Gone Fishin

Gone Fishin by Jack Selcher Copyright 2007 by Eastern Regional Conference, Churches of God !
!ll rights reser"ed #o part of this publication $ay be reproduced, stored in a retrie"al syste$ or trans$itted in any %ay by any $eans, electronic, $echanical, photocopy, recording or other%ise %ithout the prior per$ission of the author e&cept as pro"ided by 'S! copyright la% Scripture taken fro$ the (oly )ible* #e% +nternational ,ersion- #+,- Copyright ./70, ./71, ./12 by +nternational )ible Society 'sed by per$ission of 3onder"an 4ublishing (ouse !ll rights reser"ed
Gone Fishin
Table of Contents
Gone 5ishin6 Co"enant 77777777777777 0 . 2 0 2 9 ; 7 1 / .0 4ray for Success 77777777777777 2 4repare to 5ish 77777777777777 .0 8no% the 5ish 777777777777777.2 !ttract the 5ish 77777777777777 ./ :arget !cti"e 5ish 777777777777 722 :ransition to 5ishin6 777777777777 21 :ell <our Story 7777777777777 02
=ait for a )ite 777777777777 77 07 >and the 5ish 7777777777 777 2.
Conser"e the Catch 77777777777772;
Gone Fishin Co"enant + %on6t do$inate discussions or gi"e un%anted ad"ice +6ll participate in class discussions and co$plete assign$ents =hate"er is said in the group is confidential
=ith God6s help, + agree to abide by these pro$ises to God and our s$all group Signature ???????????????????????????????????? @ate ???????????????????
Gone Fishin
Lesson 1 Pray for Success
Volunteers should read the following paragraphs. the #aterial in bold print as you go.
iscuss! e"aluate or respond to
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church &b'ecti"e% :o construct a prayerCfoundation to reach lo"ed ones and coC%orkers for Christ The focus of Gone Fishin is reaching persons we know for Christ. Sometimes the author uses only the term co-worker for bre ity. !ost of the principles "escribe" also apply to reaching frien"s# neighbors an" relati es. (ndependence )ill Gates beca$e successful through ingenuity and effort :hat %orks in business, but it takes $ore than that to be successful in e"angelis$ SelfCreliance pre ents spiritual fruitfulness +ngenuity, creati"ity and effort ha"e a place, but they6re the t%igs and s$all branches of the e"angelis$ tree 4rayer is the root 4 : 5orsythe said that our %orst sin is prayerlessness, because of %hat it says about %ho %e really think is in charge of the church and the uni"erse
Area Personal life Small group Church
Rating (1-10)
)ate the strength of the e*isting prayer foundation of your personal life! our s#all group and our church. +*plain your ratings.
)elie"ing prayer sho%s dependence on God D(e EJesusF replied, G:his kind can co$e out only by prayer6H IJark /*2/K (u$an nature prefers independenceL =e de$onstrate our hard core sinful nature by using our ti$e, abilities and $oney to please oursel"es, not God God doesn6t build his kingdo$ through proud, selfCabsorbed, independent people (e opposes the$ D<oung $en, in the sa$e %ay be sub$issi"e to those %ho are older !ll of you, clothe yoursel"es %ith hu$ility to%ard one another, because, GGod opposes the proud but gi"es grace to the hu$ble6H I. 4eter 9*9K Sharing our faith %ithout dependence on God6s Spirit produces no lasting fruit 4eople feel their need for Christ only %hen the (oly Spirit is %orking D=hen he E(oly SpiritF co$es, he %ill con"ict the %orld of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and Mudg$entH IJohn .;*1K 4rayer is one %ay %e nurture a li"ing connection %ith Christ +n John .9*9 Jesus says, D+ a$ the "ineN you are the branches +f a $an re$ains in $e and + in hi$, he %ill bear $uch fruitN apart fro$ $e you can do nothing H iscuss% ,ays #y independence hinders the effecti"eness of #y witness include-. Perse"ering Prayer +t $akes a lot of sense to pray 5or hookCandCline fisher$en to be successful, fish ha"e to open their $ouths 5or e"angelists to be successful, unbelie"ers ha"e to open their hearts =ithout the influence of the (oly Spirit, no one %ill ackno%ledge Jesus as >ord D:herefore + tell you that no one %ho is speaking by the Spirit of God says, GJesus be cursed,6 and no one can say, GJesus is >ord,6 e&cept by the (oly SpiritH I. Corinthians .2*0K E"angelistic effecti"eness depends on our prayers and the prayer $inistries of our church Jore persons praying for laborers for the har"est and for the lost bring $ore e"angelistic fruit DG!sk the >ord of the har"est, therefore, to send out %orkers into his har"est field6H IJatthe% /*01K >ily :o$lin said, D+ al%ays %anted to be so$ebody7 + should ha"e been $ore specific H !s belie"ers %e %ant to reach so$ebody, but %e ha"e to be specific =hen %e pray for specific people and e&pect God to %ork in their li"es, he doesN ho%e"er, the results aren6t al%ays predictable So$eti$es %e pray for years before lo"ed ones co$e to faith in Christ So$eti$es they die %ithout e"er recei"ing hi$ Ias far as %e kno%K 4raying for the sal"ation of our lo"ed ones is si$ilar to praying for physical healing #ot e"eryone for %ho$ %e pray is healed, 9
but far $ore are healed than %ould be if %e didn6t pray One clear the$e of Scripture is ho% $uch prayer can acco$plish DG+f you belie"e, you %ill recei"e %hate"er you ask for in prayer6H IJatthe% 2.*22K D:herefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you $ay be healed :he prayer of a righteous $an is po%erful and effecti"eH IJa$es 9*.;K DGSo + say to you* !sk and it %ill be gi"en to youN seek and you %ill findN knock and the door %ill be opened to you 5or e"eryone %ho asks recei"esN he %ho seeks findsN and to hi$ %ho knocks, the door %ill be opened6H I>uke ..*/C.0K D@o not be an&ious about anything, but in e"erything, by prayer and petition, %ith thanksgi"ing, present your reBuests to God !nd the peace of God, %hich transcends all understanding, %ill guard you hearts and your $inds in Christ Jesus I4hilippians 2*;C7K 4raying about e"erything includes praying for the sal"ation of our friends, relati"es, coC %orkers and neighbors iscuss% Share a prayer."ictory concerning a person for who# you prayed that beca#e a Christian. /ysterious Prayer God thinks and beha"es differently than %e do DG5or $y thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your %ays $y %ays,6H declares the >ord DG!s the hea"ens are higher than the earth, so are $y %ays higher than your %ays and $y thoughts than your thoughts6H I+saiah 99*1C/K Jystery, like thick fog, "eils God6s %ork on earth =e naturally think in eitherPor categories Either God is in control or people ha"e free %ill Reality is that God is in control an" hu$an beings ha"e free %ill God is ne"er surprised %hen people repent and recei"e his Son D(e predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance %ith his pleasure and %illH IEphesians .*9K 4eople ha"e free %ill and often reMect or resist %hat6s best for the$ =e6"e all done it D:he >ord is not slo% in keeping his pro$ise, as so$e understand slo%ness (e is patient %ith you, not %anting anyone to perish, but e"eryone to co$e to repentanceH I2 4eter 0*/K So$e stubbornly cling to the decepti"e Dfreedo$sH of spiritual death %hen they could ha"e life that really satisfies D<et you refuse to co$e to $e EJesusF to ha"e lifeH IJohn 9*20K iscuss% Lets tal0 about so#eone for whose sal"ation we"e prayed that hasnt see#ed to co#e any closer to Christ. ,hat 0eeps you praying1 )egular Prayer Setting aside daily ti$e to pray adds regular abiding in Christ structure to our li"es +t says, D:his ti$e is special, >ord, and +6$ setting it apart to $eet %ith you in our custo$ary place H +f %e set a regular ti$e, %e6ll pray $ore consistently than if %e don6t Our prayer life needs to include $ore than praying through lists D!biding in ChristH
praying e$braces praise, confession, thanksgi"ing and Buiet ti$e to hear the >ord6s "oice iscuss% Lets e"aluate how we"e organi2ed our life to spend regular ti#e in prayer and how balanced our prayer life is 3including praise! confession! than0sgi"ing! 4uiet ti#e! as0ing for things for self and others5. Setting aside a regular ti$e and place %ill strengthen our prayer life, but %e6re also co$$anded to pray throughout the day D4ray continuallyH I. :hessalonians 9*.7K Such prayer goes beyond a daily prayer appoint$ent %ith God Recurring prayer throughout the day is a $ark of spiritual $aturity Such DgeyserH prayers could be intercession for so$eone %ho needs God6s healing, spontaneous thanks for a blessing recei"ed, or a reBuest for sal"ation of a coC%orker 4raying continually includes constantly depending on God, ackno%ledging his presence, yielding to his %ill and seeking his purpose for our life as %e li"e it $o$ent by $o$ent >ater %e6ll co$pile a list of fi"e persons Iincluding coC%orkersK %ith %ho$ %e ha"e a close relationship and influence :hese persons ha"en6t recei"ed Jesus Christ6s offer of sal"ation or don6t regularly attend church So$e unchurched persons $ight be Christians, but like chickens outside the hen house, they6re "ery "ulnerable =e6re not satisfied %hen professing Christians don6t attend church, e"en if they are =e6re also not satisfied %ith those %ho attend church regularly but don6t kno% Jesus =e6ll pray for the persons on our list daily, clai$ing 2 4eter 0*/* D:he >ord is not slo% in keeping his pro$ise, as so$e understand slo%ness (e is patient %ith you, not %anting anyone to perish, but e"eryone to co$e to repentance H Prayer for the Lost ! personal prayer list is a good start, but %e need to do $ore Effecti"e e"angelistic churches pray for lost people in $any settings CC in s$all groups of laypersons, the pastor and staff, %orship ser"ices, youth $eetings, or so$e other %ay 4rayer %as the underlying strength of e"ery e"angelistic $ethod used by the 97; effecti"e e"angelistic churches @r :ho$ Rainer studied I$ffecti e $ angelistic Churches, )road$an Q (ol$an 4ublishersK (e disco"ered that churches %ith an ongoing prayer $inistry specifically for the lost are al$ost al%ays gro%ing Our s$all group is an e&cellent place to pray for the lost !t the end of this lesson %e6ll each ha"e fi"e lost persons on a personal prayer list =e6ll pray for the$ by na$e regularly during our group $eetings =e6ll also hold one another accountable to pray pri"ately for and reach out to these lo"ed ones in practical %ays that de$onstrate Jesus6 lo"e +n addition, as a group %e6ll ser"e so$e of the$ in %ays that $eet their needs 4eriodically, %e6ll also talk about signs %e see of God at %ork in their li"es =e %ant to be $ore effecti"e %itnesses for Christ at %ork and attract others to hi$ and his church E"angelis$ includes so%ing, %atering, culti"ating and har"esting Jost of our e"angelistic efforts are preparation for har"esting Often so$eone else %ill be the
