Catch, Clean, & Cook – A Lesson in Transformation

READING FOR STUDY GUIDE: Matthew 4: 17-20

Thesis: Christ gives us a context for the transformative work of God in this world as he calls us to come, follow Him, and that He will make us fishers of men. The act of fishing includes a process that ends in the benefit and nourishment of others. For the benefits of fishing to be realized, one must catch, clean, and cook the harvest that God makes available to us.

1. Matthew 4: 17-22 – Jesus gives us the description of true discipleship – “Come, follow me, I will make you fishers of men.”
2. II. The five-fold purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ can be presented in the format of the experience of fishing.
   1. Catch – Matthew 28: 19a – go make disciples,
      Matthew 22: 39b – by loving your neighbor
   2. Clean – Matthew 28: 19b Baptize them into the body of Christ.
   3. Cook – Matthew 28: 20a – Teach them to love God through obedience.
      Matthew 22: 37 – Teach them to love God through worship.

MY PURPOSE IS TO CATCH, CLEAN, & COOK!




CATCH

• We are to go into the community and identify the unsaved/unchurched. (We don’t fish at the fish market.)
• We bring them to become a part of the crowd of regular attenders of the worship of Jesus Christ.

CLEAN

• Clean – Baptize them in to the body
• We invite them to become congregation members
  • We encourage all to belong to God’s eternal family through fellowship with Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
  • Our goal is to see folk saved and connected to be the Body of Christ through Quinn Chapel AME Church.

CLEAN

• We then assist members of the Body of Christ to become committed maturing members.
• Finally, these maturing members become the core lay ministers of the church leading others to go into the community and meet the needs and heal the hurts of others.

3. CLEANING THE FISH
   1. Matthew 28: 19b – Fish come out of water wet, slimy and dirty. To enjoy fish one must clean fish.
      1. Matthew 8: 1-4 – To clean fish, fish must be handled.
         1. Jesus touched the leper.
            1. The leper made a statement of faith regarding Jesus’ identity and power as Sovereign God. “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
            2. Jesus touched the leper in his uncleanness
            3. Christ touches us in whatever condition we’re in – ill, illegal, illegitimate, ill-tempered, ill-mannered, ill-treated, immoral, imperfect, improper, undressed and unholy.
         2. We must connect with people in their real lives
         3. To touch is to join together 2 or more who are now one – there must be a connection.
      2. Romans 10: 14-17 – How did the leper have such faith in Christ?
         1. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message I heard through the word of Christ.”
         2. Somebody shared the gospel of Jesus Christ.
   2. I Corinthians 12: 25-27 – We are the body of Christ and every member of the body is important
      1. There should be no division the body (v. 25a)
      2. It’s parts should have equal concern for each other (v. 25b)
      3. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it (v. 26a)
      4. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it (v. 26b)
4. Galatians 6: 10 – “…let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.