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Becoming Fishers of MenBecoming Fishers of Men

Mat. 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Mat. 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20;

Lk. 5:1-11Lk. 5:1-11

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If We Are to Be a Follower of If We Are to Be a Follower of Jesus, We Need to be Like Jesus, We Need to be Like

the Crowdthe Crowd• Mark 1:16-20Mark 1:16-20

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Luke 5:1Luke 5:1• Luke 5:Luke 5:

1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about 1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,by the Lake of Gennesaret,

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If We Are to Be a Follower of If We Are to Be a Follower of Jesus, We Need to be Like Jesus, We Need to be Like

the Crowdthe Crowd• Mark 1:16-20Mark 1:16-20

• Luke 5:1-11Luke 5:1-11– The crowd pressed upon JesusThe crowd pressed upon Jesus– Are you so eager to hear Jesus that you can’t Are you so eager to hear Jesus that you can’t

wait?wait?

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If we are to follow Jesus, we must If we are to follow Jesus, we must first become disciplesfirst become disciples

• International Standard Bible International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:Encyclopedia: “a learner”; “a scholar”; “a learner”; “a scholar”; “a pupil of a master” “a pupil of a master”

– Are you a student of Jesus Christ?Are you a student of Jesus Christ?– The disciples had become intimately The disciples had become intimately

familiar with their masterfamiliar with their master

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Matthew 4:19Matthew 4:19Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will

make you fishers of men."make you fishers of men."

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If We Are to Be a Follower of If We Are to Be a Follower of Jesus, an inner change Jesus, an inner change needs to take place.needs to take place.

• He turned fishermen into “fishers of men”He turned fishermen into “fishers of men”

• Romans 6:6Romans 6:6

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If We Are to Be a Follower of If We Are to Be a Follower of Jesus, an inner change Jesus, an inner change needs to take place.needs to take place.

• He turned fishermen into “fishers of men”He turned fishermen into “fishers of men”

• Romans 6:6Romans 6:6

• Once they became disciples, their lives changed Once they became disciples, their lives changed dramaticallydramatically

• Luke 5:8Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"a sinful man, O Lord!"

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Mark 1:17Mark 1:17““Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I

will make you become fishers of men."will make you become fishers of men."

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If We Are to Be a Follower of If We Are to Be a Follower of Jesus, we must be willing to Jesus, we must be willing to

develop ourselvesdevelop ourselves

• Mark 1:16-17 says “Mark 1:16-17 says “becomebecome fishers of fishers of menmen” (a developing process)” (a developing process)

• Colossians 4:5-6Colossians 4:5-6

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Luke 5:4-6Luke 5:4-6 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."down your nets for a catch." 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."down the net." 6 And when they had done this, they caught 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.breaking.

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If We Are to Be a Follower of If We Are to Be a Follower of Jesus, we need to Heed Jesus, we need to Heed

Jesus’ Voice:Jesus’ Voice:• No fish were caught until they heeded No fish were caught until they heeded

the voice of Jesusthe voice of Jesus

• Isaiah 55:8-9Isaiah 55:8-9

• Hebrews 11:1Hebrews 11:1

• Matthew 7:24-27Matthew 7:24-27

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Luke 5:11Luke 5:11 11 So when they had brought their boats to 11 So when they had brought their boats to

land, they forsook all and followed Him.land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Matthew 4 Matthew 4

22 and immediately they left the boat and 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.their father, and followed Him.

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If we become fishers of men, we If we become fishers of men, we will forsake all that we have, will forsake all that we have,

and follow Jesusand follow Jesus

• Lk 1:11 “Lk 1:11 “They forsook all and followed They forsook all and followed Him.”Him.”

• Luke 18:18-23Luke 18:18-23

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What does it mean to be a What does it mean to be a “fisher of men”?“fisher of men”?

• Andrew Already Knew How To Be a Fisher Andrew Already Knew How To Be a Fisher of Menof Men

• Luke 4:38-39Luke 4:38-39

• John 1:35-42John 1:35-42

• Andrew already knew (to some extent) Andrew already knew (to some extent) what it meant to be a fisher of men.what it meant to be a fisher of men.

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Jesus Said…Jesus Said…“…“…he whohe who hearshears My word and believes in Him who sent Me My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life…” (John 5:24)has everlasting life…” (John 5:24)

“…“…if you do notif you do not believebelieve that I am He, you will die in your that I am He, you will die in your sins.“ (John 8:24)sins.“ (John 8:24)

“…“…RepentRepent, , and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

“…“…whoeverwhoever confessesconfesses Me before men, him I will also confess Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Mat. 10:32-33)heaven.” (Mat. 10:32-33)

"He who"He who believes and is and is baptizedbaptized will be saved…” (Mark will be saved…” (Mark 16:16)16:16)

““You are My friends if youYou are My friends if you do whatever I command youdo whatever I command you…” …” (John 15:14 – live a faithful life)(John 15:14 – live a faithful life)