Strictly Business
Matthew 4: 18 (NIV) As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Early on Jesus picked a small band of disciples. These men became the pioneers of the evangelical movement that Jesus launched and leaders of the Church He established. The first disciples chosen by Jesus were not political figures, religious leaders or royalty, but rather commercial fisherman (Four men, two sets of brothers – Simon, Andrew, James and John).
Jesus does not speak of deliverance. This call was in fact a call to discipleship. Jesus invites them to do mission work telling them plainly that He would teach them to be fishers of men. In effect, Jesus invites them to join His mission or business venture – fishing for men.
As the Church, we must focus on both the “gospel message” and the “gospel mission.” The gospel message about the Christ and His kingdom redeems the life of the sinner. By grace and through faith in the message the sinner is saved. However, it is the gospel mission that transforms us. Through commitment to Christ’s mission we are converted. Thus, my topic for today is Strictly Business.
We will examine Jesus’ selection of four fishermen to expand His ministry or vocation. Specifically, we will discuss four aspects:
The Boat The Band The Bait The Business
The Discipleship Difference
-The offer of salvation differs from the call to discipleship. Salvation is an open invitation (…whoever believes Jn 3:16). Discipleship is a special invitation (…I chose you Jn 15:16).
-Salvation has a price that Christ paid (you could not pay the debt of sin). Discipleship has a cost that you must pay (deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ).
-While the sinner who accepts the gospel message is delivered (salvation), the believer who responds to the gospel mission is deployed (commission).
The sinner who is delivered must receive God’s grace. The disciple who is converted must serve God’s mission.
-The sinner who is delivered repents (encourages self) and the disciple who is converted witnesses (encourages others).
So let’s turn to the four aspects of discipleship:
The Boat – a vessel for transport (on water) The Band – a company of persons working together The Bait – something used to attract or lure The Business – mission, calling or vocation
Luke 5: 1 (NIV) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
The Boat
While this might seem obvious, the first consideration if you are going into the commercial fishing business is the acquisition of a boat. As they performed their work the boat kept them afloat. It was the means to effectively access the environment of the fish. In a proverbial sense, faith keeps us afloat. If we trust in Christ and His Word it will keep us on the seas of life.
The Band
The second ingredient you need for any lasting business is co-laborers or partners. This is why Jesus went about the careful task of identifying and selecting His future business partners… His band of disciples. In a business venture the owner chooses the partners based on the mission. The fishermen offered several very attractive qualities to Jesus including skill, patience and humility. This is in part why they were chosen.
The Bait
Commercial fishermen principally used different types of nets and bait to catch different types of fish. In fact, they could target different types of fish through the type and usage of bait. In the ministry of discipleship the key is also the bait that we use. In order to attract sinners, God has entrusted us with the most effective form of bait, the gospel message. When offered with the hook of Christ’s finished work you can effectively fish for men.
The Business
As we noted earlier, the term business is defined as a mission or purposeful activity. It is synonymous with the term calling. The first chosen disciples had a vocation that they’d chosen. Jesus was in essence compelling them to a higher calling or vocation. We must move past the selfish work of our own soul's salvation to the selfless work of winning souls for Christ. This is the family business and our shared mission.
Conclusion
During Jesus’ earthy ministry, He identified the single biggest challenge to His going concern (fishing for men). It wasn’t the boat, the bait or the business itself. It was the band. He told His disciples that the harvest was plentiful but the laborers (disciples) were few. Indeed He didn’t say pray for greater harvest but more disciples (Matt 9:37:38). Consider the commission, which concludes the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 28: 16 (NIV) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Second City Church- Guest Speaker Missions & More Sermon Series 2014