Introduction: A husband attended a marriage retreat where he learned there were 30 ways to a woman’s heart – if he really wanted to make a difference in his marriage; he should do one of the 30 things each day to win his wife’s affection. Not being patient man, he decided to do all 30 on the same day. On his way home he stopped by the health club, took a shower, shaved, dashed on some cologne and put on his best suit. He picked up flowers and candies and planned a romantic dinner just for the two of them, he wanted to do everything he could to show how much he loved her. When he arrived home, He rings the doorbell and as he standing there as she opens the door. He holds out the flowers and the box of candy, and says, “Honey – I’m home!”
His wife takes one look at he standing there, clean shaven, flowers in hand and she starts crying uncontrollably.
In between her sobs she says, "Oh, I can’t believe it! This has been a terrible day, our son Johnny, has the flu and has been throwing up. This morning the washing machine stopped working. The dishwasher overflowed pouring water into the kitchen and dining room and just 15 minutes ago, your parents called to tell me they will be here tomorrow for a 3-day visit and to top it all off, you come home drunk!
Some people misinterpret others actions – but I do not want you to misinterpret the message today, I am going to say it as clearly as I know how – WE NEED YOU!
Today we continue our series on “Answering the Call”. During the month of July, our staff is looking to recruit people who will make a difference in our children and student ministries. We are looking for 30 people who will say, “I’M IN”, I will make a difference in the life of young person by serving in this vital ministry.
Last week, Steve challenged us to make a difference when he said - You may not be able to save the world – you may not be able to solve all the problems or heal all the hurts or comfort all the sorrows – but you can make a difference with this one! – You can make a difference in the life of your coworker – your boss – your brother or sister. You can make a difference in the life of your friend – your neighbor. You’re right - You can’t save every child that is starving – but you could save one life. You can’t comfort and care for every child with AIDS – but you could make a difference in one life! You have one life – what are you doing with it? Who are you influencing? What are you investing in?
Who are you influencing? What are you investing in today?
That is an important question for all of us to answer. We do not just float through life haphazardly, as Christ followers we are to live a life full of purpose – Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
I want you to know, as a church, we have been blessed with people who have been doing good works for years in our children’s and student ministries. If you are currently serving or have ever served in our children or student ministries would you please stand, we want to recognize you!
Round of Applause
Now while many people have served in this vital ministry, we constantly need others to stand and say, I am willing to make a difference in a child or teen’s life.
Jesus, understood the need to recruit people to make a difference, while we are familiar with his 12 disciples – James, John, Andrew, Thomas, etc. Jesus was always looking for others who would be a part of his ministry and mission.
Over the next 3 weeks, I want us to look at three accounts from Luke’s gospel to see how Jesus called people into ministry. (Understand it is a ministry – we are not asking you to take on a job or fill a spot, we are asking for people to see their life as a ministry to fulfill the mission of Jesus Christ.)
This morning I want us to look into the Uncomfortable Call of Peter. I believe we can all related to Peter’s call, because we have to be honest we are all uncomfortable when it comes to stepping out and ministering for Jesus Christ.
We worry about being qualified
We worry about making mistakes
We worry about how the children will react
We are simply uncomfortable when it comes to stepping out, this morning I want us to not how uncomfortable Peter was, when Jesus called him from being a fisherman to a fisher of men.
Luke 5:1-3
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,
2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Jesus began his call to Peter with…
A Time of Teaching
Verse 1 tells us crowds were all around Jesus
People were eager to hear the message of the coming kingdom
By the time of this event took place, Jesus was already becoming a popular preacher & miracle worker. They had heard John’s testimony “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” People had witnessed the baptism of Jesus, when the voice of God pronounced, “This is my son whom I am well pleased”. People wanted to be with Jesus – he was like no other.
Soon their eagerness turned into rudeness –as they crushed in around Him.
Jesus seized the opportunity
Seeing a boat at the shoreline, he turned it into a makeshift pulpit. Vs 3, asked him [Peter] to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Like Jesus, we should make it a point to seize opportunities to tell the good news of the coming kingdom.
Incredible blessings come from seizing opportunities
1789, Robert Reeves was distressed by the number of children who wandered the streets in London as their parents worked in the factories – he turned that distress into a ministry by founding the first Sunday School – Think about the people who have been influenced by Sunday School.
Incredible regret comes from missing opportunities
In his autobiography “Just as I am” Billy Graham tells about a conversation he had with John F. Kennedy shortly after his election. (Leadership –To Illustrate Plus)
May we learn from Jesus and seek out opportunities to advance the kingdom.
Jesus not only taught the people that day he was about to teach peter as well. While the crowd’s lesson came from Jesus’ teaching, Peter’s lesson would come from a…
A Time of Testing
Look at verses 4-6,
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
5 Simon answered, "Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
After teaching the crowd, Jesus turns to Peter and says “Put out into the deep water”
From a causal reading of the text, this seems like a simple request – but to Peter it was the unthinkable. There was only one reason to go back out to the deep and that was to fish, but every good fisherman knew the best time to fish was early morning or late in the day. That is why Peter makes the statement in verse 5, "Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.
