FISHERMEN OUGHT TO FISH
Matthew 28:19-20
S: Discipleship
Th: Our responsibility to make disciples
Pr: It is our purpose to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
?: Transition 1--How?
Transition 2--Where?
KW: TS1--Ways
TS2--Applications
TS1: Since, according to Matthew 28:19-20, it is our purpose to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will see the three ways God directs us to accomplish it.
TS2: We will study four applications where we can apply the purpose of making disciples in our lives.
T1: The ______ Way that God directs us to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ is by...
I. GOING
II. BAPTIZING
III. TEACHING
T2: The _____ Application where we can relate our purpose of making disciples is...
I. OUR WORLD
II. OUR FAMILY
III. OUR CHURCH
IV. ONE ON ONE
GBC of S 10/27/96 AM (2x)
(as “Our Purpose: Fishermen Ought to Fish”)
RMBC 1/11/98 AM
FBC of LF 18 July 04 AM (2x)
INTRODUCTION:
Personal – Thanks for growing us up in the ministry.
I do receive criticism from time to time, and I always say, if you think I’m bad now, you should have seen what I was like in Little Falls!
Other reminiscing…
1. Did you ever see one of those children puzzles that have things out of place?
What is wrong with this picture?
You see them in puzzle books, or on the comic page, or in children’s magazines.
The object is to find out the things that aren’t right in the picture.
Like a table with only three legs...
Or a car missing a tire...
Or a bird in fish bowl...
Or a baseball player using a golf club to hit a football...
You get the idea, right?
2. Sometimes, we take a look at the church and say the same thing.
What’s wrong with this picture?
ILL Notebook: Church (a lot of good it does you)
Coming out of church, Mrs. Peterson asked her husband, "Do you think that Johnson girl is tinting her hair?"
"I didn’t even see her," admitted Mr. Peterson.
"And that dress Mrs. Hansen was wearing," continued Mrs. Peterson, "Really, don’t tell me you think that’s the proper dress for a mother of two."
"I’m afraid I didn’t notice that either," said Mr. Peterson.
"Oh, for heaven’s sake," snapped Mrs. Peterson. "A lot of good it does you to go to church."
It is amazing to me how often the church gets distracted from its purpose.
We see a church bickering, angry and critical, and we say what’s wrong with this picture?
We see a church more concerned about its social life, keeping its members feeling good about themselves, and we say what’s wrong with this picture?
So the question we must ask is – what are Christians supposed to be doing?
TRANSITION 1:
When Jesus began his ministry…
1. Jesus gave an example of our purpose (Matthew 4:19).
When we look at Matthew 4:19, we see a challenge to his new disciples:
"Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Jesus wants his disciples to be fishermen.
That helps us come to this outstanding conclusion (which is the title of our message): FISHERMEN OUGHT TO FISH.
2. It is our purpose to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
The imperative of Matthew 28:19-20 is make disciples.
In these verses, though there is the appearance of four different verbs in this statement, only one is in command form.
It is the verb to make disciples.
Our instruction is to make disciples.
To make disciples for the Christian is to disciple a person to Christ, to make a person a pupil of Jesus.
3. When we consider the purpose of who we are as First Baptist Church of Little Falls, these verses have to serve as a biblical backdrop to instruct us.
So if one asks what is First Baptist Church is all about, we should say that we are about making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I want us to consider for a moment about what it means to make disciples.
For it is important for us to note today that making disciples does not start nor does it end with a person receiving the truth of the gospel.
We must think bigger than that.
We must look at the whole picture.
For making disciples begins before one has an understanding of Jesus.
It is a process that begins with an awareness of God, and continues with an awareness of the sinfulness of man, and an awareness of the need of a Savior for sin.
All these things must happen before one receives the truth of the gospel.
And when one does receive the truth of the gospel, making disciples does not stop there.
For there is so much more to learn and experience as a true follower of the Lord Jesus.
Fishermen ought to fish.
You know, if we are not making disciples, if we lose our focus, do you know what happens?
We tend to bicker about other things and concentrate on our differences.
For some reason, we begin to think this is about us…
ILL Notebook: Differences--music
An American jazz musician and a country-western singer, visiting a small dictatorship, ran afoul of the law and were sentenced to death by firing squad. At dawn, they were led to a courtyard, where the squad leader asked the country-western singer if he had a final request.
"I’d like to hear six choruses of ‘Achy Breaky Heart,’" the singer replied.
"I think that can he arranged," said the squad leader. Then he turned to the jazz musician. “And your final request?”
"Please," begged the musician, "shoot me first."
I hope that you find that humorous, but we need to continue to be honest about the differences that we have within our own church family.
Our differences, like music for instance, should not be our focus.
We should never look down on each other’s differences or make them a standard of godliness.
You know what we are to do about our differences?
Instead, we are to honor them.
We are to rejoice in them.
We are to make them work for us.
