What Happens When Fishermen Don’t Fish?
Matthew 4:18-22 NIV
[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.
This is the gospel account of how Jesus enlisted four of the 12 disciples. One third of the team is called right here, right out of the fishing business. And the appeal Jesus used was quite simple. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
These guys have been scouring the lakes in hopes of catching a few fish. But from now on they would invest their lives to something with eternal significance. They will become fishers of men.
The truth of the matter is that Jesus has called all of us to be fishers of men. And when we do that, we are continuing the work that Jesus began when He walked the face of this earth.
Luke 19:10 NIV
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Christ’s purpose in coming was to seek and to save lost people! His key objective was not to bring comfort, happiness, healing, contentment, wealth or power. His goal in coming to this earth was to seek and to save that which was lost.
John 20:21 NIV
Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
We have been called to carry on the work of Christ.
This is not an isolated call that relates to just a few. This is an appeal to every believer. We all have a part. We all have responsibility.
Don’t worry! I am not here to beat up on you for not witnessing. I am not going to try to shame you into sharing your faith. My goal this morning is to remind you of God’s will for all of us and offer some simple strategies that all of us can follow as we obey Him.
The Apostle Paul was a great soul winner. He followed the example of Jesus. And he goes on to call us to follow Him as he followed Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Initial Observations:
1. If Jesus’ #1 priority was to seek and save that which was lost…
2. And we claim to be followers of Christ…
3. And Jesus called us to continue the work He began…
4. Then, we too must make evangelism our #1 priority.
We, like Peter, must become fishers of men!
But there is a problem.
Most Christians aren’t concerned with fishing.
Most Churches aren’t concerned with fishing.
The truth of the matter is that while most churches give lip service to seeing the lost come to Jesus, many have gone year after year without a single conversion due to the evangelistic impact of the church in the community.
If they were brutally honest, many churches would have to admit that they gave up on fishing a long time ago. Oh, they’re willing to accept a fish if it leaps into the boat by itself, but they’re not willing to cast their nets and work to pull them in.
Churches are playing musical saints a lot these days. People get mad at church A and go to church B. Can it be said with integrity that church B is really growing if is no true conversion growth?
Soul winning is not a priority in many churches and that sad reality is reflected in the lives of many Christians. Just take a look at the activities on the calendar, the priorities in the budget and the focus of their attention. Sometimes what we say and what we do are two different things. In far too many churches and in the lives of far too many Christians, we may talk about reaching the lost, but the sad reality is that few ever do it.
Let me share with you a Parable: A PLEA FOR FISHING:
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, 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 the primary task of fishermen.
Continually, they searched for new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing. Further, they said, "The fishing industry exists by fishing as fire exists by burning." They loved slogans such as "Fishing is the task of every fisherman." They sponsored special meetings called "Fishermen’s Campaigns" and "The Month for Fishermen to Fish." They sponsored costly nationwide and world-wide congresses to discuss fishing and to promote fishing and to hear about all the ways of fishing, such as the new fishing equipment, fish calls, and whether any new bait had been discovered.
These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings called "Fishing Headquarters." 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.
In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. The board hired staffs and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams should be thought about. But the staff and committee members did not fish.
Large, elaborate training centers were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years, courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, where to find fish, the psychological reactions of fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology, but the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing. Year after year, after tedious training, many were graduated and were given fishing licenses. They were sent to do full-time fishing, some to distant waters which were filled with fish.
Many who felt the call to be fishermen responded. They were commissioned and sent to fish. But, like the fishermen back home, they never fished. Like the fishermen back home, they engaged in all kinds of other occupations. They built power plants to pump water for fish and tractors to plow new waterways. They made all kinds of equipment to travel here and there to look at fish hatcheries. Some also said that they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called to furnish fishing equipment.
Others felt their job was to relate to the fish in a good way so the fish would know the difference between good and bad fishermen. Others felt that simply letting the fish know they were nice, land-loving neighbors and how loving and kind they were was enough.
After one stirring meeting on "The Necessity for Fishing,” one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported that 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. He was also placed on the Fishermen’s General Board as a person having considerable experience.
Now it’s true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day.
