| By Ron Maynard (Cordova Church of Christ [TN], USA) “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Mark 1:17 Today Jesus is still calling His disciples to follow Him and become fishers of men. Three years after beginning His ministry, He gave parting commands to the apostles to continue what He had begun. “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you….” (Matthew 28:18-20). |  |
The need to train Christians to teach the lost is greater than ever. Growing numbers of souls facing eternity need to “know God and obey the gospel” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Jesus teaches us the urgency of evangelism. “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). Again Jesus admonished in John 4:34-35, “…Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” Each new generation of Christians must be taught to become faithful “fishers of men”. Paul taught Timothy saying, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
Click banner to visit the Fishers of Men website.
The Fishers of Men ministry’s teaching methods are based on principles used by Jesus and passed on to apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the New Testament church (Ephesians 4:11-13). We emphasize that the power to convert friends, neighbors and family is in the message and not the messenger (Romans 1:16).
One key principle is learning how to ask open questions to draw out a person’s true feelings and attitudes. Jesus teaches in Matthew 12:34 that “the mouth reveals the heart.” This gives us insights into how to better understand what peoples’ spiritual needs and interests are and how to give them an answer (1 Peter 3:15).
A second key principle is the Discovery Learning method which is used to give all answers from the Bible and not from our own knowledge and wisdom.
The Fishers of Men class involves ten consecutive sessions in which the student is taught to develop interest with friends, neighbors, and relatives, then to make the appointment for Bible studies, and then to teach a series of Bible lessons called Search for Truth. These lessons are guides to a systematic study in which the student answers questions from his/her own reading of the Bible during a personal Bible study.
The Fishers of Men ministry has a proven history of effectively reaching the lost and restoring the unfaithful over its 37 year history. If you or your congregation would like more information, you may contact me at Ron@fishersofmen.net. I will be in St. Vincent until February 18th and am available to speak to area congregations about this ministry and how your congregation can host a future Fishers of Men class.
One key principle is learning how to ask open questions to draw out a person’s true feelings and attitudes. Jesus teaches in Matthew 12:34 that “the mouth reveals the heart.” This gives us insights into how to better understand what peoples’ spiritual needs and interests are and how to give them an answer (1 Peter 3:15).
A second key principle is the Discovery Learning method which is used to give all answers from the Bible and not from our own knowledge and wisdom.
The Fishers of Men class involves ten consecutive sessions in which the student is taught to develop interest with friends, neighbors, and relatives, then to make the appointment for Bible studies, and then to teach a series of Bible lessons called Search for Truth. These lessons are guides to a systematic study in which the student answers questions from his/her own reading of the Bible during a personal Bible study.
The Fishers of Men ministry has a proven history of effectively reaching the lost and restoring the unfaithful over its 37 year history. If you or your congregation would like more information, you may contact me at Ron@fishersofmen.net. I will be in St. Vincent until February 18th and am available to speak to area congregations about this ministry and how your congregation can host a future Fishers of Men class.
Click the photo to read about Ron Maynard's first visit to Kingstown Church of Christ
