Listooder Youth Fellowship

Hunting versus Fishing - Marcus Sommerville

Marcus Sommerville returned to Listooder on Saturday night to consider the attitude of believers towards personal evangelism. Opinions range from those who believe that we should be hunters: using quick, aggressive tactics to persuade unbelievers to come to Christ. Others see our responsibility as more of a fishing role: where we slowly and cautiously draw the unsaved towards the truth of God’s Word. Taking the lead from the conversations of our Lord in the New Testament, Marcus presented the reality that neither of these scenarios are truly relevant to personal evangelism. The journeys of two sinners to Christ are never the same: one may need to be removed from a ‘comfort zone’ before they can begin to see their need of Salvation, whereas another might simply need to hear the Gospel presented once, before turning to Christ. As believer’s, and more particularly as men and women, we do not have this knowledge, and so both the fishing and the hunting can only be directed of God. He is both the Hunter, and the Fisherman. So then, what is our role? What is the role of a believer in drawing men and women to Christ? Marcus proposes that, at best, it is merely as the ‘bait’. God, in his infinite wisdom, often chooses to use the lives of other believers to bring sinners to Himself. He doesn’t need to, but He chooses to. So the question is this: Are we attractive bait? Do our lives reflect the Glory of God? Do our words reflect the Word of God? Does our attitude reflect the Love of God? Are we ready to be used as the bait that draws precious souls to the Saviour, or will we be discarded as vessels, as bait, not fit for the Master’s use?

How to Get Away from the Lord (Luke 22)

Despite the strange title, this message from Pastor Ian Wilson features warnings from the life of Peter outlining how easy it is for a young believer to 'drift' from the presence of God. Ian outlines the circumstances in Peter's life which led to his ultimate denial of Christ. These are circumstances that every child of God should be vary careful of emulating. However, as Ian goes on to explain, Peter's restoration begins when his eyes turn back toward the Saviour, and is completed in full as he steps up to preach on the Day of Pentecost.