Called for a Purpose: Right People, Right Place - Luke 4:42-5:11

FCF: God calls people to join his mission

Sermon Opening:

Do you ever think about the question. Who is ‘worthy’ to become a Christian?

There is a thought that happens for people outside of the church. They wonder who will this church accept. Will they accept me?

There is a sad reality that some Christians and churches have made such a negative impact that people feel they won’t be welcome at any church.

Text Opening:

Today, we continue to see Jesus start his ministry. We’re going to see who Jesus accepts.

We’ll be in Luke chapter 4 verse 42. its page ...

Last week, we saw Jesus leave Nazareth and head to Capernaum. Luke didn’t tell us how, but Jesus got linked up with Simon Peter and he healed his mother-in-law. Simon will be a character in our text again today.

Point 1: Strategic Mission

Luke 4:42–44 NIV

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Explain:

Jesus early in the morning leaves to a quiet place.

The crowds come and find him. They try to stop him from leaving.

There is a real beauty about this scene. Imagine being in authentic relationships where you can say to the people around you, I don’t want you to leave - It’s better when you’re here.

It’s a really touching sentiment.

Here’s how Jesus responds:

Luke 4:43 NIV

But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

For Jesus, the mission that the father sent him on, was the most important thing.

For Jesus, he knew that he couldn’t stay in one place, he had to go from town to town.

Point 1: Jesus has a Strategic Mission

In the book of Luke, this is the first time that the phrase “kingdom of God” is used.

Let’s take a moment to define the kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is the space where God’s authority is witnessed and where he is worshipped.

In the last hundred years, the global church has recovered a lost theology. We’ve recovered what’s called the Missio Dei. The Missio Dei is Latin.

Missio means sent.

Dei means God.

Our God is a sending God.

Jesus here says, I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.

God the Father, sends the son.

The Son, Jesus, sends the Holy Spirit to be with us.

The Father sends the Son, the Son sends the Spirit.

In John 20:21

John 20:21 NIV

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

The Missio Dei, our God is a sending God is an important concept.

My friend the missiologist Alan Hirsch says, The Church of God does not have a mission; the God of mission has a Church.

It’s not as though God created us and then needed something to fill our time, and so He made a mission for us to accomplish.

That’s wrong. God had a mission. He wants his kingdom, the kingdom of God, to come on Earth as it is in Heaven. God wants every person on earth to recognize His authority and worship Him.

Since God has that mission, he created the Church to bring about his purposes. He sent his son to accomplish it.

The Church of God does not have a mission; the God of mission has a Church.

Jesus understands his entire identity around this mission of seeing the Kingdom of God expand.

Jesus says, I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose. So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.

Illustrate:

I have a vivid memory from college when I encountered the kingdom of God.

Our ministry was hosting a bonfire for 5K at about this time of year. It was night 5k and everyone was cold.

My friend made the best hot cider I've ever tasted. One girl took a sip and yelled, 'You all have to try this!' People flocked over. She was then handing apple cider to people as they finished the 5k.

That's the kingdom of God. That's our job—to proclaim the goodness we've found with that same enthusiasm.

Apply:

This person was proclaiming the goodness of the Apple Cider.

How much better is Jesus Christ and the goodness of the kingdom of God.

Jesus is sending you into the places where he wants his authority to be witnessed and to be worshipped.

This girl recognized the goodness of the apple cider and couldn’t help but tell everybody.

Jesus is sending you into your spaces this Holiday Season.

Wherever Jesus sends you, I hope you can recognize the goodness of God in those spaces. I hope that you have the same enthusiasm for Jesus that this girl had for apple cider.

Jesus is sent by the father away from Capernaum and he preaches through the synagogues in Judea. Our text continues.

Point 2: Surprising Supply in Obedience

Luke 5:1–7 NIV

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around 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 shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 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 signaled 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.

Explain:

It’s a while later, Luke doesn’t tell us how long. He’s now at the Gennesaret, that’s a mile away from Capernaum.

Early in the morning as the boats come in from fishing all night and the people are waking up and go about their day. Simon lends a boat to Jesus so that he can preach to all these people.

After he’s done teaching, he tells Simon, put the boat in deep water and let down your nets.

Remember these fisherman are trying to wash their nets so they can go to sleep. They are professional fisherman, this how they live. Simon doesn’t want to put down the nets.

He says, Master (Epistata). Epistata is only used in the gospel of Luke and it’s only used about Jesus. Epistata means somebody with authority.

What we’re seeing here is an example of the kingdom of God where God’s authority is witnessed.

We have this example of kingdom work. Pushing the boat out to deep water and dropping the nets is kingdom work.

Simon goes on, Master, Epistata, we have worked all night and have caught nothing. Yet, if you say so, I will let down the nets.

Peter might not agree but he can obey.

They catch so many fish that they need a second boat to land them.

I’ve spent a lot of time fishing. I’ve never needed a second boat.

