To Fish or Not to Fish: What a Stupid Question

What Are You Fishing For?

What are the top 5 to 7things for which you are“fishing” for in your life?

1. Growing stronger in my relationship with God.2. Growing in my ability to love Debi as Christ

loved the church and gave Himself up for her.3. Being a spiritual leader in my family and in my

friendships.4. Excellence in my job responsibilities at CCC.5. Being a disciple who helps make disciples.6. Physical health.7. Fiscal health.8. Leading Arrows of Light / Flechas de Luz.

Matthew 4:18-2018 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee,

saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Matthew 28:18-20

2 Timothy 2:2

Matthew 10:25

“Follow Me,and I will make you

fishers of men.”

They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Luke gives us some additional information:

Luke 4:38-39

Luke 5:1-11

“Follow Me,

and I will make you

fishers of men.”

“Follow Me…”In your heart and your mind, what does

it look like for you to “Follow Jesus” as a modern day disciple?”

Each one of us will stand before God and give account for our answer!

“…and I will make you…”God is committed to us becoming

disciples of Jesus and also to us learning what it means to become “fishers of men.”

“…fishers of men.”What does it mean, what does it look

like, what does it take for us today to be “fishers of men?”

1.We must be growing in our relationship with God!

2. We must be willing to allow God to teach us and to mold us so that we become “fishers of men.”

3. We must be growing in our capacity to love (and serve) others in healthy, encouraging ways!

People who come to church hurting, lost, broken, backslidden, desperate, wounded….

People who come to church as consumers… “What is in it for me and my family?”

An Observation of Ministry:

An Observation of Ministry:

People who come to church to serve…as nursery workers, as greeters, as teachers,as ushers, at guest central, on the praise team, on the media team, setting up communion, etc….

An Observation of Ministry:

People who come to church to minister to others. These may be some of the same people who come to serve in different capacities, but ultimately they are coming to church on Sunday ready to care for those who need to be loved, prayed for and ministered to.

An Observation of Ministry:

To be a person who comes to church to minister to others, you are going to have to be pressing into the Lord during the week so that you come to church strong in the Lord and filled with His love and compassion.

To be a person who comes to church to minister to others, you are going to have to learn what it means to be “Strong Enough to Care.”

An Observation of Ministry:

There are also people who leave church looking to minister to others during the week.

They are asking God to give them hearts and eyes of compassion. They are seeking to learn and to grow in their abilities to connect to the least, the last and the lost so God can shape them into “fishers of men.”

An Observation of Ministry:

There are also people who are involved in ministries around Longview:

Hannah HousePrison MinistriesHiWay 80MOPS

etc…

An Observation of Ministry:

There are also people who are involved in ministries that are touching the world for God and for His Kingdom and His glory!:

Ukraine, India, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala,(Brazil?)… … … to the ends of the earth as God guides and enables us.

May the Lamb who was slain receive the reward of His suffering as we press forward to allow God to shape us to become “fishers of men” on Sundays and every day for His kingdom and His glory!