Count the Cost | A Sermon on Luke 14:25–33

Introduction
On Ash Wednesday, we read how Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem to fulfill His purpose to die on a cross to atone for our sin.  During the Sundays in Lent, we’ll study the stories of Christ’s ministry as He made His way to Jerusalem.  Today, we see that following Jesus is costly.  And we are invited to decide if it is worth it.

Luke 14:25-33
²⁵ A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, ²⁶ “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? ²⁹ Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. ³⁰ They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

³¹ “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? ³² And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. ³³ So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Hate is a Strong Word
Jesus said, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life.”

Hate is a strong word.  In fact, it’s a word our culture often condemns outright.  So, when Jesus uses that word, it stops us in our tracks.  But Jesus isn’t calling for hostility.  He is using strong language to make one thing clear: our allegiance to Him must be supreme.

Driving through Jackson, I often see signs that say, “Love is stronger than hate.”  I appreciate the sentiment.  We need more love and kindness in our world.  And love is powerful—especially if we mean the kind of love Jesus offered. 

But the love Jesus gave—the kind of love His followers are commanded to give—demands that Christ takes first place in our hearts.  Everything and everyone else must come in second.  And if we must choose between Christ or anything else, we must choose Christ.

Furthermore, if we love Jesus, we will hate sin, because we see what sin does.  Sin destroys people and rips our world apart.  Sin required the Savior we love to die on the cross.  He died so that we may live.  He died to destroy sin.  Therefore, let us hate sin.

The sacrificial love of Christ is more powerful than hate.  But His love requires everyone to decide if they will follow Him or follow someone or something else.

Count the Cost
When I answered call to ministry, I knew I would have to go back to seminary to get my master's degree (it was the requirement at the time for my denomination).  I called Candler School of Theology at Emory University (the closet approved seminary for me) and asked how much it would cost.  They said, "$7,000".  Now, my entire 4-year undergraduate bachelors degree in the 1990s cost $7,000.  So I asked, I asked, "Is that for the whole degree or per year?"  They said, "$7,000 per semester."  Understand, it was a minimum of 6 semesters to get my seminary degree.  

After I hung up the phone, I prayed, "Lord, there's no way I can afford to do this--especially if I'm about to quite my job as an engineer.  But I'm determined to follow Your call to ministry.  But if I'm going to do this, You're going to have to make a way."  And He did.  Over the next few years, God made a way through scholarships, grants, and generous churches to help pay my way through seminary.  I had almost no debt from seminary after I finished.  

When large crowds were traveling with Jesus, He didn’t say, ‘What can we offer to keep them interested?’  He didn’t redesign His message to be more appealing.  He raised the bar.  He said, “Don’t follow until you count the cost.”

In our time, the church has often tried to attract people by offering programs, events, activities—and many of those things are good. They serve real needs. They build community. They open doors.

But if what ultimately draws someone to church is comfort, entertainment, or convenience, there will always be something more comfortable, more entertaining, and more convenient somewhere else.  This is why attendance at many churches in America today has declined (or shifted to mega churches where they can offer a more entertaining, attractive experience.)

If we build disciples on attraction alone, we shouldn’t be surprised if people become consumers—shopping for the best experience.

But Jesus did not call consumers.  He called disciples.  He did not say, ‘Compare your options.’  He said, ‘Carry your cross.’  Jesus words today remind us what we are invited into.

We follow a crucified Christ.  We should invite others to decide if that’s who they want to follow too.

Jesus says, ‘Count the cost.’  He would rather have fewer genuine followers than crowds who disappear when the road gets rough.

Closing
Today, Jesus wants to protect us from shallow faith.  He says, “Don’t follow Me casually.  Don’t follow Me emotionally.  Don’t follow Me halfway.  Sit down.  Count the cost.  Decide if I am worth it.”

The truth is:  Jesus counted the cost first.  He knew what Jerusalem would cost Him.  He knew what the cross would require.  He knew what obedience would demand.  And He did not turn back.  He believed you are worth it all.