Point 2: Surprising Supply in Obedience

Remember God is a sending God. God sent Jesus out. Jesus sent Simon out - put your boat in the deep water.

Peter might not agree but he can obey.

In this sending, God shows his abundant supply.

When Simon goes out and faithfully obeys Jesus with what he already has, Jesus shows he can meet every need.

God sends us out with what we have and asks us to be faithfully obey his commands. We trust that he will abundantly supply our needs.

Illustrate:

I want to think about this for our church.

We know that God is sending us out into Mason City to encourage our community to find hope and transformation in Jesus Christ.

When we faithfully go out at Jesus command, we can trust the he will bring a fruitful harvest.

When we are faithful God will bring a harvest of hopeful and transformed people.

Apply:

God wants to use what you already have—your 'sweet spot.' He doesn't need you to be someone else; he needs you to be you, and obediently. He takes your boat, your nets, your skills, and provides the surprising supply. Your small 'yes' can lead to a big harvest.

Let me show you how.

God has gifted you with a certain wiring, he wants to take what you’re already good at and use it for his glory, use it to grow his kingdom.

The most effective people work in their sweet spot where their wiring, their ability, and their fruitfulness meet.

God has gifted you with a certain wiring. You are predisposed toward some things and not others. He has also gifted you with ability and you have grown that ability over your life.

Now, God wants to take those and use them for fruitfulness that grows his kingdom. He wants to Surprisingly Supply YOU. When you find that, you will have your sweet spot.

Let me bring your sweet spot to the church here.

If you're finding it difficult to serve the church here due to busy schedules or feeling unqualified, remember that God wants you to serve with your current abilities.

Jesus provided the surprising supply through to Simon through the boat and the nets he already has.

You can start by volunteering for something small, like greeting newcomers, participating in a prayer team, or running slides at the computer. These actions require minimal time but can have a significant impact.

If you want to serve in one of those ways, see me or Evan.

When Jesus surprisingly supplies through Simon’s obedience, how does he respond. Let’s read on.

Point 3: Selects the Seemingly Unqualified

Luke 5:8–11 NIV

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. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Explain:

Peter falls on his face in response to God’s supply.

He calls Jesus Lord. That is only to be used for God.

He says, Go away, God, because I am sinful.

Jesus tells Simon - No, don’t be afraid, today you’re coming with me and you will be catching people.

I want to make a note here. Jesus says you will be catching. The tense is continuous, Jesus is saying you will continuously catch people.

Simon, and James and John, they get to shore and they leave with Jesus.

They left the greatest catch they had seen in all their lives. That catch was not as important as what it showed them about Jesus, so they followed him.

Point 3: Jesus Selects the Seemingly Unqualified

Peter lacks a lot of the qualities we think are necessary for good Christians. He disagrees with Jesus and he tries to send Jesus away.

Jesus though recognizes that even when Simon disagrees he still obeys. Even when Simon tries to send him away, he still follows him.

The Kingdom of God is where God’s authority is witnessed and where God is worshipped.

Peter is obedient to Jesus authority even when he disagrees. Peter in an act of worship falls on his face and proclaims Jesus is Lord.

Do you want to know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?

Disciples of Jesus are people who are sent with Jesus to be a witness to his authority and to worship him in his glory where ever he sends us.

Jesus doesn't look for charismatic, driven leaders. He looks for those who are obedient when told to try something different. He looks for those who respond in worship, like Peter, who fall on their face and proclaim Him Lord.

Apply:

I’ve often heard people say, God wouldn’t want me.

Peter has this response as well, he says, I am sinful so go away. We don’t think Jesus would want us because we feel dirty because of things we’ve done or worse so, the things done against us.

Jesus though is here and open to you. He is not asking you to be clean. He took the fisherman who smelled like seawater and old bait and called them to follow him.

Nobody in here smells as bad as they did.

Your sin is not worse than theirs either.

Jesus selects the seemingly unqualified

This last slide is a question for you to consider.

I feel ____ of God’s love because of ____. You have to answer that for yourself.

Peter's response was, 'I am sinful, go away.' Maybe that's your response.

Do you ever feel unworthy of God’s love because of past mistakes or current struggles with sin.

Do you feel unworthy of God’s love? If that’s you, in this moment, I want you to take a step toward Jesus and put up your hand. If you feel unworthy of God’s love, put up your hand. Church, I want you to look around and see the hands.

If there’s a hand near you, move toward that person.

Allow the church community to envelop you in support and remind you of God's unconditional love.

Remember, Jesus called the sinners and broken. I’m urging you to bring your burdens to Him.

I’m going to say a prayer for you. If you feel God is working in your life as I pray. When we go into our next song, I want you to go to the back and meet with Evan or Jenn.

Engage in a meaningful conversation with one of our trusted church leaders about your feelings. This can help you process your pain and encourage you to see yourself as God sees you - beloved and worthy.

God wants to send you to be his witnesses of his authority and to worship him in his glory.

Let me pray for you