Fish Seldom Jump In The Boat
Title: Fish Seldom Jump In The Boat
Category: Evangelism Issues
Subject: Soul Winning
"FISH SELDOM JUMP IN THE BOAT"
Jim Mastin Sr.
What to you think about this? A man decides he wants to catch some fish. He goes to the sports store and tells the sales person he wants to catch fish. The sales person says great, I'll help you get what you need.
First you will need a boat. So he bought a boat, even had plush seats put in it. Then you will need some equipment, a pole, line, hooks, sinkers, tackle box etc. So he bought the best equipment he could get and installed it in his boat.
He got an attractive sign put on the back of the boat with the boat's name for all to see. He couldn't pull the boat, so he bought a car for the boat. Brought his credit card, cell phone, and PDA in case he needed it.
He set a date and finally got the boat launched. He checked to see where the most popular places were to fish as well as the most popular bait to use. He arrived at the fishing spot, an area where many fish lived. He then got all his equipment together, pulled up a chair on the boat and sat there waiting. After several hours he decided he wasn't going to catch any fish, so he went home for lunch.
Now you say, well, he didn't catch any fish because he never put his line in the water. He never put the bait where the fish were. And you would be right. Have you ever thought how many of our churches fish this same way?
We buy our expensive buildings with plush seats, stock it with the best state of the art equipment, check to see what is the most popular bait (guest singers, speakers, programs, etc). We put our attractive sign out on the street. The pastor gets him a business car, church credit card, cell phone and PDA. But, few fish jump in the boat. So, at noon they all go out to eat.
The truth is, our churches need to concentrate much more on putting lines in the water where the fish are, rather than depending so much on buildings, and equipment, then pulling up a chair and wait for the fish to "jump in the boat". Pastor, become a soul winner, then, train your people to go after souls. Jesus' advice is best, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men".
Jim Mastin Sr.
What to you think about this? A man decides he wants to catch some fish. He goes to the sports store and tells the sales person he wants to catch fish. The sales person says great, I'll help you get what you need.
First you will need a boat. So he bought a boat, even had plush seats put in it. Then you will need some equipment, a pole, line, hooks, sinkers, tackle box etc. So he bought the best equipment he could get and installed it in his boat.
He got an attractive sign put on the back of the boat with the boat's name for all to see. He couldn't pull the boat, so he bought a car for the boat. Brought his credit card, cell phone, and PDA in case he needed it.
He set a date and finally got the boat launched. He checked to see where the most popular places were to fish as well as the most popular bait to use. He arrived at the fishing spot, an area where many fish lived. He then got all his equipment together, pulled up a chair on the boat and sat there waiting. After several hours he decided he wasn't going to catch any fish, so he went home for lunch.
Now you say, well, he didn't catch any fish because he never put his line in the water. He never put the bait where the fish were. And you would be right. Have you ever thought how many of our churches fish this same way?
We buy our expensive buildings with plush seats, stock it with the best state of the art equipment, check to see what is the most popular bait (guest singers, speakers, programs, etc). We put our attractive sign out on the street. The pastor gets him a business car, church credit card, cell phone and PDA. But, few fish jump in the boat. So, at noon they all go out to eat.
The truth is, our churches need to concentrate much more on putting lines in the water where the fish are, rather than depending so much on buildings, and equipment, then pulling up a chair and wait for the fish to "jump in the boat". Pastor, become a soul winner, then, train your people to go after souls. Jesus' advice is best, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men".
