Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 (NLT) 

Jesus told his disciples that he would make them into fishers of men.

Jesus’ disciples fished for a living using boats and nets. There was nothing fun or romantic about it, but I imagine it was something that deep down they loved. Otherwise, why not find another occupation? Today we still have commercial fishermen, but most are recreational anglers who love the sport. They invest in acquiring the proper equipment, sometimes spending far more than what they could ever recoup in the value of the fish caught. Fishermen have to go to where the fish are. They cannot be passive just waiting at home for fish to show up. Avid fishermen learn as much as they can about fish, so they will not waste their time using unproductive techniques. Once at the fishing hole, they use all their creativity and expertise to catch as many as they can. For those who truly love to fish, it is almost an obsession. You will find them at the lake or the coast whenever they can find the time. If that is how you think of evangelism, you just might be a true evangelist.

Evangelists are deeply motivated to “catch” people with the gospel.

They dedicate significant amounts of time and effort in this pursuit. They invest in becoming fluent in the gospel by much study. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the rut of using simplistic formulas and trite sayings or only sharing our personal testimony.

As seen in the four books called “gospels,” the gospel is the true story of an amazing Person that demands a response.

Evangelists practice presenting the gospel to refine their abilities.

They listen to the Holy Spirit to know how to reach the hearts of lost people, just as Jesus did.

They become proficient in allowing the Holy Spirit to operate through them in the spiritual gifts, just as Jesus was.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:8 (NLT)

Evangelists use the spiritual gifts as “dinner bells” for salvation. God heals people and does miracles to reveal that he is real and cares about them.

Such demonstrations of power validate the message and the messenger, creating openness to the gospel.

Evangelists use the authority of Jesus to cast out demons when necessary, giving proof of Christ’s authority over the kingdom of darkness. (Luke 11:20) Evangelists are careful to keep themselves free from the corrupting power of money, freely giving away the good news.

There are evangelists who fish for people with huge nets, such as Peter in Acts Chapter Two, speaking to massive crowds, and there are those who go after individuals, such as Jesus at the well in Samaria or Philip sharing with the official from Ethiopia.

Evangelists listen to the Holy Spirit to learn how to present Jesus to people in a way that meets their deepest longings to be forgiven, to know God, and to experience his life and love.

Examples of Fishing for Individuals and Crowds

At the well in Samaria, Jesus showed us how to fish for the single individual. He addressed a very unlikely person, a Samaritan woman coming to the well alone in the middle of the day to draw water. Jewish rabbis did not talk to women, especially not Samaritan women, especially not those who probably were shunned by the other women in town. That did not matter to Jesus. He recognized in her a lost sheep who would be open to him and his message.

Evangelists are not restricted by what people think.

They are not held back by man-made customs and rules. Their love for the lost overcomes man-made barriers. Evangelists engage least likely people that many in the church choose to avoid, just as did Jesus.

[Jesus said]...“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NLT) 

As a good fisherman, Jesus invited this woman into a conversation. Unless we talk to people, it is highly unlikely we can ever share the gospel with them.

Evangelists learn to use the art of conversation as a springboard for sharing the gospel.  They understand how to present Jesus in a way that arouses their curiosity and interest.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15  “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” John 4:13-15 (NLT)  

She did not grasp all that Jesus communicated to her, but she understood enough to make her want to find out more about this amazing man. She recognized something undefinable in Jesus that attracted her. This set up what became the turning point for the entire interaction.

When Jesus instructed her to go get her husband, it set the stage for him to operate in the spiritual gift of the word of knowledge. When he told her things that only God would know, it revealed to her that God and he knew about her sordid past and present, but still loved her anyway.

Her encounter with God’s power and amazing love opened her heart to Jesus, instantly transforming the conversation.

She believed in Jesus, and God used her to win an entire village – all because Jesus loved the least likely, overcame cultural barriers, engaged her in conversation, presented himself appealingly, and demonstrated God’s power and love to her. This is the way evangelists fish for individual people.

Peter used a huge gospel net to catch 3000 in a single message. He explained that the Jesus the Jews had just put to death was the long awaited Messiah King. When they repented, he showed them how to escape God’s judgment for their horrendous crime. Peter met a very real felt need in those guilty people by offering them forgiveness through the gospel, if they would pledge allegiance to the One they had previously rejected.

The evangelist helps people understand their sin of rebellion against God and offers a way of escape from God’s judgment through repentance and faith in Christ.

Fishing for people with the gospel under the direction of the Holy Spirit is most rewarding and exciting. There is nothing like it. Those who make a regular practice of praying for the lost, preparing their minds through studying the gospel, practicing their presentations to refine their abilities, learning how to operate in the gifts and power of the Spirit, and devoting significant amounts of time to the pursuit of sharing the gospel are fulfilling the call to be fishers of men. Who knows, the call of evangelist might be on your life!

One thing is for sure: we are all called to “go and make disciples.”