Fishers of Men

Intro

Mark 1:16–18 ESV

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

who here fishes? When you think of fishing what do you think of? (Wait for response)

Bait

Fishing Rods

Sinkers

Maybe a small net to pull fish into the boat

These are typical things that we think of when we think of fishing? And the view we have of fishing can really influence how we read this passage.

Now when Peter and Paul were fishing they weren’t using a rod and bait, rather they were using a net.

so let me help you visualize this, the nets that they would fish with were large round nets that with weights on the bottom, and you would throw the net into the water in hopes that it would land on a large school of fish, and then you would pull the string and it would pull the net up from the bottom catching all the fish the net landed on.

And when you would cast your net into the water, You never knew what you would catch, you might catch a bunch, you might catch one, and you may not catch any at all. But regardless of that possibility the fisherman still cast their nets for the sake of catching even one fish.

Now when Jesus tells Peter that he will make him a fisher of men, I don’t think he meant that there was only one way to deliver the gospel. Now there are lots of different ways to fish, and their are lots of different ways to share the gospel. But regardless of how you go about fishing or evangelizing it all starts with you casting your net.

What is Evangelism?

The Greek word for evangelism comes from the greek word ευαγγελιον which translates Gospel, so the greek word for Evangelism, ευαγγελιζω translates, someone who proclaims the gospel

Now there are many different ways to view evangelism, a lot of people think about the guy standing on a milk crate telling everyone that if they don’t believe that they’re going too hell. And obviously, that’s not the most effective way to share the gospel.

So let’s take a look at the time Phillip shared the gospel with an Ethiopian eunuch Acts 8:34-38

Acts 8:34–38 ESV

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

In vs. 35 when it says good news, that word is the same word as Gospel. The gospel is the good news. Now we would find ourselves to be pretty lucky if someone where to come to us asking about scripture that gives us a clear opportunity

However there are times such as when Paul and Silas go to Thessalonica in Acts 17:1-5

Acts 17:1–5 ESV

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

Paul and Silas while accepted by some were completely rejected by others.

Does anyone remember reading about the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came onto the Apostles and they started speaking and every nation who was there heard them speaking in their own native tongue? What did some suggest about the Apostles? That they were full of new wine.

So before we go on with the message let’s ask the question, What does evangelism look like? Now keep that question in mind or write it down in your notes, as we continue.

How Should We Evangelize

How many here have been in a situation where you had the opportunity to share the Gospel but didn’t because you didn’t know what to say, or how to start the conversation?

Or who here started sharing the gospel but was so bombarded with questions and critique that you realized you didn’t know how to even begin to answer?

Or maybe you know someone that every time you share the gospel with them, their initial response is to shut you down, because they don’t want anything to do with Jesus?

I think we have all had those experiences at least once in our life, that is if we are attempting to share the gospel. So I have for you Clay’s 3 step evangelism guide for beginners;

Step 1: Know the gospel

You can’t share something that you don’t know or understand, an easy solution to that, is read the gospel for yourself. It doesn’t matter all that much whether you read Matthew Mark Luke or John, any four of them will give you a version of the good news of Jesus. If you’re really feeling up to it, read all of them. There is no better way to evangelize than to know the gospel, and to know why you believe in the gospel.

That being said for those of you who have been watching the church’s podcast, Ron and I have just started a new series called “In Defense of the Faith” where we talk about how to be confident in your faith. I highly encourage you to watch this series, if you haven’t already been. That being said let’s move on to...

Step 2: Keep it Simple

When you tell someone the gospel, you don’t need to make it something that’s going to fly over the head of the person you’re talking to. The gospel isn’t meant to be tough, John is able to summarize the Gospel in 1 Sentence John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

And that leads me to...

Step 3: Make it Personal

We serve a personal God, who personally sent his son too personally die for us, so that we can have a personal relationship with Him. Why shouldn’t the gospel be personal? Jesus died for each individual… Galen, Jesus died so that you can be set free from the sin in your life… (Someone else) Jesus died so that you can spend eternity with him… (Someone else) Jesus loves you so much that he was willing to suffer and die, all so that you also can conquer death through him. It’s personal!

And speaking of being personal, don’t overlook the power of a personal relationship with the people you are sharing the gospel with. Look at the way that Jesus became personally invested with those around him. He went and had meals with tax collectors, he spoke to the samaritan lady at the well? and he didn’t just talk about anything, he talked with her personally, talking about the men in her life.

So those that you want to share the gospel with it helps to have a personal relationship…

And there is one more thing, that is essential in My 3 step evangelism guide for beginners. Pray, pray for those that you are having conversations with, and pray for those that you want to start having those conversations with.

That being said I want us to keep in mind what Jesus told the 12 apostles when he sent them out to evangelize. open up to Matthew 10:14-23

Matthew 10:14–23 ESV

14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Anyone else here feel as though they are a sheep among wolves at times? That’s why Jesus’ command in vs. 16 is so important “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” Don’t allow yourself to become scared to share the gospel with someone, We are not alone.

It’s important to remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Make disciples, Baptize them, teach them the commands of God, and what does that last sentence say in verse 20? And behold… (let them read it)

There is a good chance that if you don’t make the point to share the gospel with someone, that no one else will. We need to get in the mindest of sharing the gospel. We need to remember that Jesus Christ, our savior, commanded us to go and make disciples.

How Do We Stay Strong in the Face of Failure

Yeah it can be scary, rejection is scary. But let me ask you, who’s sake are you sharing the gospel for? Is it for you or are you sharing it for them.

Let me ask you, if you woke up and found $1 million in your bank account tomorrow, and let’s say you were feeling generous and wanted to give it all away. and you go to offer it to someone who you knew needed it, and they rejected it how would you respond? would you be upset that you are now stuck with the $1 million, and if you are upset, is it because you got rejected, or because you know of the great things that the other person is missing out on?

Why don’t we have that mindset with the gospel? why do we hold onto it, like it’s some club for members only? Why is it that week after week you sit here next to the same people, that you rarely have a new face sitting with you. I’m not trying to be rude, but I want us to start thinking about these things, it’s easy to forget that Jesus called us to make disciples.

Open up to 1 Corinthians 9:16

1 Corinthians 9:16 ESV

16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

I believe i’ve told this story before, but I think there’s a lot of truth in it...

Has anyone here seen the show Penn and Teller? Pen said in a video that he posted online, and I’m paraphrasing, “If you see a truck flying down the road, and a man is standing in the middle of the road not realizing that the truck is quickly coming towards him, how much must you hate that man to not say something, and is there a point in which you would tackle the man off the road? That’s what it’s like to be a christian. If you believe in Heaven and Hell, how much must you hate someone not to share the gospel.

The first time I watched that video it blew my mind. Here’s a man who is an open atheist, and he understands the concept of evangelism better than most Christians do.

I asked a question earlier that I wanted you guys to keep in mind, does anyone remember what it was? What does Evangelism look like? Evangelism, isn’t easy, it’s not fun, it’s really scary, it’s going to cause some people to hate us, it’s going to make us lose our friends, But the feeling of reaching out to someone, and hear them openly accept the gospel, and to believe. It’s an overwhelming feeling of Joy.

I remember every single time I was approached by someone who wanted to be baptized, and it’s like nothing else, to know that someone will get to experience God’s love the way you have. It makes it all worth it.

I had a child hood best friend and we were very close. and one day when we were in High School he Over Dosed on Synthetic Marijuana and was hospitalized because his brain started bleeding. All I could think about is that if he were to die, I never truly told him about the gospel.

You never know what’s going to happen, don’t miss your chance to cast your net. To be fishers of men.