har"ester E"angelists >arry and >uella (ale $inistered in a church in !ppalachian, #e% <ork :hey har"ested spiritual fruit that %as so%n, %atered and culti"ated by one of the elders of the church :his elder spent considerable ti$e %ith a $an preparing the %ay for hi$ to decide to follo% Jesus :his is the nor$, not the e&ception =e6re not Must looking for people to pray to recei"e Christ =e6re not satisfied %ith DdecisionsH that don6t change li"es Our purpose is $aking $ore and better disciples DG:herefore go and $ake disciples of all nations, baptiRing the$ in the na$e of the 5ather and of the Son and of the (oly Spirit, and teaching the$ to obey e"erything + ha"e co$$anded you !nd surely + a$ %ith you al%ays, to the "ery end of the age6H IJatthe% 21*./C20K :he Great Co$$ission includes $o"ing persons %ith %ho$ %e %ork to%ard Christ Ie"angelis$K, helping the$ $ature in the faith, $obiliRing the$ in $inistry, and de"eloping the$ into spiritual leaders in so$e phase of God6s kingdo$ %ork #one of these things %ill happen %ithout a prayerCfoundation :hat brings us to ho% %e6ll pray for lost coC%orkers, friends, relati"es and neighbors 6ow to Pray for the Lost =e6re going to use a 7C0 strategy to pray $ore effecti"ely in our group for our spiritual influence a$ong friends, neighbors, relati"es and coC%orkers :he 7 =e6ll pray %e6ll be7 . !::R!C:+,E A =e6re the fra$e around Jesus6 picture* D7so that in e"ery %ay they %ill $ake the teaching about God our Sa"ior attracti"eH I:itus 2*.0K 2 )O>@ A =e6ll speak up for Jesus tactfully yet boldly D4ray also for $e, that %hene"er + open $y $outh, %ords $ay be gi"en $e so that + %ill fearlessly $ake kno%n the $ystery of the gospelH IEphesians ;*./K 0 C>E!R A =e %ant to share the gospel and our o%n faith story clearly D4ray that + $ay proclai$ it clearly, as + shouldH IColossians 2*2K 2 @+SCER#+#G A =e need to kno% %hen doors are and aren6t open to the gospel D!nd pray for us, too, that God $ay open a door for our $essage, so that %e $ay proclai$ the $ystery of Christ, for %hich + a$ in chainsH IColossians 2*0K 9 ESCE>>E#: A =e need God6s help to do our %ork and li"e our life in a %ay that brings hi$ glory, not reproach DG+n the sa$e %ay, let your light shine before $en, that they $ay see your good deeds and praise your 5ather in hea"en6H IJatthe% 9*.;K ; 5!+R A =e need God6s grace to treat others fairly* DJasters, pro"ide your sla"es %ith %hat is right and fair7H IColossians 2*.K 7 =+SE A =e need ability to read the signs of God at %ork D>et your con"ersation be al%ays full of grace, seasoned %ith salt, so that you $ay kno% ho% to ans%er e"eryoneH IColossians 2*;K :he 0 =e6ll pray our lost lo"ed ones %ill be%
. CO#,+C:E@ A :hey don6t see their selfCoriented life is %rong D=hen he co$es, he %ill con"ict the %orld of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and Mudg$entH IJohn .;*1K 2 @+SS!:+S5+E@ A :heir substitutes for God are stealing a%ay their life, but they don6t realiRe it DG:he thief co$es only to steal and kill and destroyN + ha"e co$e that they $ay ha"e life, and ha"e it to the full6H IJohn .0*.0K 0 4ERCE4:+,E A :hey don6t really understand the gospel D!nd e"en if our gospel is "eiled, it is "eiled to those %ho are perishing :he god of this age has blinded the $inds of unbelie"ers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, %ho is the i$age of GodH I2 Corinthians 2*0C2K =e6ll use this ScriptureCbased 7C0 $odel %hen %e pray for the lost pri"ately and in our group $eeting Lets each co#pile a list of 7 persons for whose sal"ation well pray daily! including at least one co.wor0er. a. b. c. d. e. 6ow fre4uently will we pray in our s#all group for lost lo"ed ones and co.wor0ers after we"e co#pleted the Gone Fishin course1 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 8
Lesson 9 Prepare to Fish
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold, clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e &b'ecti"e% :o prepare to fish at %ork and in our neighborhood by being clean, bold, and SpiritCfilled 1 Peter :%17 D)ut in your hearts set apart Christ as >ord !l%ays be prepared to gi"e an ans%er to e"eryone %ho asks you to gi"e the reason for the hope that you ha"eH I. 4eter 0*.9K
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;ccording to this "erse! what two things #ust we do before we can ta0e our faith to wor01< >et6s read it one $ore ti$e before %e respond ,hich of these two is #ore difficult for you1 ,hy1 &n a scale of 1.1=! how prepared do you feel to share the reason for your hope1< I. T totally unprepared and .0 T co$pletely preparedHK Share challenges you"e e*perienced in sharing your faith at wor0 or in your neighborhood that illustrate the need for surrender to Christ and for preparation.
/atthew >%1? DGCo$e, follo% $e,6H Jesus said, DGand + %ill $ake you fishers of $en6H IJatthe% 2*./K $ased on this "erse! whats our part in fishing at wor01 ,hats @esus part1 (f were not fishing for #en! what else arent we doing "ery well1 5ishing for $en has no closed season, siRe or creel li$itsCC red and yello%, black and %hite, young or old, big or s$all =e can fish %hene"er %e %ant and keep e"erything %e catch Successful fisher$en prepare for their fishing trips :hey organiRe their tackle, check their boat, $otor and trailer, find their lake $aps, prepare food, etc =e prepare to fish for $en by applying the C)S of %itness preparation C$S :he C represents Dclean,H the ), Dbold,H and the S, DSpiritCfilled H :%o fisher$en $et on "acation and %ere soon telling fish stories :he first described a 2/9Cpound sal$on he caught on fourCpound test line that took hi$ hours to land (e didn6t spare a single detail :he second told about snagging a lantern $ade in ./.2 on a lure %hile fishing in a local lake :he $ost a$aRing thing CC the lantern %as still burningL :he first fisher$an got right to the point (e said, D+6ll take 210 pounds off $y sal$on, if you6ll put out the light in your lanternLH Satan6s goal is to e&tinguish our light Jesus said, DG+n the sa$e %ay, let your light shine before $en, that they $ay see your good deeds and praise your 5ather in hea"en6H IJatthe% 9*.;K Our light shines at %ork and in our co$$unity by our %ords, attitudes and beha"ior =hen it does, the capti"es of darkness can6t help but notice =e can e&pect $any DcockroachH and a fe% D$othH responses =hen our light shines, the $aMority of notCyetCbelie"ers %ill %ant to get a%ay fro$ it like cockroaches run %hen the lights are turned on at night So$e of the$, ho%e"er, %ill be attracted to our light like $oths to a light bulb To what degree does this #oth.coc0roach analogy ring true in your e*perience1< Can you share any real life e*a#ples1 +t6s essential to let our light shine by the %ay %e li"e, but that6s not enough )ased on infor$ation gathered by sur"eys the author did %ith about 00 ERC congregations, people rarely ask those %ho attend ERC churches %hy they6re so different, e"en if the difference bet%een the$ and their coC%orkers is dra$atic 5e%er than .0U of people in these congregations ha"e been asked three or $ore ti$es in their lifeti$e so$ething si$ilar to*
..
D=hat $akes you so differentVH 6ow #any of us ha"e been as0ed three or #ore ti#es! so#ething li0e! A,hat #a0es you so different1< ,hy are few belie"ers as0ed that 4uestion1 =e ha"e to take the initiati"e to share God6s %ord %ith others :hey aren6t %on to Christ Must by %atching us DConseBuently, faith co$es fro$ hearing the $essage, and the $essage is heard through the %ord of ChristH IRo$ans .0*.7K ,hat does this "erse identify as a 0ey ele#ent in persons co#ing to faith in Christ1 !s %e6ll see, %hen the $essage is so%n on culti"ated soil Ia prepared heartK, it6s far $ore likely to yield a har"est than %hen it6s so%n on unculti"ated soil Re$e$ber C)S Effecti"e %itnesses for Christ are clean, bold and SpiritCfilled $e Clean :o be an effecti"e %itness, %e ha"e to be clean D+f a $an cleanses hi$self fro$ the latter EselfCser"ing purposesF, he %ill be an instru$ent for noble purposes, $ade holy, useful to the Jaster and prepared to do any good %orkH I2 :i$othy 2*2.K =e naturally spend considerable effort trying to co"er up or e&cuse our sins =e can fool others for a %hile, but sooner or later our sins catch up %ith us God kno%s e"ery unCJesusClike area in our life =e can6t fool hi$ at all God6s solution is to call sin %hat he does CC S+#L (e %ants us to change our attitude to%ard it, forsake it and recei"e his cleansing :he corrosion of a battery6s ter$inals blocks the flo% of electrical current Sin blocks the flo% of God6s po%er through our life =e can clean battery ter$inals %ith baking soda =hen %e do, the current flo% is restored Confession is God6s baking soda D+f %e confess our sins, he is faithful and Must and %ill forgi"e us our sins and purify us fro$ all unrighteousnessH I. John .*/K Confession $akes us usable =hat sins do %e need to confessV @oes our use of ti$e and $oney pro"e our priorities are in orderV +s God getting lefto"ersV DG)ut seek first his kingdo$ and his righteousness, and all these things %ill be gi"en to you as %ell6H IJatthe% ;*00K (a"e %e lost our first lo"e for JesusV !re %e holding grudges against and refusing to forgi"e othersV uring the ne*t two #inutes lets silently confess the specific sins of which God con"icts us so we can be clean channels through who# li"ing water can flow to others. :his isn6t so$ething %e only do once =hene"er there6s Ddirt,H there6s a need for cleansing $e $old H4ray also for $e, that %hene"er + open $y $outh, %ords $ay be gi"en $e so that + %ill fearlessly $ake kno%n the $ystery of the gospel, for %hich + a$ an a$bassador in chains 4ray that + $ay declare it fearlessly, as + shouldH IEphesians ;*./C20K >i"ing by
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faith $eans taking risks @on6t e&pect cooperating %ith God in his sa"ing %ork to feel safe =e can6t rescue anyone fro$ our co$fort Rone Reaching out e"angelistically today feels risky, e"en if %e6"e already done it .00 ti$es this year Resistance to e&tending God6s kingdo$ co$es fro$ three sources :he de"il doesn6t allo% us to take his prisoners of %ar uncontested any $ore than a $other bear %ould allo% us to carry a%ay her cubs %ithout a fight +n addition, that part of us that lo"es to be in control and go its o%n %ay doesn6t take risks for others6 benefit 5urther$ore, the do$inant "alues and beliefs of our culture oppose the e&pansion of God6s control in hu$an li"es >ifeguards and fire$en take risks to rescue others E"en if they6re successful, those rescued e"entually die of other causes (o% $uch $ore should %e take risks for the eternal %elfare of othersL Reaching out e"angelistically is like our first plunge off the high di"ing board +t starts %ith fear and ends %ith e&hilaration :his is true e"en %hen others don6t e$brace our $essage, because God fills us %ith the Moy of the obedient >et6s plunge into the e"angelistic opportunities God pro"ides, depending on Jesus6 pro$ise, DG!nd surely + a$ %ith you al%ays, to the "ery end of the age6H IJatthe% 21*20bK &hen Go" pushes us to lea e our comfort 'one# its unsafe to remain in it( Share a ti#e when you stepped out of your co#fort 2one to ta0e a stand for Christ. 6ow did you feel when you first recogni2ed the opportunity! and after you allowed God to use you1 $e Filled with the 6oly Spirit :he control and po%er of the (oly Spirit are essential to e"angelis$ =e $ust daily yield the steering %heel of our life I$ind, e$otions and %illK to the Spirit of Christ Since God co$$ands us to be filled %ith his Spirit, it6s ob"iously his %ill D@o not get drunk on %ine, %hich leads to debauchery +nstead, be filled %ith the SpiritH IEphesians 9*.1K God guarantees he6ll ans%er e"ery prayer that6s in har$ony %ith his %ill D:his is the confidence %e ha"e in approaching God* that if %e ask anything according to his %ill, he hears us !nd if %e kno% that he hears us CC %hate"er %e ask CC %e kno% that %e ha"e %hat %e asked of hi$H I. John 9*.2C.9K =e can literally do anything God asks us to do %hen %e6re filled %ith his Spirit 6ow are both sub#ission and faith connected to being controlled and e#powered by the 6oly Spirit1 ,hich of the two do you find #ore difficult1 Our C)S assign$ents* . E"ery day spend t%o $inutes of your prayer ti$e in silence before God !sk hi$ to re"eal anything in your life that displeases hi$ Confess it and clai$ his forgi"eness
