THE MAKING OF FISHERS OF MEN (Part 1)

Jesus explained His goal in the earth pretty simply.  He told those who he felt called to invite that following Him would result in accomplishing His personal mission.

Matthew 4:19-20   …“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  At once they left their nets and followed him.     

The truth then is that God wants to transform His followers into people who see others around them as important enough to God that they would spend their lives trying to rescue them.  He assures us that He will care for us if we will care for others.  Jesus is inviting you in this same way.

One reality is that few of us are mentally wired for this, because we are trained in an individualistic, self-serving world.  Jesus’ first disciples or followers were certainly not wired this way.  They even considered the outcome of following Jesus that they would have more important places in heaven for being close to Christ.  Talk about confused and misguided motivation.  They needed to be retrained in a new way of thinking and acting as you and I do also.  This transformation or change can be identified for us as a process of development.  It’s like raising a child, who is initially self-aware only, to become others-aware in life as they mature.   Like moving from a child’s perspective where you think the world is all about meeting your needs, to maturing into a parent where you are willing to sacrifice so much for your kids, even your very life.

The danger of discussing this process or progress is that we often get focused on the “process” itself and neglect the real call of following Jesus.  Let’s look at some words that can describe what I’m talking about.  These words are not magic just helpful.

PROCESS
Exploration – Growing – Moving Closer – Christ Centered/Others Minded
(Fisher of Men)

As we consider this process, let’s see if we recognize some of the steps along our life path.  Please note that these are not grades of faith or mere levels of maturity but rather indicators of motion and development.  They are like building blocks where one is always dependent on the others as we construct the building.  Look for yourself along this path and see if you are a notch further today than last month.  If not, begin the process.

Remember when walking on a journey, there is a real benefit in understanding the destination, so never see one phase as the end or independent of the other phases.  Each part of the journey has value but we must keep the destination in sight.

Philippians 3:13-14   …Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.     

So don’t just focus on the immediate issue but rather on the long rang goal where the prize is located.  We can all experience God’s reward or prize.  Understand that God loves all of humanity and He has no more love or less love for any human beings.  There are consequences for our choices but God doesn’t like me best.  God is not a preferential being showing favoritism.  God is drawn toward “faith” or trust in Him, to show Himself strong but He still loves even those with no faith.

Romans 2:9-11   …There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For God does not show favoritism.    

So let’s look at the first leg of life’s journey.

EXPLORATION:

This first part of the journey is the time in your life when you are searching for the meaning of your existence.  This can be early in life or later.  You’re often confronted with some aspect of immortality.  It might come through the death of a loved one or you realize that there must be more to life than mere existence.  You search and sometimes find weird results.  This is a place of investigation and testing.  The teen years are big here, as teens attempt to choose a course of life.  Fractured relationships, birth of children and major life changes are an open door to the exploration phase.  God doesn’t cause these crises but takes advantage of every aspect of them to draw people close to Him.  When crisis hits, we can choose to run to God or run from Him.

Are you at a crisis point or crossroads?  I encourage you to choose your course wisely and be very careful whom you listen to, because many see your vulnerability and look to capitalize on it.  Our entire media machine is designed to do just that.  People exploring need a place to explore and the TV or newspaper offer so many alternatives but so little in the way of a Jesus component.

At CFC, we believe that the right place for people exploring, who don’t know about Jesus Christ and His great plan, is inside the church family.  I didn’t say necessarily inside the church building.  Sometimes just shoulder rubbing in life is enough to demonstrate the reality of a living God over religion.  Sometimes they need to see the family of God truly loving each other before they believe it’s possible.

People in the exploration phase are searching for meaning, significance and answers to simple yet profound questions.  Pat answers are not acceptable and dogma seldom works.  These folks need to know you are willing to listen to and understand their issue.  The best thing to share with explorers is the path you took to get where you are.  (Testimony/life story)  Try not to share someone else’s story because it’s viewed as hearsay.  Instead tell how life has changed for you since faith became a critical part, include church but don’t make it all about church.

Revelation 12:10-11   …Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.     

Sunday morning in this church is specifically designed to be a multitudes gathering.  We have great music, phenomenal care and service and clear, understandable messages that can be seen as related to real life.  Some churches call this a seeker friendly environment; we call it Sunday morning’s multitudes gatherings.  This is why you see so many new faces every Sunday.  Valued guests have been invited in to observe God’s kids and hear God’s word.

Are you an explorer?  Jesus first instruction was to come follow Him.  When you decide to invite Christ into your life He comes in and makes a home.  He’s willing to lead in any area of your life.  He will clean any room of your house that you open to Him.  This part of the journey is a special time because we are transported from eternal death to eternal life in Christ.  You are rescued and filled with eternal life.   This is the time in life where trust is investigated.   Those of us who are on the journey must help the people in this group have reasons to trust God’s invitation.

At CFC we use Harvest Fest, Movie nights, Volleyball, Game Feeds, Motorcycle outings, Bond-Slave Sundays, Picnics and our living rooms to create these kinds of exploration environments.  I’m an explorer and I invite you to explore with me awesome benefits of the authentic Christian life.

Next week we will investigate the next phase on the journey I’ve called “Growing”, don’t miss it and keep moving.