Fishers Of Men/Women Series

Chapel: Feb 2, 2022

Topic: “Fisher of Men/Women”

Illustrations: Introducing the fishing lifestyle and scenario to the students.

How many have ever watch shows about fishing or fisherman? Shows like “Wicked Tuna” – “The Bering Sea” “River Monsters” and the like? “Life Below Zero” (Hands)

Pull out Fishing pole, tackle box – cast the lure – how many have ever gone fishing? (Hands)

Pull out Net! This is how they fished in Jesus day!

If you have never gone fishing how many have played the game of “Fish?” - demonstrate card game?

I want you to say, “Fish and fishing!”

Background of our text for today:

In the time of Jesus Fishing was the main source of income in the area of Capernaum where Jesus was living at the time – it was the largest fishing village on the Lake of Galilee. The Bible has about 50 references to boats, fishing and this lifestyle in the New Testament. Fishing was as common as being a fast food worker in a restaurant, construction workers or office worker. It was a huge business in this area of Israel and a main source of income. The fish would be caught by the fisherman and shipped as dried fish all over the Roman empire – the officials in Rome looked at Galilean dried fish as a delicacy. Many of the disciples of Jesus were former fishermen and grew up surrounded by the trade of fishing - to be exact 7 of them were connected with fishing.

- There was Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, even Thomas, Philip and Nathaniel were said to be fishermen.

- 4 of them were called to follow Jesus in the famous story told in the Bible of Jesus asking these first four disciples to leave their life as fishermen - who catch fish- to become fishers of men. They were actually called by Jesus while they were working – yes, while they were practicing their trades and making a living.

T.S. - Lets read the two passages:

1. Jesus calling the first disciples - fishermen to become not just fishers of fish but fishers of men and women:

o Mark 1:14-20: The Calling of the First Disciples

? 14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

? 15“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

? 16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

? 17“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

? 18At once they left their nets and followed him.

? 19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.

? 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

o Luke 5: 1-11: The Calling of the First Disciples is another take on this famous calling but Luke adds a few more details to the story:

? 1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,

? 2he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

? 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

? 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

? 5Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

? 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

? 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

? 8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

? 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

? 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”

? 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

o Video Illustration: Son of Man clip with Peter and Jesus fishing!

? What stands out to you from this Biblically true story of Jesus asking Peter to go fishing with him, and Him asking the other 4 men to follow Him so they could catch men and women with the Gospel (See The net). Jesus wanted them to be fishing (men/women not fish in doing so they would be, “Changing the World?”