WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU WENT FISHING?
A Small Group Study
The Mission of the Church should be the Mission of every Believer.
Summer is a busy time for me. I’m entering into an exciting ministry season. Part of my role is to serve as Camp Director at our Bible Camp (www.MarshLakeBibleCamp.com). If you’re in the Yukon, Alaska or Northern BC; we’d love to have you with us this summer!
To keep up with pastoral care and preaching, our church has hired an interim pastor for the months of June and July, while I focus on our camp ministry. Our Interim Pastor’s name is Dan Chapman and this Sunday he started a series.
“Developing Healthy Believers to Build Up the Body of Christ, Enabling It to Be On Mission“.
A Mission to Fish
Pastor Dan’s first message was titled, “The Mission of the Church Is the Mission of Every Believer“, based on Matthew 4:12-22.
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus called the disciples to leave their livelihood of fishing to become fishers of men. Jesus called them to a mission of fishing. This mission to fish is also the mission of the church and of every Believer.
When’s the last time you went fishing?
Small Group Discussion
- What are the different cultures and/or languages represented in your city or town?
- When do you interact with these different cultures? What’s it like? What needs (or wants) do you see?
- How is your church currently taking the Gospel into these cultures? (How are you fishing for the,?) If your church isn’t, what is stopping you? How can your church start fishing more?
- Christ should be the center of your church. How is that true of your church? How is that true of you personally?
- The disciples followed Jesus immediately to become fishers of men. Is sharing the Gospel (fishing) mandatory for us? If so, how have you been following this call? If not, why not?
- You live in __________ (enter your city or town). Therefore, Jesus has given you __________. Do you believe that to be true? If so, which part of __________ is Christ calling you to reach?
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts:
Will you go fishing for men (or women) this week? If so, who is God calling you to share the Gospel with?
