The Text (Romans 8:31-34)
Do you fish?
1. To apply the gospel is to lay down our lives to become fishers of men.
When you think about living the Christian life what kinds of pictures come to mind?
Do you ever think of yourself as a fisherman?
Do you believe that you are called to be a fisher of men?
A. The logic of the gospel says, “If God has saved me through the preaching of the gospel – the good news of what Christ has done for sinners, then love requires that I preach the gospel so that others might be saved.” (Romans 8:34; Romans 10:13-17; 2 Corinthians 4:13)
B. Jesus pictures this preaching of the gospel as fishing for men. (Matthew 4:17-20; Mark 1:14-17; Luke 5:10)
C. All believers are called to participate in the ingathering of fish into the kingdom of God. (Mark 8:34-38; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-49; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:6-8; Acts 8:1-5; 1 Peter 3:13-16; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Philippians 1:7, 27-30; Philippians 2:14-16)
2. All faithful fishers of men have in common the heart of the Master Fisherman, the gospel fishing gear, and a humble, prayerful preparation for fishing.
What would you think of a fisherman who didn’t care about catching fish?
What would you think of a fisherman who used a baseball and bat?
What would you think of a fisherman who went as he was at the last moment without any preparation?
A. All believers are to be fishers of men with the same characteristics.
B. God calls us to fish for men with the heart of God and Christ for sinners. (Galatians 5:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:10-21; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; John 20:30-31; Revelation 22:17; Acts 2:36-41; Acts 17:22-31; Acts 26:24-29; Mark 10:21-22; Luke 19:41-44; Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11)
C. God calls us to use the truths of the gospel to catch men. (Romans 10:13-17; Ephesians 2:1-10)
D. God calls us to pray so that our fishing will be successful. (Titus 3:3-8; Luke 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; Acts 4:8-31; Colossians 4:2-4; 2 Timothy 2:24-26)
3. But faithful fishers of men differ in giftings, opportunities, fruitfulness and fish attacks.
Do all fishermen look alike?
Do all fishermen have the same skill?
Do all fishermen fish in the same pond?
Do all fishermen catch the same number of fish or the same kind?
Do all fishermen get attacked by sharks?
A. All believers are called to fish for men but each believer’s fishing will look somewhat different.
B. Not every believer is equally gifted to fish or gifted in the same way to fish for men.
(Ephesians 4:11-16)
C. Not every believer lives in the same world of lost men. (3 John 1:5-8; Romans 15:20-25; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11)
D. Not every believer will catch as many lost men as others. (Acts 2:40-41)
E. Not every believer will experience the same kind of hostile responses from men but we all must fight fear in witnessing. (Matthew 10:16-42; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29; 2 Timothy 1:7-12)
4. All faithful fishers of men can begin by identifying the fish in their pond and casting a line with invitations, commentary, testimony, explanation of basic truths of the gospel in the context of ongoing relationships of love and service.
What would you think of a fisherman who fished at a ice skating rink?
What would you think of a fisherman who put an old shoe on his line?
A. Fishers of men need to consider who in their world needs a Savior. (John 4:31-38; 1 Corinthians 9:15-27; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Philippians 2:1-11)
B. Fishers of men need to invite unbelievers to come, read, listen and watch. (John 1:29-46; Luke 14:16-24; Matthew 22:1-14)
C. Fishers of men need to comment on world events and life experiences from God’s perspective. (Luke 13:1-5; Colossians 4:2-6; Ephesians 6:18-20)
D. Fishers of men need to share their testimonies of God’s grace in their lives in clear and brief ways. (Acts 22:1-16; Acts 26:9-18)
E. Fishers of men need to be prepared to explain the gospel in a clear and complete and concise way. (1 Peter 3:15; Philippians 2:14-16)
F. Fishers of men need to serve and have relationships with unbelievers on an ongoing basis even when the gospel is resisted. (Luke 15:1-2; Matthew 9:10-13; Matthew 11:19; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:29-32)
G. Fishers of men need to look for opportunities to speak the truth in love to unbelievers and create opportunities to do so. (Colossians 4:2-6)
Are you a fisherman or a fish?
You are one or the other! If you are a fisherman, go fishing! If you are a fish, receive the offer of salvation!
A fisherman is someone who has received Jesus as Lord and Savior and is called to follow Him as a fisher of men.
A fish is someone who needs a Savior from sin and who has never responded to the call to follow Jesus.
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