February 4-5, 2006, Acts 4, Selected

GO FISH!
FISH GUTS!

*** Mark 1:17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." [New International Version]

BECAUSE FOLLOWERS FISH!

*** Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." [NIV]

PEOPLE WON’T KNOW UNLESS WE GO!

*** Acts 4:19-20 "Peter and John replied..."For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." [NIV]

MOST OF US EQUATE KNOWING WE SHOULD BE FISHERS OF

MEN WITH GOING TO BE FISHERS OF MEN!

WE ARE ALL SIMPLY AFRAID!

*** Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." [NIV]

*** Acts 3:6-7 "Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." [7] Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong." [NIV]

*** Acts 4:2 "They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead." [NIV]

IT'S OKAY TO BE RELIGIOUS, JUST DON’T TALK ABOUT JESUS!

*** Acts 4:8a "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them...." [NIV]

*** Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." [NIV]

*** Acts 4:17-20 "But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." [18] Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. [20] For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." [NIV]

*** Acts 4:23-24a "On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. [24] When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God." [NIV]
*** Acts 4:24a "When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," [NIV]

GOD WHO IS LARGE AND IN CHARGE!

*** Acts 4:24b-28 "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. [25] You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? [26] The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.' [27] Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. [28] They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen." [NIV]

*** Acts 4:29 "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." [NIV]

BOLDLY GO FISH!

MESSAGE & MESSENGER & MYSTERY COULD COME TOGETHER IF WE BOLDLY FISH!

"ENABLE ME TO SPEAK FOR YOUR WORD WITH GREAT BOLDNESS!"

- YOU WILL BECOME MORE AWARE OF OPPORTUNITIES!

- YOU WILL BE FORCED TO FACE A FEAR THAT IT'S TIME YOU
FACED AND CONQUERED!

HOMEWORK:

stories@chandlercc.org

"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Acts 4:31 [NIV]

Thanks to Andy Stanley and North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, GA for the concept of GO FISH!