Gone Fishin'
Lesson 1
Pray for Success
Begin with prayer – Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to lead our group to understand and live the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others.
Vision: These lessons will equip, encourage and empower us to attract, win, and assimilate a constant stream of co-workers, friends, neighbors and relatives to Christ and our church.
Objective: To construct a prayer-foundation to reach loved ones and co-workers for Christ.
The focus of Gone Fishin’ is reaching persons we know for Christ. Sometimes the author uses only the term “co-worker” for brevity. Most of the principles described also apply to reaching friends, neighbors and relatives.
Independence
Bill Gates became successful through ingenuity and effort. That works in business, but it takes more than that to be successful in evangelism. Self-reliance prevents spiritual fruitfulness. Ingenuity, creativity and effort have a place, but they’re the twigs and small branches of the evangelism tree. Prayer is the root. P. T. Forsythe said that our worst sin is prayerlessness, because of what it says about who we really think is in charge of the church and the universe.
Area Rating(1-10)
Personal life -
Small group -
Church -
Rate the strength of the existing prayer foundation of your personal life, our small group and our church. Explain your ratings.
Believing prayer shows dependence on God. “He [Jesus] replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer’” (Mark 9:29). Human nature prefers independence! We demonstrate our hard core sinful nature by using our time, abilities and money to please ourselves, not God. God doesn’t build his kingdom through proud, self-absorbed, independent people. He opposes them. “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:5). Sharing our faith without dependence on God’s Spirit produces no lasting fruit. People feel their need for Christ only when the Holy Spirit is working. “When he [Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Prayer is one way we nurture a living connection with Christ. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Discuss: Ways my independence hinders the effectiveness of my witness include….
Persevering Prayer
It makes a lot of sense to pray. For hook-and-line fishermen to be successful, fish have to open their mouths. For evangelists to be successful, unbelievers have to open their hearts. Without the influence of the Holy Spirit, no one will acknowledge Jesus as Lord. “Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). Evangelistic effectiveness depends on our prayers and the prayer ministries of our church. More persons praying for laborers for the harvest and for the lost bring more evangelistic fruit. “‘Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Matthew 9:38).
Lily Tomlin said, “I always wanted to be somebody… I should have been more specific.” As believers we want to reach somebody, but we have to be specific. When we pray for specific people and expect God to work in their lives, he does; however, the results aren’t always predictable.
Sometimes we pray for years before loved ones come to faith in Christ. Sometimes they die without ever receiving him (as far as we know). Praying for the salvation of our loved ones is similar to praying for physical healing. Not everyone for whom we pray is healed, but far more are healed than would be if we didn’t pray. One clear theme of Scripture is how much prayer can accomplish.
“‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer’” (Matthew 21:22).
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
“‘So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened’” (Luke 11:9-10).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Praying about everything includes praying for the salvation of our friends, relatives, co-workers and neighbors.
Discuss: Share a prayer-victory concerning a person for whom you prayed that became a Christian.
Mysterious Prayer
God thinks and behaves differently than we do. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’” declares the Lord. “‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Mystery, like thick fog, veils God’s work on earth. We naturally think in either/or categories. Either God is in control or people have free will. Reality is that God is in control and human beings have free will. God is never surprised when people repent and receive his Son. “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:5). People have free will and often reject or resist what’s best for them. We’ve all done it. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Some stubbornly cling to the deceptive “freedoms” of spiritual death when they could have life that really satisfies. “Yet you refuse to come to me [Jesus] to have life” (John 5:40).
Discuss: Let’s talk about someone for whose salvation we’ve prayed that hasn’t seemed to come any closer to Christ. What keeps you praying?
Regular Prayer
Setting aside daily time to pray adds regular abiding in Christ structure to our lives. It says, “This time is special, Lord, and I’m setting it apart to meet with you in our customary place.” If we set a regular time, we’ll pray more consistently than if we don’t. Our prayer life needs to include more than praying through lists. “Abiding in Christ” praying embraces praise, confession, thanksgiving and quiet time to hear the Lord’s voice.
Discuss: Let’s evaluate how we’ve organized our life to spend regular time in prayer and how balanced our prayer life is (including praise, confession, thanksgiving, quiet time, asking for things for self and others).
