Fishing With Nets
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22
I had always believed that every faithful Christian needed to be reaching out to whoever they could to ‘evangelise’. We are all missionaries right? All of us should spend our Saturday’s door knocking or having friends over for coffee/tea and a good old gospel conversation.
Well, let me start by saying. Wouldn’t that be great if more Christian’s did this? Please, don’t hear me discouraging these practices because through them many have come to faith.
However, are we commanded to do evangelism exactly like that?
Is this what the early disciples did? Well, it’s really hard to know. We know what the more famous disciples did - and they preached the gospel to big crowds and to small ones. We know that 1-1 evangelism also happened. We know that ordinary Christian’s carried the message with them wherever they went (see Acts 8).
But were there no introverts? No awkward converts or tongue-tied believers? Look, I reckon there were. And I think it’s worth seeing that so many of the early Church didn’t come to faith through 1-1 evangelism. Think of the first converts, the thousands who listened to Peter’s sermon. They just turned up to an event.
I reckon we can have a broader view of things. We are all to ‘go’ and be fishers of men. But maybe in our culture, the best way to fish is with others. Using net’s rather than individual poles. Maybe through creative events or just Sunday gatherings. And maybe you can ‘go fish’ by supporting these things. By doing social media, or setting up the tables etc.
I reckon every Christian should be thinking and praying about how they can bring their community closer to knowing Jesus. But it doesn’t have to look a particular way. Whatever way works (without breaking any of Christ’s commands). Using the gifts God gave you.
For Today:
Pray:
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22
I had always believed that every faithful Christian needed to be reaching out to whoever they could to ‘evangelise’. We are all missionaries right? All of us should spend our Saturday’s door knocking or having friends over for coffee/tea and a good old gospel conversation.
Well, let me start by saying. Wouldn’t that be great if more Christian’s did this? Please, don’t hear me discouraging these practices because through them many have come to faith.
However, are we commanded to do evangelism exactly like that?
Is this what the early disciples did? Well, it’s really hard to know. We know what the more famous disciples did - and they preached the gospel to big crowds and to small ones. We know that 1-1 evangelism also happened. We know that ordinary Christian’s carried the message with them wherever they went (see Acts 8).
But were there no introverts? No awkward converts or tongue-tied believers? Look, I reckon there were. And I think it’s worth seeing that so many of the early Church didn’t come to faith through 1-1 evangelism. Think of the first converts, the thousands who listened to Peter’s sermon. They just turned up to an event.
I reckon we can have a broader view of things. We are all to ‘go’ and be fishers of men. But maybe in our culture, the best way to fish is with others. Using net’s rather than individual poles. Maybe through creative events or just Sunday gatherings. And maybe you can ‘go fish’ by supporting these things. By doing social media, or setting up the tables etc.
I reckon every Christian should be thinking and praying about how they can bring their community closer to knowing Jesus. But it doesn’t have to look a particular way. Whatever way works (without breaking any of Christ’s commands). Using the gifts God gave you.
For Today:
- Have you ever brought someone to Christ? Or told someone the gospel?
- Would you know what to say if someone asked you about your faith in Jesus?
- How are you contributing to fishing for people?
Pray:
- Praise the Trinity for their gift of salvation.
- Give thanks for the Father, Son & Spirit’s work in rescuing you.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others fish for people with the gifts God has given you.
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