SERMON OUTLINE:
• Disciples love to hear the Word of God taught (vs 1-3)
• Disciples obey Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense (vs 4-7)
• Disciples are aware of their own sinfulness (vs 8-10a)
• Disciples are fishers of people (vs 10b)
• Disciples are willing to forsake all and follow Christ (vs 11)
SERMON BODY
Ill:
• The French naturalist, Jean Henri Fabre`,
• Lived in the late 18th early nineteenth century.
• He was a naturalist, entomologist,
• And author known for the lively style of his popular books on the lives of insects.
• One of his most well-known experiments involved the Processional Caterpillar,
• What makes this caterpillar special is its instinct to follow each other head to tail,
• They almost look like they are joined or locked together to the caterpillar in front of it.
• This unusual behaviour gives the caterpillar its name,
• They wall in procession often in long lines,
• Jean Henri Fabre` once saw some of these caterpillars;
• They were marching around the base of a stone vase in his garden.
• He found some more of them and then added them to the line, filling in any gaps,
• To see what they would do.
• For almost a week these caterpillars went around and around in circles,
• All foolishly following the one in front of them.
• TRANSITION: As Christians we are called to ‘follow Jesus’;
• But so often we foolishly follow other people.
• Following Jesus take us somewhere in life,
• Following others keeps us occupied but ultimately leads us nowhere!
• In todays passage we see Jesus calling his first disciples;
• He chooses Simon (Peter) & James and John, the sons of Zebedee (vs 10-11)
• To follow him.
• The term Christian is only used three times in the whole of the New Testament,
• It is never used in the gospels and was given as a sort of nickname,
• By the people of Antioch to the early flowers of Jesus.
• (Acts chapter 11 verse 26).
The term "Disciple" was the most popular name for the early followers of Jesus.
• Being a disciple meant more than knowing the right information about Jesus.
• It meant more than just a head knowledge of Jesus.
Ill:
• An apprentice might be an equivalent term.
• In Bible times, a disciple attached himself to a teacher,
• Identified with him, learnt from him, and lived with him.
• A disciple is a “follower,”
• Someone who keeps to completely to the teachings of another,
• In fact they make them their rule of life and conduct.
Ill;
• The Pharisees (religious leaders) prided themselves in being;
• The disciples of Moses (John chapter 9 verse 28).
• The Law of Moses (The Torah),
• Was their guide for life and they studied it, lived by it and esteemed it.
• The followers of Jesus were called “disciples”
• Long before they were ever called “Christians.”
• They were called to make Jesus their guide for life;
• To watch and study him, to copy hm and to know and love him.
• The term “disciple” originally means a pupil (of a teacher);
• Or an apprentice (to a master craftsman).
Ill:
• A teacher bumped into the parent of a former pupil of his school.
• The parent stopped to say hello and said,
• “Do you remember my so he was once one of your students?”
• The teacher reply was insightful, he said:
• “I remember him, he may have attended my classes but he was not one of my students!”
• TRANSITION: A disciple is someone who wants to learn, has a desire to learn,
• In fact is committed to learn and to please their teacher/master etc.
• Now in these verses (Luke chapter 5 verses 1-11);
• We have five characteristics of a disciple
(1). Disciples love to hear the Word of God taught (vs 1-3)
“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding round him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”
Ill:
• After the church service a little boy went up to the preacher and tugged on his jacket;
• The preacher saw he wanted to say something and so he smiled & bent down to listen.
• The little boy said: “When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money."
• The preacher was surprised by his comments and replied, "Well, thank you, but why?"
• The little boy replied:
• "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."
• TRANSITION: This crowd could not use that excuse for not listening to Jesus.
• They had the greatest preacher that there has ever been,
• Wherever he went the crowds followed, eager to listen.
• Jesus knew that it was impractical to talk to all the people where he was in the crowd,
• Because only the ones at the front could hear him.
• So he looked around for a way to address the whole crowd.
• The solution was simple.
• A floating pulpit, so that all could see him,
• And he could use the acoustics of the water for amplification.
• Verse 3: “He taught the people from the boat.”
DISCIPLES LOVE TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD TAUGHT
• This is our spiritual food;
• When a person will not eat it is usually a sign something is wrong!