Setting aside a regular time and place will strengthen our prayer life, but we’re also commanded to pray throughout the day. “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Such prayer goes beyond a daily prayer appointment with God. Recurring prayer throughout the day is a mark of spiritual maturity. Such “geyser” prayers could be intercession for someone who needs God’s healing, spontaneous thanks for a blessing received, or a request for salvation of a co-worker. Praying continually includes constantly depending on God, acknowledging his presence, yielding to his will and seeking his purpose for our life as we live it moment by moment.
Later we’ll compile a list of five persons (including co-workers) with whom we have a close relationship and influence. These persons haven’t received Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation or don’t regularly attend church. Some unchurched persons might be Christians, but like chickens outside the hen house, they’re very vulnerable. We’re not satisfied when professing Christians don’t attend church, even if they are. We’re also not satisfied with those who attend church regularly but don’t know Jesus. We’ll pray for the persons on our list daily, claiming 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Prayer for the Lost
A personal prayer list is a good start, but we need to do more. Effective evangelistic churches pray for lost people in many settings -- in small groups of laypersons, the pastor and staff, worship services, youth meetings, or some other way. Prayer was the underlying strength of every evangelistic method used by the 576 effective evangelistic churches Dr. Thom Rainer studied (Effective Evangelistic Churches, Broadman & Holman Publishers). He discovered that churches with an ongoing prayer ministry specifically for the lost are almost always growing.
Our small group is an excellent place to pray for the lost. At the end of this lesson we’ll each have five lost persons on a personal prayer list. We’ll pray for them by name regularly during our group meetings. We’ll also hold one another accountable to pray privately for and reach out to these loved ones in practical ways that demonstrate Jesus’ love. In addition, as a group we’ll serve some of them in ways that meet their needs. Periodically, we’ll also talk about signs we see of God at work in their lives.
We want to be more effective witnesses for Christ at work and attract others to him and his church. Evangelism includes sowing, watering, cultivating and harvesting. Most of our evangelistic efforts are preparation for harvesting. Often someone else will be the harvester. Evangelists Larry and Luella Hale ministered in a church in Appalachian, New York. They harvested spiritual fruit that was sown, watered and cultivated by one of the elders of the church. This elder spent considerable time with a man preparing the way for him to decide to follow Jesus. This is the norm, not the exception.
We’re not just looking for people to pray to receive Christ. We’re not satisfied with “decisions” that don’t change lives. Our purpose is making more and better disciples. “‘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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:19-20). The Great Commission includes moving persons with whom we work toward Christ (evangelism), helping them mature in the faith, mobilizing them in ministry, and developing them into spiritual leaders in some phase of God’s kingdom work. None of these things will happen without a prayer-foundation. That brings us to how we’ll pray for lost co-workers, friends, relatives and neighbors.
How to Pray for the Lost
We’re going to use a 7-3 strategy to pray more effectively in our group for our spiritual influence among friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers.
The 7. We’ll pray we’ll be…
1. Attractive – We’re the frame around Jesus’ picture: “…so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Titus 2:10).
2. Bold – We’ll speak up for Jesus tactfully yet boldly. “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).
3. Clear – We want to share the gospel and our own faith story clearly. “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4:4).
4. Discerning – We need to know when doors are and aren’t open to the gospel. “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains” (Colossians 4:3).
5. Excellent – We need God’s help to do our work and live our life in a way that brings him glory, not reproach. “‘In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven’” (Matthew 5:16).
6. Fair – We need God’s grace to treat others fairly: “Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair…” (Colossians 4:1).
7. Wise – We need ability to read the signs of God at work. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6).
The 3. We’ll pray our lost loved ones will be…
1. Convicted – They don’t see their self-oriented life is wrong. “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).
2. Dissatisfied – Their substitutes for God are stealing away their life, but they don’t realize it. “‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’” (John 10:10).
3. Perceptive – They don’t really understand the gospel. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
We’ll use this Scripture-based 7-3 model when we pray for the lost privately and in our group meeting.
Let’s each compile a list of 5 persons for whose salvation we’ll pray daily, including at least one co-worker.
