Fishers of Men.

My family loves to fish so it was an exciting adventure when we chartered a boat with a guide to fish for ocean trout.  My son and I along with my three grandsons (ages 11, 9, and 7).  The guide explained about how to fish for trout and told us what to expect.  He was very careful with the equipment and started by making the cast for every rod.  He would then fish each one and explain what he was doing and why.  He would show us how to hook the fish.  When he hooked one, he would hand the rod to one of the boys and they would reel it in.  

After a while, the guide let my son start working the bait after the guide had made the cast.  Then eventually my son made the casts and worked the bait.  Then our guide worked with me and then the oldest grandson.  By the end of our charter, the guide was working with the seven-year-old, my oldest grandson and I were fishing by ourselves, and my son was teaching his oldest son how to cast and fish.

Our guide explained the process, demonstrated the process, helped us to learn the process, and even let my son begin doing the same with his son.  

It made me think about fishing for men – making disciples.

We have to talk about what it means to be a follower of Jesus.  We share the good news of the one who died for our sins and then was raised from the dead.  We explain how faith in Jesus leads one to share in that death and resurrection through baptism.

But we also demonstrate how a disciple lives.  We live as forgiven people.  We serve others in the name of Jesus.  We tell the good news of Jesus.  We guide them as they begin to explore being a follower of Jesus.  Bible study, invitations to worship, prayer times.  We assist in their baptism.  We stand alongside them as they begin to live out their faith.  We watch as they begin to make other disciples.  

And soon the person we caught for Jesus is catching others for the Master.

Just like God intended.

-Steve Ridgell