Mark 1:14-20

[snapstur]

carol> Father we come into your presence with thanksgiving and praise for your many blessings of this day.

GentleDove> yes Lord

carol> thank you for each one present here. Minister to each one that we may be better equipped to share your word with others

carol> Minister to Bethel as she brings your word to us this evening

carol> We will give you all the honor, glory and praise that you deserve. In Jesus name amen.

GentleDove> amen

@Bethel> Thank you so much Carol

@Shield> amen

@Shield> thanks carol

@Shield> now I would like to take a moment to introduce Bethel

@Shield> Bethel, Bethel, Bethel....

@Shield> where to begin...

@Shield> :D

@Shield> I will simply say this

@Shield> She is a valued sister in the Lord who has much to offer all of us

@Shield> She runs #Spiritled_Woman channel which I encourage all the ladies to check out

@Shield> So welcome Bethel. Come share:)

angelbaby> hey Bethel

@Bethel> Thanks so much shield

@Bethel> Blessings to everyone!

@Bethel> Last week Shield covered the awesome and unique experience of Jesus' baptism.

@Bethel> We see that God spoke to Jesus from heaven saying, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

@Bethel> Then the Spirit sent Him into the desert for 40 days and He was tempted by satan and was with wild animals.

@Bethel> I read the logs from last week and was very enlightened by that study. And, you all were great in parti****ting as well.

@Bethel> I hope you will help me teach by parti****ting tonight.. ok?

Flute> ok

@Bethel> Tonight we will start with Mark 1 vs. 14 when Jesus comes to Galilee preaching the "good news."

@Bethel> Galilee is a small region in northern Palestine.

@Bethel> For comparison, Galilee is about forty times smaller than the state of Pennsylvania.

@Bethel> It is a beautiful area, rich in lush hills and fertile plains.

@Bethel> Galilee was the scene of most of the events reported in the Gospels.

@Bethel> Jesus spent almost all of His life in Galilee.

@Bethel> Since our study will be about fish and fishers of men, I want to add a little side note….
@Bethel> The cross was not adopted as a symbol of Christianity until long after the death of Jesus.

@Bethel> The symbol previously most used was the fish.

@Bethel> Christians used the sign of the fish as a secret sign for a long time before the cross came into general usage.

@Bethel> When two travelers would meet on a path, one would take his staff and draw an arc in the dirt, if the other responded with an opposite arc drawn attached to the previous one, then they both knew where each other's faith was.

@Bethel> This symbol described is the sign of a fish ><>

@Bethel> Do any of you have a fish symbol on the back of your vehicle?

Flute> Yes

@Bethel> I do too

@Bethel> Ok, let's begin….

@Bethel> Mark 1:14

@Bethel> Ok, let's begin….

@Bethel> 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

peace-angel> I do

@Bethel> What does "gospel" mean?

Deacon> good news

carol> Good news

@Bethel> yes

Flute> good tidings?

GentleDove> good news

@Bethel> 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

@Bethel> After John the Baptist is put into prison, Jesus takes up the message that John had been preaching, but instead of saying the Kingdom is coming, what is Jesus proclaiming?

@Bethel> anyone?

Deacon> repent

GentleDove> The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand

dodi> is here>

@Bethel> oh yes

@Bethel> the Kingdom of God is at hand. Instead of the Kingdom is coming, the time is at hand

@Bethel> What tense is Jesus speaking in?

dodi> present?

@Bethel> yes dodi

@Bethel> "The time has come!" It is time for everyone to turn from their lives of sin and to embrace the message of the Gospel.

@Bethel> There is a lapse of time, possibly more than a year between the recording of verses 15 and 16.

@Bethel> 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

@Bethel> Actually the Sea of Galilee is really a lake and is called by different names in the Scripture: Sea of Kimmereth, Sea of Tiberias, Lake Gennesaret or "the sea" or "the lake." (Ref: Numbers 34:11, John 21:1, Luke 5:1, Matthew 8:24)

@Bethel> This was news to me.

@Bethel> This lake was a great source of fish in Biblical times.

@Bethel> Fishing was an important industry at that time, and seven of Jesus' disciples were fishermen.

@Bethel> 17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."

@Bethel> 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

@Bethel> What would you say is the "active" words in this verse?

@Bethel> anyone?

peace-angel> Follow

peace-angel> make

@Bethel> yes

Flute> Follow me

@Bethel> yes

dodi> will

peace-angel> actually all

@Bethel> how about immediately

GentleDove> immediately left nets and followed

@Bethel> yes

Flute> Fishers of men

@Bethel> yes

Flute> cuz he wanted to draw them to Him

@Bethel> almost all the words are active

@Bethel> Without delay they left their business and followed Jesus.

@Bethel> This is a clear example of how we should follow Jesus.