Lesson 1
Pray for Success
Begin with prayer – Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to lead our group to understand and live the truth and prepare us to be a channel of blessing to others.
Vision: These lessons will equip, encourage and empower us to attract, win, and assimilate a constant stream of co-workers, friends, neighbors and relatives to Christ and our church.
Objective: To construct a prayer-foundation to reach loved ones and co-workers for Christ.
The focus of Gone Fishin’ is reaching persons we know for Christ. Sometimes the author uses only the term “co-worker” for brevity. Most of the principles described also apply to reaching friends, neighbors and relatives.
Independence
Bill Gates became successful through ingenuity and effort. That works in business, but it takes more than that to be successful in evangelism. Self-reliance prevents spiritual fruitfulness. Ingenuity, creativity and effort have a place, but they’re the twigs and small branches of the evangelism tree. Prayer is the root. P. T. Forsythe said that our worst sin is prayerlessness, because of what it says about who we really think is in charge of the church and the universe.
Area Rating(1-10)
Personal life -
Small group -
Church -
Rate the strength of the existing prayer foundation of your personal life, our small group and our church. Explain your ratings.
Believing prayer shows dependence on God. “He [Jesus] replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer’” (Mark 9:29). Human nature prefers independence! We demonstrate our hard core sinful nature by using our time, abilities and money to please ourselves, not God. God doesn’t build his kingdom through proud, self-absorbed, independent people. He opposes them. “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:5). Sharing our faith without dependence on God’s Spirit produces no lasting fruit. People feel their need for Christ only when the Holy Spirit is working. “When he [Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Prayer is one way we nurture a living connection with Christ. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Discuss: Ways my independence hinders the effectiveness of my witness include….
Persevering Prayer
It makes a lot of sense to pray. For hook-and-line fishermen to be successful, fish have to open their mouths. For evangelists to be successful, unbelievers have to open their hearts. Without the influence of the Holy Spirit, no one will acknowledge Jesus as Lord. “Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). Evangelistic effectiveness depends on our prayers and the prayer ministries of our church. More persons praying for laborers for the harvest and for the lost bring more evangelistic fruit. “‘Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Matthew 9:38).
Lily Tomlin said, “I always wanted to be somebody… I should have been more specific.” As believers we want to reach somebody, but we have to be specific. When we pray for specific people and expect God to work in their lives, he does; however, the results aren’t always predictable.
Sometimes we pray for years before loved ones come to faith in Christ. Sometimes they die without ever receiving him (as far as we know). Praying for the salvation of our loved ones is similar to praying for physical healing. Not everyone for whom we pray is healed, but far more are healed than would be if we didn’t pray. One clear theme of Scripture is how much prayer can accomplish.
“‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer’” (Matthew 21:22).
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
“‘So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened’” (Luke 11:9-10).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Praying about everything includes praying for the salvation of our friends, relatives, co-workers and neighbors.
Discuss: Share a prayer-victory concerning a person for whom you prayed that became a Christian.
Mysterious Prayer
God thinks and behaves differently than we do. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’” declares the Lord. “‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Mystery, like thick fog, veils God’s work on earth. We naturally think in either/or categories. Either God is in control or people have free will. Reality is that God is in control and human beings have free will. God is never surprised when people repent and receive his Son. “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:5). People have free will and often reject or resist what’s best for them. We’ve all done it. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Some stubbornly cling to the deceptive “freedoms” of spiritual death when they could have life that really satisfies. “Yet you refuse to come to me [Jesus] to have life” (John 5:40).
Discuss: Let’s talk about someone for whose salvation we’ve prayed that hasn’t seemed to come any closer to Christ. What keeps you praying?
Regular Prayer
Setting aside daily time to pray adds regular abiding in Christ structure to our lives. It says, “This time is special, Lord, and I’m setting it apart to meet with you in our customary place.” If we set a regular time, we’ll pray more consistently than if we don’t. Our prayer life needs to include more than praying through lists. “Abiding in Christ” praying embraces praise, confession, thanksgiving and quiet time to hear the Lord’s voice.
Discuss: Let’s evaluate how we’ve organized our life to spend regular time in prayer and how balanced our prayer life is (including praise, confession, thanksgiving, quiet time, asking for things for self and others).