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Speak or act boldly for Jesus at least once before the ne&t class $eeting #e&t ti$e %e6ll ha"e an opportunity to share ho% %e stepped out in faith despite fear Our step of faith can be a s$all one =e $ight share in ten seconds in a con"ersation %ith a coC%orker so$ething God has taught us recently =e could de$onstrate lo"e to a neighbor by $eeting a need and e&plaining it as Must %anting to sho% God6s lo"e in a practical %ay Clai$ the filling of the (oly Spirit e"ery day, and ask for opportunities to de$onstrate his lo"e in practical %ays to others
Lesson : Bnow the Fish
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church )e"iew% +n the C)S of %itness preparation, :he C stands for ????????????????, the ) for ???????????????????????, and the S for ????????????????????? Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold, clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e &b'ecti"e* :o e"aluate the spiritual openness of our coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends Study for Success
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Successful fisher$en see$ consistently lucky :hey6re not :hey %ork at fishing :hey6"e honed their skills and kno%ledge through countless hours on the %ater <ear after year so$e of the sa$e persons %in the D)ig 5ish ContestH sponsored by the (arrisburg 4atriot #e%s :hey kno% $ore about the species they pursue and ha"e $ore highly de"eloped fishing skills for that species than less successful anglers do #o t%o species beha"e e&actly the sa$e :herefore, consistently catching any species reBuires a uniBue kno%ledge and skill set A=hat are you fishing forVH +6"e freBuently asked other fisher$en :hey6"e often responded, D=hate"er bitesLH +6"e obser"ed that those $ost likely to catch nothing are those %ho fish for anything !pplied kno%ledge, specific for each kind of fish, separates skilled fisher$en fro$ those %ho don6t really care %hether they catch fish or not :his sa$e principle applies to the e"angelistic strategy of churches :hose %ho try to reach e erybo"y are $ore likely to reach nobo"y than churches %ho focus on a specific seg$ent of society, e g young $arried persons %ith children or those %ho battle addicti"e beha"ior 5or %ho$ are %e fishingV +t $atters #o fishing $ethod or lure al%ays %orks #either does a single e"angelistic approach :he lure or bait fisher$en use depends on %hat they6re trying to catch Our e"angelistic approach depends on our audience :he best lure is al%ays lo"e, but lo e must get to its "estination >o"e sent isn6t al%ays recei"edL =e $ight lo"e our sister and send her a birthday card, but if it gets lost in the $ail, she %on6t be happy >o"e so$eti$es gets lost in the $ail Share a ti#e in your life when that happened. Sharing the D5our Spiritual >a%sH %ith a coC%orker or neighbor %ho6s "ery recepti"e to hearing and belie"ing the gospel %ill be interpreted as a lo"ing action Sharing the sa$e $essage %ith so$eone %ith Rero biblical understanding %ho$ %e hardly kno% probably %on6t (e6ll likely $isinterpret our lo"ing co$$unication as an arrogant atte$pt to ra$ our beliefs do%n his throat (e has no idea %hat %e6re talking about and doesn6t %ant to hear it )ead 1 Corinthians ?%1?.9: below. ,hat ti#eless principles for e"angelis# do we find in this passage1 D:hough + a$ free and belong to no $an, + $ake $yself a sla"e to e"eryone, to %in as $any as possible :o the Je%s + beca$e like a Je%, to %in the Je%s :o those under the la% + beca$e like one under the la% Ithough + $yself a$ not under the la%K, so as to %in those under the la% :o those not ha"ing the la% + beca$e like one not ha"ing the la% Ithough + a$ not free fro$ GodWs la% but a$ under ChristWs la%K, so as to %in those not ha"ing the la% :o the %eak + beca$e %eak, to %in the %eak + ha"e beco$e all things to all $en so that by all possible $eans + $ight sa"e so$e + do all this for the sake of the gospel, that + $ay share in its blessingsH I. Corinthians /*./C20K DConseBuently, faith co$es fro$ hearing the $essage, and the $essage is heard through the %ord of ChristH IRo$ans .0*.7K Sharing the plan of sal"ation is essential at
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so$e point for a person to co$e to faith in Christ 6ow does )o#ans 1=%1C describe faiths foundation1 :i$ing is e"erything Sharing it too soon %ith the biblically uninfor$ed and pressing for a decision could be counterproducti"e #ot sharing it soon enough could result in so$eone slipping into eternity %ithout an opportunity to recei"e Christ :o catch a fish our lure or bait has to connect %ith its needs :hose %ho fish for nati"e brook trout in s$all $ountain strea$s don6t use a tenCinch lure because trout don6t eat ite$s bigger than they areL On the other hand, that tenCinch lure $ight be ideal for $uskellunge %hich routinely eat other fish that siRe or bigger =hat are our coC%orkers6 and neighbors6 un$et needs and unans%ered BuestionsV :hey6re potential entry points for the gospel :o identify these entry points, %e ha"e to get to kno% the$ +"aluate Spiritual )ecepti"ity +n !cts .7*02C02, 4aul recei"ed three different responses to the sa$e $essage D=hen they heard about the resurrection of the dead, so$e of the$ sneered, but others said, G=e %ant to hear you again on this subMect 6 !t that, 4aul left the Council ! fe% $en beca$e follo%ers of 4aul and belie"ed H Record the three responses belo%* 15 So#e 95So#e :5 So#e
4eople in our %orkplaces and neighborhoods respond differently to an e&planation of the gospel +n The )nchurche" *e+t"oor, @r :ho$ Rainer identifies fi"e le"els of responsi"eness based on an e&tensi"e sur"ey of unchurched people* . C (ighly recepti"e to hearing and belie"ing the Good #e%s 2 C Recepti"e to the gospel and church 0 C #eutral, %ith no clear signs of being interested yet perhaps being open to discussion 2 C Resistant to the gospel, but %ith no antagonistic attitude 9 C (ighly antagonistic and e"en hostile to the gospel Dsing the )ainer Scale! rate the responsi"eness of your co.wor0ersEneighbors 3first na#e only5 for who# youre regularly praying%
First Name
Reflecting on our coC%orkers6 spiritual understanding and attitudes to%ard biblical Christianity helps us relate to the$ E"en if they attend church regularly, they $ight not grasp God6s plan of sal"ation :he )arna Group reports that 4rotestant church attenders are $ore than t%ice as likely as Catholic church attenders to be born again Christians I;.U to 2;U, respecti"ely in 2007K Jany %ho attend church regularly aren6t connected to Christ #either are $ost %ho don6t attend 4robably $any of our coC%orkers are so$e%here in the lo%er left Buadrant of the follo%ing graph %ith $ini$al understanding of God and little or no
Rating (1-5)
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enthusias$ for biblical Christianity (o% do %e reach such personsV :o co$e to Christ people need sufficient kno%ledge, a positi"e attitude to%ard the faith, and a sense of urgency that results fro$ the con"iction of the (oly Spirit God can use our %ords to increase their kno%ledge of spiritual realities, our lo"e to change their attitude fro$ negati"e to positi"e and his Spirit to create the urgency
Got ;r#or1 :he t%o arro%s on the graph illustrate the spiritual battle in %hich %e6re entrenched :he (oly Spirit seeks to $a&i$iRe Real, kno%ledge of God and obedience to his %ays Satan seeks to $ini$iRe all three :he challenge is to keep our attitude enthusiastic, our kno%ledge of God gro%ing, and our trust in his pro$ises strong %hen %e6re being attacked DStand fir$ then, %ith the belt of truth buckled around your %aist, %ith the breastplate of righteousness in place, and %ith your feet fitted %ith the readiness that co$es fro$ the gospel of peace +n addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, %ith %hich you can e&tinguish all the fla$ing arro%s of the e"il one :ake the hel$et of sal"ation and the s%ord of the Spirit, %hich is the %ord of GodH IEphesians ;*.2C.7K 6ow does each piece of ar#or e4uip us for the challenge1 D:o the Je%s %ho had belie"ed hi$, Jesus said, G+f you hold to $y teaching, you are really $y disciples :hen you %ill kno% the truth, and the truth %ill set you free6H IJohn 1*0.C02K ! recent )arna Research Group sur"ey on %hat !$ericans belie"e asked the Buestion, X+s there absolute truthVX Si&tyCsi& percent of adults agree that Xthere is no such thing as absolute truthN different people can define truth in conflicting %ays and still be correct X Se"entyCt%o percent of .1 to 29C yearColds agree 6ow does re'ection of absolute truth play right into Satans hands1 (n what sense is the whole spiritual war a battle for truth1 Got Lo"e1 (o% can %e change people %ho are hostile to%ard Christians and the churchV )y oursel"es, %e can6t =hen the %hole %orld %as hostile to%ard God, he sent his Son to %in the$ back by $eeting their deepest needs through selfCsacrifice Jost of the$ didn6t respond positi"ely, but so$e did and so$e still do Jesus said, D+f anyone %ould co$e after $e, he $ust deny hi$self and take up his cross daily and follo% $eH I>uke /*20K >ike Jesus, %e sacrifice our o%n desires and agenda to help $eet their needs =e bring Christ %ho li"es in and through us close to the$ through being kind, ans%ering their Buestions, seeking to understand, listening to their stories %ithout arguing, apologiRing
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for the offenses of %ellC$eaning Christians, building a relationship on %hat %e ha"e in co$$on, and being real O"er ti$e %e can share ho% Jesus has healed our brokenness Got Per#ission1 =e address coC%orkers6 ignorance about spiritual things bit by bit :hey $ust allo% it 4art of their ignorance is chosen and part isn6t =e trust God to open their eyes to spiritual realities :hat6s necessary because D:he god of this age has blinded the $inds of unbelie"ers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, %ho is the i$age of GodH I2 Corinthians 2*2K =e practice e"angelis$ by per$ission =e ask Buestions like, XJay + share %ith you so$ething the )ible teaches about GodVH =e share spiritual truths in biteCsiRe pieces using e"eryday %ords Got Patience1 O"er ti$e progressi"ely %e share $ore and $ore of the gospel, including $an6s original condition of fello%ship %ith GodN the fall fro$ fello%ship through sinN the nature of sin and its uni"ersal presenceN the results of our sinN %ho Jesus isN ho% his death on the cross, burial and resurrection sol"ed our sin proble$N and the need to turn around and recei"e the forgi"eness God offers =e share both the re%ard and cost of follo%ing Jesus =hen the ti$e is right, %e ask if they %ant to kno% Christ D!l%ays be prepared to gi"e an ans%er to e"eryone %ho asks you to gi"e the reason for the hope that you ha"e )ut do this %ith gentleness and respectH I. 4eter 0*.9bC.;aK =e $ust be gentle and respectful al%ays )y God6s grace so$e hard hearts %ill soften So$e %ho %ere spiritually blind %ill see and belie"eL +n the process of leading persons to%ard Christ, they often ask Buestions about the faith +f %e feel a need to take a detour fro$ Gone Fishin to get so$e ans%ers to these Buestions, t%o e&cellent %ebsites to "isit are http*PP%%% car$ orgPobMections ht$ and %%% %ayofthe$aster co$ under DGet EBuipped H @o %e %ant to take a detour or proceed to >esson 2V
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Lesson >
;ttract the Fish

