Gates: Fish Gate

Nehemiah 2:17 ESV

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.”

Nehemiah 3:3 ESV

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

Intro

Fish gate is exactly what it sounds like

it is the gate where the fisherman would bring in their catch

Fish Gate represents evangelism

Mark 1:17 “17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.””

Evangelism is a lost art in the church today

Evangelism is more than just big events like community meals and easter egg hunts.

In fact, those events without evangelism, are just “community events” not outreach

Evangelism is literally spreading the gospel message by sharing God’s word.

that is the definition

Evangelism is a command not a suggestion

Matthew 28:19 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

It is a command for all who call themselves followers of Christ

Evangelism is necessary

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

without evangelism how would anyone ever come to know Jesus?

Evangelism is relational

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 ESV

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

In order to preach the gospel effectively we must know and relate to our audience

We do not participate in their sins

we find common ground from which we use to share the message of christ

we learn to speak their language

It is relational but it is not exclusive

Paul became ALL things to ALL people

There are Plenty of Fish to Catch

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”