Discipleship is costly.  But it’s worth it.

An Invitation to the Altar
I want to invite you to do something physical today, because sometimes your body needs to move in the direction your heart is choosing.

If you need to count the cost…
If you need to recommit…
If you have been following casually…
If you have been consuming instead of surrendering…
If you have been near Jesus but not fully His…

Come to the altar.  Come kneel.  Come pray.  Come sit and count the cost.

Maybe your prayer is:
“Lord, I have been distracted.”
“Lord, I have been divided.”
“Lord, I have been delaying.”

Or maybe your prayer is simply:  “Jesus, You are worthy of it all.”

This altar is open and you are invited to come.

 

 

Jesus Calls Us to Follow | A Sermon on Mark 1:16-20

Introduction
Donnie Thaxton shared an interesting story on Facebook this week.  He shared how when he married Maxine in 1969, they moved to Dekalb County.  But they missed home, so they came home to Butts County almost every weekend to stay at the Redman House (Maxine's childhood home) where they had a 1.5-acre fishing lake.

The lake was full of bass and brim.  They would catch them all the time and save them up and have fish fries throughout the year.  They were delicious, but you had to be careful not to get a bone stuck in your throat--those fish were very boney.  Eventually, someone had the great idea to drain the whole lake, get rid of the brim and bass, and restock the lake with catfish.  Catfish could grow much bigger and then you could just fillet the fish and not have to deal with bones.

I have another fishing story for you today.  It’s about the day Jesus went fishing and He caught 4 fishermen!

Mark 1:16-20
¹⁶ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon^[g] and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁷ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ¹⁸ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

¹⁹ A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. ²⁰ He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Fishing for a Living
Many people like to fish for recreation.  I do that sometimes.  But Simon and Andrew fished for a living.  James and John were also fishermen by trade and worked for their father’s fishing enterprise.  Zebadee porbably had numerous boats out fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  Then they would sell the fish at the market for a profit.  

Fishing and tradition go hand in hand.  Many fishing techniques are handed down generation to generation.  And in a traditional enterprise like fishing, change is hard.  Many people don't like change.  I don't like change.  But for fishermen, change may be especially hard.

But when you fish for a living, sometimes you have to put success ahead of tradition.  If a new technique comes a long that is more effective than your old tradition, then you may need to adapt and evolve, or else your business may not succeed.

I Was Called to be a Methodist Minister
When Kelly and I got married, we were young. We started dating in high school at Southwest High School in Macon. I graduated in 1992, she graduated two years later in 1994, and we got married when she was 18 and I was 20.

And we had a plan.  We wanted to follow God. We were going to church. We were trying to live faithfully.  But our dream was simple: go to college, start a career, move back to Macon, stay there our whole lives, be good people in the community, and make a difference.  And I liked that plan—because it didn’t involve much change.

But God has a sense of humor.  Instead of letting me stay put, He made me a Methodist minister and moved us from town to town to town. And I’ve come to realize something over the years: His vision was just bigger than mine. I may not have stayed in one town, but I’ve stayed in one community—the North Georgia community—my entire married life.

In Mark 1, Jesus called Simon—later called Peter—along with Andrew, James, and John. He called them to leave their traditional careers as fishermen and follow Him. And He told them what they would do instead: fish for people.

And in His own way, Jesus called me to do the same.  When Kelly and I were in college, we attended East Cobb United Methodist Church in Marietta during our young adult years. As graduation got closer, I realized I was going to need a résumé. I’d need interviews. And I thought, You know what would look good on a résumé? Volunteering at church.

So I started volunteering.  I told Kelly one day, “I think I’m going to sing in the choir.”  She said, “You can’t sing.”  She was right. My voice cracked like a 13-year-old—but I joined anyway.

Then I started volunteering with the youth ministry. Eddie Bradford was the youth minister, and I helped out under him. I thought I was padding my résumé—but something happened. I fell in love with it.