Volunteers should read the following paragraphs. the #aterial in bold print as you go. iscuss! e"aluate or respond to
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold, clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e &b'ecti"e% To consider how our co#petence in doing our 'ob and the way we treat our co.wor0ers deter#ine our ability to bring @esus to our wor0place. /eet Feeds >ike people, fish are attracted by things that $eet their needs :he specifics "ary %ith e"ery species of fish and %ith the ti$e of year 5ish location is deter$ined by such things as hiding places, %ater te$perature, food supply, current or lack of the sa$e, and co$petition %ith other species God designed ani$als to get the $ost energy possible fro$ their en"iron$ent %ith the least a$ount of effort :his increases the chance they6ll successfully reproduce after their kind 5or $ore e&tensi"e co"erage of God6s %isdo$
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principles that are hardC%ired into his creatures, see ,ecoming an $nthusiastic Church by John = Selcher, a"ailable through the Eastern Regional Conference, /00 South !rlington !"e , Suite 2.0, (arrisburg, 4! .7.0/ !ll fish seek li"ing space that increases their chances of getting a $eal So$e gather around rocks or aBuatic "egetation and trees that ha"e fallen into the %ater So$e fisher$en take ad"antage of this trait by planting obMects under%ater in $arked spots :hey later return to these areas to fish ! recent de"elop$ent in fresh%ater fishing is the use of artificial %eeds to attract fish +ce fisher$en drill holes in the ice in a circle around %here they6re fishing :hey lo%er these artificial %eeds to the botto$ through these holes =ithin $inutes fish begin to gather Jost fish feed selecti"ely Sharks aren6t big on pineapple or green beansL @uring a fishing trip for bluefish on the Chesapeake )ay, the captain chu$$ed %ith chopped up fish continually %hile the boat %as anchored in one spot +t took 00 $inutes for us to attract and catch the first bluefish, but the action %as steady the rest of our trip D)ut thanks be to God, %ho al%ays leads us in triu$phal procession in Christ and through us spreads e"ery%here the fragrance of the kno%ledge of hi$ 5or %e are to God the aro$a of Christ a$ong those %ho are being sa"ed and those %ho are perishing :o the one %e are the s$ell of deathN to the other, the fragrance of life !nd %ho is eBual to such a taskH I2 Corinthians 2*.2C.;KV Spreading the s%eet s$ell of Christ isn6t auto$atic =e $ust rely on God6s grace to li"e like a belie"er Our influence for Christ at %ork is either positi"e or negati"e +f our %ords, attitudes and actions repel our coC%orkers, they %on6t care a lick about our spiritual con"ictions Conde$ning, Mudg$ental, D+6$ O8, but you6re notH beha"ior %on6t $ake us fruitful +t dri"es others a%ay and turns the$ against us and our faith :he opposite is also true Gone Fishin is about passing on the s%eet s$ell of the undeser"ed fa"or God has poured out upon us $e a Friend !ttracting persons to oursel"es is "ital, but it isn6t the goal =e6re ulti$ately seeking to lead the$ to Jesus (o% do %e attract people to oursel"esV Outgoing persons Must ha"e to be the$sel"es, and it happens %ithout $uch conscious effort +t isn6t auto$atic for the intro"erted :he best %ay for intro"erts to $ake a friend is to be a friend =hen opportunities to ser"e our coC%orkers arise, %e should ask %hat a friend %ould do, and do it God can use us all to spread his s%eetCs$elling fragrance in the %orkplace :he Jesus %ho li"es in us $ust li"e through us =e can6t reach e"eryone So$e %on6t like our personality or our ChristL So$e %ill like us, but %on6t follo% our Jesus !fter the author shared the gospel %ith a $an, that $an said, D<ou6re telling $e that if + don6t belie"e the %ay you do, +6$ going to hellL E4auseF + still like youLH Jaybe that6s because the author "isited hi$ and his %ife regularly and took hi$ fishing (ardly any of our unsa"ed coC %orkers %ill like our Jesus if they don6t like us first =hen Jesus li"es his life through us, so$e %ill be dra%n to%ard hi$L 6ow does Paul describe this flow through life in the following "erse1 D+ ha"e been crucified %ith Christ and + no longer li"e, but Christ li"es
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in $e :he life + li"e in the body, + li"e by faith in the Son of God, %ho lo"ed $e and ga"e hi$self for $eH IGalatians 2*20K o Gour @ob ,ell God planted us in our place of e$ploy$ent to bring Jesus to our coC%orkers >ife isn6t about the $oney %e earn, the %orldly influence %e possess or the DtoysH %e accu$ulate +t6s about letting the light of Jesus shine through us Jesus said, D+n the sa$e %ay, let your light shine before $en, that they $ay see your good deeds and praise your 5ather in hea"enH IJatthe% 9*.;K +t6s got to be a fullCti$e light +f it shines partCti$e like $otion detecting lights on a house, others %ill focus on %hen it6s off and see hypocrisy =hen %e focus on competence# integrity and caring# %e6re letting Jesus li"e his life through us at %ork !ll these characteristics are true of hi$ God designed a church of .00 to be the %ord $ade flesh in .00 different places si$ultaneously !re %e doing our partV God can6t build a fully de"oted church through partCti$e ChristiansL =e bring Jesus to our coC%orkers by doing our %ork %ell, Must as he didL :he furniture that ca$e out of his carpenter shop %as of the highest Buality +6d lo"e to ha"e an original Jesus stool, %ouldn6t youV (e %as the sa$e $aster crafts$an %hether he %orked %ith %ood, hu$an needs or spoke the %orld into e&istence D4eople %ere o"er%hel$ed %ith a$aRe$ent G(e has done e"erything %ell,6 they said7H IJark 7*07K >aRiness leads us to try to har"est the greatest possible re%ards Isalary, benefits, "acation, sick lea"e, etc K %ith the least possible effort So$e of us are energyC challengedL :he )ible says, DGo to the ant, you sluggardN consider its %ays and be %iseL +t has no co$$ander, no o"erseer or ruler, yet it stores its pro"isions in su$$er and gathers its food at har"estHI4ro"erbs ;*;C1K !lbert Inot his real na$eK %as a su$$er helper for the 4ennsyl"ania 5ish Co$$ission in the early ./70s @uring his stint %ith the 45C, he %as ne"er co$$ended for doing e"erything %ellL One day he %as %ith a 45C biologist na$ed Roger Inot his real na$eK electrofishing a s$all strea$ )oth !lbert and Roger had a net in one hand and an electrode in the other =hen !C current is passed through %ater it stuns fish bet%een the electrodes )oth electrodes $ust be in the strea$ or the electrical current %on6t flo% =ith great frustration one day, Roger said to !lbert, D!lbert, bet%een us %e ha"e one net and one electrode in the %ater CC and +6$ holding both of the$LH +f in the early ./70s !lbert had a faith to talk about, %ho6d listenV 5or others to "alue %hat %e ha"e to say, they ha"e to respect us :hat respect is closely connected to ho% %ell %e do our Mob 4aul %rote, D=hate"er you do, %ork at it %ith all your heart, as %orking for the >ord, not for $en, since you kno% that you %ill recei"e an inheritance fro$ the >ord as a re%ard +t is the >ord Christ you are ser"ingH IColossians 0*20C22K 6ow do these "erses pro"ide #oti"ation for co#petence1 =hen %e do our %ork %ell once Ito please the >ordK, %e get paid t%iceL +f %e don6t do our Mob %ell, %e $ight be close to not getting paid at allL $ased on your last perfor#ance e"aluation! write one thing you could do to i#pro"e your 'ob co#petence.
2.
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 8 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 8 Guard Gour (ntegrity Co$petence isn6t enough Corporate e&ecuti"es at :yco and Enron had co$petence, but not integrity =hen te$pted to help the$sel"es to corporate funds, they grabbed %ith both hands +ntegrity is the set of rails that keep us on track in the darkness of Dno one %ill e"er kno%,H far fro$ the daylight of o"erCtheCshoulder super"ision +t6s not only e&ecuti"es that e&perience integrityCfailure E"ery %ork situation carries its o%n te$ptations to cut corners for personal gain :hose gone fishin6 in the %ork place can6t afford to take unethical shortCcuts )oth God and coC%orkers are %atching :herefore, $ay it ne"er be that so$eone could identify our e$ployer by e&a$ining the pens or other office supplies at our houseL >et it not be said that %e call in sick %hen %e6re not, socialiRe e&cessi"ely or goof off on the Mob, pad e&pense accounts, spend ti$e on the internet unconnected to the perfor$ance of our Mob, do personal business during %ork hours, %ork fe%er hours than %e should, or pull strings to get ahead Jaybe $ost of us ha"e a bit of confession to attend to right no%L Lets spend a #o#ent silently reflecting on our integrity and confessing to God any lapses along with a co##it#ent to represent hi# better at wor0. (is pro$ise is, D+f %e confess our sins, he is faithful and Must and %ill forgi"e us our sins and purify us fro$ all unrighteousnessH I. John .*/K ,ell allow two #inutes for this soul.searching e*ercise. :hose %ith integrity gi"e .00 percent e"ery day at %ork no $atter %hat others do :hey6re trust%orthy O"er the long haul %ith a"erage ability and perse"erance, they outperfor$ those %ith $ore ability but less integrity Justice catches up %ith liars, thie"es and cheats, if not in this life, in the ne&t Sooner or later their train is going off the tracks Lets share 'ob pressures that #a0e it hard to 0eep our integrity. e#onstrate Caring =e lead coC%orkers to%ard Christ by first attracting the$ to our %ay of life :hat $eans playing the $usic of a life in tune %ith a lo"ing, caring God !n ounce of de$onstrating the difference Christ $akes is %orth a ton of e&planation 5orgi"ing those %ho6"e offended us isn6t standard operating procedure in the %orld :he !$ish got headlines for it follo%ing the #ickel Jines shootings (elping a coC%orker in a pinch lea"es a lasting sense of gratitude in his heart Speaking encouraging %ords to one %ith %ho$ %e6re co$peting for a pro$otion raises eyebro%s =hen our %ords, attitudes and actions help $eet our coC%orkers needs, so$e of the$ %ill $o"e to%ard us relationally =hen %e go out of our %ay to sho% %e care, they6ll $o"e e"en closer =e help coC %orkers feel co$petent, significant, "alued and lo"ed by li"ing out the biblical principle to D>o"e your neighbor as yourselfH IJatthe% 22*0/K
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+$pact reBuires closeness =e can get people6s attention and respect %ith our co$petence and integrity, but that doesn6t $ean their heart6s door is open to us EliRabeth Selcher ne"er $arried She freBuently "isited her brother, sisterCinCla% and fi"e nephe%s on %eekends She often brought the$ candy She %as a "ery co$petent sea$stress %ho %orked at an upscale clothing store in (arrisburg called Jary Sachs (er nephe%s ne"er doubted her integrity #e"ertheless, apart fro$ her input of sugar into their diet, her effect on the$ %as $ini$al +n ./9; %hen EliRabeth %as ;2, a year a%ay fro$ retire$ent, her sisterCinCla% died at 07 after co$plications fro$ an operation, lea"ing fi"e sons behind EliRabeth Buit her Mob i$$ediately and $o"ed into her brother6s ho$e to help care for her nephe%s Iages ., 9, 7, 7, and .0K O"er the ne&t 20 years her influence on the$ %as profound Closeness i$pacts far $ore than candyL ,hat does this say about gi"ing #aterial things co#pared to gi"ing our ti#e and energy to #eet so#eones need1
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Lesson 7 Target ;cti"e Fish
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold, clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e &b'ecti"e% :o focus our outreach energy in the %orkplace on those $ost recepti"e to our $essage )e"iew% 6ow does the way we do our 'ob and treat our co.wor0ers for# the foundation for good fishin1< iscuss. Focus on the )ecepti"e 22
:he acti"ity le"el in a fish population "aries So$e fish are inacti"e and Must not feeding 5or the $o$ent they6re al$ost uncatchable on hook and line, but they %on6t al%ays be such :onight or to$orro% they $ight be acti"ely feeding So$e fish are in a neutral feeding $ode and can be teased into biting So$e fish are acti"ely feeding and relati"ely easy to catch if a fisher$an casts near the$ =ise fisher$en target acti"e fish +n the SusBuehanna Ri"er, for e&a$ple, acti"ely feeding s$all$outh bass are $uch $ore likely to be found near rock ridges than in the ri"er sections bet%een rock ridges :he !postle 4aul focused on recepti"e persons +n 4isidian !ntioch he shared the gospel %ith the Je%s first =hen $ost of the$ %eren6t recepti"e to his $essage, he said, D=e had to speak the %ord of God to you first Since you reMect it and do not consider yoursel"es %orthy of eternal life, %e no% turn to the Gentiles 5or this is %hat the >ord has co$$anded us* G+ $ade you a light for the Gentiles, that you $ay bring sal"ation to the ends of the earth 6 =hen the Gentiles heard this, they %ere glad and honored the %ordN and all %ho %ere appointed for eternal life belie"edH I!cts .0*2;C21K 4aul $inistered only briefly in !thens %here fe% %ere recepti"e to his $essage (e spent three years preaching and teaching in Ephesus during his third $issionary Mourney and sa% $uch fruit Jesus6 ho$eto%n of #aRareth %asn6t recepti"e to his $essage D!nd he did not do $any $iracles there because of their lack of faithH IJatthe% .0*91K (e spent $ost of his $inistry ti$e %here people %ere $ore recepti"e :he sa$e principle applies to our coC%orkers %ho don6t kno% Jesus !t any gi"en ti$e $ost of the$ aren6t acti"ely pursuing God Jore likely, they6re intentionally ignoring or running fro$ hi$ +f gi"en a gospel tract, they %on6t read it =hy should theyV !s long as their life is relati"ely stressCfree and e"en keel, they %on6t $ake any changes =e $ust be patient >ife is like >ake Erie +t $ight be cal$ today, but sooner or later stor$s appear out of no%here =hen the boat is tossed about by the se"enCfoot %a"es of circu$stances, those aboard begin looking for help any%here they can find it #o% they6re $uch $ore likely to be at least neutral if not positi"e to%ard the gospel =hen so$eone6s life is see$ingly under control, ho%e"er, leading the$ to Christ is like trying to sell a bucket of sno% to an Eski$oL To what e*tent is our own openness to #a0ing changes in our life related to how #uch stress were e*periencing1 Lets share with each other one or two #a'or changes we"e #ade in our life and the stress factors that #oti"ated us to #a0e the#. 6ow does this principle apply to our outreach to our co.wor0ers1 :hose %ho %ork in a large office, don6t ha"e the ti$e, personality, energy or financial resources to build relational bridges %ith e"eryone =e de$onstrate Christian caring to those in our sphere of influence, and see %ho responds =e focus on building relationships %ith about fi"e persons unconnected to Jesus %ith %ho$ %e6"e so$e natural connection or co$$on interest D'nconnectedH describes either churched or unchurched persons %ho don6t ha"e a personal relationship %ith God through Jesus
