"I Go A Fishing”

For example, one of the question that we ask often as we greet someone.

• How are you?

• How’s your day going?

In asking this question to greet people, is this just a social exchange are do we really care about that person when we ask this question to someone?

Personally, when I ask HOW ARE YOU DOING I have I have tried to make it more than a social greeting.

Illus: We are told that even a dog can tell if we like them or not. And I believe when we ask that question to someone they know if we really care how they are doing.

Illus: Former president Bill Clinton is known for being in a crowded room but when he greeted someone he had a way of making them feel like they were the only person in the room and they had his full attention.

In other words he made them feel like he really cared for them!!!

As a Christian I want the person I am greeting to REALLY KNOW I CARE ABOUT THEM; when I ask them HOW ARE YOU DOING:

We read in the scriptures where Jesus asked many questions.

For example, He asked…

• “Who do people say I am?

• Who do you say I am?”

• In Mark 8:23, he said to a blind man. Do you see anything?

• In Luke 7:44, he said, Do you see this woman?

• In John 8:10 he said, Is there no one to condemn you?

• In Luke 14:3 He said. Does the Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?

• In John 5:6 He asked a paralyzed man: Do you want to get well?

Now you might wonder why He ask question since He is Omnipotent and know all things.

The purpose of asking a question is to gain knowledge but when you are omnipotent and know everything there is no need to ask a question.

Why did Jesus ask questions?

Illus: There was a guy named Socrates (SOCK-r'-teaze) who also asked a lot of questions. It was his style; he wanted the other person to get to the conclusion himself, not be dragged to it. We call this way of teaching the Socratic Method.

JESUS Was a Master of asking QUESTION.

(1) He ask questions to educate people the same way a school teacher ask questions.

(2) He used them to engage people and draw them in.

(3) He used questions to blunt attacks by the religious authorities of the day, turning confrontations into an opportunity to teach.

But let me show you another question in John 21:1-6 he asked, we read, After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Notice the question the Lord asked these disciples who were fishing. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?

In this sermon, I would like to look at a fishing story that sounds exaggerated, BUT IT IS TRUE STORY!

What happened on this fishing trip was so miraculous that if it wasn’t recorded in the Bible, we would not believe it.

Let me show you several things about Peter’s fishing trip. First, notice...

I. HIS DECISION

Peter said, “I go a-fishing.”

You have to watch these fishermen, if they get a chance to go fishing…THEY WILL GO!

Illus: A young boy came to School late. His teacher knew that he was usually very prompt and asked him if anything was wrong.

• The boy replied that he was going fishing but his dad told him that he needed to go to school.

• The teacher was very impressed and asked the boy if his dad had explained to him why it was more important to go to school than to go fishing.

• The boy replied, "Yes he did. Dad said he didn't have enough bait for both of us."

WHEN DID PETER DECIDE TO GO FISHING?

As most of you know, TIMING IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO FISHING!