I loved being at church. I loved working with the youth. I loved singing in the choir. If the church doors were open, I was there. Ski trips? I went. Events? I helped. I even started going to church council meetings for fun.  (Now that’s crazy!)

As graduation approached, I realized something troubling: I was sad. Not because I was graduating—but because I wouldn’t have as much time to volunteer at church.  And that’s when God started planting a seed in my heart.  What if you’re not called to be a textile engineer?  What if you’re called to work in the church?

The problem was—I didn’t talk to Kelly about it. I prayed about it. I thought about it. I wrestled with it in my own heart, but I didn’t talk to her for about a year.

I kept asking God for a sign. “Lord, if you want me to be a pastor, give me a sign.”  And one day—quietly, in my heart—God said, You don’t need a sign. You already know. The only reason you want a sign is so you can show it to other people… especially your wife.

Eventually, I did talk to Kelly. And she wasn’t ready yet. So we waited.  I graduated, got a great job as Director of Quality Assurance at 1888 Mills in Griffin. We made towels. It was a good job—better than I expected to get right out of college.  

But there was a catch.

We lived in Lithia Springs near Six Flags, and I worked in Griffin—an hour drive each way. That’s a lot of windshield time. You can only listen to so much music and so many audiobooks before you’re just alone with God.

And for a year, that drive became a prayer.  “I like this job,” I told God. “But this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing.”

After a year, I talked to Kelly again. And she said something I’ll never forget. She said, “Every day when you leave for work and kiss me goodbye, I think about it too. And I know God has called you to be a pastor. And if that’s what He’s called you to do, I’ll support you.”

In 1999, I gave up my career as a textile engineer and began the process of becoming ordained in the Methodist Church. It took nine years. I worked at the plant for two more years while serving in ministry. Then I left completely and became the youth minister at Lithia Springs United Methodist Church.

And I have no regrets.  Because when you do what God has called you to do—even when it involves change—it fits.  And it feels right.

We Are All Called by Christ
But Christ’s calling isn’t just for me.  And it isn’t just for the people who were in the Bible.  We are all called by Jesus.  

Remember my message from last week? What did Jesus say?  He said, “Come to me all of you…” The call is for all. And He said, “Take my yoke upon you…”

Jesus invitation is for everyone who realizes we’re lost with out Him. Everyone is lost (just some haven't realized it yet).  So, we’re all called by Jesus.  But what are we called to do?  Well, according to the Bible, there are several things we are called to do.  Let me share some.

What Are We Called to Do?
We are called to follow Jesus.  (Mark 1:17)
Before anything else, we are called to: Walk with Jesus.  Listen to His voice.  Shape our lives around Him.  Christianity is not just believing in Jesus—it’s following Him.  Are you following Him?

We are called to leave what keeps us from following. (Mark 1:18)  We are called to let go of:
Anything that defines us more than Christ.  Anything that keeps us from obedience.  Anything we trust more than Jesus.  Not everyone leaves the same “nets,” but everyone leaves something.  What “nets” do you need to lay down?

We are called to be changed by Jesus.  Jesus said, “Let me teach you…” (Matthew 11:29)  The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Jesus reshapes our hearts.  We are called to grow, learn, and become more like Christ.

We are called to love God and love others.  (Matthew 22:37–39)  This is the heart of the Christian life.  It’s what we were created for.  We are to Love God with everything we are.  And, love people the way Christ loves us.

We are called to fish for people.  Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of people.” (Mark 1:17)
How do we fish for people?  We share hope, point people to Jesus, and live in a way that draws people toward Christ.

I’ve only been at Stark Methodist for a couple weeks, but I can already tell this church loves missions & outreach.  You have been very, very active, and it’s wonderful.  I love hearing about your River of Life missions event, your blood drives, your helping hand neighbor program, and all the many things you do.

