Transcript Slide 1

Remember playing “Go
Fish” as a child?
Even though it may
have been a while, can
still recall the basics
Let’s use the basics of
“Go Fish” to learn some
simple lessons about
evangelism
When Jesus called
Peter, Andrew, James
and John, He promised
to make them “fishers of
men”
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two
brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his
brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were
fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I
will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:18, 19
When Jesus called
Peter, Andrew, James
and John, He promised
to make them “fishers of
men”
In giving them the great
commission, He was in
essence commanding
them to “go fish”
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I
am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen.
Matthew 28:19, 20
You Have to Ask
For What You Want
In “Go Fish” you have to ask for the card you
want
The other players are not likely just to give you
what you want
With evangelism, you have to ask for what you
want
If you want someone to come to church or
have a Bible study you have to ask them
Although He was speaking particularly of
prayer, Jesus’ words in the sermon on the
mount still reveal this true principle regarding
evangelism
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:7, 8
Although He was speaking particularly of
prayer, Jesus’ words in the sermon on the
mount still reveal this true principle regarding
evangelism
James, the Lord’s half-brother, also relates the
truthfulness of this thought
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and
cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not,
because ye ask not.
James 4:2
Although He was speaking particularly of
prayer, Jesus’ words in the sermon on the
mount still reveal this true principle regarding
evangelism
James, the Lord’s half-brother, also relates the
truthfulness of this thought
We miss out on many opportunities simply
because we do not ask
We need to be the church that Isaiah pictured
in prophecy and the church people John
envisioned in Revelation
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the
mountain of the Lord‘s house shall be established in the
top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall
go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of
the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will
teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out
of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2:2, 3
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him
that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst
come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely.
Revelation 22:17
We need to be the church that Isaiah pictured
in prophecy and the church people John
envisioned in Revelation
Isaiah pictured future Christians as inviting
men to come to the Lord, just as Philip did
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and
findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip
was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip
findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found
him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did
write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael
said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of
Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
John 1:43-46
We need to be the church that Isaiah pictured
in prophecy and the church people John
envisioned in Revelation
Isaiah pictured future Christians as inviting
men to come to the Lord, just as Philip did
Philip didn’t argue with Nathanael about the
matter; he simply invited him to come see for
himself; he asked for what he wanted
He was convinced that Nathanael would soon
be just as convinced as he was if he would
only come and see the Lord for himself
John records another instance of an invitation
extended and accepted
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way
into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man,
which told me all things that ever I did: is not this
the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came
unto him.
John 4:28-30
He was convinced that Nathanael would soon
be just as convinced as he was if he would
only come and see the Lord for himself
John records another instance of an invitation
extended and accepted
Because this woman simply asked, many
found the Lord
Today, we seem to be waiting for others to ask
us if they can attend worship or study with us
However, just like in “Go Fish,” we must ask
for what we want
We must be the ones to do the approaching
and asking
You Can Only Ask
For What You Have
In “Go Fish,” you can only ask for a match to a
card you already hold in your hand
With evangelism, we must hold that for which
we are asking
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be
ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear:
I Peter 3:15
In “Go Fish,” you can only ask for a match to a
card you already hold in your hand
With evangelism, we must hold that for which
we are asking
If we want others to submit to Christ, we must
be submissive to Him our own lives
We can’t expect others to embrace a hope that
we ourselves do not have
To whom God would make known what is the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we
preach, warning every man, and teaching every man
in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect
in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 1:27, 28
Just like “Go Fish,” you can only ask of others
what you yourself already possess
You Must Ask
Before Others Do
In “Go Fish,” other players are also looking for
cards
In fact, they may be looking for some of the
same cards you are
In evangelism, must realize that others are
looking for converts, too
Likely seeking some of the same people we
are
We must be diligent to be the first to ask
Jesus revealed the seriousness of the
situation
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for
ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and
when he is made, ye make him twofold more the
child of hell than yourselves.
Matthew 23:15
We must be diligent to be the first to ask
Jesus revealed the seriousness of the
situation
While saints are seeking to open men’s eyes
to truth, Satan is seeking to blind them
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are
lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
II Corinthians 4:3, 4
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour:
I Peter 5:8
We must be diligent to be the first to ask
Jesus revealed the seriousness of the
situation
While saints are seeking to open men’s eyes
to truth, Satan is seeking to blind them
The doctrines of men will not save; must be
diligent in finding prospects before others do
Just like “Go Fish,” we must ask before others
do
You Must Ask
Different People
In “Go Fish,” there are generally from 3-6
players
If you ask one person for a card and he
doesn’t have it, you don’t give up the search
When it is your turn again, you ask someone
else
In evangelism, we must approach different
people
What we may not find in one place, we may
find in another
Paul and Barnabas knew this quite well
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were
filled with envy, and spake against those things
which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and
blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold,
and said, It was necessary that the word of God
should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye
put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:45, 46
What we may not find in one place, we may
find in another
Paul and Barnabas knew this quite well
In the parable of the marriage feast, Jesus
portrayed this same concept
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king,
which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth
his servants to call them that were bidden to the
wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent
forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are
bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen
and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready:
come unto the marriage. But they made light of it,
and went their ways,
one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the
remnant took his servants, and entreated them
spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard
thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies,
and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their
city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is
ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as
ye shall
find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out
into the highways, and gathered together all as many
as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding
was furnished with guests.
Matthew 22:2-10
What we may not find in one place, we may
find in another
Paul and Barnabas knew this quite well
In the parable of the marriage feast, Jesus
portrayed this same concept
Today, we give up far too easily
Just like “Go Fish,” we must ask different
people
You May Have to Ask
More Than Once
In “Go Fish,” you may have to ask the same
player for a certain card more than once
The fact that he doesn’t have a certain card at
one point in the game doesn’t mean he won’t
have it later
The cards in each players hand change
throughout the game
In evangelism, we may have to ask the same
person more than once in order to get results
Jesus implied such in His in words from the
sermon mount
repeated
Ask, and itSuffix
shall suggests
be given you;
seek, and ye shall
or continual
action unto you: For
find; knock, and
it shall be opened
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:7, 8
Jesus implied such in His in words from the
sermon mount
Those who hope to receive must ask over and
over
Not only is this true in prayer, but also in
personal evangelism
Over time, circumstances can change and
those who once were not receptive can
become receptive to the seed of truth
Just like “Go Fish,” we may have to ask more
than once
Evangelism is a lot like “Go Fish”
You have to ask for what you want
You can only ask for what you have
You must ask before others do
You must ask different people
You may have to ask more than once
From an article by Wade Webster- “Power” 2008