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If someone was painting a house, I would climb up the
ladder to tell them about Jesus. I used to get on a bus and ride
all day long just to hand out tracks and talk to people. I wanted
to fulfill the Great Commission. When I first came to the Lord
I didn’t even know there were two testaments in my Bible. I
read, “Preach the gospel to every creature.” I went home and I
preached to my dog. He’s a creature. I told my little beagle
how Jesus loved Him. I was very confused about the Great
Commission. God has begun to open my eyes.

John 21 is the “how” of the great commission. It’s told
in terms of Peter’s restoration; coming back to the Lord. If you
have that chapter before you I want you to glance at verses 1-
14. Don’t read it. Just glance at it. Just scan it and run your
eyes through the text. You will notice that it’s about fishing.
The Bible tells us that seven disciples gathered at the Sea of
Tiberius. The Lord filled their nets with one hundred fifty three
fish.
Alright, set that aside. Now look at the second half of the
chapter, 15-23. Verses 15, 16 and 17 say, “Feed my sheep, feed
my lambs, feed my sheep.” The second half of the chapter is
about shepherding. In John 21 you have a story; fishing and
shepherding. That’s the Great Commission. Fishing is winning
souls to Jesus. Shepherding is training people in the Lord.
That’s not my idea. In Matthew when Jesus called Peter, He
said, “I’ll make you fishers of men.”
Let me tell the story in my own words. Seven disciples
gathered together in Galilee. We have the names of five of
them; Peter, Nathanael, Thomas, James and John. There are
two that are not named. I know who they are. That’s you and
me. So, they gathered at Galilee.
When they arrived they were waiting for Jesus to show
up. Matthew 26:32, “But after I have been raised, I will go
before you to Galilee.” Matthew 28:7, “And go quickly and tell
His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold He is
going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold,
I have told you.” Matthew 28:10, “Then Jesus said to them,
‘Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for