• A loss of appetite reveals something more serious is happening with that person.
Ill:
• As a teenager when I did not want to go to school on Monday,
• I used to fain illness on the Sunday,
• My mother knew I was play acting up until I refused to eat;
• Then she took my groaning more seriously.
• She knew that a lack of appetite in a growing lad,
• Meant something was wrong.
• In case you are wondering, sometimes it worked,
• But my problem was I could not keep it up, I like my food!
• TRANSITION: When we lose our appetite for the word of God.
• Something is up!
• We need to stop and look again at what might be causing the situation.
(2). Disciples obey Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense (vs 4-7)
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’
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.’
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”
Ill:
• A man walked around wearing a T-shirt with a large letter ‘K’ on the front of it.
• Some curious person asked him what the ‘K’ stood for.
• The man replied ‘Konfused!’
• The onlooker said, “You do not spell confused with a ‘K’
• The man replied, “You don’t know how confused I am”
• TRANSITION: In these verses 4-5:
• Simon Peter is a confused fisherman.
• Jesus makes a simple request to Simon;
• With the help of the other fishermen, let down the nets to catch some fish.
• Yet this was a confusing and a tough pill for Peter to swallow,
• There would have been a battle going on inside him,
• Whether or not to obey this celebrity Rabbi.
There are at least three reasons why Peter could have refused to obey Jesus:
FIRST: He was tired.
• Simon informs Jesus that he had just had a long hard night on the Sea of Galilee,
• The kind of night that would make a fisherman wished he practised another trade.
• He was physically tired,
• That’s why he said; “We’ve worked hard all night”
• He could have quit, but he wasn’t a quitter, he stuck at it, ALL night!
• The last thing he needed was to waste his time trying again.
SECOND: It did not make sense.
• Simon Peter must have thought Jesus was venturing into waters over His head.
• After all, fishing was Simon’s business, his life;
• He was the expert!
• And Jesus was………….
• Well………a carpenter…………a preacher.
• Simon was an experienced fisherman:
• He knew all the best fishing spots,
• He knew the most favourable conditions for making a catch,
• And that was not now!
• Every fisherman knew that, in the Sea of Galilee,
• You caught fish at night in the shallow water,
• And NOT in the daytime in deep water.
• What Jesus was asking Peter to do;
• Ran contrary to all of his training and human experience,
THIRD: His own reputation.
• Remember there was a great crowd on the shore watching these strange proceedings,
• Even worse than a crowd of strangers,
• Was other fishermen would also have been looking on.
• And they too would laugh at Simon for trying to fish in the shallows in the daytime.
• Simon would have to swallow his pride to obey Jesus,
• It did not make sense!
Note:
• Jesus was asking Simon to demonstrate faith in him.
• Two things in verse 5 reveal Simons faith:
FIRST: Notice what Peter calls Jesus: “Master”
• The Greek word for master means: “Overseer, director, Captain”,
• Implying authority - and used here of one who has the right to give orders.
• Peter recognised the authority of Jesus,
• And although he did not understand why, he was willing to submit.
SECOND: Peter backs up his belief with the words.
• “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
• The time of teaching by Jesus was not in vain,
• As Simon listened to the sermon of Jesus it produced faith in his heart.
• On the authority of Jesus’ words,
• Peter let down the nets.
• He was about to discover that true faith always involves risk,
• Often it runs contrary to human reason or it involves taking a chance
Notice: God rewards those who trust him and respond to his commands:
Simon and the others experience a great reward (vs 6-7):
“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”
• Simon has just experienced the greatest catch of his life!
• He spent all night getting no-where fast,
• Yet in a few minutes with Jesus,
• He experienced the biggest catch ever on the Sea of Galilee.
Quote: Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
(3). Disciples are aware of their own sinfulness (vs 8-10a)
“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.”
Ill:
• Your house can look very clean to you,
• But have you ever noticed when you have unexpected visitors turn up.
• You suddenly see things that you never noticed before?
• You become aware of dust on top of the TV or shelving,
• You noticed how dirty the windows are as the sun shine beams through.
• TRANSITION: Sometimes the presence of someone else,
• Makes us conscience and helps us see things differently,
• That was certainly true for Simon.