But there can be a danger in this too.  Because sometimes we forget the most important thing people need:  People need Jesus.  When we look around at a world of people in need, we see:  they need home repairs, food and clothing, maybe a ride to work; and the list of needs goes on and on.  But the greatest need—and the one that helps address all the others—is they need Jesus.

Jesus saw a world full of needy people too.  There were the blind and deaf, the lame, the sick.  He healed some of them.  But He knew their greatest need went deeper than these surface issues.

Our Deepest Need
The deepest problem in the human heart is we want to live life on our own terms.  We’re OK with a little God, a little Jesus, in our life as long as we get to keep living our lives pretty much the way we want.

But you see, that’s the problem.  Our lives are not our own.  We belong to God.  He is Lord.  

Jesus didn’t come to help Peter, Andrew, James, and John be more successful fishermen.  He said, “Leave your nets behind.  Come follow me.”

And Jesus comes and says the same to us.  “Leave your old life behind.  Come follow me in a new life.”  And that’s what He wants to say to our neighbors in Jackson through us:  “Come follow me.  Leave your old life behind (because it wasn’t working anyway).  Come follow me and I will give you a new life.”

I think about that old pond at the Redman House.  Do remember what they did?  They drained it.  Got rid of all the bass and brim.  And restocked the pond with catfish.  The brim and bass were too boney.  The catfish were bigger and you could make filets.

That’s sort of what Jesus says we need in our life.  We need to let Him drain it all out and start over fresh.  That’s what our neighbors in Jackson need too.  Sure, we can help with a power bill or rent. 
We can try and help with the practical physical needs they have.  But these are just the surface issues. The real needs go way down deep in the heart.  And we’ve got to invite them to come follow our Savior, our Lord, because He knows how to get down deep in their heart where the real change has to happen.

Jesus Is Still Calling Us To Follow Him
Church, the most important thing I want you to hear today is this:  Jesus didn’t stop calling people in Mark chapter 1.  He is still walking along the shoreline of ordinary lives.

He is still calling people who are busy trying to make life work.  And He is still saying the same simple words:  “Come. Follow Me.”

For some of you, that call may sound familiar.  You remember a time when Jesus first called you—maybe years ago.  Today, I’m inviting you to remember your calling and renew your commitment to live it out.

For others, this may feel new.  You’ve heard about Jesus. You’ve admired Him from a distance.  But today, you sense He may be calling you to a deeper relationship.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John didn’t have all the answers.  They didn’t know where Jesus would lead them.  They just knew who was calling.

And that’s still the question for us today—not: Do I have everything figured out?  but:  Do I trust the One who is calling me?  Jesus is not calling you to add Him to your life.  He is calling you to follow Him with your whole life.

Invitation / Reflection
I invite you to bow your heads and close your eyes for just a moment and reflect on a few questions:

• When did Jesus first call you?
• Are you still following Him—or just believing in Him?
• What “nets” might Jesus be asking you to lay down?
• Is Jesus calling you to take a next step of obedience today?

If you feel Jesus calling you to follow Him for the first time, or calling you back to a deeper walk with Him, I want you to know—you don’t have to have it all together.  You just have to say yes.

Final Gospel Invitation
Jesus left heaven to come to us.  He lived the life we couldn’t live.  He died the death we deserved.  And He rose again to offer us new life.

And today, He simply says:  “Come. Follow Me.”

If you’d like to respond to that call—whether for the first time or in a fresh way—I’ll be here after the service. I would love to pray with you.

Church, may we be a people who don’t just hear His call,
but who are willing to leave our nets and follow.

Amen.

 

Jesus Gives Us Rest | A Sermon on Matthew 11:28-30

Introduction Well, we finally have all our stuff moved down to Jackson. Now the fun begins - unpacking.