We are to use them for our benefit, and even more for the benefit of the kingdom of God.
Why?
Because fishermen ought to fish.
So…
4. Since it is our purpose to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will see the three ways God directs us to accomplish it.
OUR STUDY 1:
I. The First Way that God directs us to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ is by GOING.
1. We are to actively engage the world with the gospel.
Going means we are active.
We are on the go.
We are moving out.
ILL More Holy Humor, p. 48-49
Returning home from Sunday School, a little girl told how disappointed she was with the class reaction after the day’s lesson.
“We were taught to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations,” she said, “but we just sat.”
The little girl is right, isn’t she?
For…
2. We are not designed to be stationary.
We cannot stand still.
We are not to be idle.
We don’t stand still and say, "Let them come to me while I let my light shine."
Making disciples means we are moving out, not standing still.
ILL Christians 3/96.9
Looking in a biographical directory of Nobel Prize recipients is information about each grantee’s religious affiliation.
For James Watson, discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule, the paragraph said simply, “religion, probably Christian.”
As you move along on your faith journey through life, will people say about you, “probably Christian”?
Will they have to guess?
Or will they know?
Fishermen ought to fish.
Go to the water where the fish are.
If we have an active faith, it will be one that can be observed and known.
II. The Second Way that God directs us to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ is by BAPTIZING.
ILL Notebook: Commitment--caterer
Married couples applying for graduate-student housing at Princeton University must submit proof of their marital status. Gabriella Safran and her fiancé were not going to get married until July, so she called the housing office to discuss their lack of documentation.
“After the wedding, you can send a copy, of the marriage certificate," the woman who handled her inquiry said. "But we should have something now, so we know for sure that you’re getting married."
"How about a copy of the wedding invitation?" Gabriella asked.
"Better yet," she replied, "send us a copy of the contract with your caterer."
Well…
The contract with the caterer was a good indication that a commitment had been made.
1. We baptize because it is a call for commitment.
Baptism is the response of a disciple.
When Peter said, "Repent and be baptized," it was a call to commitment.
It is a statement by the believer that "I am a follower of Jesus."
It is a response to receiving the truth of God’s Word about who Jesus is.
You see...
2. We baptize so to recognize who owns us.
It is the dramatic recognition of who is Lord.
It is the recognition that I submit to the Lord God.
I am His.
And we demonstrate that when we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I want you to note that you cannot be calling people to a commitment to Jesus if you have not obeyed the first sign God has called on us to give in baptism.
It is a contradiction if we have not established ourselves as a disciple by obeying this very simple command to demonstrate our faith.
III. The Third Way that God directs us to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ is by TEACHING.
1. We must persist in the exposing of truth.
ILL Notebook: Truth--scale
While closing up a health club one night, Jay Majer went to check the women’s locker room to make sure it had been properly cleaned. He was about to knock on the door when he heard a woman inside yelling, “Liar! Liar! Why can’t you cooperate once in a while!”
As she stormed past Jay, he asked her how many other members were still getting changed. “None,” she fumed. he walked in, wondering who had angered her. Then he spotted the upright scale. The weight bar was still shaking from her hasty departure.
Just as a weight scale will tell the truth (whether we want it to or not), we are commanded to teach the truth as well.
We are to teach who Jesus is and what He said.
And we can do it with confidence, because His teaching will never become needless, old-fashioned, superseded, or untrue.
It is the truth.
So along with that...
2. We must persevere in the example of obedience.
You see, we can’t teach obedience unless we are doing it.
We can’t be disciple makers when we aren’t obeying ourselves.
We must be actively following the Lord Jesus, hearing what He says…and doing it.
Otherwise, we become a poor example of what a disciple ought to look like.
TRANSITION 2:
1. It is our purpose to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are given ways that it is accomplished.
2. But the next question I want us to consider this morning is "where"?
We have seen the how, but where do we go?
Where do we go to accomplish the command to make disciples?
Where should the fishermen go?
3. We will study four applications where we can relate the purpose of making disciples in our lives.
The rest of our study is very personal.
For each one of us needs to think through where our personal opportunities are to make disciples.
We need to ask, "Where is God calling me to make disciples?"
OUR STUDY 2:
I. The First Application where we can relate our purpose of making disciples is OUR WORLD.
When the disciples saw the resurrected Lord, Jesus gave them these His final words (Acts 1:8):
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
1. Jesus wants us to be ever looking outward.
These words communicated by Jesus are given, so that we will be looking outward, and not inward.
They are arranged so that we won’t be looking to stay at home, but to be ever seeking what our "ends of the earth" might be.
2. Who might be your responsibility to make a disciple of Jesus in your world?
What is your world?
Who is included in your world?
Who are potential disciples in your world?
Your world includes those that live in your neighborhood, those with whom you work, those that share the same interests in clubs and associations and those "coincidental contacts" that you have throughout the week.
These, and others, are our world.
And Jesus wants us ever extending and expanding our contact.