They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen’s clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen, yet never fished. They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the weekly meetings to talk about fishing. After all, were they not following the Master who said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"?
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 fishermen if, year after year, he never catches fish? Is one following if he isn’t fishing?
Let’s see what happens When Fishermen Don’t Fish…
1. They have a tendency to Fight. (Matthew 20:20-24)
We have all seen this. You have seen it at work, at school at home. When we forget our purpose we begin to flounder and fight and argue over some very incidental things.
That’s what happened with the disciples in Matthew 20. A misplaced focus is also evident in Mark 9.
Mark 9:34 NIV
But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
When the focus is misplaced, there is a tendency to get wrapped up in pettiness, power struggles and selfish arguments. That’s what happens when Christ’s disciples are not concerned with fishing and winning the lost! Our concerns shift to power, control, territory and prestige.
If you want to know whether a church is fishing or following Christ, just take a look at how much fighting is going on inside. (Barometer to Church)
When a church is characterized by fussing, fighting, bickering, nit picking, hard feelings, hurt feelings, whining and complaining, then church has lost its focus!
But when the church is united behind the purpose of reaching the lost, then all kinds of wonderful things begin to happen and there is a spirit of unity and love and expectancy that is absent in churches who do not make evangelism a priority.
The Church of Jesus Christ has been called to continue what Jesus began. We are called to seek and to save that which was lost. We are not here for ourselves. We are here to reach a lost and dying world. As Christians, it is up to us to continue the work that Jesus himself began. It may be costly, it may be uncomfortable but it is our mandate from the Master!
Do you ever think how it must break the heart of God to see what goes on in so many churches today and in the hearts and lives of so many Christians? People get all up tight over so many things. People check out on the church in a moment’s notice, over some very petty, very selfish, often quite carnal issues at times.
Nobody has ever left the church because more people weren’t being saved. I have heard some pretty lame excuses about why people leave the church. A lot of it is really very self centered. But never is it about reaching the lost.
Too many times in too many places, the church has squabbled internally and lost its focus on the true mission of Christ while a lost and dying world marches on to a Christ-less eternity. I think satan loves that. His goal is not to get us to decide we won’t evangelize. He knows that no Christian would do that. But if he can get the church to sit around and argue over less significant matters and consume all of their time and energy and resources on issues that have no eternal significance, with that he will be pleased. I believe we’ll be held accountable for Fighting instead of Fishing!
When Fishermen Don’t Fish, they not only Fight…
2. They Flee! (Matthew 26:69-75)
You remember the story of Peter checking out after he had denied Christ for the third time. Peter ran when times got tough. He checked out when persecution came!
Things didn’t go like he planned. It didn’t look like what he thought it should look. But this was why Jesus came, to die for the sins of the world. But Peter lost sight of the goal, he lost sight of the purpose and he ran.
Churches and Christians today often do the same thing. When we lose sight of our call to fish for men, we tend to flee from every little problem! Little things can make us cut and run! We can’t stand adversity because we’ve lost sight of our purpose
But if we can simply remember our purpose, to be fishers of men, and if we will concentrate on that, then we can overcome any challenge that comes our way.
Perhaps you heard about the problem they had in Wyoming a few years ago. They had a serious problem with timber wolves. It finally got so bad that the state government offered a $5,000 bounty on each wolf that was captured alive. That turned Sam and Jed into bounty hunters! Day and night they scoured the mountains looking for wolves.
One night they were absolutely exhausted. They fell asleep by their campfire dreaming about the fortune they would make capturing wolves. Suddenly, Sam awoke to see that they were surrounded by 50 wolves with flaming eyes and bared teeth.
He nudged his friend and said, “Sam, wake up, we’re rich!” Jed was seeing things from a very unique perspective!
When we focus on fishing we’ll see things from a new perspective too and we will handle problems differently and we won’t flee when times get hard!
When fishermen don’t fish, not only do they Fight and Flee, but they:
3. They Forget. (John 21:1-3)
John 21:1-3 NIV
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: [2] Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. [3] "I’m going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We’ll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
After all Jesus had taught Peter! After all the miracles he’d seen, the lives that had been changed, he seems to have forgotten everything and said, “I’m going out to fish” He’s returning to his past, to the life he knew best. The Fisher of Men had once again become just a fisherman!
