Luke 5:1–11

Introduction

How many fishermen or fisherwomen do we have here today by a show of hands? Fantastic, well God bless you all. I am not a fisherman what so ever. Im not good at it, and I don’t have the patience for it, but I will be the first one in line at your fish fry. However, there was one time where I though I could get into it. In July of 2019 I went up to Alaska with my wife and her family for a wedding.

I was invited by the groom and his groomsmen to go on a deep sea fishing excursion which I agreed. Now right off the bat I can tell you that I was not prepared. When I got down to the docks at the early hour of 4:30am I showed up in blue jeans, a rain coat and nikes. Thankfully the crew had some extra rubber boots for me to wear and boy was I thankful. Now, these were some serious fishermen, I mean the reason we left so early is because we had to catch our bait. I couldn't even fathom that, I would typically get my bait from a small freezer at Walmart, but not these guys. We caught a few net fulls of Pollock for bait and then we were off.

And when I say off, I mean we had about an hour boat ride to the middle of the ocean in the cold, wet, rain. Then all of a sudden the boat stopped and the Captain said “were here!” At that moment, everyone in the boat began shuffling around, opening compartments and grabbing gear, putting together poles and Im just standing there looking at the water. I had no idea what to do. So I stood there, until I was handed this monster of a fishing pole.

It was then that the captain told us we will be fishing for Halibut so we needed too go out to deeper water and let our line hit the bottom. So for the next hour and half Im standing there with my line at the bottom, everyone is catching something mostly starfish and something called an Irish Lord, but not halibut, so they threw them back. Then all of a sudden I feel this huge pull at my line and my pole is almost bent in half. I grabbed the pole and began to reel it in. And for the next 10 minuets Im wrestling with this fish, thankfully some of the other guys helped me and coached me or else I would have lost the fish. And I honestly thought to myself, man this is the ocean, fish are bigger, I bet this thing is at least 20 pounds. However, when I reeled this fish in that was not the case, because this was the monster that I caught.

CLICK

An 88 pound Halibut.

Thats a great memory and its one that Ill cherish my entire life but the fact is, is that I had no idea what I was doing. i was unqualified to be fishing on that boat.

I mean my wife's cousin who I was with in the picture is a Marine Biologist, he fishes for a living. I had no idea what I was doing, but I accepted an invitation to go fishing. And when I felt that tug at my line I listened to the advice of those around me and because of their help both coaching and physical help, I was able to catch that fish.

There is no way that I would have been able to do any of that on my own. I had to even have help holding the fish up for that picture. Sometimes in life, we are put in situations where we know that we are in over our heads and that is when we need to lean on Christ more and more.

This morning I would like to talk you about the call of a believer.

The call of a believer is three things; the call is personal, the call is transformational, and the call requires immediate obedience.

1. The Call is Personal

Luke 5:1–3 “As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word,(Crowd following Jesus because of his healings and ministry before) he was standing by Lake Gennesaret (Another name for the SOG) . He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.”

Here we see Jesus teaching a crowd by the lake, asking Simon Peter to put out his boat a little ways from the land. He did this so he could teach the crowd that was following him, and the water would have carried his voice creating this natural amp theatre experience.

Jesus' presence and teaching can transform the mundane 'empty boats' into a platform for divine instruction. What this tells us is that Jesus call on our life is a personal call. What do I mean by that? Well, Jesus meets us where we are.

When he called Peter and Andrew, they were fishing. When he called Matthew, he was sitting at work in his tax booth. When he called Nathaniel, he was under a fig tree. When he had a conversation with the Samaritan woman, he met her where she went each and every day. When he saved the adulterous woman, he met her where she was, in the very midst of her sin.

And so Jesus meets us where we are, which makes his call personal. Another thing that makes his call personal is that He knows your name, he calls you by name. In John 1:42 Jesus says to Simon “…, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”).”

This renaming shows that not only did Jesus see who Simon was but who he was to become. He does the same thing for each and every on of us. Jesus not only knows your name, but he knows your struggles, your past, your secrets and he invites you to follow him. Listen to this, Jesus calls you to follow him despite your imperfections.

You see discipleship does not require perfection, discipleship requires obedience. What does this obedience look like you might ask?

It could look very similar to what we see in our text this morning, like creating a space in our lives where Jesus can speak and teach us, even in ordinary settings.

By inviting Jesus into his boat, Simon sets up for a transformative encounter that shifts the ordinary everyday mundane activity of fishing into something extraordinary.

God's call may come in unexpected ways, but true faith is about obedience despite our doubts or fears or circumstances.

When we obey the call of Christ, we open ourselves to His miraculous provision and guidance. A question that I would like for us all to consider today is:

How can we create spaces in our lives where we invite Jesus to speak and teach us during our everyday routines?

Maybe its as you get into your car in the morning, consider turning off the radio or putting away your phone. Instead, devote this time to prayer and listening for God’s voice. Invite Jesus into your commute by asking Him to teach you something new that day.

During your lunch break, take a few minutes to step away from your colleagues or your desk. Find a quiet spot where you can engage in a short devotional or read a Bible passage. Reflect on how Jesus’ teachings can apply to your job's relationships and challenges. Invite Him to guide your thoughts about any stresses you are facing that day, creating a habit of seeking Him in professional interactions.

As you wash dishes or fold laundry, use this time to listen to Christian worship music or a sermon. Make it a routine to set aside ten minutes to not only enjoy these messages but also to pause and reflect on their messages, asking yourself how Jesus is speaking through them into your daily tasks.

