Those who have no strategy to catch fish get few results. Ever met someone who had just been fishing and caught nothing… I've had that feeling before - it’s awful. Recently my wife and I went fishing for the fun of it. Because we didn't know the best way to fish we caught nothing. Although it was fun, learning about the fish, where they swim, and how to catch them is important. Because most of my fishing has been deep sea fishing, I know and understand more about the proper way to do that. I've caught fish while deep sea fishing that were well worth my time, and it was amazing!!
Too often in our various church's - instead of using some kind of strategy to catch fish we just do it without thinking or with little forethought. Why do we disagree with the “no strategy” concept when it comes to fishing? You and I both know sitting on the side of a creek just tossing our line in and out, in and out, will lead to few results. Why not learn a few key methods of fishing so we can become a better fisherman! Maybe we don’t even realize it, but too often that is our approach to, “seeking and saving out those who are lost”... In Matthew 4:19 Jesus tells Simon Peter, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” That is our task as well. As believers we are called to "be fishers of men". My question is have you stopped to ponder long enough if there is a more effective way to reach the lost than what you or your church is currently doing?
We think strategy is “wrong”, or we “are so busy with doing” we forget to strategize. Do you know what fish you want to catch? Or, do you just want “fish”? Having a good strategy, knowing who you’re trying to reach, and knowing a few of the best ways to reach them can only enhance our effectiveness in reaching others for the gospel.
Too often in our various church's - instead of using some kind of strategy to catch fish we just do it without thinking or with little forethought. Why do we disagree with the “no strategy” concept when it comes to fishing? You and I both know sitting on the side of a creek just tossing our line in and out, in and out, will lead to few results. Why not learn a few key methods of fishing so we can become a better fisherman! Maybe we don’t even realize it, but too often that is our approach to, “seeking and saving out those who are lost”... In Matthew 4:19 Jesus tells Simon Peter, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” That is our task as well. As believers we are called to "be fishers of men". My question is have you stopped to ponder long enough if there is a more effective way to reach the lost than what you or your church is currently doing?
We think strategy is “wrong”, or we “are so busy with doing” we forget to strategize. Do you know what fish you want to catch? Or, do you just want “fish”? Having a good strategy, knowing who you’re trying to reach, and knowing a few of the best ways to reach them can only enhance our effectiveness in reaching others for the gospel.
Matthew 10 and Galatians 2:7 provide a revealing account of Jesus’ and Pauls’ strategy for targeted evangelism. “Before Jesus sent out his disciples to evangelize, he gave them specific instructions about whom they were to spend their time with, whom they were to ignore, what they were to say, and how they were to share it.” (Warren, 1995) While the Apostle Paul was called to the opposite group of people with a slightly varied strategy.
In Matthew 4:19 it says, "And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
So the question I have for you is... who, what, and why are you fishing for men? And, what is your strategy?
