Day 1: Fish Fry or Catch-and-Release

This will be a radical week of evaluating our methods to reach the lost. We must be brutally honest with ourselves about the effectiveness of our methods. Do our current methods reach our city? Do our current methods relate to our personality or gifting? Honestly? Not really. No, no they don’t…

Catch-and-Release

What is drawing in the people of our surrounding cities to our church? Is it our new and growing choir? A charismatic speaker? A wonderful kid’s program? Or is it the word of God? Just consider it for a moment about whether people are drawn to the workings of our ceremonies or to the testimony of our believers? Are they drawn to our services we present or to the word that is living through us? Are they drawn to a place or are they drawn to you?

• Catch-and-release is akin to soul winning.
• You throw a line out, get a bite, and let it go.
• Perhaps you take a picture and then “testify” about how awesome your “catch” was.

Fish Fry

A fish fry is when we do something with that catch. We turn it into something meaningful, it provides sustenance, and it becomes the central reason for fellowship and community. It doesn’t become a trophy of sorts, but a fond memory of something that was good.

• The fish fry is akin to disciple making.
• It takes time to catch and prepare the fish.
• It takes time to prepare the meal with all the sides and trappings.
• It takes time and effort to prepare the home for the guests.
• Memories aren’t trophy pictures, but friends and family smiling around a table.

Final Thoughts

We’ve grown a culture where we see soul winning like a stork. We drop off a baby at the doorstep of the church, then we fly away to go pluck up another one to deliver. But this isn’t the biblical model, principal, or command. We should view it more like a penguin. The emperor penguins share all of the duties between the male and female once an egg is laid. Furthermore, the community bands together to support one another during this critical time to ensure the young are cared for until they can stand on their own. This process is disciple making.

Biblical Devotion

Psalms 40:1-17  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  (2)  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.  (3)  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.  (4)  Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!  (5)  You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.  (6)  In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.  (7)  Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:  (8)  I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”  (9)  I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.  (10)  I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.  (11)  As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!  (12)  For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.  (13)  Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!  (14)  Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!  (15)  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”  (16)  But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!”  (17)  As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!