Scripture: Revelation 7:9-10

C.I.: The Method of Evangelism (Part 2)

Last week in our series on Evangelism – we saw a very simple, effective, and biblical method of evangelism.
Today we will take a closed look – at how Jesus deals with one of His disciples (& us) – as we see a 2nd method.

I. Obeying the Master of Evangelism (Luke 5:1-11)

A. Reaching the Many Who Need to Hear (vs. 1-3)

1. Jesus has a heart for people… all people!
a. Yet a casual reading of Luke 4 will give you the idea Jesus came - only for the religious people.
1) (4:15), “He began teaching in their synagogues – and was praised by all.”
2) (v. 16), “He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up; - and as was His custom, - He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.”
3) (vs. 31, 33), “He came to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching on the Sabbath … in the synagogue”
4) (v. 44), “So He kept preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”

b. Yet most of the people were NOT religious. – So He went out to where they were - to teach also.
1) (Luke 5:1-3), “Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening
to the word of God, - He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret; - and He saw two boats
lying at the edge of the lake; - but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing
their nets. – And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, - and asked him to put out
a little way from land. – And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat.”
2) Only 41% attend church on any weekend (59% don’t). – It is getting worse: 51% “Builders”
(born before 1946) do – 41% “Boomers” (1946-64) do – 34% “Busters” (1965-now) do!
“Church Attendance,” Barna Research Online, www.barna.org, October 15, 1999.
3) Thus, since Jesus came to save the many (Lk. 19:10) – He went to where they were.
4) If we are going to reach our “Community” – we have to go outside these walls (Mk. 16:15).

B. Reaching the Few Who Need to Act (vs. 4-11)

1. (v. 4), “When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
a. Last Sunday we heard Jesus give Simon a new name (Peter) – but he still has his old nature!
1) Last week we saw Simon brought to Jesus – but he (like many) need more time to believe!
2) Can’t you just hear Simon thinking – “I don’t tell him how to preach – why is he telling me how to fish?” – or - “First He’s a carpenter, then a preacher. – Now He wants to be a fisher?”
3) Jesus wants to use Simon in a powerful way – but He first has to get His attention!
4) Explain trammel net fishing.
a) It was a big net – made of 3 different size meshes (it would trap the fish)
b) Because of its size it could be easily seen & avoided in the day (why they fished at night)
c) Whoever heard of trammel net fishing during the day???!!

b. (v. 5), “Simon answered and said, ‘Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, - but I
will do as you say and let down the nets.”
1) Those of us with children – can practically hear the “whine” in Simon’s voice!
2) But do you know what God calls reluctant obedience? - “Obedience!”
3) We may not always understand “why?” – or even desire to do what God says. – But for those who obey Him (even reluctantly) – He will bless them – (Psa. 34:8; Rom. 12:2), “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed…”

c. It is not by accident that Jesus called for “net fishermen” to become His chief disciples…
1) Differences between “Net” fishing & “Rod and Reel” Fishing (cf. evangelism): One is for
sport the other is a way of life – One is for trophies the other is for food – one is fake/phony
(words like, “lures, bait, playing the fish, etc.”) the other is natural (go where the fish are and
engulf them) – one is a solitary activity (bait, cast, hook, play, land) the other requires many
people to be involved – finally, one catches only one fish at a time, the other can catch many!
2) Each of us has a place on the net: someone invites a friend – others meet & greet – someone
introduces them to others – these invite to lunch/LIFE Group/Bible study – someone baptizes
them – others continue to teach/encourage/mentor/etc.

d. (vs. 6-7), “When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began
to break; - so they signaled to their partners in the other boat - for them to come and help them.
– And they came and filled both of the boats - so they began to sink.”
1) “Enclosed” = Trammel net fishing.
2) Fatigue of the previous night forgotten – loss of the nets & boats unimportant! – An encounter with the living God – priceless!!!
3) (Jn. 15:5), “I am the vine, you are the branches; - he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears MUCH FRUIT, for apart from Me you can do NOTHING!”

e. (vs. 8-9), “But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Depart from me
Lord, for I am a sinful man!’”
1) Again we can hear Simon thinking: “ All the selfish things I wanted just for me; my rest, my
being left alone…! – What of all the things I thought about this carpenter…?!”
2) What the words of Jesus to the multitude couldn’t do – an encounter with the living God did!
3) But “DEPARTING” was the last thing Jesus will do – when we finally come to acknowledge
our own hard-headedness. – But sadly, it would have exactly what Jesus would have done –
had Simon remained selfish with his poor priorities!
4) (Psa. 51:17), “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; - a broken and contrite heart, O
God, you will not despise.”

f. (vs. 10-11), “…And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.’ –
When they brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”
1) Simon’s net is now like his old life; - He had washed it as best as he could clean it – but now
it is broken and left behind!
2) What might be some things – that we as a congregation/individuals – need to leave for Jesus?
3) Like Peter, is your job/friends/family/etc. - keeping you from fully following Jesus?!
4) Remember, reluctant obedience is still obedience – but willful disobedience is SIN!
5) Today (invitation)… Mk. 16:15-16!