Broken Things

Open your Bibles to Luke 5:1–11

Luke 5:1–11 NASB 2020

1 Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little distance from the land. And He sat down and continued teaching the crowds from the boat. 4 Now when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon responded and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to tear; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, to the point that they were sinking. 8 But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and likewise also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear; from now on you will be catching people.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

I. Introduction

A. Jesus Teaching by the Sea

1. The Lake of Gennesaret, the Sea of Galilee

a. Not large but beautiful

b. Rolling hills and a narrow beach

2. The crowds and His boat-pulpit

B. The Miraculous Draught of Fish

1. A well-known miracle

2. The Lordship of Christ and His call to serve

C. Broken Things

II. Body

A. A Broken Net (v. 6)

1. “And the net broke”

2. The details of the miracle

a. Fishing was finished and they were washing their nets

b. They had toiled all the night and caught nothing

c. Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity

d. Failure to this point is not a factor

e. “Let down your nets for a draught”

f. The net broke because of so many fish

3. What this miracle required:

a. Action when the goal seemed impossible

b. Work when fatigue called for rest

c. Faith when circumstances called for doubt

4. What this miracle demonstrated:

a. The Lordship of Christ

b. God’s care for our physical needs

c. The power of Christ over nature

d. God’s power to bless is greater than our capacity to contain

B. A Broken Man (v. 8)

1. “Depart from me for I am a sinful man”

2. What a strange reaction! Why?

a. Peter knows that he is in the presence of the Lord

b. His lack of faith

3. There are many reasons for repentance

a. Peter’s repentance later after denials

b. The Lord’s call to the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:5)

c. What is your reason?

C. A Broken Partnership (v. 10)

1. “Who were partners with Simon”

2. Consider the business possibilities:

a. Simon Johnson and Associates … World’s Largest Fisheries

b. Fish for less from your big fisherman

c. Cornering the fish market with Christ

3. One statement changed all that

a. “From henceforth thou shalt catch men”

(1) From perch to people

(2) From sole to souls

b. People are the most important to the Lord

4. Leaving their boats (v. 11): a picture of surrender

III. Conclusion

A. What must you Leave to Surrender?

B. Let Christ make you a Fisher of Men