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Lessons From. Go Fish. Remember playing “Go Fish” as a child?. Even though it may have been a while, can still recall the basics. Let’s use the basics of “Go Fish” to learn some simple lessons about evangelism.
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Lessons From Go Fish
Remember playing “Go Fish” as a child? Even though it may have been a while, can still recall the basics Let’s use the basics of “Go Fish” to learn some simple lessons about evangelism
When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John, He promised to make them “fishers of men”
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:18, 19
When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John, He promised to make them “fishers of men” In giving them the great commission, He was in essence commanding them to “go fish”
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19, 20
You Have to Ask For What You Want
In “Go Fish” you have to ask for the card you want The other players are not likely just to give you what you want With evangelism, you have to ask for what you want If you want someone to come to church or have a Bible study you have to ask them
Although He was speaking particularly of prayer, Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount still reveal this true principle regarding evangelism
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7, 8
Although He was speaking particularly of prayer, Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount still reveal this true principle regarding evangelism James, the Lord’s half-brother, also relates the truthfulness of this thought
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2
Although He was speaking particularly of prayer, Jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount still reveal this true principle regarding evangelism James, the Lord’s half-brother, also relates the truthfulness of this thought We miss out on many opportunities simply because we do not ask
We need to be the church that Isaiah pictured in prophecy and the church people John envisioned in Revelation
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord‘s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:2, 3
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17
We need to be the church that Isaiah pictured in prophecy and the church people John envisioned in Revelation Isaiah pictured future Christians as inviting men to come to the Lord, just as Philip did
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. John 1:43-46
We need to be the church that Isaiah pictured in prophecy and the church people John envisioned in Revelation Isaiah pictured future Christians as inviting men to come to the Lord, just as Philip did Philip didn’t argue with Nathanael about the matter; he simply invited him to come see for himself; he asked for what he wanted
He was convinced that Nathanael would soon be just as convinced as he was if he would only come and see the Lord for himself John records another instance of an invitation extended and accepted
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. John 4:28-30
He was convinced that Nathanael would soon be just as convinced as he was if he would only come and see the Lord for himself John records another instance of an invitation extended and accepted Because this woman simply asked, many found the Lord Today, we seem to be waiting for others to ask us if they can attend worship or study with us
However, just like in “Go Fish,” we must ask for what we want We must be the ones to do the approaching and asking
You Can Only Ask For What You Have
In “Go Fish,” you can only ask for a match to a card you already hold in your hand With evangelism, we must hold that for which we are asking
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: I Peter 3:15
In “Go Fish,” you can only ask for a match to a card you already hold in your hand With evangelism, we must hold that for which we are asking If we want others to submit to Christ, we must be submissive to Him our own lives We can’t expect others to embrace a hope that we ourselves do not have
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Colossians 1:27, 28
Just like “Go Fish,” you can only ask of others what you yourself already possess
You Must Ask Before Others Do
In “Go Fish,” other players are also looking for cards In fact, they may be looking for some of the same cards you are In evangelism, must realize that others are looking for converts, too Likely seeking some of the same people we are
We must be diligent to be the first to ask Jesus revealed the seriousness of the situation
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23:15
We must be diligent to be the first to ask Jesus revealed the seriousness of the situation While saints are seeking to open men’s eyes to truth, Satan is seeking to blind them
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. II Corinthians 4:3, 4
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: I Peter 5:8
We must be diligent to be the first to ask Jesus revealed the seriousness of the situation While saints are seeking to open men’s eyes to truth, Satan is seeking to blind them The doctrines of men will not save; must be diligent in finding prospects before others do
You Must Ask Different People
In “Go Fish,” there are generally from 3-6 players If you ask one person for a card and he doesn’t have it, you don’t give up the search When it is your turn again, you ask someone else In evangelism, we must approach different people
What we may not find in one place, we may find in another Paul and Barnabas knew this quite well
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13:45, 46
What we may not find in one place, we may find in another Paul and Barnabas knew this quite well In the parable of the marriage feast, Jesus portrayed this same concept
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways,
one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall
find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. Matthew 22:2-10
What we may not find in one place, we may find in another Paul and Barnabas knew this quite well In the parable of the marriage feast, Jesus portrayed this same concept Today, we give up far too easily Just like “Go Fish,” we must ask different people
You May Have to Ask More Than Once
In “Go Fish,” you may have to ask the same player for a certain card more than once The fact that he doesn’t have a certain card at one point in the game doesn’t mean he won’t have it later The cards in each players hand change throughout the game In evangelism, we may have to ask the same person more than once in order to get results