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Christ +t isn6t %ise for $arried persons to build close relationships %ith persons of the opposite se& :hose %ho fish for that kind often get yanked into the %ater by the fishL O"er ti$e these fi"e, or perhaps other coC%orkers in our sphere of influence, %ill e&perience life crises %hich soften their hearts and con"ince the$ they need to li"e life differently :he best %ay to de$onstrate caring is to help $eet their needs %hen they6re hurting =e do for the$ %hat %e6d %ant so$eone to do for us in their situation Lets write down needs of the fi"e unconnected co.wor0ers for who# were praying. ,hich ones see# to be under the greatest weight of stress.producing circu#stances1 =e6"e already considered the i$portance of boldness %hen %e talked about preparing to fish >et6s consider so$e specific %ays to de$onstrate courageous faith One %ay to identify those %ho are recepti"e is to $ake faith casts during e"eryday con"ersations and see %ho responds Dse a Search Lure 5isher$en locate fish by using a search lure they can retrie"e Buickly and cast often to e&plore a lot of %ater :he goal is to find patterns of fish location Jaybe all the fish are being caught in 2C2 feet of %ater near the shoreline =hen fisher$en kno% %here the feeding fish are, they often s%itch to another lure to catch the$ Since about /0U of a strea$, ri"er or lake contains fe% if any feeding fish, it6s a tre$endous ad"antage to concentrate fishing effort %here acti"e fish are feeding =e can apply the sa$e principle to fishing at %ork to find persons recepti"e to spiritual con"ersations =e can talk briefly I.9 seconds or lessK but repeatedly %ith coC%orkers, about the difference our faith $akes to our daily life 5or e&a$ple, D+ %as an&ious about today6s sales presentation until + prayed about it #o% + ha"e a cal$ assurance God %ill help $e through it H =e can share these faithCsnapCshots %ith belie"ing coC%orkers and let preC Christians o"erhear =e can co$$unicate the$ directly to preCChristians 5or e&a$ple, D<esterday %hen + tried to start $y car in the dri"e%ay, + disco"ered the battery %as dead :hat could6"e happened .00 $iles fro$ ho$e God %as certainly %atching o"er $e H :hese are short clips of ho% a belie"er thinks that help preCChristian coC%orkers understand that Christianity is rele"ant to e"eryday life uring the ne*t wee0 share at least one faith.snap.shot with a Christian co.wor0er to begin to for# a habit of sharing with others at wor0 what God is doing in your life. ! caution is in order =e don6t share faithCsnapCshots to e&plain %hy %e "ont do so$ething :hat6ll reinforce the $isconception that faith takes all the fun out of life 5or e&a$ple, if during a social e"ent related to our Mob, so$eone offers us an alcoholic be"erage, %e shouldn6t say, D+6$ a Christian + don6t drink H =e could Must say, D+6d prefer coffee, ginger ale or cold %ater, thank you H Sooner or later so$e %ill %ant to kno% $ore about our faith :hat6s %hen %e s%itch lures
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=hen people %ant to kno% $ore about our faith, our stories of God at %ork in our life should e&pand =e should be careful %e don6t tell too $any at one ti$e +f our friend has a headache, %e gi"e her t%o aspirin, not a %hole bottleL =e don6t drop the %hole truckload of our spiritual kno%ledge and e&perience in one sittingL +n t%o $inutes or less %e e&plain ho% God has been %orking in our life recently =e could e&plain, for e&a$ple, se"eral %ays God helped us %hen our grand$other died =e asked for grace to deal %ith the loss, and God ga"e it ,ell ta0e about fi"e #inutes to thin0 about how God has been at wor0 in our life in the last #onth. Then well roll play sharing it with each other in about two #inutes 3one.on.one5. ,ell close our sharing with an open in"itation to ha"e future spiritual con"ersations. ,ell use alphabetical order 3last na#e5 to deter#ine who goes first. Then well switch roles.
(n"ite Fish to &ther Schools =e can in"ite those recepti"e to spiritual things to lo% key outreach e"ents sponsored by our s$all group or church (ere notCyetCbelie"ing coC%orkers can de"elop relationships %ith belie"ers in our s$all group or church :he $ore Christians they get to kno%, the clearer their picture of %hat it $eans to be a Christian %ill be :hey6ll disco"er %e6re not craRy and $any others belie"e as %e do :hese e"ents could include carni"als, bo%ling outings, car sho%s, athletic e"ents, bus trips, concerts, dra$a presentations, fishing trips, etc =e6ll introduce our friend to belie"ers %ho ha"e si$ilar interests :he ne&t step is to in"ite our friend to e"ents that can ans%er his Buestions and $eet his needs =hen %e sense the ti$e is right, %e can in"ite her to e"ents %here she6ll be challenged to co$$it her life to Jesus Christ ,hat low 0ey e"ents does our s#all group or church ha"e scheduled in the ne*t three #onths to which we can in"ite our unconnected co.wor0ers1 (f none! lets brainstor# e"ents our s#all group could sponsor! and then de"elop initial plans for the first e"ent 3what! where! when and whos in charge5. Tell AFish< Stories to &ther Fisherpersons 5isher$en are $ore diligent and focused in their fishing %hen they kno% so$eone is going to ask, D(o% $any fish did you catchVH +t puts the pressure on :he author once %ent fishing %ith a pastor %ho announced to his congregation that he %as going fishing the follo%ing :hursday (e said, D@on6t call $e, and don6t ask $e %hat + caughtLH One of the %ays to encourage fishing at %ork is through s$all group accountability =e get %hat %e e&pect and inspect =e increase the a$ount of fishing done at %ork by periodically e"aluating ho% it6s been going 4art of our Sunday school class or s$all group ti$e should be spent sharing fishing stories fro$ %ork Lets de"elop a strategy to e"aluate in our group #eetings onceE#onth progress in spiritual recepti"ity a#ong co.wor0ers to who# were reaching out. Fe*t #eeting well be as0ed to share with a partner who the #ost spiritually recepti"e persons are at wor0.
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Lesson H Transition to Fishin
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church Pair up e*ercise* =e6re going to pair up and share %ith a partner %ho the $ost spiritually recepti"e persons at %ork are and ho% %e6"e co$e to that conclusion =e6ll allo% fi"e $inutes for this e&ercise, 2 9 $inutes each Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold,
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clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e &b'ecti"e% :o learn ho% to transition fro$ s$all talk to talking about spiritual things %ith those %ho appear to be recepti"e $e Courageous Co$petence and integrity get others6 attention at %ork Caring actions build bridges of trust bet%een us and our coC%orkers One $ore thing is essential =e need courage to speak up for Jesus =ithout it, %e6ll ne"er catch any fish 4aul %rote, D4ray also for $e, that %hene"er + open $y $outh, %ords $ay be gi"en $e so that + %ill fearlessly $ake kno%n the $ystery of the gospelH IEphesians ;*./K Transition to the Good Fews :i$ing is critical to fishing an" e"angelistic effecti"eness 5ish bite better during certain ti$es of the day than others =alleyes usually feed around da%n and dusk @ays around the full $oon and ne% $oon are better than others Spring and fall are usually better than the heat of su$$er !s + %rite this, +6"e Must co$pleted a %eek of "acation in early October + spent parts of four days fishing on the SusBuehanna Ri"er )ecause of a co$bination of fa"orable conditions I%ater te$perature and clarity and ri"er stageK, $y catch rate per hour %as fi"e or si& ti$es higher than during su$$er :he fish %ere acti"ely looking for food, but + still had to cast $y lure close to the$ to actually catch the$ @uring ti$es of stress, great proble$s, and uphea"al, persons are $ore recepti"e to the gospel than %hen e"erything is going s$oothly Still, they $ust actually hear and respond to the gospel to be sa"ed DConseBuently, faith co$es fro$ hearing the $essage, and the $essage is heard through the %ord of ChristH IRo$ans .0*.7K ! pastor in the Eastern Regional Conference, Churches of God shared %ith the author that a young %o$an had co$e to hi$ and $ore or less asked the 4hilippian Mailer6s Buestion I!cts .;*00K, D=hat $ust + do to be sa"edVH (er con"ersion happened in the $idst of a co$bination of fa"orable fishing conditions, including the recent death of her $other :hat pastor didn6t ha"e to transition to the good ne%s of the gospel She took the initiati"e :hat6s about as rare as a fish Mu$ping into the boatL !l$ost al%ays the belie"er $ust take the initiati"e to share the gospel Jany fisher$en don6t $ake it to the strea$, ri"er or lake to fish as often as they6d like because they6re preoccupied %ith other thingsYthey Must don6t get around to it :he graphic in this lesson illustrates %e ha"e to $o"e fro$ the shore to the fishing boat =e don6t e"angeliRe as $uch as %e6d like because it6s hard to $o"e fro$ selfCfocus to othersCfocus and fro$ s$all talk to GodCtalk Two +"angelistic +rrors One e"angelistic error is to share the gospel before coC%orkers are recepti"e and press too hard for a Dco$$it$entH to Christ #e% belie"ers, frothing at the $outh %ith Moy and 2/
enthusias$, are often guilty of this error :hey forget their decision to follo% Christ %asn6t spur of the $o$ent, but the conclusion of a process +n their e&uberance they try to catch fish %ith a landing net before they6re e"en hookedL !ll they do is scare the$ a%ay So$e %ho ha"e the gift of e"angelis$ are also prone to this e&tre$e :hey pressure for a decision So$e people pray a prayer to get the e"angelist off their back, but don6t follo% through :heir Dco$$it$entH %as the e"angelist6s idea, not theirs :hey don6t o%n it and aren6t co$$itted to follo%ing Christ Others pray a prayer or %alk an aisle in a church and $istakenly think that $akes the$ O8 :heir life doesn6t change at all Responding to an e"angelist6s in"itation is no substitute for follo%ing Christ as a %ay of life =e can6t pressure people into the kingdo$ =e can $ake the$ feel dirty, but %e cant $ake the$ %ant to be clean :he second e"angelistic error is to de"elop our relationship %ith a friend, relati"e, neighbor or coC%orker, but ne"er get around to sharing the gospel :hat6s a much bigger pitfall than the first e"angelistic error for $ost belie"ers trying to ha"e a spiritual i$pact a$ong coC%orkers ;re you #ore li0ely to be guilty of the first e"angelistic error or the second1 +*plain. Gi"en coC%orkers are beco$ing recepti"e to and interested in spiritual things, ho% do %e usher the$ to the ne&t le"elV =e $ust o"erco$e our feelings of fear and sense of inco$petence in leading others to faith in Christ, or %e6ll ne"er get off the shore and into the fishing boat Transitional Iuestions Certain Buestions ha"e helped the author bridge the con"ersation fro$ the %eather, sports, etc , to spiritual things :hey should be asked at a ti$e and place %here there6s pri"acy and ti$e to address spiritual issues in depth Especially %hen %e kno% so$eone is going through a tough ti$e, %e can ask, -o you feel a nee" to be closer to Go". +f the ans%er is D<es,H %e can say, D>et $e sho% you ho% you can be H :hen %e share the gospel I%e6ll look at the content to share in >esson /K :he author has used this Buestion $ore e&tensi"ely than any other 4eople %ho are hurting usually respond positi"ely &hy "o you think people feel so empty# e en when they ha e so much. 5irst %e listen to %hat our coC%orker has to say :hen %e take the opportunity to tell ho% Jesus has brought $eaning to our life and filled up the e$pty spot !fter sharing our personal testi$ony related to finding $eaning in life, %e should ask, DJay + share %ith you the first step in his doing the sa$e for youVH +f the response is positi"e, %e share the gospel -o you e er won"er if theres an o erall purpose an" meaning in life. /f so# what "o you think it is. !gain, listen first (ere6s another opportunity to share your personal testi$onyL !fter doing so, ask, DJay + share %ith you the first step in finding purpose in lifeVH +f the response is positi"e, share the gospel -o you think faith in 0esus Christ spoils or enriches someones life. &hy. !fter listening to their response, ask, DJay + share ho% faith has enriched $y lifeVH +f the 00
