Hook, Line & Sinker Series

Hook, Line & Sinker 1 Peter 3:15

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN FISHING I AM SURE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FRUSTRATION OF A FISH JUST PLAYING WITH YOUR BAIT or LURE.

IT’S ANOYING…TAP, TAP, TAP! YOUR BOBBER SPINNING AROUND IN THE WATER MOVE BACK & FORTH…THE WHOLE TIME YOU’RE TALKING TO THE FISH…

“COME ON…TAKE IT…IF YOU WANT IT HERE IT IS COME & GET IT” BUT HE NEVER DOES! IT WILL AGGRAVATE YOU TO NO END!

EVERY FISHERMAN LIKE A FISH THAT TAKES THE BAIT OR LURE “HOOK, LINE & SINKER” I MEAN THERE’S NO DOUBT…THE ROD ALMOST LEAVES YOUR HAND…AGAIN YOU START TALKING “FLIPPER WANTS TO PLAY”!

ILLUSTRATION: I WAS WATCHING THE SHOW “YOU GOT TO SEE THIS”. THESE MEN WERE SHARK FISH OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA. THEY WERE WEARING THESE FISHING RIGGS THAT MADE YOU AND THE ROD ONE. NOW IF YOUR OBI-ONE-KANOBI or YODA TRAINING JEDDI KNIGHTS THAT WHOLE ONENESS THING OK. BUT IF YOU’RE 25 MILE OFF THE COAST IN A BOAT FISHING FOR FISH THAT WEIGH 100’S OF POUNDS MORE THAN YOU FORGET THAT. ALL OF A SUDDEN A SHARK HIT WE’RE TALKING HOOK, LINE, SINKER & MAN ALL WENT RIGHT OVERBOARD…FORUANTELY HE WAS FREED BUT WHAT A FISH STORY!

WELL IN SOME WAYS WHEN WE FISH FOR MEN FOR THAT IS WHAT JESUS HAS CALLED US TO DO…. ‘Come, I will make you fishers of men”. Matthew 4:19

WE HAVE THOSE WHO SORT OF PLAY WITH US…THEY SEEM INTERESTED…THEY NIBBLE AT TRUTH BUT NEVER TAKE IT.

IT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING FOR YOU KNOW THEY ARE SO CLOSE TO ETERNAL LIFE YET THEY WALK AWAY FROM IT.

WELL THIS MORING I WANT US TO CONSIDER HOW TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE IT HOOK, LINE & SINKER…

BY THAT I MEAN, HOW CAN WE SHARE OUR FAITH EFFECTIVELY.

1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Here are 3- things you can do to prepare yourself to be the fisher-of-men God has called you to be! First of all...

I. Know What You Believe. “Always be prepared to give…the reason for the hope that you have”

I BELIEVE THE REASON MANY DO NOT FISH FOR MEN IS THEY SIMPLY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY BELIEVE. HOW CAN YOU SHARE W/ CONFIDENCE SOMETHING YOU DON’T KNOW or ARE NOT SURE ABOUT! THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS…YOU CAN’T!

PETER’S ENCOURAGEMENT HERE IS THIS…. - KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE - WHY YOU BELIEVE IT AND - HOW TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS

John 5:39

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

WE MUST HANDLE THE WORD OF TRUTH CORRECTLY! OUR FAITH, HOPE AND ETERNITY ARE BASED ON THE SACRIFICAL & ATONING DEATH OG JESUS CHRIST GOD’S ONLY SON.

IN ORDER TO SHARE THAT TRUTH WITH OTHERS WE MUST KNOW & OWN THAT TRUTH OURSELVES!

If you want a quick summary of what Christians believe, I suggest learning the Apostle’s Creed which was developed between the 2nd & 9th centuries and for many was their statement of faith.

Some congregations recite this every week, which is a great idea, because it outlines the fundamentals of our faith.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. The third day he arose from the dead and he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church [note: that’s catholic with a "little c" referring to the universal church consisting of all followers of Christ], the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

- MY FRIEND YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR FAITH EFFECTIVELY? - DO YOU WANT OTHERS TO COME TO FAITH? - AS YOU FISH FOR JESUS DO YOU WANT THEM TO TAKE IT HOOK, LINE & SINKER

THEN KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE & WHY YOU BELIEVE IT THEN SHARE IF WITH BONDNESS