LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP
Luke 5:1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Launch (Put) out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."
1We get comfortable in shallow water
1.1In shallow water we can see the bottom
1.2We know what's there
1.3We're familiar with things in the shallows
1.4In shallow water is where we spend most of our time
1.5Something reassuring about knowing that the water isn't too deep... there aren't as many unknowns in the shallows
2Peter and Jesus had pushed out away from shore, but they were still in the shallow water
2.1Jesus told Peter, “Launch out into the deep”
2.1.1Peter was tired...
2.1.2Had already gotten out of boat and was probably resting comfortably while tending to his nets
2.1.3It's easy to get comfortable about things that you are really familiar with
2.2Been fishing all night
2.3Good fisherman
2.4Jesus told him, “Let's go fishing now... and let's go out where maybe we won't be so comfortable...”
2.4.1“Launch out into the deep...”
2.4.2Peter just “KNEW” there wouldn't be any fish to catch
3Most fishermen in lakes around here catch most of their fish in shallow water
3.1It's what they do
3.2They know how to catch fish
3.3Sometimes though, the really big fish are deep
3.3.1But they can be hard to catch
3.4Takes more work
4Out in the deep can be unknown territory
4.1Who knows what might be out there?
4.2Could be big fish
4.3Could be a lot of fish
4.4Could be sea monsters we only imagined about
5The “deep” can be a scary place if you're not used to it.
5.1There's uncertainty in our minds about the new and unexplored
5.1.1“I've never been in really deep water before.”
5.2Jesus said “Launch Out”
5.2.1Take this little boat (not much more than a rowboat) and go into deep water
5.2.2“Peter, now is not the time to get comfortable, it's time to do things you have never done...”
5.3Peter went out and caught so many fish he had to call for help to bring them in.
5.3.1All because Peter obeyed Jesus and launched out into unfamiliar waters at an unfamiliar time when he was tired and wanted to just go sit down...
6Far too many people in far too many churches are afraid of launching out into the deep
6.1We have become comfortable in our pews and have failed in being obedient to the Word of God
6.2It's time we launched out into the deep!
1Pe 2:9 MSG ...you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you--
7Over the years we have begun to think that the church is here just for us
7.1The church was never designed to be a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners.
7.2We have lost our zeal to evangelize the world for Jesus Christ
7.3We have decided that, “It's not my job” to tell the world about what Jesus can do for them and what He has done for me
7.4What would it look like if everyone who claims the name of Jesus was truly on fire for Him and actually obeyed Him?
7.5How many people might we reach if we put down our own baggage and actually began to live out this life that Christ bought for us with His blood?
8There was a church in Georgia that began to grow some, those in positions of leadership went to the pastor and told him they didn't want to grow
8.1They didn't like the people that were coming now
8,2They actually said, “If they keep coming they will want to start changing things”
8.3The church council chose to cut the pastor's salary in half because he wouldn't stop bringing in new people
8.4Where is Christ in all that?
1Pe 2:9 ...you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you--
9Now, let me tell you about a church in Moody called The Gathering Place Church
9.1began 2011
9.2102 professions of faith in 1st 12 months
9.3109 professions of faith YTD 2013!
9.4Pastor decent preacher, not great, but decent...
9.4Good organizer
9.5Great empowerer
9.6Passionate about people and Jesus Christ
9.7Began 2011 with one service
9.8Now has 3 services on Sunday mornings
9.8.1Very casual
9.8.2Very family oriented
9.8.3Extremely welcoming
9.8.480 volunteers every Sunday!
9.9Attendance averages 785 per Sunday!
10This pastor went to Walmart – tell story
Young lady starter asking him about where he went to church... told about her church... raved about it..."people so nice... so much going on... they really care about people, etc.
Pastor listened and decided to get someone to cover for him one week so he could go.
Asked name of the church, it was The Gathering Place...
10.1When was the last time you struck up a conversation about your church with a stranger?
10.2Where is the passion for Jesus Christ?
11For too long we and many, many people just like us have settled down and gotten comfortable
12We have forgotten how exciting it can be to Launch out into the deep!
12.1Yes, there are unknowns out there in the deep
12.2But out in the deep is where most of the fish live
12.3It's out in the deep where we find most opportunities to grow ourselves
12.4It's out in the deep where Jesus wants us to be
13Maybe you're not going out into the deep...
13.1That's where maybe you're just a little uncomfortable
13.2That's where the people are different than you
13.3That's where there is truly a need for the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ to be shown
13.4If you're not going out into the deep then don't you think it's time you did?
14Do you want to be a part of a church that is so comfortable with the way things are that there is precious little spiritual life, or...
14.1Would you rather be a part of a church where there is a genuine excitement about serving The Risen Savior?
14.2Launch out into the deep!
14.3Where we can do things we didn't think we could
14.4Launch out into the deep!
14.5Where there is great need for people to really feel the love of Christ
14.6Launch out into the deep!
14.7Where you might get a little uncomfortable
15In here we are in the shallows... comfortable... safe... familiar...
15.1Jesus didn't call us into a Cozy Christianity
15.2Jesus called us to get out there and get messy with the rest of the world
15.3For too long Christians have been satisfied with going to church for an hour a week, dropping a few dollars in an offering plate, singing a couple of hymns and going home
15.4A church that's alive will be more than that... much more!
15.5A Christian that actually believes in the Lordship of Jesus Christ will be actively engaged in kingdom work.
16Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep!”
16.1It's time we did just that... Launch out...
16.1.1Into the deep waters of a changing neighborhood
16.1.2Into the murky waters of poverty and hunger
16.1.3Out there where the monsters are real and they devour people every day!
17People in small churches look around and say, “we can't do that, we're just a small church.”
17.1Never forget that our God is NOT a small God!
17.2Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep!”
18I'm ready to stop messing around in the shallows!
19I'm ready to go out there where I haven't been in a while!
20I'm ready to “Launch out into the deep!”
20.1God didn't call me into ministry to get comfortable
20.2Jesus didn't die on the cross so that you could ignore the lost outside these walls!
21I'm ready to “Launch out into the deep!”
21.1How about you?