All this moving got me thinking about the burdens we carry in life.  We all have stuff to carry.  Even people in Jesus’ day had stuff to carry.  Jesus knew it and invited them to make sure they were carrying the right stuff.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens” (v. 28)
Everyone is carrying something.  Some burdens are self-imposed (expectations, guilt, control, pride). Some burdens are imposed on us by the world (work, grief, injustice, trauma, pressure). Some burdens are spiritual (sin, shame, fear, striving to prove ourselves). All these burdens weigh us down and wear us down.  They make us weary.

We decided to downsize our home when we moved, because we're now empty nesters. No need for as much space as we had when we were parents with three young kids. So we got rid of a lot of stuff before we moved. But not enough. We still have too much for our smaller home. So we'll be giving more away--donating, selling, or throwing away.

In life, you can’t carry everything; it’s too much.  Before we become Christian, we carry all the things the world tells us to carry. And then, when we decide to follow Jesus, if we try to carry all our former stuff and all our Christian stuff too, it's just too much. What are you going to set aside so you can follow Christ?

Jesus comes to us and says: “If you’re weary from carrying heavy burdens, come to me!” He doesn’t want to add guilt to your already heavy load.  He doesn’t scold us by chiding, “Try harder!  Put your back into it!  You’re doing it wrong!” He just says:  “Come to me.”  And He says:

“Take My yoke upon you” (v. 29)
A yoke is a farming implement used to attach a heavy load for oxen, mules, or horses to pull. Jesus uses the image to indicate the work he has for us to do.

I don’t want you to miss this:  Jesus isn’t offering a burden free life.  He says, “Take My yoke upon you.”  So there’s still something to carry. Following Jesus still involves responsibility.  There is still obedience.  There is still work, sacrifice, and faithfulness.  But Christ’s yoke is something different we carry.

Christ’s yoke is:

• Shared - We don’t carry it alone.  We work with other Christians. (Oxen work in teams,)

• Guided - Oxen don’t decide where they go, they are guided by a plowman.

• Purposeful - So much of life seems to have no meaning.  If you ask someone, "Why are you doing that?" Can they give you an answer? Unfortunately, the answer is often simple "It's what everyone else is doing" or "I guess it's just what everyone says you're supposed to do."

Most importantly—carrying Christ’s yoke assumes a relationship with the Master. Jesus doesn’t hand us a yoke and walk away.  He says:  “I am gentle and humble in heart.” He doesn’t drive us harshly.  He doesn’t shame us when we stumble. He doesn’t discard us when we’re tired or used up. Christ cares about His people and He proved how much by dying for us on the cross. We are more than cattle to Jesus.  He gave His life for us! We are His friends. We are His brothers and sisters.

“Learn from Me” — Training to Bear the Yoke
Jesus says:  “Learn from Me.”  Oxen have to be trained to bear a load properly.  They’re living creatures with a mind of their own, but they’re not smart enough to see the bigger picture of the work being done.

The farmer is the one who sees a field and thinks, "This would be a great place to grow some wheat. It needs to be plowed up, fertilized, planted with a certain variety of wheat, and irrigated. He knows all the steps it will take to make the field fruitful. Nut the oxen don't know. They need a farmer (or a plowman) to lead them.

Jesus’ invitation implies we don’t know how to carry life rightly either.  It's true. We make a mess of things. And so we have to learn. And Jesus wants to teach us.

Learning takes time.  Just because you say yes to Jesus today, doesn’t mean you’ll be fully trained tomorrow.  Following Jesus is a process, not a switch that gets flipped.

In Jesus’ day, a young ox was often yoked with a seasoned one.  The young ox learned how to pull by
listening to the master’s voice and following the example of the more experienced ox. If the ox resisted the master’s voice, it led to a lot of wasted energy (and possibly getting someone hurt!).  If it pulled its own way, it led to exhaustion, frustration, and futility. But once trained, the work flowed smoothly, the load felt lighter, and the relationship brought order and peace.

We are not called to carry life alone—we are called to stay close to Christ and learn His pace, follow His direction, and go His way.