person is recepti"e, share your personal testi$ony !sk, DJay + share %ith you the first step to take for Jesus Christ to enrich your lifeVH +f the response is positi"e, share the gospel +f they attend a church ser"ice %ith you or other kind of outreach e"ent, ask, &hat "i" you think of the message. !fter listening to their response, ask, D(a"e you e&perienced the Moy of kno%ing Christ personallyVH +f the ans%er isn6t, D<es,H ask, D=ould you like toVH +f the response is positi"e, share the gospel =e can talk about so$e need that6s beco$e ob"ious in our coC%orker6s life such as a lack of purpose, fear, discourage$ent or loneliness and share ho% Christ has $et that need in our life =e can ask if %e $ay e&plain ho% our coC%orker could begin a personal relationship %ith Christ +f gi"en per$ission, %e share the gospel +f %e aren6t gi"en per$ission, %e try to keep the door open for a future con"ersation =e could say, D:hat6s O8 4erhaps %e could talk about it so$e other ti$e H O"er ti$e %e can ask our coC%orkers Buestions to learn ho% they think about spiritual things 'sually, %e ask only one during a single con"ersation and then listen attenti"ely =e can ask %hether they regularly attend church any%here unless %e already kno% they don6t On another occasion, %e inBuire about their spiritual beliefs, and $ake sure %e don6t argue no $atter %hat they say +f they ask about our beliefs, %e share our personal testi$ony =hen it see$s appropriate, %e ask, D=ho do you think Jesus isVH So$eti$e %e should ask %hether they belie"e in hea"en and hell, $aybe %hen either one co$es up in a con"ersation @uring the sa$e con"ersation, %e ask, D+f you died today, to %hich %ould you go and %hyVH !ccording to an !)C #e%s poll in 2009, 7;U of !$ericans belie"e both there6s a hea"en an" they6re going there Iabcne%s go co$P2020P)eliefsPstoryVidT.222;91, retrie"ed @ece$ber .0, 2007K !sking why persons think they6re going to hea"en pro"ides insight into their spiritual understanding +s their trust in personal goodness Ioften the caseK or in %hat Christ has done on the crossV !fter so$eone has responded to this Buestion, %e could ask, DJay + share %ith you %hat the )ible says is the reBuire$ent to enter hea"enVH +f the ans%er is yes, %e share the gospel +f the ans%er is no, %e try to keep the door open for a future con"ersation Lets reflect on these suggested transitions between s#all.tal0 and God.tal0 for a few #inutes. Then were going to practice using one or #ore of the#. ,ere going to pair up and practice transitioning to tal0ing about spiritual things. &ne person will play the part of a relati"ely #oral person who doesnt attend church and thin0s his good deeds outweigh his bad deeds and will get hi# into hea"en. This person has recently lost a brother to cancer and is also e*periencing financial difficulties. Goure eating brea0fast together during an out.of.town conference youre both attending. ,ell transition into the gospel! but we wont ta0e the ti#e to share it during this training session. ;fter practicing one or #ore transitions! well switch roles. &ur assign#ent this wee0 is to as0 a co.wor0er a transitional 4uestion and report bac0 about our e*perience the ne*t ti#e we #eet. 0.
Lesson C Tell Gour Story
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church Pair up e*ercise% :ake turns sharing %hat happened %hen you shared your transitional Buestion %ith a coC%orker Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold, clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e
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&b'ecti"e% :o prepare to share %ith so$eone else ho% Christ has $ade a difference in our life /aterials* ! gospel presentation is a"ailable free in a pocketCsiRed "ersion fro$* Jack Selcher, /00 South !rlington !"e Roo$ 2.0, (arrisburg, 4! .7.0/ 7.7C;92C0299 eC $ail MackZerccog org =e6ll need this pocketCsiRed "ersion for >esson / ,holl #a0e the contact to obtain this resource and order enough for e"eryone to ha"e at least three copies1 Telling Gour Story :he author une&pectedly $et a friend fro$ church in a local fishing tackle store :he friend fishes freBuently (e told the author about a lure he6d used the pre"ious fall "ery successfully for s$all$outh bass and %alleye (e pointed out the lure and identified the right siRe and color :he author trusted hi$, %as i$pressed by his testi$ony, and bought se"eral (e %ouldn6t ha"e purchased the$ %ithout his friend6s reco$$endation +n his pre"ious fishing e&perience he6d rarely had any success %ith that kind of lure (e tried it once during the su$$er of 2007 but didn6t get a single strike on it (e didn6t gi"e up because he trusted his friend +n early fall he tried the lure again =ithin $inutes he caught a fish Soon after that he hooked and lost a "ery large bass 5ro$ that day until early #o"e$ber, he used that lure al$ost e&clusi"ely %hen he fished (e caught $any nice s$all$outh bass on it, including the one in the abo"e picture @uring the fall t%o Church of God pastors fished %ith the author, one in late October and the other in early #o"e$ber (e told the$ of the success he6d enMoyed %ith his no% fa"orite lure (e loaned the$ one, but initially it didn6t %ork %ell for either of the$ :he author %as catching fish consistently, but they %eren6t ! little analysis re"ealed their retrie"e speed %as too slo% =hen they sped it up, bass began striking their lures too #otice the progression :he author6s church friend told hi$ about the lure :hat testi$ony influenced hi$ to buy and use it +t %orked (e told his pastor friends about it and de$onstrated ho% to use it +t %orked for the$ too :his story illustrates the lifeC changing potential of sharing our spiritual story %ith others =e tell others %hat Jesus $eans to us (e %orksL :hey ulti$ately recei"e hi$ and tell others %hat he $eans to the$ (e %orks in their li"es tooL Our influence spreads in e"er %idening circles beyond our ability to track it Jy church friend had no idea his testi$ony in the tackle shop %ould i$pact $y t%o fello% pastors and %ho kno%s ho% $any others Our personal e&perience %ith Christ and ho% he6s changed our life is our $ost effecti"e Dlure H 4erhaps %e think it isn6t %orth tying on our line =e can6t testify about deli"erance fro$ alcoholis$, drug abuse, prostitution, ga$bling or so$e other nasty addiction :hat6s not necessary (e6s freed us fro$ addiction to going our o%n %ay, %hich is e"ery hu$an6s basic proble$ =e don6t need to ha"e seen the risen Christ or heard his audible "oice to ha"e a story D:hen Jesus told hi$ E:ho$asF, D)ecause you
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1ersonal Testimony ha"e seen $e, you ha"e belie"edN blessed are those %ho ha"e not seen and yet ha"e belie"edH IJohn 20*2/K (e6s talking about us =e ha"en6t seen hi$ or e"en a fi"eCsecond $iniC"ision in black and %hite =e6re Dtrust and obeyH belie"ers and at ti$es fail $iserably in those t%o basics :he fact re$ains that he6s blessed and changed us :hat6s %hat %e talk about Jany %ho don6t kno% Jesus e&perience life as a relentless $arch of unsatisfying days :hey6"e no real lo"e, Moy, peace, purpose, hope or fulfill$ent no% and no prospect of a better to$orro% :hey chase the butterfly of good feelings and so$eti$es catch it, but it al%ays escapes :o$orro% they pursue it all o"er again Such persons don6t realiRe Christ and his church pro$ise the purpose they6"e longed for )elie"ing our story isn6t i$portant adds to the proble$ =e6re going to think hard about ho% God has been at %ork in our life =e aren6t yet %hat %e %ant to be =e kno% our failures and shortco$ings %ell #e"ertheless, %e6"e probably $ade far $ore progress than %e realiRe =riting our personal spiritual story prepares us to share it $ore clearly and often 'nbelie"ers %ho li"e for the$sel"es and don6t ha"e the benefit of the (oly Spirit6s con"iction are $ostly blind to their o%n faults >ike kittens %ith our eyes open, %e %ith ne% life in Christ see oursel"es $ore clearly :hat6s significant progress =e ha"e God6s li"ing %ater in us, e"en though %e6re cracked and leaky "essels still under construction Our role isn6t to pretend %e6"e got it all together, but to be transparent God gets the glory for any i$pro"e$ent :hat i$pro"e$ent gets the attention of the spiritually thirsty Our story connects %ith people like us 4ersons %ho Daren6t that bad no%,H and ha"e ne"er battled alcoholis$, can relate to ho% Christ has %orked in a Dnot so badH life better than in the life of a con"erted alcoholic =e ha"e to think about and %rite our story for it to reach its full potential to influence notCyetCbelie"ers :he first step is to pray and reflect on ho% God has been at %ork in our life :he %hole process could take se"eral hours, but the blessings that can result are beyond $easure =e6ll begin today by organiRing our thoughts around a single the$e, such as ho% our purpose or "alues are different than they used to be =e don6t tell our church story 'nbelie"ers don6t care that %e6"e assu$ed positions of increasing authority in the church since our con"ersion :hat doesn6t scratch %here they itch =e $ust e&plain ho% Christ $akes a difference in e"eryday life :o co$$unicate our story effecti"ely, %e6ll organiRe it into three sections* .K =hat our life %as like before kno%ing Jesus personally 2K (o% %e ca$e to kno% Christ, e&plained clearly enough that others %ill kno% ho% to recei"e hi$ too 0K (o% recei"ing Christ has changed ho% %e relate to God, others, and oursel"es :he author6s testi$ony illustrates ho% %e $ight organiRe our o%n =hen %e read it, %e6ll look for the do$inant the$e
02
DSpiritual things %ere on the backburner + %as taken to church three ti$es a %eek for at least t%el"e years, but other things %ere $ore i$portant Outside the church building + hardly e"er thought about God, rarely prayed "oluntarily, and ne"er read the )ible on $y o%n Jy purpose %as to e&cel in sports and $y studies to %in the lo"e and acceptance of others + set goals in both areas and sacrificed a lot to attain the$, but disco"ered that achie"ing the$ ne"er brought lasting satisfaction :he thought of dying scared $e, and a cloud of guilt hung o"er $e + belie"ed in hea"en but had no assurance +6d go there %hen + died +n $y church + often heard that Jesus had died on a cross to pay the penalty for $y $oral and spiritual i$perfections + kne% + %asn6t perfect, but + didn6t understand ho% Jesus6 death sol"ed the proble$ + pictured it as a do%n pay$ent on $y passage to hea"en + thought + had to $ake regular pay$ents by the good things + did @uring the fall of ./;1, as a result of hearing . John 9*..C.2 Buoted, + understood + didn6t ha"e to $ake any pay$ents at all Jesus had paid the penalty for $y $oral i$perfections in full :hose "erses say* G!nd this is the testi$ony* God has gi"en us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (e %ho has the Son has lifeN he %ho does not ha"e the Son of God does not ha"e life 6 E+t %as actually Buoted to $e fro$ the 8ing Ja$es ,ersionF :hat e"ening in $y dor$ roo$, + trusted in Jesus6 sacrifice alone to gi"e $e right standing %ith God and in"ited hi$ into $y life :hat e"ening %as a turning point )ecause God lo"ed and accepted $e as + %as, + %anted to do %hat pleased hi$ >ittle by little, lo"e for God displaced fear of God as a do$inant $oti"ator in $y spiritual life Jy fear of death greatly di$inished God lifted the %eight of guilt for $y $oral failures %hen + trusted Jesus6 death as pay$ent in full + had assurance +6d go to hea"en because + trusted Jesus to keep his pro$ise to take $e there :he ne% life + recei"ed %ouldn6t allo% $e to relate to God or others in the sa$e old %ays + re$e$ber feeling a t%inge of conscience after talking in a negati"e %ay about people %ho %eren6t presentYso$ething +6d done repeatedly for years %ithout thinking t%ice about it God con"icted $e that $y language needed so$e attention Jy %ords IQ U Z [ LK %ere a sy$pto$ of the anger and desire for control that s%irled %ithin $e Gradually + sa% i$pro"e$ent >ittle by little God6s lo"e for and acceptance of $e freed $e to lo"e and accept others + gradually de"eloped a strong desire to ser"e others that + didn6t ha"e before the fall of ./;1 Jy goal beca$e to kno% Jesus better and to help others kno% hi$ too =orking to%ard that goal brought fulfill$ent +6d ne"er kno%n %hen + %as doing $y o%n thing H :he central the$e is ho% the author6s life purpose and "alues changed through a relationship %ith Jesus Christ Our testi$ony is our spiritual autobiography, as uniBue as our fingerprints :o share it %ith others effecti"ely %e should $e$oriRe the $aMor points
09
Our story can i$pact others %hose hearts the (oly Spirit has prepared #ot only %ill it influence the$, but sharing it %ill also stoke our o%n spiritual fires by re$inding us ane% ho% $uch Christ has done (ere is a guide to help us organiRe and %rite our story* escribe your life before you #et Christ. ,hat was i#portant to you1 ,hat #oti"ated you1 ,hat were your goals1 ,hat proble#s did you face1 ,hat place did self occupy in your plans and decisions1 )e#e#ber to organi2e your thoughts around a do#inant the#e. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????? escribe how you recei"ed Christ clearly enough so that so#eone else would 0now how to recei"e hi#. The basic content you need to co##unicate is that to beco#e a Christian you needed to 0now that you were a sinner and that Christ died for your sins. Gou had to turn fro# going your way to his and in"ite hi# into your life as your Forgi"er and Leader. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????? 6ow has your life changed since recei"ing Christ1 ,hat is i#portant to you1 ,hat #oti"ates you1 ,hat are your goals and proble#s and how do you deal with the#1 6ow do you li"e for Christ! etc1 ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????
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$efore the ne*t #eeting well finish writing our personal testi#ony and type it if possible. ,ere ai#ing for about H== words 3or two to three #inutes if it were read aloud5. ,ell #e#ori2e the basic ideas 3not word for word5 and prepare to share it with a partner at our ne*t #eeting.
Lesson J ,ait for a $ite
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church Pair up e*ercise% >et6s pair up and practice sharing our testi$ony %ith our partner :he one %ho got up earliest this $orning goes firstL
