SF651 - THE JESUS MODEL FOR MINISTRY - JESUS STRATEGY FOR FISHING FOR MEN - PART ONE (Mark 1 17)
SF651
THE JESUS MODEL FOR MINISTRY
Jesus’ Strategy for Fishing for Men - Part One
Mark 1:17
INTRODUCTION
The Jesus Model for Ministry
Every member a minister
Ministry is directed to unbelievers.
Jesus uses the Fishing Analogy on Purpose
He wants to teach us some Important Principles
We must...
Know what you are fishing for
Learn to think like a fish
Go where the fish are biting
Catch fish on their terms
Use more than one hook
Fish for the kind of fish you can catch best
1A. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE FISHING FOR
You must identify who you are trying to reach - target!
Charlie Brown’s target practice, shoot the arrows draw a target around the arrow.
No single church can reach everyone!
Targeting for Evangelism is Biblical
(Matthew 15:24) "He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.""
(Matthew 10:5‑6) "These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. {6} Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."
Jesus targeted his ministry in order to be effective, not to be exclusive!
(Galatians 2:7) "On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews."
Our Pond....
Rule #1 stay out of everyone else’s aquarium
Five mile radius = 200,000 people
Unchurched = 100,000
Our Fish... West Haven Walt
He is in his mid-to upper 30's
Owns his home
Average income is ~$40k/year
Likes country or soft rock music
Works in wholesale/retail or manufacturing
Is married to West Haven Wilma and has two children (elementary age) William and Wanda
2A. LEARN TO THINK LIKE A FISH
Jesus often Knew what unbelievers were Thinking
(Matthew 9:4) "Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?"
(Mark 2:8) "Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?"
(Luke 9:47) "Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him."
(Matthew 10:16) "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
(Colossians 4:5) "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."
We have difficultly Thinking like Unbelievers because we are Different from them.
What we call Resistance is often just poor Communication
We must learn to speak their language
We must Discover the Mind set of Unbelievers!
How? - Talk and Spend time with Them; Ask the right Questions!
Are you currently active in a local church?
What do you feel is the greatest need in this area?
Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?
What advice would you give me? How can I help you?
3A. GO WHERE THE FISH ARE BITING
Focus on the most Receptive Audience
(Matthew 10:14) "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town."
(Mark 12:34) "When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."...."
Go after New People First!
Growing churches focus on reaching new people
Dying churches focus on re-enlisting inactive members
Who are the Most Receptive
Those in transition
Job, home, baby, marriage, etc...
Those under tension
Sickness, death, lay-off, etc...
ACTION POINTS
1. Does West Haven Walt sound like your neighbor? If so how can you begin to develop a relationship with him to get him to church and Christ!
2. Take time this week to talk with an unbeliever, try to begin to see life from his perspective.
3. The next time you go to a new place with a group of strangers, remember that is how a unbeliever feels at church.
4. Don’t just assume people will come. We need to change in order to reach them, or they would already be here!
5. Determine to fish the “hot spots” some folks need to go to other churches, they have already decided not to come here.