Whatever you’re doing, invite Him into the ordinary, letting these moments be infused with His teaching.

There are endless ways to do this, so not matter what we decide, let us take this time to invite Jesus into our boat. to invite him into the everyday routines of our lives.

2. The Call is Transformational

Luke 5:4–7 “When he had finished speaking,(Remember Jesus is in Simons boat teaching the crowd that followed him) he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing.(Note Peters 1st response and 2nd.) But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”

Here, Jesus commands Peter to put out into deep water and let down his net for a catch. But Jesus command to Peter is met with with doubt after a fruitless night. Peters circumstances were not favorable for a catch. He’s worked all night long and has caught nothing

This moment illustrates the necessity of trusting Jesus' word, this moment reminds us that His guidance often defies human logic. And listen, Peter’s response is very factual, but there was something within him, there was something within Peter that made him want to obey thats why he says “but if you say so, I will let down my nets.”

Its worth noting that this is not the first interaction Jesus has had with Peter, just a few verses before this in chapter 4 we read that Jesus healed Peters Mother-in-law. And so its very clear that there is already some familiarity between Jesus and Peter. And so this tells me that there was some trust that Peter had in Jesus despite his doubts, despite his frustrations, and despite his circumstances.

When doubts arise, trusting Jesus' can lead to unanticipated abundance. Simon’s obedience—pushing into deeper waters—shows us that following Jesus’ directives, especially when we’re unsure, leads to surprising and overwhelming blessings. Now Im not talking about finical blessings or prosperity, Im talking about blessings in relation to the kingdom of God.

So what do we get from all of this? We get that faith in Jesus leads to fruitful obedience. Just like Peter, we may often feel overwhelmed by our circumstances, but God calls us to trust and act on His word, leading us to blessings we could not achieve on our own.

Jesus understands our inadequacy and calls us anyways.

Just as Jesus empowered Peter to catch fish, He empowers believers to become 'fishers of men,' transforming their lives and the lives of those around them. Jesus didn’t just call the disciples to follow him; he called them to become something new.

Peter started as a fisherman but because of this moment he would later become the leader of the early church.

Jesus doesn't just save us- he changes us. When we follow him, he reshapes our identity, our purpose, and our priorities.

Another question to consider this morning would be…

In what areas of our lives are we being called to deeper faith and trust in Jesus despite our circumstances or doubts?

3. The Call Requires Immediate Obedience

Luke 5:8–11 “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!”( In recognition of who Jesus is, Simon’s response is one of repentance and commitment. True discipleship requires acknowledging Jesus' holiness and our shortcomings, leading to a willingness to forsake old ways and join in His mission.) For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.”

This passage recounts the moment when Peter, after witnessing a miraculous catch of fish, is overwhelmed by the holiness of Jesus, Peter didn't comment on the amount of fish they just caught, instead he immediately recognizes his inadequacy and responds to Jesus call to discipleship.

If we are going to follow Christ we have to recognize our own inadequacies and embrace the transformative call of Jesus in our lives.

Discipleship begins with our recognition of who Jesus is and our willingness to obediently follow His call, leading to a life of purpose in sharing the Gospel.

When we see Jesus for who he truly is, then we see us for who we truly are.

*WORSHIP TEAM*

In Luke 5:8, we witness Peter's raw, immediate reaction to Jesus' miracle: he falls to his knees, overwhelmed by the sheer holiness of Christ. In that moment, Peter doesn't just see a man—he sees the divine.

He recognizes his own sinfulness, and that moment of humility is the beginning of true discipleship. It's an important lesson for us all: true discipleship starts when we understand that Jesus is holy and we, in our own strength, are unworthy.

This realization of Jesus' divinity and our own limitations is the first step in embracing the transformative power of the Gospel.

Listen, we can't do this discipleship thing alone. We need Jesus, and that’s where it all begins.

In Luke 5:9-10, Jesus responds to Peter’s humility, gently reassuring him: "Do not be afraid." Jesus isn’t just comforting him; He’s inviting Peter into something bigger—into a new mission. This moment is a turning point. Despite his fear and his feeling of unworthiness, Peter is called to participate in God’s divine purpose.

And here’s the incredible part: Jesus calls Peter, just as He calls each of us, to be "fishers of men." We’re asked to rise above our personal limitations, our failures, our doubts, to participate in something far greater than ourselves.

Listen closely—there is NOTHING within your limitations that is too much for our God. No amount of baggage, no lack of wisdom, no absence of formal training can ever stop the glory of Christ from shining through you.

The call is simple: Respond and react. Respond to His call in your life, and react to His prompts. That's discipleship.

Then, in Luke 5:11, we see a bold, radical decision. Peter and the other fishermen, despite the miraculous catch of fish—their whole livelihood—choose to leave it all behind to follow Jesus.

Imagine that: they leave behind their boats, their nets, and their bounty—everything they had worked for. This is the radical nature of discipleship. It’s not just about following Jesus on an easy path, but about leaving behind the familiar and stepping into the unknown with Christ.

By walking away from everything, they demonstrated complete trust in Jesus and a readiness for change. Discipleship is not just a decision; it’s a complete surrender. It’s a willingness to embrace the unknown and follow Jesus wherever He leads.

The final question that I would like for us all to consider is…

How can we respond to Jesus' call in our lives with immediate obedience?

Lets say this together:

Jesus, I am who you say I am! Regardless of my inadequacy, situation, or circumstances. So, during this season of Lent, respond to your call and react to your prompts.

As we sing this song together, this is your time to respond to His call or recat to His prompts.