FIRST: Simon has an appreciation of deity (vs 8):
• Peter suddenly realized that he stood in the presence of deity.
• This Jesus was not simply a carpenter turned preacher with the power to heal;
• He was Lord of the sea and the fish,
• This man is unique, exceptional….deity!
Ill:
• Remember that the sea and fishing was Peter’s domain:
• He had experienced the power of God each day in the winds and the waves,
• He had experienced the power of God in the storms of the sea,
• Peter knew God as the creator, as the all-powerful God.
• And suddenly in his boat is one who is able to control nature!
• One who can command and control a shoal of fish.
SECOND: He has an awareness of sin (vs 8):
“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
• Obviously Peter did not really want Jesus to go away from him.
• This experience was the greatest thing that had ever happened to him.
• But he suddenly felt unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus;
• Being close to Jesus will make us aware of what is wrong in our lives,
• But please note that Jesus does not say;
• That Simon was wrong in his assessment of both himself or of Jesus.
• In fact he is so right that that;
• Simon is now in a position where he can really be helpful by Jesus.
Ill;
• Before we can follow Jesus we need to appreciate who Jesus is,
• And realise we have nothing to offer Jesus but our sinfulness and failings.
• Please remember God does not reject us because of our sinfulness,
• But rather he wants to forgive our sinful past and help change us for the future.
(4). Disciples are fishers of People (vs 10b)
“Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’”
Ill:
• God has always been interested in reproduction.
• In fact, His first command to Adam and Eve in the Garden;
• Was not to be spiritual, productive, or upstanding citizens of earth.
• Rather, it was to “be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis chapter 1 verse 28).
• TRANSITION:
• What God commanded the first humans to do physically;
• Jesus commands his followers to do spiritually.
Ill:
• A small boy asked his mother for a cucumber to take to Sunday School.
• Although she was slightly puzzled at his request,
• His mother complied.
• Later that day, she asked him;
• “What the cucumber had been used for.”
• He replied;
• “Sorry mum, I got it wrong, we were supposed to bring a newcomer!”
When it comes to sharing you faith remember:
• Care - Dare - Share - Prayer
• (Adapted from S. Briscoe, Getting Into God)
• Care:
• Show concern for the person, be genuinely interested!
• And be concerned for your life before him/her.
• Dare:
• It takes courage to witness and courage if the person is a stranger to you,
• And even more if the person is a close friend or relative.
• Share:
• If you have a few minutes to talk with someone,
• What are you going to say?
• Be prepared! Use a good quality booklet and leave it with them.
• Prayer:
• Don't discount the effectiveness of prayer for people,
• “Before you talk to people about God, talk to God about people”
(5). Disciples are willing to forsake all and follow Christ (vs 11)
“So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
• Notice – they left everything!
• This is the biggest catch these fishermen had ever made!
• Yet they left it behind, along with their boats! Their nets! And their livelihood!
• Don’t forget:
• Peter’s family depended on his income,
• There was no welfare system in operation.
• For Peter fishing had been the centre of his life,
• And now Jesus was asking him to walk away from it!
No wonder Jesus said to Peter (vs 10): “Don’t be afraid”
• There will be no guarantees of what the future will or will not hold!
• But you are following the one who can command the fish and the sea!
• Jesus showed Peter that he could provide in a few minutes,
• What Peter had failed to deliver from working flat out all night!
• Peter would learn an important lesson regarding future, family, and finance;
• It was this:
• Jesus had the ability to meet and provide for all needs.
Ill:
• A little child playing with a very valuable vase.
• He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it.
• His father too, tried his best to get it out, to no avail.
• They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said,
• “Now son, make one more try.
• Open your hand and hold your fingers out straight and then I will pull.”
• To their astonishment the little boy said,
• “O no, dad, I couldn’t put my fingers out like that;
• Because if I did I would drop my toy!”
• TRANSITION: So often we hold on to valueless things;
• At the expense of the valuable!
• Jesus asked Simon to swap catching fish to catching people,
• Simon obeyed….what about you!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=OVLs6wQn7RZOQTAEpcCZq6J9qzg3BoAR&forceSave