“My yoke is easy… My burden is light” (v. 30)
One thing you need to know about my family.  We love animals.  We have lots of pets--2 dogs 4 cats, and 3 chickens!

If you have pets you love, you probably know every detail about them. I know that Roy Bob is so fat his back is flat like an aircraft carrier! I know he loves 2 things most in life (in this order): He loves to eat and he loves to be the center of yoru attention and affection. I know his ears are soft and silky, but Winston's are wiry and scruffy. I know Winston will bark at any sight or sound he thinks he sees (even if nothing is there). But I also know he will run and hide if any real danger might be near because he's a total coward! Do you know your pets like me?

A good farmer in Jesus' day knew his oxen well.  They knew every curve of their neck, their temperament, what spooked them, and what motivated them. They often had yokes handcrafted to fit specific animals to ensure proper fit, prevent chafing & injury.  

And a good farmer cared about his animals and Jesus cares about us and His yoke fits perfectly because He knows everything about us. The Gospel of John says Jesus was there in the beginning when the world was created. Jeremiah said He formed us in our mother's womb. He designed our very DNA and knows what’s best for us--even better than we know for ourselves.

And Jesus designed a yoke specifically to fit you. It is well-tailored and fits so naturally sometimes you forget it’s there. And His yoke gives you meaning and purpose. Serving becomes a pleasure, not a chore. He empowers you to bear much fruit instead of burning out in a wasted life. Somehow, mysteriously, work starts to feel like rest.

When I was growing up, I’ve always had a technically minded, engineering-type brain. I like systems, how things work, how pieces fit together. So when I started thinking about my future, I thought, This makes sense. Engineering meant good pay, job security, and maybe even living in one place my whole life.

So I went to school and earned a degree in textile engineering, and I got a job at 1888 Mills in Griffin. I enjoyed the work. It fit the way my mind works.

But at the end of the day, something was still missing. I realized this wasn’t my purpose. Somewhere along the way, God made it clear that while I had an engineer’s mind, He had given me a shepherd’s heart—a desire to serve Him, lead His people, and build His Church.

It was as if the Lord said, This is how I designed you. Do this instead.

So I made the change. Not because I’m perfect or especially gifted, but because when you step into what God created you to do, something just fits. There’s meaning there.

And even on hard days—even when ministry is difficult—I can honestly say this: I’m glad I’m doing what God made me to do.

The world’s burdens don’t fit.  They rub us raw.  They wear us down.  And once we’re used up, Satan simply discards us and looks for another person to consume. The Enemy doesn’t care about you and a world led by Satan doesn’t care about you either.

The Choice Before Us
Jesus invites us to trust Him enough to trade our broken yoke for His perfect one. The rest Jesus offers is not an escape—it’s learning to live life the way it was meant to be lived.

As we close, I’d like to invite you to take a minute to reflect as I ask you a few questions:

• What burdens are you carrying that Jesus never asked you to carry?

• Where are you resisting His teaching?

• Are you walking close enough to Jesus to hear His voice?

And lastly, I'd like to invite you to follow Jesus. It's Jesus' invitation really. He says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Fish for People | A Sermon on Matthew 4:19

Matthew 4:19
In Matthew 4:19, Jesus called his first disciples.  Matthew 4:19 – Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

Fish for People
This wasn’t just a call for the first disciples.  It’s a call Jesus gives to all of us.  To fish for people means to join Jesus in His mission of drawing others into God’s Kingdom through our witness, love, service, and proclamation of the gospel.

Jesus taught His disciples to fish by doing it.  Let’s look at a few examples of Jesus fishing for people. 

Jesus calling the disciples (Matthew 4:18-22) – Jesus meets fishermen where they are and uses their own experience to invite them into a new kind of fishing.  You have to understand people's lives and the needs and struggles and meet them where they are.  As Jesus called the disciples to be “fishers of people,” He didn’t just walk up randomly and make the invitation. He had watched these fishermen—He knew their daily lives, their routines, and their struggles. He understood what their work meant to them. Then He took something familiar—their skill in fishing—and gave it a greater, kingdom-minded purpose. Jesus said, in effect, “This thing you’ve been doing, I’m inviting you to do it in a whole new way. Not to catch fish, but to reach people. And I will show you how to do it.”  

