🎣 Week 2: Know Your Bait
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🧭 Introduction (pass out the outline)
“If you’ve ever gone fishing, you know there are two kinds of folks: those who catch fish... and those who just catch a nap!”
Now, I’m not saying I’ve fallen asleep on a boat — but let’s just say, I’ve come home more than once with an empty cooler, a tangled line, and a great story that wasn’t exactly true. But here’s the thing — I learned really quick: you can’t catch fish using the wrong bait.
You don’t go out into saltwater with a freshwater strategy. You don’t use a Barbie pole and marshmallows and expect to reel in a 40-pound catfish. That might work on YouTube... but not in the real world. In fishing, bait matters.
And guess what? It’s the same in spiritual fishing. Jesus called us to be fishers of men — but some of us are out here trying to reach people with stale bait, old tactics, or worse — no bait at all! We’ve got the greatest message in the world — the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ — but sometimes we’re not presenting it in a way people can understand or relate to.
📖 That’s where the Apostle Paul comes in. In 1 Corinthians 9:22 he said:
“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
Paul understood something powerful: the message never changes — but the method has to reach the people you’re fishing for.
Today’s world is full of all kinds of “fish” — different backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and questions. Some are swimming in hurt, some in confusion, some in pride, and others in brokenness. And we’re not going to reach them by throwing the same old bait and hoping for a miracle.
We need to be strategic with love, wise with our witness, and bold with compassion. Because when we use the bait that speaks to the heart, God brings the catch that fills the net.
So today, we’re going to dig into:
• How to identify the right “bait” for the people around us,
• How Paul modeled cultural awareness without compromising holiness,
• And how you can become a better “fisher of men” starting right now — with the people already in your life.
Now grab your spiritual tackle box — we’re about to bait the hook!
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📖 I. The Message Never Changes, But the Method Must
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
🧠 Breakdown & Analysis
? Verse 19 — Paul's Freedom and Servanthood
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”
• Key Point: Paul was free — no one controlled him. Yet he chose to become a servant to all people for the sake of winning souls.
• Modern Interpretation: "I could do my own thing, but I willingly humble myself to meet people where they are so I can lead more to Christ."
• Cross-reference:
o Galatians 5:13 – "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
o Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”.
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? Verse 20 — Adapting to the Jews
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
• Key Point: Paul identified with Jewish customs (like observing the law) to gain credibility and access among Jews, even though he knew Christ fulfilled the Law.
• Modern Interpretation: "When I’m with traditional folks, I respect their ways so I can share the message without unnecessary offense."
• Example: Paul circumcised Timothy (Acts 16:3 (NIV) 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.) to avoid hindrance among Jews, even though it wasn’t required for salvation.
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? Verse 21 — Reaching Gentiles (those outside the Law)
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
• Key Point: Among Gentiles (non-Jews), Paul didn’t impose Jewish traditions. He operated in liberty, yet still followed Christ’s law (not lawless, but grace-led).
• Modern Interpretation: "I don’t bring church lingo to the barber shop — I speak their language, but I still live right."
• Cross-reference:
o Romans 8:2 – "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
o Galatians 6:2 – 2 Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.
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? Verse 22 — Meeting the Weak Where They Are
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
• Key Point: Paul didn’t flaunt his strength or knowledge. He sympathized with the struggling, immature, or doubting believers to encourage them in faith.
• Modern Interpretation: "If someone’s struggling with faith or temptation, I don’t hit them with theology — I sit with them in their pain and show God’s love."
• Cross-reference:
o Romans 14:1 – "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations."
o 1 Thessalonians 5:14 – "14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men."
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? Verse 23 — The Motivation: The Gospel
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
• Key Point: Paul’s flexibility and humility weren’t for popularity but to spread the Good News. He wanted to be a partner in the blessing of salvation with others.
• Modern Interpretation: "It’s not about me being right — it’s about doing whatever it takes (without compromising truth) to see someone come to Jesus."
• Cross-reference:
o Philippians 1:18 – " 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." Their pretence was that they preached the gospel because they believed it true and loved it; their real object was to build up a party, and to diminish the influence and authority of Paul.
o Romans 1:16 – " 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
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• Paul wasn’t watering down the Gospel — he was widening the net.
• Culture, context, and compassion all play a role in effective evangelism.
• Jesus didn’t approach Nicodemus the same way He approached the woman at the well.
Modern Hook:
“If you’re still trying to reach TikTok teens with cassette tape sermons, it’s time to update your tackle box!”
Application:
• The message of Christ never changes.
• But how we communicate it must adapt to the people we’re reaching.
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🎯 II. Know Who You’re Fishing For
• A good fisherman studies the fish: what they eat, where they gather, and what attracts them.
• Paul says, v.20 “I became…” — he stepped into the world of others without compromising his identity in Christ.
• (Acts 16:3 (NIV) 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.)
Modern Connection:
“You can’t win a tech-savvy generation using an 8-track strategy. Learn their language, enter their world — bring light, not lectures.”
Examples:
• For the skeptical intellectual: Reason and evidence.
• For the hurting soul: Compassion and presence.
• For the rebellious youth: Authenticity and love.
Practical Tip:
• Ask yourself: “What are the needs, fears, and questions of the people around me?”
• Let your bait be understanding, not judgment.
• Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
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III. Use Bait, Not a Bat
• We are called to attract, not attack.
• Too often, Christians try to “catch” people by swinging truth like a club — but it’s the kindness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:1-4 1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?).
Modern Challenge:
“Don’t beat people up with the Bible — bait them in with love, and then show them the Savior, and they’ll want to know the one you know.”
Scriptural Reminder:
• Colossians 4:6 — “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Catch This:
• Be wise enough to know when to speak… and when to just listen.
• Sometimes your life is the bait long before your words are.
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🎣 Object Lesson: The Tackle Box
Bring a physical tackle box to the pulpit and label each bait:
• Kindness = draws the hurting
• Listening = hooks the overlooked
• Testimony = lands the searching
• Invitation = engages the curious
• Prayer = the secret sauce behind it all
Each piece of “bait” represents a different method of outreach — but the goal is always the same: to bring someone to Jesus.
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🔥 Closing Challenge: “What’s in Your Tackle Box?”
Ask the congregation:
• What bait are you using?
• Have you become too comfortable with your method and forgotten your mission?
• Who do you need to become so someone else might be saved?
Altar Call Invitation:
“Paul didn’t change who he was — he adapted how he served. Maybe tonight God is calling you to reach someone different, someone difficult, someone who needs a fresh kind of bait. Will you be willing?”
