Sermon Central
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Fishing: A Beginner's Guide
Contributed by Thomas Showalter on Jul 7, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus called some of his disciples to be "fisher’s of men". What does that look like comparing it to real fishing.
Fishing: A Beginner’s Guide
The Calling of the First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Introduction: When Jesus called his first disciples, he told them what their primary purpose was going to be: “Come follow me and I will make you fisher’s of men.” If we are to be followers of Jesus, will our purpose be any different? The Bible is about the redemption of mankind. (First 2 chapters and last 2 chapters=complete story)
Lesson 1:The Equipment
I To fish, one must have the right equipment.
A. Your commitment
B. Your call to Jesus
1. John 9:25 He replied, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
2. Rev 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony
II. Go
A. You can’t fish in your living room.
Lesson 2: The Bait
I. Must be Attractive
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
II. Different bait for Different fish
A. Why different bait or equipment?
1. Sometimes stick and string, waders, flies and lures, nets, harpoons.
2. As fishers of men, we have to use different methodology, no plan is full proof.
Lesson 3: The Cast
I. John 4:4-14;39 “Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
A. We must be where people are and look for opportunities to be “a friend of sinners” a friend to the hurting, etc.
Lesson 4: Patience and perseverance
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
II. There are no guarantees
A. You can’t save anyone, it’s all about what God has done and not about what you have done.
B. God calls, you fish!