The Woman at the Well (John 4) – Jesus engaged in personal conversation and drew the Samaritan woman to faith.  Here we see that Jesus isn’t just reaching out to people like Him—Galileans who grew up in the same region, or fellow Jews of the same background. Instead, He crosses cultural and social boundaries to speak with someone considered an outsider, someone others would have avoided. Jesus walks through Samaria, sits by a well, and notices a woman coming to draw water in the heat of the day. Why is she here now, when no one else is? Why not in the cool of the morning? He sees her situation, understands her deeper story, and begins a one-on-one conversation. Through truly seeing her and knowing her, He leads her to faith.

Feeding the Five Thousand (Mark 6:30-44) – Jesus includes the disciples in the act of caring for the crowd, showing them that “fishing” can also mean meeting practical needs that open hearts.  Jesus says, “I want you to take care of these people’s practical needs. They’ve been with us all day, and they’re hungry.” The disciples want to send them away, but Jesus responds, “You give them something to eat.” They’re confused—“How can we possibly feed them?”—and then He shows them how, performing His miraculous work. In doing this, Jesus teaches His disciples, and us, that fishing for people often begins with meeting practical needs. If someone is hungry, homeless, or without clothing, how can they truly hear about eternal life until their immediate needs are met? Care for their physical needs first, and hearts will be open to receive the hope of Christ.

Sending out the Twelve & the 72
Jesus didn’t just show the disciples how to fish for people by doing it all Himself.  He challenged the disciples to get out in the world and do some fishing themselves.  In Matthew 10:1-15, Jesus sends the 12 disciples out to practice preaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom.  In Luke 10:1-20, He sent a broader group of 72 disciples out to share the message, showing that “fishing” is a task for all followers, not just the original twelve.

And the disciples learned well.  By the time we get to Acts 2, we see Peter preaching in Jerusalem and leading 3,000 people to believe in Jesus and be baptized.  But it wasn’t just about big numbers.  Every single person was important to the disciples because every person belongs in God’s Kingdom.  That’s why I love the story of Philip.  The story is found in Act 8:26-40, but let me summarize it.

It’s the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch was a high official, the treasurer to the queen of Ethiopia, riding in his chariot on the road home from Jerusalem. He had gone there to worship, but because he was a eunuch, the Law of Moses said he could not fully participate in the temple. So here he is, hungry to know God, yet feeling excluded. As he rides, he’s reading aloud from the prophet Isaiah about the Suffering Servant—someone who was despised and disfigured—and he’s wondering what it all means.

Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit tells Philip, “Go to that chariot.” Philip runs alongside and hears the eunuch reading Isaiah. He asks, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” The eunuch replies, “How can I, unless someone explains it?” He invites Philip into the chariot, and Philip begins to share the good news: this prophecy is about Jesus, the Messiah, who gave His life so that all may be welcomed into God’s family. No barrier from your past, no wound, no exclusion can keep you out—because through Jesus, you are made whole.

The eunuch hears this, sees some water by the road, and says, “Look, here’s water. What’s to stop me from being baptized?” And in that moment, he is baptized into the family of Christ—fully included, fully loved, fully His.

Whether it was the 3,000 who responded to Peter’s preaching, or the one man Philip led to Christ, the disciples were faithfully doing it. They had learned well what it meant to fish for people.

Other Aspects of Fishing
It occurs to me that there’s a lot more to fishing than just the moment you cast out your nets.  My brother-in-law Joey is one of the best fishermen I know. Anytime we go to the beach on vacation, I get excited because I know Joey will be there—and that means we’re going to catch fish. Now, Joey isn’t necessarily better at casting a line or reeling in a fish than I am. I know how to rig the hooks, cast accurately, and set the hook just right. I’m as good at the mechanics of fishing as he is.