Summary Thoughts:
When fishermen don’t fish, they forget the things of God!
Their wants often become more important than God’s will!
Their selfish desires become paramount to God’s decrees!
Sometimes I wonder if the church’s greatest enemy really is on the outside. (Tim Gates report from Willow Creek – 35% thought about quitting). If the church is to be destroyed, or rendered ineffective and stagnant, it could happen at the hands of its own people as they lose sight of their foundation, their purpose, and their reason for existing.
Well, I don’t want to leave you thinking of Peter as the failed fisher of men! He is so much like so many of us. He had his ups and downs. We have looked at some of the downs today, but I’m happy to report that Peter regained his focus on what was important! He decided that he’d rather fish for men than fight, flee or forget!
He preached a great message in Acts 2. And then the response to that message is recorded in Acts 2:41.
Acts 2:41 NIV
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The powerful results of effective evangelism. Souls saved, lives changed. My prayer is that we will see it more and more at Seymour First in the years to come.
We are constantly trying to fulfill Our Mission: “To Make and Mature Disciples of Jesus Christ.” That objective has been coming into sharper focus.
Here are three tangible/practical ways we will do that this fall:
1. Servant Evangelism Projects
The theme for this type of ministry is “Small Things Done With Great Love Will Change The World.”
Demonstrate SE Cards – One per person if you promise you will use it this week. Pray for God to show you how you can do it. Don’t limit your thinking to what the card says.
What if only 200 people take a card and use all three connection cards before next Sunday? 600 personal contacts will be made this week. I doubt that has ever happened before. This really is about the church being the church.
2. Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames – (September 9-11)
HGHF is the greatest tool for evangelism that I have ever seen. Don’t limit your thinking. Yes, we have done this before. But, we are better prepared and better equipped for this event than ever before. Please join me in praying every day for lost people to come to know Jesus through this event. Many of the 350 whose names were submitted here at this altar recently will come to know Christ September 11-13. I believe that!
Here are just some of the ways that you can be involved.
a. Pray
b. Invite – Tickets and Posters
c. Participate
a. Children’s Ministry – Nursery
b. Drama participants
c. Stage crew - We need helpers to unload and set up on Friday, September 9 around noon.
d. Prepare and serve meals.
e. Follow Up – We need to help them get plugged in.
d. Give – There are a lot of needs right now. Tithe, Building Fund (Antique Mall, Commercials, HGHF, etc.) Write HGHF on the memo.
3. 40 Days of Community (September 25 – November 6)
A discipleship strategy that will build on relationships and provide an opportunity for intentional spiritual growth.
Here are just some of the ways that you can be involved.
a. Pray for this ministry.
b. Host a group.
c. Facilitate a group.
d. Attend a group – Our goal is 100% participation for 6 weeks. Just give it a try for six weeks. Please do that. Somebody said they were going to have to find a church to attend on Sunday night. I hope you won’t do that. You’ll be the loser if you do. There is a blessing that awaits you from being involved in this type of ministry. Give it a try!
Missions Projects.
40 Days of Community will initiate a small group ministry that will provide for intentional discipleship and relationship building. I am convinced that spiritual growth does not happen in the lives of believers because there is not an intentional and specific plan in palace to see it happen.
Our mission is to make and mature disciples. We want to see people come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and we want to help believers grow in their walk with Christ. Whether you have been a Christian for 50 years, or you’re a new believer or you haven’t even made a decision for Christ yet. You’re thinking about it. You’re checking it out. We are trying to provide a place for you to establish and grow in your relationship with Christ.
This decision to move to small groups has been met with a lot of support. It has been met with some disappointment and a few questions. We expected that and it is OK.
The most important point I can make about this decision is that it has been Spirit led. It has been a tough decision. It has taken many of us beyond our comfort zone. Myself included. But I believe the Lord is already using this ministry and we are on the edge of something great.
We’re talking about becoming fishers of men. This is just the beginning. We are not going to talk about fishing. We are going to do it. I hope you will be a part.
From what I have explained this morning, there is something that every person here can do, if you are willing. Let’s pray for God to guide us.
