Lessons From Fisherman's Rig

By T. C. Radcliff

For fishermen, pastors, churches, and small group study. Just the lessons from my longer book, Fisherman's Rig. This will allow a more focused study and easy reference on how to give a Christian witness to fellow fishermen and women.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T. C. Radcliff
• Release date: Apr 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301234868

T. C. Radcliff

Tom Radcliff is a retired high school science teacher in Logansport, Louisiana. He is a devout Christian, married, with two children. He is also a devout fisherman, any fish, any time!

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Lessons from Fisherman's Rig

for Church and Small Group Study

By T. C. Radcliff

Copyright 2011 T. C. Radcliff

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

No portion or part of this work may be quoted or used without the written permission of the author except for limited quotation for scholarly purposes with proper references. All material including text and drawings is the work of Thomas C. Radcliff. The book itself is the property of First Baptist Church of Logansport, Louisiana. The Christian Catfish logo and other drawings are the property of the author and all rights to the logos and drawings are retained. Mary L. Gore of Toledo Bend Baptist Resort Ministries is granted license to use drawings from this book only for promotional purposes for the Toledo Bend Baptist Resort Ministry. Trademark, company, and product names are the property of their respective owners. Photos are from the family album of Michael W. Radcliff and all rights are retained by him. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB®, are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

2011 Thomas C. Radcliff

All rights reserved.

This book is dedicated to my earthly father, Thomas M. Radcliff. He passed beyond to the Kingdom on January 4, 2009. In the last years of his life, it finally dawned on me how much he really loved me and how much I really loved him, almost too late.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1-Lessons for Week One

Chapter 2-Lessons for Week Two

Chapter 3-Lessons for Week Three

Chapter 4-Lessons for Week Four

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Without the love and patience of my wife, Beth, this book would never have happened. She seems to have a sixth sense of when she needs to let me alone and when she can interrupt. I tell her that interrupting is OK, any time, but she knows me better than I know myself. She does what most of us only wish we could do; really live a Christian life.

I also have to acknowledge the people that helped put this project together. As I have no knowledge of such things, they deserve all the credit. Mrs. Marjorie Bull, a great friend and fine English teacher, did me the great honor of proofing and correcting my errors. I owe her a great deal of thanks. She spent many hours reading, correcting, and supporting me. She is a fine Christian witness.

I have to offer many thanks to my church shepherds and family that have offered encouragement, chief among them our pastor Lance Cypert, former associate pastor Jonathan Langley, and friends David Martin, Jackie Kirkwood, Gary Henderson, Parker Garrett, Dale Morvan, and others. I also especially want to thank Mr. Wayne Adams, a man who has encouraged me most of my adult life. The late Bernard Waggoner, as well, was a great influence, always giving the soundest of advice. They both deserve the title, man of God.

They all together uphold the scriptural reference as iron sharpens iron. Without such men as friends, I would never manage to accomplish very much at all.

The highest praise and acknowledgement of all goes to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. God the Father provided His own Son’s blood as the sacrifice that paid for my salvation. That brings me into the very presence of God. He provided the Holy Spirit to call me to Jesus and be my Comforter, my Inspiration. The very best work and praise I could ever give would never be enough to pay the debt I owe to Them. Thank God the debt is paid in full.

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘ Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once, they left their nets and followed him. When He had gone a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:16-20

***

As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch. 5 Master, Simon replied, we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets. 6 When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!’ For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they took, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ Jesus told Simon. ‘From now on you will be catching people!’ Then they brought the boat to land, left everything, and followed Him." Luke 5:8-11

***

Here are two sets of scripture that tell of Jesus calling His disciples. He loved fishermen enough to live for them and die for them. He loved them just as He loves us, enough to live for us, and enough to die for us. Why can’t we believe? Why can’t we tell others all about this wonderful good news?

***

These words came about from a very simple realization that I take as inspiration from God. Take what you know and love and use that to illustrate God’s great grace through His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter what work you do or what pastime you love, if God is in it, you can use it to share the Gospel. You know your family. There will be much about my family here as it sets the stage. God provided the family. We must love it, care for it, and defend it.

You know your job. I know mine. I teach science. Your profession, if it is in God’s will, is His gift to you. If you are happy in your job, thank Him. If you are not happy, ask Him to help you to be happy and do an excellent job for your employer if you are where He wants you. Ask Him to move you where you are supposed to be if you should be somewhere else.

You know the things you love. I love to fish. I am genuinely a