The Jesus Way of Growing a Church Part 1

¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

The first thing Jesus did to grow a church was call people to a captivating vision.

Jesus did not say follow me and I promise you will never go hungry or follow me and you will be on the road to riches and success. No, Jesus called his early followers to something greater than personal success, he called them to a challenge - you have been catching fish, I am going to teach you to catch men. In other words, you have been catching things that are temporary, I am going to show you how to catch something that will last for eternity.

A captivating vision gives us something to shoot for. A captivating vision reminds us we are not simply a part of a club or a social group we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Looking back over the "stuff" I have been involved over my life, I can honestly say the items that had no captivating vision have left me flat. A captivating vision is essential for building a church!

Note the result of Jesus's captivating vision to be a fisher of men - At once they left their nets and followed him.

Peter and the others bought into the vision, they did not have to think about the call verse 20 says "at once" they signed up.

What is your vision for growing a church - is it captivating? You will know if the response to the vision is like that of Peter and the others!