@Bethel> Discipleship is active.

@Bethel> Disciples hear the words of the Master and they immediately put them into practice.

@Bethel> 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.

@Bethel> 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

@Bethel> Look at this verse again….these two guys just walked off, without hesitation, and left their father and the hired servants.

@Bethel> What does that say to you?

@Bethel> anyone?

peace-angel> They new how important he was

@Bethel> yes

peace-angel> knew'

dodi> his call compels us to act

Deacon> dedication

carol> follow Christ first

@Bethel> oh yes

GentleDove> nothing or no one should stop us from following Jesus

Flute> They wanted to follow Jesus all the way

@Bethel> self-denial

Flute> no matter the cost

peace-angel> nothing should be in the way of following Christ

@Bethel> committed to follow Jesus

@Bethel> amen peace-angel

@Bethel> Jesus spoke with authority and they obeyed His call.

peace-angel> amen

@Bethel> They left their father to follow Jesus.

@Bethel> What are some of the ways we personally can be "fishers of men"?

@Bethel> anyone?

Flute> o/

@Bethel> flute

peace-angel> witnessing

@Bethel> yes

Flute> Take up his cross and follow him, be available

Becca> do as the word tells us and as the spirit guides us

@Bethel> true

Flute> love one another as He did

Flute> Perfect love

carol> showing compassion

peace-angel> Read his word

peace-angel> and pray to him

@Bethel> wow you all have some great ways of being fishers of men

Becca> minister to those he places before us

@Bethel> all are so true

carol> good example

@Bethel> Any other comments?

Flute> compassion

dodi> we live our life in the light

peace-angel> We fall short cause of society how would you suggest

dodi> transparent

peace-angel> we keep on track

dodi> pointing to him

dodi> in all we do

@Bethel> how about walking in love?

dodi> speak truth in love

carol> amen Bethel

Flute> yea

GentleDove> never pass up an opportunity when you see one

@Bethel> very good

@Bethel> so true GentleDove

Flute> Bible says walking in love and loving one another is the greatest commandment

peace-angel> Today I was mocked

peace-angel> becuause I wore a shirt that says Jesus Heals

@Bethel> we face adversity as Christians

@Bethel> The best human bait is sincere interest in a person-show you care about them.

carol> amen

@Bethel> The surest way to drive men from us is to condemn or criticize.

@Bethel> There ate two methods of fishing: one by the net--catching fish in large masses;

@Bethel> the other is by the line-- catching them one by one.

@Bethel> Jesus used both methods, one-on-one and in great large meetings.

@Bethel> Our personal character is an enormous influence upon the souls of others.

@Bethel> anyone say amen?

GentleDove> am en

peace-angel> Amen

carol> amen

Flute> amen*

Deacon> amen

dodi> "be a friend, make a friend, bring your friend to Christ"

@Bethel> I like that dodi

@Bethel> I read about a very skillful maker of violins.

@Bethel> He was one of the best in the country, perhaps the best in the world.

@Bethel> With choicest materials, his most delicate skill, and enduring patience, he made absolutely

@Bethel> the finest of violins.

Flute> :o)

@Bethel> They were so precious to him that he would never sell them.

@Bethel> They hung voiceless in his small shop.

@Bethel> Such is the one who refuses the call on his life to serve God, to be a fisher of men for the Kingdom of God.

@Bethel> It is such a privilege to hear and obey the voice of the Lord, and in so doing, we will be doing the will of the Father.

dodi> amen

GentleDove> amen

@Bethel> I would like to leave you with a verse from Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Flute> :o) \0/

dodi> amen again

carol> amen

peace-angel> Amen Praise god

@Bethel> Let's close with prayer

@Bethel> Lord Jesus, we give thanks and praise for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for Your Word which is life to our spirits.

peace-angel> yes father

GentleDove> yes Lord

@Bethel> In the Scriptures You teach us to be fishers of men.

@Bethel> Lord, we want to follow You and be a soul-winner for the Kingdom. Give each of us wisdom as we share with others, and let our words be Your words.

peace-angel> to follow you and obey your commandments

@Bethel> Help us to recognize the opportunities that you have prepared for us to be a witness for You.

Becca> help us to seize every opportunity you give us Lord

@Bethel> Thank you for the opportunities that we have on this server. Help us to be Christ-like at all times.

peace-angel> give us patients lord, to know when to be a fisher of men

Angel4God> yes Lord

Becca> yes Lord

@Bethel> Father, we give you all the praise and glory, in the mighty name of Jesus…

@Bethel> Amen

carol> amen

peace-angel> Amen

Becca> amen

Angel4God> amen

Snapstur> Amen

Disciple> Amen

Deacon> Amen

GentleDove> amen

peace-angel> Bethel

dodi> amen

@Bethel> thank you all for coming and being so attentive.. love you all