, friends – need to be caught
• Have you been caught – are you in the boat?
Following Jesus - Hook, Line, and Sinker
October 23, 2005
"Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
Luke 5:4
N ______ - See it.
Jesus’ ____________ purpose.
Jesus’ ____________ purpose.
The church’s _____________ purpose.
E _______ the lake. (READY)
Equipped…
It takes ___________.
It takesa a _____________.
It takes an _______________.
T _______ about Jesus. (WILLING)
HOOK - A life that is _________________.
LINE - A message that is ________________.
&
SINKER - Taking it to the __“__________”_.
S _______ the hook. (ABLE)
Ask the Diagnostic _______________.
Give the ______________.