Get out into the community!
Think for a moment...
Who might be your responsibility to make a disciple of Jesus in your world?
II. The Second Application where we can relate our purpose of making disciples is OUR FAMILY.
1. As parents, the disciple making process begins here!
This is where it starts.
ILL Notebook: Family—dividing line
As the mother of three small children born two years apart, Mary Jane Newcomer was often very tired in the evening. She and her husband had set strict rules that after stories, prayers, one drink and the bathroom scene, they must go to bed and stay there.
One night, after a particularly trying day, all three were finally tucked in and Mary Jane headed to the kitchen for some cookies, milk and solitude. She had just started to relax when she was surrounded by three little people, standing there watching her eat. Turning to her husband, she asked, "Do we relent or stick with the rules?"
Their three-year-old piped up, "Stick with the rules, Morn."
Knowing she didn’t really want to be sent back to bed she asked, “And what are the rules, Monica?"
“Share with one another,” she replied.
In Deuteronomy 6, we are told to take the truths about God and "impress them on our children."
We are to teach them about His person, that He is one God, that we are to obey Him and that we are to love Him.
This is all to happen at home.
It is to be a part of our everyday life.
It is to be in every part of our day, whether we are at rest at home, or on the move and on the road.
These truths about God are to be so much a part of us it is like they are tied to our hands and our foreheads.
Where we go, they go.
These truths about God are to be so much a part of our household that it is like they are written on the entrance of our houses.
Think for a moment...
2. Who is your responsibility to make a disciple of Jesus in your family?
Whom has God given you?
Don’t leave it to someone else.
It is your responsibility.
III. The Third Application where we can relate our purpose of making disciples is OUR CHURCH.
1. The church is a place where making disciples is done.
We are united in Christ.
We are members of God’s household.
We are God’s building, being built together to be a place where God dwells.
We are His body, a moving, functioning representative of Christ.
For when the world sees the church at work and working well, people see Christ.
Now these theological truths are very practical truths.
For if we are His body, then we must be in the process of growing together and take the responsibility for each other, as much as possible, without overstepping the boundaries of personal responsibility.
We should be doing what we can to see each other grow in the Lord.
Ministry opportunities to make disciples are all over the place within the church.
Think for a moment...
2. Where might your responsibilities be in the church to make disciples?
IV. The Fourth Application where we can relate our purpose of making disciples is ONE ON ONE.
1. We are to call people to follow us.
In I Corinthians 11:1, Paul said a very bold thing.
He told the Corinthian church to follow his example as he followed Christ.
He was bold.
He was confident.
He said, "I am following Christ. Follow me!"
Can you say that?
Note Paul’s example, for he had that kind of one on one relationship with Timothy.
In I Timothy 1:2, he calls Timothy his true son in the faith.
He had taken Timothy under his wing and taught him everything he possibly could.
And after he had sent Timothy out on his own, do you know what his evaluation was of his pupil?
We see it in Philemon 1:
Paul a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother.
Timothy was his brother.
Timothy was his equal.
You see, when you come across an individual that is a new believer, and you ascertain they are not being discipled, you should either find someone to disciple them or better yet, see this individual as an opportunity God has given you to disciple.
ILL Example, Inspiration 11/95.19
There is a story of a missionary doctor on a lonely village station, a very able doctor, but even more effective as a Christian and a leader in evangelization. A convert was being baptized, a rare event in that difficult area, and he was answering questions to test his very simple faith.
One answer he began safely enough. “I believe in God Almighty, and in the Lord Jesus,” but then his training gave way to his experience, and turning to the doctor he burst out, “and, sahib, I believe in you!”
Think for a moment...
2. Who might be your responsibility to disciple in a one on one relationship?
PERSONAL APPLICATION:
1. I hope you have taken our time together personally.
For the purpose of this church will never be the true purpose of the church unless it is your purpose!
For the purpose of the church to be effective, its purpose must be my purpose as well.
So we need to ask the following questions of ourselves…
2. Am I a true "fisher of men"?
Fishermen ought to fish.
Am I fishing for men and women and children, or am I taking it easy, enjoying the gift God has given me, but not sharing it with others?
Am I fishing for men and women and children, or am I distracted by issues that are not eternal?
Am I actively making disciples?
Who do I have disciple-making responsibilities for?
What am I doing to fulfill the command to make disciples?
It goes back to the old saying, "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!"
Are you aiming at anyone?
3. Am I using the associations available to me in the world, in my family, in the church, or on a one to one basis?
It is our purpose to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is it yours?
BENEDICTION:
Might we all move out, and not stand still, charging ahead in the power of His Word and in the might of His Spirit, for salvation belongs to Him;
And might we all call people to Christ, showing them the way of the everlasting in word and in deed;
And might we use every opportunity He gives us, in every location He places us, to make an eternal investment, and make those who God wants to be sons and daughters in Him, to be our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
