Behold, I Will Make You Fishers Of Men Series

I. Introduction

A. "So, what's the matter?" asked one woman of her friend over coffee. "I thought you just got back from a nice relaxing fishing trip with your husband." "Oh, everything went wrong," the second woman answered. "First, he said I talked so loud I would scare the fish. Then he said I was using the wrong bait; and then that I was reeling in too soon. "All that might have been all right; but to make matters worse, I ended up catching the most fish!"

B. What kind of person does Christ call?

1. Our passage, this morning, shows that Christ calls ordinary people who will simply make themselves available to Him.

2. Look at where Jesus called His first disciples.

3. They were not in a religious or learning center or a learning center.

4. Neither were they in a position of authority or power

a. They didn’t have wealth or financial security.

b. They were out in the work-a-day world.

c. This is not to de-emphasize the importance of religion or of learning, but it does teach at least two things.

(1) First, position and power, wealth and security, religion and learning can hurt and keep a person away from God.

(a) Such things can make a person so self-confident and assured that he becomes useless to God.

(b) God is unable to work His power through him.

(c) The man's own abilities and energy block God's gifts and power from flowing through him.

(2) Second, God can use and call anyone who is really available

(a) Whether religious or otherwise

(b) Whether educated or other wise

(c) Whether ordinary or extraordinary

(d) The main ingredient is to be available and willing to respond to God’s call

C. Our passage is outlined like this

1. The first men called (v.18-20).

a. They were brothers who worked together

b. They were industrious workers

c. They were called to follow Jesus

d. They were called to another work

e. They were responsive

2. The second men called (v.21-22)

a. They were obedient sons working with their father,

b. They seemed to be a closely knit family

c. They were industrious

d. They were simply called

e. They were responsive

f. They left their livelihood and family

(1) Let us begin by turning to Matthew 4:18 - 20

II. Body

A. The first twp men called

Matthew 4:18-20 (NKJV)

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. {19} Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." {20} They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

1. We know they were Andrew and Simon

a. These two men had some traits that show what kind of person is called by Christ

b. First, Andrew and Simon were brothers who worked together

(1) The fact that they were working together says at least three things.

(a) They had good parents who had taught them to love and care for one another

(b) They came from a closely knit family, a family that worked together

(c) They followed and obeyed the teaching of their parents and maintained a brotherly spirit throughout life.

i) Turn to John 1:40-41

(2) It was Andrew who first learned of the Christ and the first person Andrew thought of was his brother Simon

John 1:40-41 (NKJV)

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. {41} He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).

c. The disciples' brotherly and cooperative spirit shows us a few things

(1) First, The need for a brotherly spirit, the kind of spirit Christ desires of His followers.

(a) Turn to John 15:12

(2) Second, The kind of kingdom Christ is building is a kingdom of followers with a brotherly spirit

John 15:12 (NKJV)

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

(3) Third, The need for reaching families for Christ, brothers and sisters reaching each other.

(a) Turn to Proverbs 22:6

(4) Fourth, The need for parents to train up their children in the way they should go

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

(a) The Lord knows what it is to love a child who wanders from their earliest training

(b) This is a promise, a promise from God to faithful parents

i) Lets turn to Luke 15:17

ii) When the child grows into an adult, there will, very often, come a time when that child strays

iii) God’s promise is not that the child will not stray