07
Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold, clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e &b'ecti"e% :o understand and apply acti"e %aiting to e"angelis$ ;cti"e ,aiting So$eone defined fishing as a Merk at one end of the line %aiting for a Merk at the other endL :he author Ehereafter referred to by the first personF resembles that re$arkL :he picture suggests fishing is a passi"e acti"ity, %ith the fisher$an %aiting Buietly and patiently for a fish to find and take the bait 5or $any people, fishing is a lo% energy acti"ity that includes reading a book %hile %aiting for a bite :here6s nothing %rong %ith that approach, but + prefer acti e waiting So$eti$es + cast and retrie"e a lure .20 or $ore ti$es per hour + keep $o"ing +6$ %aiting for a bite, but +6$ not passi"ely soaking $y lure in one spot the %hole hour + don6t e&pect fish to co$e to $y lure + take it to the$ Jy style is high energy E"en on $y best fishing days on the SusBuehanna Ri"er, + kno% it6ll take an a"erage of 20 casts to catch one fish !t the end of the day +6$ tired, and $y back usually hurts =hy do + fish that %ayV Jy chances of catching fish are $uch better if + can te$pt $any fish an hour as co$pared to far fe%er Iand $aybe none at allK if the bait is sitting and soaking %here there aren6t any fish 4atience isn6t inacti"ity D:he >ord is not slo% in keeping his pro$ise, as so$e understand slo%ness (e is patient %ith you, not %anting anyone to perish, but e"eryone to co$e to repentanceH I2 4eter 0*/K :he >ord is both patient and at %ork in the li"es of people %ho don6t yet kno% hi$ D=hen he E(oly SpiritF co$es, he %ill con"ict the %orld of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and Mudg$entH IJohn .;*1K God patiently, acti"ely %aits for the$ to respond to the con"iction the (oly Spirit brings =e shouldn6t confuse patience %ith inacti"ity and t%iddle our thu$bs %hile the $onths pass like guard rails on the high%ay at 70 $iles per hour, %aiting for a coC%orker to decide to follo% Jesus =e pray =e de$onstrate lo"e in practical %ays =e share %hat God is doing in our life =e look for signs of God at %ork =e tea$ up %ith others in the e"angelistic task =e engage in acti"e %aitingL Lets be as specific as we can as we share what we could do to #a0e our waiting #ore acti"e for and bring Christ to at least one co.wor0er. Tag.Tea# Fishing One day $y dad and + %ere fishing fro$ a canoe on the SusBuehanna Ri"er near the Rock"ille )ridge IJarys"ille, 4!K + %as in the front of the canoe, and $y father %as in the back Since it6s easier to steer the canoe fro$ the back, %e6d de"eloped a routine to free our lures %hen they hooked the ri"er botto$ +f + snagged $y lure on the botto$, $y dad %ould paddle $e to the offending rock, and +6d pull the lure free +f his lure %edged under a rock, he6d hand $e his rod and reel and %e6d repeat the sa$e drill Either %ay + 01
didn6t ha"e to paddleL Jy dad6s lure got stuck on a snag that $orning, and he handed his rod and reel to $e as usual :he only difference CC after he handed his outfit to $e, the DsnagH began to $o"e (e6d hooked a 00Cinch carp, and neither he nor the fish realiRed it !fter + began to apply pressure, the fish began to s%i$ +t took about .9 $inutes to land it on si& pound breaking strength line, and t%o of us to do itL (e hooked it and paddled after it as it $ade runsN + fought and landed it Tag Tea# +"angelis# Our DcarpCathonH illustrates the e"angelistic task +t takes $ore than one fisher$an6s input to lead so$eone to faith and $aturity in Christ !t $ost .0U of belie"ers ha"e the spiritual gift of e"angelis$ according to C 4eter =agner IBuoted by Christian Sch%arR in *atural Church -e elopment, p 09K :hat $eans there6s a /0U chance %e don6t, but a .00U chance %e can still $ake a significant contribution to sharing and li"ing out the gospel 4aul %rote, D+ planted the seed, !pollos %atered it, but God $ade it gro% So neither he %ho plants nor he %ho %aters is anything, but only God, %ho $akes things gro% :he $an %ho plants and the $an %ho %aters ha"e one purpose, and each %ill be re%arded according to his o%n labor 5or %e are God6s fello% %orkers7H I. Corinthians 0*;C/aK :he seed represents the gospel that6s both declaration and de$onstration 4aul did $ore than preach to the Corinthians the %ay to be sa"ed fro$ the penalty of sin D74aul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the$ the %ord of GodH I!cts .1*..K :he gospel is $ore than the si$ple $essage of ho% to beco$e a child of God through repentance fro$ sin and faith in Christ6s sacrifice in our place +t6s the declaration an" de$onstration that real life Ieternal lifeK is found only in Christ +n our %orkplace the challenge is for us to de$onstrate Christ6s life and share ho% others can e$brace it for the$sel"es =ithout de$onstration, declaration falls on deaf ears =e don6t ha"e to do it all by oursel"es, but %e6"e an i$portant part to play #otice the last part of . Corinthians 0*9 says the D>ord has assigned to each his task H =e all ha"e $aMor strengths that contribute to building up Christ6s body D+t %as he %ho ga"e so$e to be apostles, so$e to be prophets, so$e to be e"angelists, and so$e to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God6s people for %orks of ser"ice, so that the body of Christ $ay be built upH IEphesians 2*..C.2K :hese strengths are connected to the >ord6s assigned tasks Lets discuss our initial understanding of our role in bringing our co. wor0ers to faith in Christ and how the people in our s#all group 3or belie"ers at wor05 could wor0 together as a tea# to increase our effecti"eness. $e as specific as possible. ;cti"e ,aiting +"angelis# Gardeners break up the soil, re$o"e stones, plant, irrigate, fertiliRe, culti"ate, %eed, spray and har"est %ith lots and lots of %aiting interspersed :hese Dacti"e %aitingH acti"ities contribute to the abundance of the har"est :hose %ith a Dgreen thu$bH pro"ide fa"orable conditions for an abundant har"estL E"angelis$ is si$ilar
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:he ti$e it takes indi"iduals to understand and respond to the gospel "aries considerably So$e ne"er respond positi"ely, D7for not e"eryone has faithH I2 :hessalonians 0*2K !$ong those %ho Dget it,H hardly anyone does so i$$ediately So$e take longer than others On a"erage, persons need to hear the gospel about se"en ti$es before they recei"e Christ :he author heard it $ore than .000 ti$es o"er .9 years before it penetrated his 7C$illi$eterCthick skullL Jany people in his church and he hi$self %ould ha"e concluded he got it long before that, but he didn6t (e %as a fruitless, baptiRed, pe%CpotatoC$e$ber of his church before he really understood and responded to the gospel =hen it co$es to con"ersion, people are like plants =e can har"est spinach 29 days after planting :o$atoes $ature in ;9C10 days S%eet corn takes 79C/0 days )anana and papaya trees produce a year after they6re planted Gua"a takes 2C0 years !"ocados don6t bear fruit for 7C.0 years Lets share how long it too0 us to beco#e a follower of Christ 3fro# first e*posure to the gospel to initial co##it#ent5. Then well discuss how our stories should te#per our e*pectations of how 4uic0ly our co. wor0ers will respond to Christ. +n an infor$al sur"ey in Eastern Regional Conference churches, the author asked persons to raise their hand if they recei"ed Christ as >ord and Sa"ior the first ti$e they heard the gospel Of about .,900 persons polled, only t%o said they did 4erhaps those t%o $isunderstood the BuestionL :he sur"ey results shouldn6t surprise us =e didn6t recei"e Christ the first ti$e %e heard the gospel either E"angelis$ is a process +t6s $ore than an e"ent %here the unsa"ed fidget in pe%s +t includes lunches together %ith seekers %ho are %restling %ith life6s burdens +t6s babysitting an unsa"ed coC%orker6s child so he and his %ife can ha"e an e"ening out together +t6s spending ti$e %ith a coC%orker in the %oods, fields or strea$s hunting or fishing together +t6s going to the $all or %atching the Super )o%l together +t6s helping hi$ $o"e +t6s getting close enough to influence her :here6s no har"esting %ithout so%ing and %atering Jost of the %ork of e"angelis$ isn6t done by those %ho lead people to Christ, but by friends and relati"es %ho prepare the %ay by taking Christ to people :hey6re channels through %ho$ Christ6s lo"e flo%s :he $ore persons in our church are in"ol"ed in so%ing and %atering, the $ore God is able to $ake gro%, and the greater the har"est 4raying for the sal"ation of our preC Christian friends and relati"es and de$onstrating caring by $eeting their needs is a "ital part of the e"angelistic process +t6s not enough to bring the$ to Christ, but they probably %on6t co$e to Christ %ithout it God uses a seBuence of e"ents and e&periences, like a set of steps, to bring persons to hi$self =e probably %on6t help so$eone take the first step in their spiritual Mourney to%ard a relationship %ith Christ Ithe first e&posure to the gospelK or the last step Irecei"ing JesusK, but one of the $iddle steps Jo"ing so$eone one step closer to a co$$it$ent to Christ through sharing a testi$ony or perfor$ing a lo"ing action is ery significant /rresistible $ angelism by Ste"e SMogren, @a"e 4ing and @oug 4ollock, published by Group in 2002, describes e"angelis$ as a process +t6s like golf (o% close the ball is to the hole Iso$eone6s closeness to recei"ing ChristK deter$ines the DclubH %e should use :he DRo$an RoadH or the D5our Spiritual >a%sH is like a putter to $o"e to Christ those already close to a co$$it$ent :he D5our Spiritual >a%sH isn6t the right tool for an 20
atheist :hat6s like using a putter to hit the ball off the teeL =here unbelie"ers are %ith respect to Christ deter$ines %hether e"angelis$ takes the for$ of acti"e kindness Ifor those farthest a%ayK, acti"e friendship, acti"e %ondering, or acti"e sharing Ifor those closest to ChristK E&cept for acti"e %ondering, these four are selfCe&planatory !cti"e %ondering is asking Buestions to get to kno% another person6s beliefs and "alues, and then listening attenti"ely for hisPher response =e could ask a Buestion such as, D+ %onder %hat you think your life6s purpose isVH 6ow does this golf analogy relate to acti"e waiting in e"angelis#1 6ow! for e*a#ple! does acti"e waiting for so#eone who doesnt belie"e there is a God differ fro# acti"e waiting for so#eone whos a Christ#as and +aster church attender! but not a belie"er1
Lesson ? Land the Fish
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church
2.
Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold, clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e &b'ecti"e% :o learn ho% to share our faith clearly and ask for a response The ,ay 6o#e Only landed fish countL =hen the author directed Ca$p Ontario in the early .//0s, the ca$pers co$peted to catch the biggest %alleye during the %eek @uring the last day, on the last trolling pass, %hen the author %as %ithin fifteen seconds of calling it a day, a %alleye struck his lure ! hooked %alleye shakes its head fro$ side to side =hen its head is abo"e %ater, this shaking often results in an ele"enth hour unhooking :hat6s e&actly %hat happened, e&cept his fishing partner %as the fastest netter in Ontario that day +n Buick succession, the fish ca$e part %ay out of the %ater, the lure fle%, and his partner netted the %alleye )ang, bang, bang, and the biggest %alleye of the %eek %as in the boat !s the author recalls, that %alleye later %ent into the $inistryL +t6s al%ays too early to gi"e up on a coC%orker6s co$ing to Christ Essentially, the gospel includes t%o things to kno% and t%o things to do The first thing to know is that were sinners because we cant measure up to the moral stan"ar" 0esus set when he walke" on earth. D5or all ha"e sinned and fall short of the glory of GodH IRo$ans 0*20K The secon" thing to know is that 0esus "ie" on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins an" rose from the gra e on the thir" "ay# showing Go" was satisfie" with that payment. D5or %hat + recei"ed + passed on to you as of first i$portance* that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he %as buried, that he %as raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to 4eter, and then to the :%el"e !fter that, he appeared to $ore than fi"e hundred of the brothers at the sa$e ti$e, $ost of %ho$ are still li"ing, though so$e ha"e fallen asleepH I. Corinthians .9*0C ;K The first thing to "o is repent or turn from our own self-centere" path in life to go Go"s way. DG:he ti$e has co$e,6 he EJesusF said, G:he kingdo$ of God is near Repent and belie"e the good ne%sL6H IJark .*.9K The secon" thing to "o is to in ite 0esus Christ into our life to be our personal Forgi er an" 2ea"er :he )ible describes that decision as recei"ing Christ D<et to all %ho recei"ed hi$, to those %ho belie"ed in his na$e, he ga"e the right to beco$e children of GodH IJohn .*.2K ,ell read through Connecting with God as a group. Then well pair up and one of the partners will play the role of a spiritually open co.wor0er and the other will share the gospel. The one who shares will use a transitional 4uestion as a bridge. For e*a#ple! A o you feel the need to be closer to God1< (f the response is positi"e! ALet #e show you how you can be.< Then that partner will share Connecting with God. ;fter one person in the pair has shared! well switch roles. (f we ha"e ti#e! well use a different transitional 4uestion and partner and share again. +ach of us will ta0e a turn sharing and a turn playing the role of the unconnected co.wor0er. 22
,ith our partner! well also practice the two things to 0now and two things to do 4uic0 su##ary of the gospel. :his gospel presentation is a"ailable free in a pocketCsiRed "ersion fro$* Jack Selcher, /00 South !rlington !"e Roo$ 2.0, (arrisburg, 4! .7.0/ 7.7C;92C0299 eC$ail MackZerccog org
C&FF+CT(FG ,(T6 G& 1. /;FS &)(G(F;L C&F (T(&F

