Catch, Clean, & Cook – A Lesson in Transformation

1. Matthew 4: 17-22 – Jesus gives us the description of true discipleship
   1. “Come, follow me” – a disciple is one who has chosen to follow Jesus in his/her daily living.
   2. “I will make you fishers of men” – Jesus characterizes the evangelistic work of spreading the gospel as being like that of fishing men.
2. The five-fold purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ can be presented in the format of the experience of fishing.
   1. Catch
      1. Matthew 28: 19a – go make disciples,
      2. Matthew 22: 39b – by loving your neighbor
   2. Clean
      1. Matthew 28: 19b Baptize them into the body of Christ
   3. Cook
      1. Matthew 28: 20a – Teach them to love God through obedience
      2. Matthew 22: 37 – Teach them to love God through worship
3. Catch – Go make disciples by loving your neighbor
   1. Luke 14: 15-24 – Go fishing
      1. We must go to where the fish are biting.
      2. Jesus sent his disciples out to where the fish were biting.
         1. It’s hard to come to Christ when I believe I am self-sufficient and all of my needs are met.
         2. Go to the poor, cripple, blind, lame, those in need.
   2. Luke 9: 2 – Bait to use
      1. Meet the needs and heal the hurts of others – MINISTRY
      2. We have power- capacity; & authority – legitimate right to fish
4. Clean – Baptize them in to the body
   1. Matthew 28: 19b – Fish come out of water wet, slimy and dirty.
      1. To enjoy fish one must clean fish
      2. Matthew 8: 1-4 – To clean fish, fish must be handled.
         1. Jesus touched the leper
         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. 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)
5. Cook – Teach them to love God through obedience and authentic worship
   1. Matthew 28: 20a – Preparation is done for consumption by others
      1. To be made food for others
      2. Made food by our efforts to prepare them
   2. Matthew 22: 37 – When fish is cooking it gives off a welcoming enticing aroma
      1. The aroma of authentic praise and worship is satisfying to God
      2. The aroma of authentic praise and worship is attractive to hungry people in the world and it draws them inside.
   3. Matthew 20: 26-28 – We never cook fish for the purpose of satisfying the fish; it is always done for the benefit of others.
      1. Today’s Christianity has a self-centered, consumer mentality
         1. We stake out turf – “My class, my club, my church.”
         2. People become members expecting to be served and not to serve.
      2. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
      3. We must serve others!

I AM CHRIST-CENTERED & OTHERS-FOCUSED