LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 4:19, Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”.

Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Pastor Jonathon Moore continued with the series on Jesus’ Stories. This weekend’s message was about Jesus sending the disciples out two by two. Read the account in Mark 6:7-13. In the clip from The Chosen the disciples were concerned about being sent out to tell people about Him, which included healing people and casting out demons. Yes, they had questions and fear just like Believers do today when someone preaches or teaches about witnessing today. In the clip one of the disciples spoke up and said he did not feel any different after Jesus had given them the power and authority to do what He was sending them to do. I really liked the response Jesus gave to this disciple, “I don’t need you to feel anything to do good things!” I guess that sums up the idea feeling is involved in doing good things for Jesus!

What do you understand when you read the verses above? “Spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is done by personal witness. Jesus called each Believer to tell others – You tell others about the experience you have had with Jesus because that other person needs that experience” (Pastor Moore). Telling others is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). Audrey wrote in her sermon notes, “He qualifies the called. We just need to accept the responsibility.” Pastor Moore said, “It’s like one beggar telling another about where to find bread”. Peter and John said, “We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). That should be the belief of every Believer. “One does not have to be an apologist to do this; tell people how He saved you, changed you, took care of you when you needed him to do so because of His unconditional love for you” (Pastor Moore).

Pastor gave four questions Believers can consider when talking about Jesus.

When? When did Jesus find me? “When Jesus Christ gets into a person and fills that person with the Holy Spirit, that Believer is changed and wants to find others to talk about their experience and the changes that have happened” (Pastor Moore). It's too bad that the more mature and dignified one becomes (sarcasm) the less this happens – that’s too bad!

Who? Who did Jesus use to find me? Who got you started on the road to allowing Jesus into your life, to save and change you? I remember sitting in a little Christian bookstore in a little town in Iowa listening and watching a man tell me about what Jesus could do to change my life. I will never regret taking that step in faith in the third week in July 1976, I wish I had the time to tell you all about the experiences I have had! Someone told you about Jesus, and now He is calling you to tell someone else. Romans 10:14, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching [telling them]?” (from Audrey’s notes). Again, it is one Believer telling another individual about Jesus, and that individual being saved and changed, then finding another to tell about Jesus. Who is Jesus directing you to tell about Him?

How? How do I do this? In John 1:46, Philip approached Nathaniel and simply said, “Come and see!” Here is Pastor Moore’s plan for How to fish for people 101.

1)      Accept the personal responsibility.

2)      Share your personal testimony (Be a witness telling your story).

3)      Give a personal invitation.) “Come and see!” Philip brought Nathaniel to Jesus. Jesus brought the transformation in Nathaniel.) The Believer’s calling is to “bring” someone to Jesus.

What? What do you and I do now? GO FISHING!