Jesus is the Hope

I.     Jesus was born to fish

Luke 19:10 (NKJV) for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

        1.     Jesus is an ichthyologist

Pictures of different fish (colors, sizes, shapes)

Then pictures of different people (colors, sizes shapes)

                    1)      He created humanity

                   2)      He spent over 30 years as a human

        2.     Jesus is passionate about fishing

II.    Jesus tuned in to the latest fishing report

        1.     Prayed for 40 days in the wilderness

Matthew 4:1-2 (NKJV) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

        2.     Prayed all night before naming His inner circle

Luke 6:12-13 (NKJV) Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

III.   Jesus had a strategic process

        1.     Identifies the fishing holes

John 1:29 (NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:35-36 (NKJV)  Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!

        2.     Initiates contact

        3.     Invites people into conversation

John 1:37-38 (NKJV) The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek? They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

                   1)      By asking good questions

                   2)      By being an active listener

John 1:39 (NKJV) He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

        4.     Invites people into a relationship

                   1)      He invites an exploration

                   2)      He demonstrates radical hospitality

Leviticus 19:34 (NKJV) The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

John 1:40-42 (NKJV) One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

        5.     Inspires reaction

        6.     Invites people into a lifetime journey

Matthew 4:19-20 (NKJV) Then He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

        7.     Invests in His team