2.4.8 1.21.2024 Luke 5.1-11 Certainty in Selecting Companions

Start:

Entice:

Jesus found us all somewhere.

He found some of us in Church in an environment that taught us how to follow Him.

Some may have been found at School by a concerned friend.

Some are found in taverns on the brink of losing it all.

And some, some are found on fishing boats.

He found us. He called us to not only experience personal salvation but to be a part of His new “fishing collective.”

He believed in us.

He gifted us.

He uses us.

Jesus has confidence, even when we lack it. Jesus is certain that you and I have a role in the divine collective called the Church.

Luke 5:1–11 (ESV)

1 One upon a time, 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, “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.”

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Engage: Jesus had confidence in those He was choosing to join Him in ministry. They had experience working as a unit in a dangerous endeavor. They were accustomed to sharing responsibilities and resources. They understood how important it was to know one another and to know the job.

Jesus

exploited their prior experiences,

extended their natural abilities,

expanded their faith, and

exploded their possibilities.

He will do the same for you and I. Many of us, when called by Jesus fall to our knees like Peter, acknowledging our sinfulness and wondering how we could ever serve. Yet, the one who saves is the same one who calls and equips for service.

Expand: The industrial fishing economy was a daily reality for Jesus after He moved to Capernaum. Capernaum and the surrounding region were devoted to the catching, processing, preservation, and marketing of fish and fish products.

Excite: There on a smelly beach on a typical workday Jesus chooses His first companions and does not seem to have ever doubted the choice. Jesus calls us.

Jesus certifies the curious and sympathetic,

the scared the scandalized, and the skeptical.

He is the difference.

Explore:

His certainty certifies us to be devoted, deployable, disciples.

Expand: Jesus’ certainty began with

Body of Sermon:

1 Connection.

Luke 5:1–3 ESV

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.

There is a contrast here because not all connections connect equally. some are

1.1 Occasional and superficial.

Motivated Mob.

Focused Fishermen.

Some connections change the world, they are

1.2 Intentional and transformational.

Distance and Dialogue.

Jesus can be certain because when we encounter Him, we all feel

2 Conviction.

Luke 5:4–10 ESV

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “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.”

2.1 Personal Trust.

2.2 Personal Inadequacy.

Jesus trusts us to be loyal to Him and answerable…even though we tend to focus on our personal inadequacies.

Finally, He is certain that we each can answer and contribute to the

3 Commission.

Luke 5:10–11 (ESV)

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.”

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

3.1 Shared.

Lessons from a fishing Collective. Jesus, who created everything recycles some of the things that we do. His embryonic Church will share many of the organizing principles pioneered in Fishing collectives like the Zebedee/Johnson Clan.

3.2 Specific.

From right now you will be catching men

3.3 Sacrificial.

Beach the boats, leave them behind.

Shut Down

Jesus wants us to be both believers and advocates. He expects us to be followers who are always, in one way or another, fishing. Directly or indirectly, we are always trying to fill the boat.

There are times when we will sense our inadequacies and failures as Peter did that day when confronted with a miraculous catch. The key to Peter’s response is that He trusted Jesus, largely because Jesus trusted him. If Jesus was certain that He could use Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the rest then He can use us. In a sense the rest of the Gospels trace the process of the certainty of Jesus extending into the lives of those He chose to be His embryonic Church.

One of the issues, when we answer the call today is the reality that we find sacrifice and cooperation much more difficult. We live in an individualistic culture. We are surrounded by stuff. Often what Jesus calls us from, He is saving us from. Dragging the boats of self-indulgence to the shore is the first act of following.