Hi Everyone

Here’s this month’s Gone Fishin’ Newsletter.

Every month a team from our fellowship at Calvary Wellington heads out to our regular fishing hole, the Naenae Market and Hillary Court shops. There we share the Gospel to those in our immediate community. 

Once a month I publish a simple newsletter that is distributed to the fellowship (or for anyone else who stumbles across this website), as a way of encouragement, and as a tool to equip us to be better evangelists.

You can read the last Field Report from 17/12/22 here.

Enjoy!

Gone Fishin’ Monthly Newsletter – February 2023

 “Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other; for he who fears God will escape them all.”(Ecclesiastes 7:16-18).

Hi Everyone

 It seems such a long time since the Christmas Outreach. It was such a busy time of the year, and I trust you managed to make the most of your time spreading the Good News. Although we may need to take a break, there is never a moment where we should not be available to tell someone the way to heaven!

  ______________________________

The more I look around this strange world of ours, the more I am convinced that mankind has absolutely no clue whatsoever about what life is all about. We know far more than we did 50 years ago, yet we have wasted that knowledge on triviality – to find narcissistic ways to better our lives, accumulate enough wealth or material items, and make ourselves as comfortable as possible – all before our inevitable death knell rings out to declare that it’s all over.

Information in and of itself is not a bad thing. The danger comes with how we use, and esteem it.

 A man who thinks he has the answers to everything is actually the biggest fool to walk the planet. The writer of our verses today knows this, and warns us about the folly and perils of worldly knowledge.

Worldly knowledge can destroy your life

“Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: why should you destroy yourself?”

Too much worldly knowledge can lead to self-righteousness.

If the only reason we are accumulating information is to puff ourselves up, or to laud it over or impress another with our vast knowledge, then we have fallen into the sin of pride. The adage goes, “nobody likes a smart-alec”! Generally, the only person we are impressing, is ourselves. Our pride ends up isolating us from others, and from God, and ultimately destroys us.

Don’t let the sin of pride get a foothold and convince you that knowledge is power. It will ultimately destroy you!

Worldly knowledge can diminish your lifespan

“Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: why should you die before your time?”

Too much worldly knowledge accompanied by pride, and without wisdom, can lead to a sinful lifestyle.

Our misplaced knowledge clouds our judgement as to our lifestyle choices. When we rely on our own judgement, we think we know better. We allow our flesh to take over, and that is never a good thing. The allure of this world becomes too much to resist, and we fall into a self-pleasing lifestyle. Indulgence in wicked, unwholesome activities harms us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

 Don’t let the sin of pride divert your gaze to the things of this world. It will ultimately diminish your lifespan!

Worldly knowledge can disconnect you from life eternal

“It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other; for he who fears God will escape them all.”

Too much worldly knowledge ultimately means you have placed your faith in yourself. And doing that means you have turned your back on the only chance you have to obtain eternal life.

 You see, everyone will stand before God after we die, giving an account of everything we have done. If we think we are going to impress the creator of the universe with all our worldly knowledge, then we will be sadly mistaken. Knowledge will be worthless before the One who knows all things.

 The only knowledge worth learning in life is this:

• to know that we are sinful, and deserve to be eternally punished for it;
• to know that God provided a way to escape this punishment;
• to know that Christ paid for this punishment on our behalf;
• to know that faith in Christ is therefore the only way to escape hell.

Pride in ourselves separates us from God. Faith in Christ points to Him.

Pride in ourselves leads us to hell. Faith in Christ leads us to heaven.

 Let’s learn this lesson for ourselves, and to warn others!

I’ll see you at my place at 10am for prayer before heading down to the shops!

Blessings,

 Craig.

 Witnessing Tip: Hold fast to the truth!

 We can beat around the bush,

and say lots of ‘Christian’ things to people without actually saying anything worthwhile.

Just stick to the Law and Gospel, and make disciples!