Sermon Tone Analysis

(CSB)

18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew.

They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.

19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew.

They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.

19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

I. Are you a Jesus follower?

A. The call of Christ is to more than salvation, it is to follow.

Illus: I want to be intentional in what I say this morning.

The reason why is that there are many many people who call themselves Christians that that do now life for, nor know Jesus Christ personally.

There are many people in our community who, being born in a christian nation, raised in christian homes, assume they are christians, while having never been transformed by the gospel of Jesus.

One time I preached a sermon much like the one I preached today challenging the congregation to reach their family and friends with the gospel.

A woman walked up to me to share that she did not know any person who was not a christian.

Now here husband and kids lived like the devil, had not stepped foot in the church for years, but because they were raised in cultural Christianity she knew they were saved.

I want to define the difference between a Christ follower and a Cultural Christian.

A Cultural christian may know the lingo and be familiar with the church, but a christ follower has genuinely been transformed by christ.

A christ follower will value being with the body of Christ: the church.

A christ follower will pursue the holiness of God.

A christ follower will be apart of God’s mission, reaching their city and the world for Jesus.

Jesus call today is the same as it was 2000 years ago to his followers: follow me.

From the outset, the question I want you to wrestle with is, are you a cultural christian, or a real Jesus Follower?

Has Christ transformed your life?

(Take up his cross) Gal 2:20

B. Do you live the mission of Jesus?

Illus: We live in a time where you determine who you are no matter what the facts around you say.

You can decide that you are a woman even if your biology says your are a man.

You can define your self as you see fit.

Now, I used this example that I know we would reject, because your biology matches who you are.

In the same way, you can’t identify as a

We as people have been self identifying for far longer than the gender topic has been around.

For at least as long as I have been alive there have been many many people who have self identified as Christians that are not Christ folowers.

If you have been truly changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, you are going to live the passion of the God who has changed you.

If you have been truly saved from death to life, you will want others around you to know that same life.

If you have been truly saved and forgiven, you will want others you love to know that forgiveness.

If you have been truly saved from death and hell, why would you keep silent to those you love when your silence is their condemnation?

If you have been truly saved, you will embrace the mission of God.

Matther 28 (talk about how we are ok making disciples far away, but struggle close to home)

II.

Are you a fisherman?

(CSB)

THE FIRST DISCIPLES

18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew.

They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.

19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

A. If you are a fisherman, you should probably go fishing.

Illus: This past week I have been asking questions about fishing online.

One of the questions I asked was what a fisherman would need if he were to get serious about fishing.

Mike Rogers Bait , pole , line , hook , sinker , cork , and a desire to catch fish.

A boat would be nice but not necessary

Dawn Phillips Moss An understanding wife.

Billy Wilson Probably a good lawyer to help with the divorce.

Donnie Manchester Since you're our Pastor you probably just need a dip net for them to jump in and a cooler box to store them in.

Lori Gore Hodges Knowledge about what type of fish you’re trying to catch, what they eat and how they respond to each different type of bait, where you are trying to catch them (does it provide shelter, shade, is the area fished often, etc.), are you fishing with the right gear (rod, reel, test line), how much fishing experience you have, what is the weather and barometric pressure like...

Merissa Blake Spare time

Michael Van Winkle Lots of MONEY!!! Especially if you buy a boat!

Frank Vest Desire

Just imagine if I got all of this together: boat, money, an understanding wife, and even the lawyer… and then never went fishing.

The gear does not make you a fisherman, going fishing makes you a fisherman.

We are really good at gearing ourselves up a Christians: posting inspirational posts on Facebook, wearing christian jewelry, using the right language, while we don’t actually live the mission of our faith.

We call our selves Christians while never bringing Christ to a broken world.

B. When was the last time you went fishing?

Illus: I’m not really talking about fishing… when was the last time you invested into some one’s eternity?

I’m talking about something as small as finding someone to invite to sit with you at church this week.

I’m talking about purposely building relationships with people outside of our church (or any church) with the intent of leading them to Jesus.

Can you imagine if everyone in our church made to commitment to go fishing.

Can you imagine if everyone in our church invested in one person over the course of the next year to lead them to trust Jesus Christ, OR come back to faith.

Who is your one?

2 cor 5:

III.

Are you ready to commit?

A. Who’s your one?

Illus: Today I am going to ask you to make a commitment.

Inside your worship folder is a book mark with a tear out.

I want you either today, or over the course of the next weeks to make the commitment to reach one person.

I want you to write their name on both the book mark (which you keep in your bible to pray over) and on the card.

Tear the card off an drop it in the one of the four containers we have.

Each of these cards will be prayed over by our staff.

I would love for you to use our time during the invitation to respond today by making the commitment to one person.