+n the beginning $an li"ed in perfect har$ony %ith God and carried out (is %ill fla%lessly IGenesis .C2K 9. S(F +ST)&G+ P+)F+CT 6;)/&FG Jan and %o$an deliberately defied God6s co$$and and chose their o%n %ay IGenesis 0K S(F (s Li"ing For /GS+LF +saiah 90*; C =e all, like ha"e gone astray, each of us has turned to his o%n %ayN and the >ord has laid on hi$ the iniBuity of us all S+# is a rebellious attitude against the Captain of our DshipH*
No one tells
ME what to
do!
SIN Is Universal Ro$ans 0*20 C 5or all ha"e sinned and fall short of the glory of God
is the $oral E"ery person on earth falls short of his standard :. $+C;DS+ &F S(F ,+ ;)+% Separated fro# God Surely the ar$ of the >ord is not too short to sa"e, nor his ear too dull to hear )ut your iniBuities ha"e separated you fro$ your GodN your sins ha"e hidden his face fro$ you, so that he %ill not hear I+saiah 9/*.C2K 20
Spiritually Dead !s for you, you %ere dead in your transgressions and sins IEphesians 2*.K ;lready Conde#ned =hoe"er belie"es in hi$ is not conde$ned, but %hoe"er does not belie"e stands conde$ned already because he has not belie"ed in the na$e of God6s one and only Son IJohn 0*.1K
Sin separates us fro# God >. @+SDS C6)(ST (S G& S &FLG P)&V(S(&F F&) &D) S(F @esus (s Gods Pro"ision 5or %hat + recei"ed + passed on to you as of first i$portance* that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he %as buried, that he %as raised on the third day according to the Scriptures I. Corinthians .9*0C2K
ied
$uried
)isenK
Theres Fo &ther ,ay Jesus ans%ered, D+ a$ the %ay and the truth and the life #o one co$es to the 5ather e&cept through $eH IJohn .2*;K @+SDS (S T6+ $;CB T& P+)F+CT 6;)/&FG ,(T6 G& .
7. ,+ )+C+(V+ G& S P)&V(S(&F L@+SDSM $G )+P+FT;FC+ ;F F;(T6. Jark .*.9 C D:he ti$e has co$e,H he said D:he kingdo$ of God is near Repent and belie"e the good ne%sLH a. )epentance #eans turning fro# self.centered to God.centered li"ing.
God, Im willing to do what YOU want!
b. Faith #eans recei"ing Christ! Gods pro"ision for our sin.
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.K :o belie"e in Christ $eans to recei"e hi$ 2K )ut as $any as recei"ed hi$, to the$ ga"e he po%er to beco$e the sons of God, e"en to the$ that belie"e on his na$e IJohn .*.2K 0K Re"elation 0*20 pictures recei"ing Christ* D(ere + a$L + stand at the door and knock +f anyone hears $y "oice and opens the door, + %ill go in and eat %ith hi$, and he %ith $e H &nly you can open the door of your life to @esus Christ. &pening the door #eans% . )eing %illing to follo% Jesus instead of your o%n selfish desires ERepentF God gi"es the desire and ability to obey 2 )elie"ing that God forgi"es you, not because of ho% good you are, but because Jesus paid .00U of the penalty for your sins on the cross E)elie"e the gospelF 6a"e you opened the door of your life to @esus in this way1 Gou can through the following prayer% >OR@ JES'S, :(!#8 <O' 5OR @<+#G O# :(E CROSS +# J< 4>!CE !#@ :!8+#G J< S+#, @E!:(, !#@ J'@GJE#: '4O# <O'RSE>5 + O4E# :(E @OOR O5 J< >+5E :O <O' + =!#: <O' :O COJE +#:O J< >+5E !#@ :!8E CO#:RO> :(!#8 <O' 5OR 5ORG+,+#G J< S+#S !#@ J!8+#G JE ! C(+>@ O5 GO@ + =!#: :O )E >+8E <O' !JE# oes that prayer e*press your hearts desire1 +f it does, %ould you like to use it to in"ite Jesus to co$e into your life as your 5orgi"er and >eaderV :he $o$ent you open the door to Jesus you recei"e his life <ou are born again <ou can kno% that Jesus ca$e into your life =hat does he pro$ise he %ill do in Re"elation 0*20 if you open the doorV <ou can take Jesus at his %ord #othing is $ore certainL @on6t e&pect a %onderful feeling inside God honors faith @on6t depend on feelings +n . John 9*..C.2 God pro$ises eternal life to all %ho ha"e Jesus, the Son +f you ha"e Jesus, you ha"e eternal life :ake God6s %ord for itL C6)(ST(;F G)&,T6 $;S(CS . Read the )ible daily )egin %ith Jatthe% =rite briefly in a notebook %hat you6"e learned and %ill try to apply to your life I. 4eter 2*2K
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2 4ray daily asking Jesus to control you and sho% you ho% to apply the )ible to your life to $ake you $ore like hi$ 4ray about all your concerns I4hilippians 2*;C7K 0 E"ery Sunday attend Sunday school and %orship I(ebre%s .0*22C29N >uke 2*.;K Join a discipleship group in your church 2 Share your ti$e, talents, and treasures cheerfully Jesus %ants to ser"e others through you :ell others ho% you recei"ed hi$ and the difference he has $ade in your life 9 Jo$ent by $o$ent yield to the control of the (oly Spirit of Christ %ho li"es in you
Lesson 1= Conser"e the Catch
(ntroduction Volunteers should read the following paragraphs. the #aterial in bold print as you go. iscuss! e"aluate or respond to
$egin with prayer A >et6s in"ite the (oly Spirit to lead our group to understand and li"e the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others 2;
Vision% :hese lessons %ill eBuip, encourage and e$po%er us to attract, %in, and assi$ilate a constant strea$ of coC%orkers, friends, neighbors and relati"es to Christ and our church Prayer% >et6s pray for one another6s list of lost coC%orkers, fa$ily and friends using first na$es only =e6ll s%ap lists Ip /K %ith so$eone else in the group and use the 7C0 $odel e&plained in >esson . to guide our praying =e6ll pray that %e6ll be attracti"e, bold, clear, discerning, e&cellent, fair and %ise and those %e6re reaching out to %ill be con"icted, dissatisfied and percepti"e &b'ecti"e* :o conser"e the fruit of e"angelis$ ,hat S#ells1 +n ./17 the author6s father, brother, nephe% and he booked a flyCin fishing trip to Gouin Reser"oir in \uebec +t %as the best fishing they6"e e"er e&perienced :hey caught nu$erous northern pike and %alleye in a loonCserenaded %ilderness setting !t that ti$e the %alleye possession li$it %as ten per person :hey packed their forty %alleyes Iabout eighty poundsK in t%o coolers :hey had a lot of fish, but not a lot of iceL :o $ake a long story stinkin6 short, all the fish spoiled =hen they opened the coolers at ho$e, a less than pleasant odor assaulted the$ !ll their %ork %as in "ain ,hat ,or0s1 )ecause the author likes to eat fish, he pays attention to conser"ing the catch /t "oesnt happen by acci"ent. 5ish die and deco$pose rather Buickly =hen he anticipates catching fish he %ants to keep, he prepares by taking a cooler containing t%o gallonCsiRed ice blocks (e $akes the$ by freeRing %ater in plastic Muice containers =hen he catches a fish he %ants to keep, he puts it on ice i$$ediately (e fillets the fish as soon as he gets ho$e (e places the fillets in a freeRer bag %hich he fills %ith %ater so no air contacts the fillets :he fillets are froRen in ice :his procedure pre"ents freeRer burn (e6s eaten fish fillets that ha"e been froRen for $ore than t%o years that didn6t noticeably lose their Buality Conser ing the catch "oesnt happen by acci"ent. ,hered They Go1 Conser ing the e angelistic catch "oesnt happen by acci"ent. =inning e"en one person to Christ reBuires an enor$ous e&penditure of resources +n financial ter$s alone, %ithout considering ti$e and energy, the churches in the Eastern Regional Conference in 200; spent a total of about 20 $illion dollars and reported ;71 con"ersions :hat $eans the cost per con"ersion %as about ]2/,900 00L (o% $any of these con"erts are regularly attending our churches t%el"e $onths after con"ersionV Only God kno%s, but the tendency is for the$ to slip a%ay big ti$eL ! church of the #aRarene pastor in !nahei$, California, Craig Rench, has calculated that in !$erican e"angelical churches only 2 to .; percent of ne% con"erts are still in the church one year after con"ersion +f that6s e"en close to being correct, that6s a frightening statisticL Our goal isn6t decisions for Christ but 27
fully de"oted follo%ers of Christ Conser"ing the catch doesn6t happen by accident ,ho was con"erted through the #inistry of our church during the last year1 =e $ay ha"e to ask our pastor to find out ;re they still attending1 ,hat strategies do we use to enfold new con"erts into the life of our church1 Velcro Principles 1. o (##ediate Follow.up Satan has his o%n follo%Cup progra$ >ike a lion, he preys on the young in the faith because they6re easy targets D)e selfCcontrolled and alert <our ene$y the de"il pro%ls around like a roaring lion looking for so$eone to de"ourH I. 4eter 9*1K (e "isits e ery recent con"ert (e ne er forgets (e6s ne er too busy (e doesn6t put it off (e al%ays arri"es %ithin 22 hours <ou can count on it (e co$es %ith his o%n bad ne%s agenda (e turns the focus fro$ God6s lo"e, forgi"eness, pro$ises, grace, and faithfulness to the ne% belie"er6s sinfulness, un%orthiness, and %eakness DSo$e people are like seed along the path, %here the %ord is so%n !s soon as they hear it, Satan co$es and takes a%ay the %ord that %as so%n in the$H IJark 2*.9K (is goal is to take a%ay the %ord and $ake ne% belie"ers doubt their sal"ation (e %hispers, D@o you think God really forga"e you for %hat you6"e doneV (ardlyL <ou6ll ne"er be able to li"e like a Christian @on6t bother trying H +f he can6t shake up their assurance of sal"ation, he encourages isolation fro$ other belie"ers D<ou don6t ha"e to go to church to be a ChristianL <ou don6t need $ore de$ands <ou6re already too busyLH (e kno%s those %ho ne"er connect %ith a church %on6t do any serious da$age to the kingdo$ of darkness :hey %on6t bear fruit :hey6ll be as useless as a big toe or little finger that isn6t connected to the body Since Satan has his o%n follo%Cup progra$, %e need one too =e $ust do follo%Cup %ithin 22Chours :hen %e %on6t gi"e the de"il $uch ti$e to steal a%ay the %ord already so%n and to build his bad ne%s case =hen %e $eet, %e can ans%er Buestions and re"ie% assurance of sal"ation =e e$phasiRe the i$portance of trusting God6s character and %ord, not feelings, regarding sal"ation =e should set up another ti$e to $eet %ithin the ne&t %eek to talk about the basics of $aturing in Christ +f so$eone else %ill beco$e a $entor to the ne% belie"er, %e should take that person %ith us on our first follo%Cup "isit and introduce hi$ or her Jales $entor $ales, and fe$ales, other fe$ales ,holl be responsible to do initial follow.up of persons who recei"e Christ through our s#all groups outreach1 9. Pray =e $ust pray for ne% belie"ers ! lot is at stake D:he %eapons %e fight %ith are not the %eapons of the %orld On the contrary, they ha"e di"ine po%er to de$olish strongholdsH I2 Corinthians .0*2K Satan doesn6t fear our abilities, gifts, discipline or organiRation =hen our strength is pitted against his, it6s like a $idget basketball tea$
21
playing the #)! cha$pionsL =e don6t ha"e a chance (o%e"er, %hen %e pray, he tre$bles because he kno%s %e6re accessing God6s po%er and infinite resources 4rayer $o"es God6s hand :hat6s %hat he fears 4rayer is $ost consistent %hen it6s organiRed and $ost effecti"e %hen it6s corporate Effecti"e organiRation transfor$s good intentions into effecti"e intercession Certainly those %ho lead others to Christ should pray for the$ +f the e"angeliRer or the e"angeliRed is part of our s$all group, %e6ll pray for that ne% con"ert 4rayer groups that $eet regularly in the church could pray for ne% con"erts, but so$eone $ust be responsible to update the$ on %ho they are Group prayer increases prayer po%er D!gain, + tell you that if t%o of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it %ill be done for you by $y 5ather in hea"en 5or %here t%o or three co$e together in $y na$e, there a$ + %ith the$H IJatthe% .1*20K Specifically, ho% can %e pray for ne% belie"ersV =e can pray for God6s protection fro$ Satan6s attacks, hu$ility, surrender to God6s leadership, discipline to spend daily ti$e %ith God, ne% friends in the church, the fruit of the Spirit, fruitful %itness, personal gro%th, obedience, a rene%ed $ind, Moy, ans%ered prayer, lasting fruit, thinking about and seeking the things abo"e, considering hi$selfPherself dead to the old %ay of li"ing, putting on the full ar$or of God, gro%ing trust in God and his %ord, %isdo$, kno%ledge of God, the hope of God6s calling, the surpassing greatness of God6s po%er, kno%ledge of God6s %ill, steadfastness, patience, a thankful heart, and a co$$it$ent to understanding and li"ing the truth ,hat strategies could we e#ploy to pray for new belie"ers in our church1 ,holl be responsible to get their na#es1 6ow often will we pray for the#1 :. /entor ! ne% belie"er needs a spiritual $other or father for at least eight $onths I$ales %ith $ales, fe$ales %ith fe$ales, roughly $atching the$ ageC%ise, if possibleK :hese spiritual parents should $eet %ith their $entoring partners %eekly :he first $eeting co"ers the basics of the faith :%o resources you could use are the 3unning to &in booklet and the 3unning to &in Series by Jack Selcher, a"ailable through the ERC office I/00 South !rlington !"e Suite 2.0, (arrisburg, 4! .7.0/K :he booklet briefly co"ers !ssurance of Sal"ation, @aily :i$e %ith God, Church !ttendance, Jesus Christ +s <our #e% >eader, Obedience, Reading the )ible, 4rayer 4ointers and 5orgi"eness +t %ould be helpful to ha"e a supply of both the booklet and series on hand :he person %ho6ll $ake the initial follo%Cup "isit should gi"e a copy of the 3unning to &in booklet to the ne% belie"er at the ti$e of co$$it$ent to Christ, ask hi$Pher to read it, and $ake an appoint$ent to get together the ne&t day to re"ie% assurance of sal"ation +f the spiritual parent %ill be so$eone else, that person should also go along <ou can do%nload the 3unning to &in Series fro$ %%% erccog org IClick 5or$s and @o%nloadsPResourcesP@iscipleshipP)ooks .C2K
2/
:he follo%ing goals and agenda for $entoring ne% belie"ers are taken fro$ ,ecoming an $nthusiastic Church 4pp. 56-578 by Jack Selcher :hey6re only suggesti"e and $ight need to be adapted for each indi"idual /entoring Goals for Few $elie"ers . (as assurance of sal"ation I3unning to &in bookletK 2 (as read the 3unning to &in booklet and shared any Buestions %ith $entor 0 (as co$pleted the 3unning to &in Series 2 @aily prays and reads the )ible Ibeginning %ith Jatthe%K, and keeps a de"otional Mournal that includes date, Scripture read, life applications, any Buestions to ask the $entor, and any insights fro$ prayer ti$e 'se the @e"otional Journal in DStarting 5astH in the 3unning to &in Series 9 Regularly attends and participates in a s$all group in the church ; Regularly attends and participates in the %orship ser"ice 7 Can na$e at least si& friends in the church 1 (as %ritten a threeC to fi"eC$inute personal testi$ony, $e$oriRed the basic ideas, and shared the$ %ith the $entor, another Christian, and at least t%o persons %ho aren6t belie"ers yet / (as been baptiRed .0 4articipates in the ordinances of the church Esti$ated length of $entoring relationshipYeight $onths /entoring ;genda for Few $elie"ers PrayY4ray at the beginning of the $eeting asking the >ord to bless your ti$eN pray %hen you need special %isdo$ or po%er to deal %ith a decision or proble$N pray at the end of the $eeting for po%er to do %hat you6"e planned ListenY:he ne% belie"er shares "ictories and defeats since the last $eeting and specific proble$s :he $entor helps pro"ide biblical solutions to these proble$s PlanY(o% %ill all ten $entoring goals be achie"ed %ithin eight $onthsV =hat strategies %ill the one being $entored useV =hat help is needed fro$ the $entorV )e"iewYRe"ie% practical applications of the lesson assigned the pre"ious %eek fro$ the 3unning to &in Series, $e$ory "erses, and practical applications %ritten during daily de"otions ;ssignY!ssign the ne&t lesson in the 3unning to &in Series after the pre"ious lesson is $astered /inister TogetherY@e$onstrate ho% to %alk %ith Jesus %hile $inistering to others
90
)eportYReport to your $entoring coordinator at least Buarterly Share Moys, concerns, proble$s, Buestions, and needed training 6ow can we #a0e sure a #entoring progra# for new belie"ers in our church is in place and effecti"e1 >. (n"ol"e in a S#all Group S$all groups pro"ide the relational glue that holds ne% belie"ers in the church :he best s$all group is a ne% belie"er6s class %here e"eryone is at the sa$e stage of spiritual de"elop$ent +f %e don6t ha"e enough ne% belie"ers to conduct such a class, %e6ll enfold the$ into a group that6s ne%ly for$ing +f no ne% group is a"ailable, %e6ll include the$ in an e&isting group that %ill nurture the$ @e"eloping friendships %ith others in the church is a key goal of s$all group in"ol"e$ent :he $ore friends a ne% belie"er has in the church, the less likely he6ll %alk out the back door, ne"er to return 6ow can we #a0e our s#all group a #ore nurturing en"iron#ent for new belie"ers1 7. Find a Suitable /inistry Jost people %ant their li"es to $ake a difference #e% belie"ers can $ake a $ark i$$ediately through e"angelis$ :hey usually ha"e $any relationships %ith persons %ho aren6t yet belie"ers and o"erflo%ing Real to share ho% others can find life in Christ ,holl be responsible to train and #obili2e new belie"ers to do e"angelis#1 ! lack of spiritual $aturity li$its the nu$ber of suitable $inistries for ne% belie"ers +f $inistries are di"ided into $inistries of the %ord and $inistries of ser"ice, %ith the e&ception of e"angelis$, at least for the first year ne% belie"ers %ill fit best in ser"ice $inistries %hile they6re disco"ering and de"eloping their spiritual gifts ,ho in our church is responsible to #atch new belie"ers with suitable #inistries1 ,hats their strategy1 <ou $ay ha"e to ask the pastor
9.

Gone Fishin

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Gone Fishin

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Gone Fishin by Jack Selcher Copyright 2007 by Eastern Regional Conference, Churches of God !

=ait for a )ite 777777777777 77 07 >and the 5ish 7777777777 777 2.

Conser"e the Catch 77777777777772;

Lesson 1 Pray for Success

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Area Personal life Small group Church

Lesson 9 Prepare to Fish

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Lesson : Bnow the Fish

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;ttract the Fish

Lesson 7 Target ;cti"e Fish

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Lesson H Transition to Fishin

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Lesson C Tell Gour Story

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Lesson J ,ait for a $ite

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Lesson ? Land the Fish

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C&FF+CT(FG ,(T6 G& 1. /;FS &)(G(F;L C&F (T(&F

b. Faith #eans recei"ing Christ! Gods pro"ision for our sin.

Lesson 1= Conser"e the Catch

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