sunday's scuds (september 7, 2008)

Dwight kicked off a two-part series called Fishin' today. It's about, you guessed it, becoming fishers of men (the church word for it is evangelism). Dwight did a terrific job reminding us all of our responsibility to share the good news of Jesus with the world.

• Most of us did not become Christ followers so we could become "fishers of men." We became Christians, most likely, so we could avoid going to hell.
• But Jesus calls us to be "fishers of men." True followers of Christ don't just follow him. They fish.
• Some people in this room used to fish but you've stopped. And today I'm calling you back to fishing.
• Most of us are more interested in having God make us happy, healthy, have better marriages, help us live longer lives, make us wealthy...than we are in becoming fishers of men.
• Our tendency when we fish is we compare religions. And we come across with an obnoxious, superior attitude--"our religion is better than yours." It's not about that. It's about history...sharing something that's taken place that has changed you.
• Unfortunately we get in the way of the message of God. We get hung up on beliefs and stuff that's inconsequential. What matters is what we know about Jesus Christ.
• I'm with the guy who died and rose again. So whatever he says, I believe. What ever he asks me to do, I'm gonna do.
• The message of salvation is not intuitive. People aren't going to figure it out on their own.
• Fishing is not about proving that Christianity is better than other religions. It's about sharing who Jesus is.
• I have more questions about God than I have answers. But I've got the answer to the most important thing: Salvation is found through Jesus Christ alone.

Dwight concluded by asking each of us to take the time this week to write a letter to the person who "fished for us." He asked us to take some time to consider what it means to us that someone was willing to invest in us and lead us to Christ. Take him up on that challenge this week. It'll help you refocus on why fishing is so important.