My translation – Lord, You know preaching, but I know fishing. Have you ever felt that way? Jesus you know spiritual things; prayer redemption, forgiveness, but when it comes to real life – finances, day to day living – I have a handle on those items.
What made it even more difficult is Jesus asked Peter to go to the deep; the request was made in front of the crowd. People would be watching this seasoned fishermen go against all conventional wisdom. You know when it comes to answering the call you might believe you are going against conventional wisdom as well. You might be able to give several reasons why you cannot be a difference maker…
I’m a new member, have not been here long enough
I’m an older member, I have been here too long
I’m out of touch with youth ministry, Kids will not listen to me
I’m too busy
I don’t relate to young people
I tried and failed
It is time for someone else
You may believe every one of these reasons is legitimate – but listen to the words of Jesus regarding children in the kingdom - "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”. Luke 18:16
Foundational Principle of scripture – Jesus cares deeply for Children
Though Jesus request was against conventional wisdom…
Note the hesitant reply
But because you say so, I will let down the nets
Immediately there is a large catch of fish in the net, so much the nets began to break and Peter has to call for help.
The Principle
Trusting God allows God to free up his resources – to accomplish his purpose. Just as Peter put his trust in Jesus and found a miraculous catch, so when we put our trust in Jesus he will give us – YOU and I the resources we need to fulfill his purpose.
This great catch led to…
A Time of Decision
Note the final verses of our text
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men."
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Seeing the great miracle, Peter cannot rejoice, he can only repent – Go away, I am a sinful man.
However, Jesus did not want to lose Peter, Jesus wanted to save Peter Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men."
Peter, no longer will you spend your time and energy on fish – you are going to reach people (remember people is what God cares about most!)
Peter you are no longer going to provide physical food for a few, you are going to provide spiritual food for many.
Peter I want you on my team
Note Peter’s response
So they [Peter and his friends] pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
The Amplified Bible – Joined him as a disciple, Peter was willing to be a learner of Jesus, in other words Peter was willing to allow the life of Jesus to flow into his life – to become more like Jesus.
Compare verse 2 with verse 11
In verse 2 they were washing their nets, in verse 11, they left everything – including their nets to follow Jesus. It was the practice of the day for fishermen to care for their nets, everyday they were washed and prepared for the next day’s catch. Good fishermen could not afford to be careless with their nets. From that day on, the nets served as a constant monument to the decision to follow Jesus. Imagine people coming to the Sea of Galilee and seeing the nets on the shore…
Who do the nets belong to?
What kind of fishermen would not take care of his nets?
They belong to Peter – he met Jesus and he left everything!
To answer the call of Christ each of us must face…
A Time of Teaching
A Time Testing
A Time Decision
What does this message have to do with answering the call to serve as a difference maker? Let me share with you 4 practical truths regarding serving Jesus.
Jesus chooses not to minister alone.
Jesus could simply will us to follow him and force us to do his bidding, but he deliberately uses us for ministry purposes. Remember the words of Ephesians 2:10, For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
There are three things you should never do alone – you should never lift weights alone, swim alone or serve alone. Our education program could run with a fewer people – it would difficult – but we need people to come along side of us to make a difference in the lives of children. Listen if Jesus chose to use people to fulfill his mission we would be wise to follow his example.
Jesus uses the familiar to do the incredible
He made a boat his pulpit
He made fish a catalyst
He made empty nets a monument for service
In the same way, he will use you to accomplish his purpose – ordinary people teaching children – we do not know the impact that will have until we get to heaven.
Jesus will always move us from the safety of the seen to the risk of the unseen
For Peter the safe place was the shore – mending nets after a night of futility – but Jesus comes along and tells him “Let’s Go Deep” Peter goes deep and is rewarded with a great catch of fish. I wonder where Jesus is asking you to go deep. Nursery worker? Jr. Church leader? Youth Sponsor? Listen if you will leave the safety of the shoreline and go deep, I can assure you it will be the most rewarding experience of your life.
Difference makers GO DEEP!
Jesus is willing to reveal his plan to those who are willing to leave their security
That afternoon, Jesus did not want to teach Peter how to fish. Jesus had something much bigger in mind for Peter. His objective was not to make him a better fisherman or a better man or even a better person. Jesus wanted Peter to be his disciple – Jesus wanted Peter to become a Christ follower. Peter discovered quickly if he would let go of what he thought was important – fishing, Jesus would reveal his plan to him – to become of fisher of men. That is exactly what happened. Three years later Peter would stand before a crowd and preach the first gospel message – 3000 people would respond, several years later Peter would preach to a Roman Centurion and the gospel was opened to the Gentiles, A few years later Peter would pen two NT books we find in our Bible today. Jesus did not want Peter to learn how to fish, not Jesus wanted Peter to be a part of his divine plan.
What are you doing to be a part of our Lord’s divine plan? Where are you serving that is making an impact for Christ? I want to challenge you to pour your life into the lives of children and teens – there you will make a difference for Christ and his kingdom.
CONCLUSION – It was an ordinary day of fishing for Peter, but once Jesus stepped into the picture things changed dramatically. Isn’t that how life always works? We all experience ordinary days, but if we will allow Christ to enter the picture our lives will change in a dramatic way. Today my challenge for you is to let Christ in to your life and things will never be the same.
