PIBC -1 Follow Me

Welcome to PIBC.

We are excited you all are here. This is going to be a great week.

I have been thinking about you all and praying for you all.

I know pastor Jeff has already mentioned it, but we want you all to make sure that you have your Bible with you especially for the preaching time, the morning time with the Lord down here, and your cabin time with the Lord.

This year’s theme is especially near and dear to my heart — I go-a-fishin.

I love to go fishing...

And I love to others about the Lord.

Illustration- Shannon’s fish.

It is based on the verse found in John 21:3 “3 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.”

Now in the account in John 21 there are a few things that. I may come back to later in the week.

There are two things that Christians ought to be engaged in, 1. Telling others about the good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and 2. Discipleship— following the Lord Jesus Christ.

Both of these major themes are found in the verse we are going to read in just a moment. And I am going to challenge youthis morning to memorize this verse.

As a matter of fact with Pastor Jeff’s permission, I would like to give you xxx points for memorizing this one verse… so that you remember this lesson. Matthew 4:19 “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

This verse shows us a biblical principle specifically dealing with giving others he gospel.

A biblical principle is a large/broad truth we find in the Bible.

“A general truth; a law comprehending many subordinate truths” Webster’s 1828

I would you to realize that this is the Lord Jesus Christ speaking to His disciples. He gives them not only an invitation but then also a promise.

1. God Desire Is For Everyone to Be Saved

II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” ‘The good news message about our Savior Jesus Christ is available to all men

2. God Uses People to Do His Work

Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The only way we will be effective telling others about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is to Follow Him.

What do you think it means to follow Jesus?

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Here is the good news, as We Follow Christ, He Makes Us Fishers of Men