Setting aside a regular time and place will strengthen our prayer life, but we’re also commanded to pray throughout the day. “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Such prayer goes beyond a daily prayer appointment with God. Recurring prayer throughout the day is a mark of spiritual maturity. Such “geyser” prayers could be intercession for someone who needs God’s healing, spontaneous thanks for a blessing received, or a request for salvation of a co-worker. Praying continually includes constantly depending on God, acknowledging his presence, yielding to his will and seeking his purpose for our life as we live it moment by moment.
Later we’ll compile a list of five persons (including co-workers) with whom we have a close relationship and influence. These persons haven’t received Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation or don’t regularly attend church. Some unchurched persons might be Christians, but like chickens outside the hen house, they’re very vulnerable. We’re not satisfied when professing Christians don’t attend church, even if they are. We’re also not satisfied with those who attend church regularly but don’t know Jesus. We’ll pray for the persons on our list daily, claiming 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Prayer for the Lost
A personal prayer list is a good start, but we need to do more. Effective evangelistic churches pray for lost people in many settings -- in small groups of laypersons, the pastor and staff, worship services, youth meetings, or some other way. Prayer was the underlying strength of every evangelistic method used by the 576 effective evangelistic churches Dr. Thom Rainer studied (Effective Evangelistic Churches, Broadman & Holman Publishers). He discovered that churches with an ongoing prayer ministry specifically for the lost are almost always growing.
Our small group is an excellent place to pray for the lost. At the end of this lesson we’ll each have five lost persons on a personal prayer list. We’ll pray for them by name regularly during our group meetings. We’ll also hold one another accountable to pray privately for and reach out to these loved ones in practical ways that demonstrate Jesus’ love. In addition, as a group we’ll serve some of them in ways that meet their needs. Periodically, we’ll also talk about signs we see of God at work in their lives.
We want to be more effective witnesses for Christ at work and attract others to him and his church. Evangelism includes sowing, watering, cultivating and harvesting. Most of our evangelistic efforts are preparation for harvesting. Often someone else will be the harvester. Evangelists Larry and Luella Hale ministered in a church in Appalachian, New York. They harvested spiritual fruit that was sown, watered and cultivated by one of the elders of the church. This elder spent considerable time with a man preparing the way for him to decide to follow Jesus. This is the norm, not the exception.
We’re not just looking for people to pray to receive Christ. We’re not satisfied with “decisions” that don’t change lives. Our purpose is making more and better disciples. “‘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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:19-20). The Great Commission includes moving persons with whom we work toward Christ (evangelism), helping them mature in the faith, mobilizing them in ministry, and developing them into spiritual leaders in some phase of God’s kingdom work. None of these things will happen without a prayer-foundation. That brings us to how we’ll pray for lost co-workers, friends, relatives and neighbors.
How to Pray for the Lost
We’re going to use a 7-3 strategy to pray more effectively in our group for our spiritual influence among friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers.
The 7. We’ll pray we’ll be…
1. Attractive – We’re the frame around Jesus’ picture: “…so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Titus 2:10).
2. Bold – We’ll speak up for Jesus tactfully yet boldly. “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).
3. Clear – We want to share the gospel and our own faith story clearly. “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4:4).
4. Discerning – We need to know when doors are and aren’t open to the gospel. “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains” (Colossians 4:3).
5. Excellent – We need God’s help to do our work and live our life in a way that brings him glory, not reproach. “‘In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven’” (Matthew 5:16).
6. Fair – We need God’s grace to treat others fairly: “Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair…” (Colossians 4:1).
7. Wise – We need ability to read the signs of God at work. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6).
The 3. We’ll pray our lost loved ones will be…
1. Convicted – They don’t see their self-oriented life is wrong. “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).
2. Dissatisfied – Their substitutes for God are stealing away their life, but they don’t realize it. “‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’” (John 10:10).
3. Perceptive – They don’t really understand the gospel. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
We’ll use this Scripture-based 7-3 model when we pray for the lost privately and in our group meeting.
Let’s each compile a list of 5 persons for whose salvation we’ll pray daily, including at least one co-worker.
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