How does becoming a fisher of men strike you? Does it sound like something you want to become?

Vs 16 – As He (Jesus) was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen

● When Jesus called them, these were ordinary men doing ordinary things. They were not religiously trained or profoundly spiritually developed leaders.

Vs 17 – And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men

● To follow Jesus, as they understood it, was not to merely go where He went but also follow His teachings , learn from Him His way of living life ultimately becoming like Jesus.

● His promise was to make them become (transform them into) men who “fished” for men.

Vs 18 – Immediately they life their nets and followed Him.

● Their response was immediate and dramatic. What they understood Jesus inviting them into was worth far more than the kind of life they presently had.

● We should not see men sitting in a boat with fishing poles over the side, passively waiting for a fish to bite. We need to envision them casting a large net into the Sea in hopes of catching many fish, drawing them in.

● These men, by casting the net of The Gospel of Jesus, would seek to draw others to confidence and trust in Jesus.

Matthew 4:23 tells us, Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

● Jesus was going throughout…

Jesus lived a life with a clear sense of mission.

● Jesus was…teaching…

Jesus brought truth and understanding to their notions of who God was and what He was like.

● Jesus was…in their synagogues…

Jesus went to them and met them where they were to cast the net of the gospel.

● Jesus was…proclaiming the gospel…

Jesus publicly announced or heralded the good news of the presence and availability of God’s kingdom.

● Jesus was…healing…

Jesus brought healing by bringing people into contact with God and His Kingdom.

Being will always determine a person’s doing. Who we are will determine how we live. We can know if we become like Jesus we will begin to live the kind of life Jesus lived.

Engage God’s Word: This week take time each day to read one or more of these Scriptures. As you read think about how doing these kinds of things would change how you live life. Think about the kinds of things you might begin doing among your family, your friends, in your neighborhood, at work and in the community as you go about daily life. Write down questions that come up and ask your G2 Group leader or another spiritual leader in your life. Near the end of the week pick one or more ways you can begin living with more of a focus on the good of others.

● Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-19

● But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… Matthew 5:44

● But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you Luke 6:27, Luke 6:35

● By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

● Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

● We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 1 John 3:14

● We know love by this that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16

● Beloved if God so loved us, we also out to love one another. 1John 4:11

● B: Bless 3 people each week, one of which does not follow Jesus yet. This can be verbally or physically serving them or giving them a gift.

● E: Eat with 3 people each week, one of which does not follow Jesus yet. This can be coffee, snack or just engaging in a significant/meaningful conversation.

● L: Listen to the Holy Spirit: Practice spending 5 minutes at the beginning of each day alone and quiet as you allow the Holy Spirit to speak, bringing thoughts of who to bless and eat with this week. Of course the Holy Spirit can and will speak many other things when we become still and listen.

● L: Learn Jesus: Get to know Jesus more and more by regularly and reflectively reading through the Gospels.

● S: Sent Lives. Live a life of mission and purpose – the life of a fisher of men. Adopt a mindset that you are a missionary to your neighbors, family, friends and co-workers. See yourself as one who has been sent by Jesus to cast the net of the Gospel in a wide variety of ways!