But here’s what makes Joey a great fisherman: he starts fishing long before we ever get to the beach. Months in advance, he’s studying the tides, the kinds of fish in season, the best times of day, and the best spots to fish. He asks around, gathers information, and prepares. By the time we show up, Joey knows exactly what bait to use, where to cast, and what to expect. I just get to do the fun part—cast the line and reel them in—because Joey has already done the hard work.

On top of that, Joey knows what kind of fish we’re catching, whether they’re keepers, how to clean them, and how to cook them. That’s what makes him an excellent fisherman—it’s not just the moment of casting a line, but the preparation, knowledge, and care that go into it.

Now let’s take that idea into our spiritual call to be fishers of people. Too often, when we think about fishing for men and women, we only think about the moment itself: What am I going to say? Will I know what to do? But real fishing begins long before the moment of encounter.

We prepare by spending time with Jesus, reading His Word, and letting Him shape us. That way, when we come alongside someone—like Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch—we’re ready. He just “happened” to be reading Isaiah, and Philip was able to say, “I know what that’s about.” That didn’t happen by accident; it was God at work in both of them. And God can do the same in you.

You may think, I don’t know the Bible well enough. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to know it all. God knows what’s coming. He may nudge you today to read Isaiah 40, and you might not know why. But four weeks later, you’ll find yourself in a dentist’s waiting room, and someone will bring it up—and suddenly you’ll realize God had you preparing for that moment all along.

It’s like maintaining your fishing gear. I’ve been there: I show up at the beach, throw my line out, and the reel locks up because I never cleaned it from last year. Is your spiritual life like that? When someone opens their heart and says, “My wife just told me she wants a divorce, and I don’t know what to do,” do you freeze up? Or are you ready because you’ve been walking with the Lord, keeping your nets clean and your heart prepared?

And fishing doesn’t end with the first catch. When someone says, “I’m coming to church with you Sunday,” don’t just say, “Great, see you there.” Meet them on the front porch. Walk in with them. Sit beside them. Help them find a small group, a class, or a place to serve. If they love to sing, introduce them to the choir. That’s what it means to cast the net and to follow through.

Fishing for people is so much more than one moment. It’s preparing beforehand, being ready in the moment, and walking with people afterward. That’s the full picture of what Jesus calls us to.

Essential: Casting Our Nets
Preparation is important—but at some point, you have to cast the net. You can do everything right beforehand, but if you never cast, you’ll never catch.

Jesus called His disciples to be “fishers of people,” and that same call comes to us today. So, let me ask you—who are you fishing for? Who in your life needs to experience God’s love, hear the good news, or see faith lived out through your example? Every one of us has family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers who need the hope of Christ. Following Jesus means not just being caught by His grace, but also casting our nets wide so that others might be drawn into His Kingdom.

World Communion Sunday
The disciples’ faithfulness in becoming fishers of people led to the rapid expansion of the Christian Church. As more and more people became followers of Christ, they too became fishers of people. Being fishers of people is not optional—it is essential. Any generation that fails in this calling faces decline and eventual death. But faithful disciples across the centuries have carried the gospel, and now followers of Christ are found in every corner of the globe. Today, on World Communion Sunday, we celebrate this witness to the spread of the faith. Though we speak different languages, eat different foods, and live in different nations, we are united as part of Jesus’ fishing crew—bound together by His sacrifice and the power of His resurrection. World Communion reminds us that all Christians are interconnected, breaking down denominational and cultural barriers. It is also a call for us to remember our mission to be fishers of people. What our world, our country, and our community need now more than ever is to live out the principles of forgiveness, grace, love, sacrifice, and service that Christ taught us. This is the only hope for our world.  Will you answer Christ’s invitation:  “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”