Are you a fisher of men?

[wattie]

To me, it means going forth and planting the seed of the word of the Lord in people's hearts.

I am not really the kind to go and try to reap; although I may extend an invitation to receive Christ on some occasions.

My style is mainly to preach the word and let the word have its way in people's hearts.

Because God said that His word will never return void (Isaiah 55:10-11)...

Whether it saves a man or merely makes him accountable on his day of judgment, depends on whether the man receives Christ as the result of the word being preached (see Hebrews 4:2).

I used to go out talking with people in initiative evangelism.

We had a prayer people could go thru after asking questions about faith and life.

Some would claim people bring saved after outreach because they'd said the prayer.

I have no problem with praying to receive Christ.. but actually knowing for sure someone has been saved is much harder to know. They could have just repeated words with no conviction. Or because we were offering drinks.. doing it to get the drink.

So yeah ... better to not worry about the end result of sharing but just do it.

 

[John146]

Yes, money is certainly part of it. But I read something in another thread that really made me stop and think. I'll quote it so I don't misstate what was said: "The small ones [churches] I have visited are desperate for new members and are dying a slow death. They all share the same lack of teaching the congregation to be fishers of men."

Do we need to teach people to be fishers of men, or will they automatically become fishers of men when they realize the exceptional gift we have in Christ? If smaller churches like these are dying and desperate for new members, maybe the best thing to do is let them die a natural death. What they've been doing obviously hasn't been working; but that's no reason to resort to man-made schemes to attract worldly-minded people.

To me it seems, people aren't fishers of men because they haven't addressed the core issues. People from all walks of life are lost and in need of the Savior. We have the only thing that can save them from eternity separated from God in a place they don't want to be: Truth. If we learn how to share this message effectively, then we will truly become fishers of men.

In my experience, most "mega" churches don't have fishermen in them, but offer services and programs and put on a lot of entertainment like shows that attract people to their church.

Small churches may have fishermen, but people these days are attracted at what glitters, not truth.

 

[ResidentAlien]

In my experience, most "mega" churches don't have fishermen in them, but offer services and programs and put on a lot of entertainment like shows that attract people to their church.

Small churches may have fishermen, but people these days are attracted at what glitters, not truth.

Yes, you have a point. I'm just saying that shouldn't let people get discouraged and desperate.

I'm thinking smaller churches should start making a contingency plan that will allow them to stay functional. Maybe ditch the church building and the paid pastor—if there is one—and any other paid staff. Start meeting in homes and pray for the Spirit to draw people to them. It's the business as usual mentality that's driving smaller churches like this to become desperate. This mentality is probably what has guided them over the years. Faced with new challenges it would be wise to get back to basics and let the Spirit move.