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?”
• Question: Would you like to change this world? Do you think you could change the world – especially if Jesus said He would help you do this?
o We see how Jesus convinced Peter and the other disciples that they could actually change the world for good. Why? Because Jesus had the power to do miracles – like bringing all the fish into Peter’s nets.
o If Jesus calls us to be fisher people - He will empower us to change the world by following Him – we are just asked by Him to trust Him and follow Him – to do what He directs us to do – He will provide us with the fish to catch.
o Application: Jesus wants us to become fishers of men and women – of other boys and girls and not just fish for fish but for others who need to know Jesus’ love and truth.
? How do we do this?
• We tell others what Jesus has done for us!
• We share the stories of the Bible with others!
• We tell people how much Jesus loves them!
• We pray for others!
• We help others!
• We are nice to other people and respectful to other people!
2. Note: About Peter - He messed up – but even if we mess up – Jesus is there to forgive us and give us another chance – Just liked he did for Peter.
o John 21: 1-25: Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish (we have another fishing story)
? 1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way:
? 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
? 3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
? 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
? 5He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
? 6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
? 7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
? 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
? 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
? 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
? 11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
? 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
? 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
? 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
? Jesus Reinstates Peter: 15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
? 16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
? 17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
? 18I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
? 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
? 20Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)
? 21When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
? 22Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
? 23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
? 24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
? 25Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
• Peter after denying Jesus – Note – Just like Jesus predicted – thought I might as well return to my former career of fishing because I blew it with Jesus!
o He will never forgive me for abandoning Him – denying Him. Rejecting Him in his darkest hour.
o He may have thought there is no forgiveness for me – a sinner – I sinned I denied Jesus and I know better!
o So off he goes with the other disciples to go fishing!
o But Jesus shows up to show Peter that even though he failed – made a mistake – denied Jesus He was forgiven – and the calling Jesus gave him in the beginning was still there – He did not lose it – He would be a fisher of men as Jesus said!
? He was to repent – reaffirm his commitment to Jesus!
? Application: We will all blow it at some time – But we must learn to repent of our sins to Jesus – He will always forgive us, restore us and help us to fulfill His call to change the world – Yes, we can miss it, make a mistake – even sin – but we must get back on track with Jesus – change our path – recommit ourselves to Him and admit our wrong. Then the door is open for His grace and mercy.
Conclusion: How to be a fisher of men and women / boys and girls?
# Go tell other people about Jesus.
# Share what Jesus has done for you.
# Pray for others!
# Help others in need!
# Follow Jesus faithfully!
Illustration to close: Do what this soldier did: A fine lad entered the Army. He faced a real test the first night he went to be in the barracks. He had formed the commendable habit of placing his Bible on his bed at home, and kneeling down to read a chapter while having his daily prayer time before retiring. Surrounded by scores of rough men in the one great company room, many of them cursing and jesting loudly, he thought it might be wiser to go to bed and then read his Bible where nobody would notice it. But he told himself, “I am a Christian, and I ought to give these fellows a testimony. I won’t strike my colors; I’ll do just as I did at home!” So the courageous youngster undressed, got into his sleeping garments, and spread his Bible on his cot. He kneeled down and started to read, and in two minutes the barracks got as quiet as a church. He felt like a goldfish in a glass bowl… After a while the talk began again, and nothing was said about his odd behavior. But the next night when he again opened his Bible and knelt to read, eight other boys dug out their Bibles and did the same. Within a month every man in that outfit would have fought for that boy. They brought their troubles and their questions to him to be settled, and he influenced more men for Christ in that one barracks than half a dozen chaplains could have moved in a year of Sundays. -----From Miracles at Morning Cheer, by Harry Rimmer
