Following Jesus - Hook, Line And Sinker Series

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!