From the pulpit

The Purpose of Fishing is to Catch Fish

I don’t know everything about fishing, but let me share with you several things I have learned or have come to understand about it over the years.
1. Fish do not come to the fisherman. Fishermen have to go to the fish. Occasionally we may hear about one that jumps into the boat, but that’s rare. We have to go where the fish are, offer them something to get their attention to take what we have to offer before reeling them in.
2. Fishing needs to be intentional. You don't hear of a fisherman when asked how he or she did, answer, “I didn't catch any but I influenced several.” The challenge we face is many do not find fish because they are not looking for fish to catch, and if they do find them they aren’t ready. Fish don’t bite all of the time. The ones that catch the most fish are those who have lines out when the fish decide to bite. And sometimes that takes time.
3. Shared fishing experiences bring blessings and shared success. It’s always more fun to share a common experience.
4. Boats don’t catch fish. Rods and reels and hooks and lines and sinkers by themselves don’t catch fish, only people catch fish and that is why the fishing business is our business.
The church exists for the fish who have not yet been caught. It is our job to go out and find those fish and to catch those fish and to bring those fish into the Kingdom of God.
If you are a follower of Christ, you are where you are today because somebody went fishing. We were all fish once and the reason why we are what we are is because somebody fished for us. We were caught. We were cleaned and we were changed by the power of Jesus Christ and we love it.
The greatest difference we will ever make in this life is to lead others to be different in their life by knowing Christ. Hear this, God wants to take where you are and who you are and place you in the lives of other people where you can follow Him and fish for them and catch some of them and bring them into His family.
In a survey taken of people not currently attending church, 31 percent said that they would very likely go if invited. 51 percent said they would be somewhat likely to come.
Will everybody come if asked? No, but don’t let the fish that don’t bite keep you from continuing to fish for the ones that will!
Studies have shown that many churches have less than 5 percent of goers ever invite anyone to church.
The number one reason people start coming to church (or coming back to church) is because of the consistent encouragement of a trusted friend. Be that friend!