Falling in Love (Repent)-Week 4

INTRODUCTION

Heritage Meal-July 19th

Daily Devotional (if you aren’t getting them, text Hillcrest to 94000)

Summarize the definition of love and what we talked about last week.

This week, we are continuing through our process of Remember, Repent, Repent, and Renew. This week we are looking at REPENT!

Revelation 2:5–6 “Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

PRAYER

Hook-If you went to the movie theater at any point over the last fifteen years, you already know who the undisputed king of global entertainment is. It’s Marvel. Characters like Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Captain America are practically modern mythology. In 2009, Disney bought Marvel for a staggering 4.3 billion dollars. Today, it’s a powerhouse. But if you rewind the tape just thirty years ago, to the late 1990s, the story looked completely different.

In 1996, Marvel was utterly broken. The comic book industry had crashed. Marvel was buried under a crushing 250 million dollars in debt. They were down to just 3 million dollars in the bank—which, for a massive corporation, means you are days away from the lights turning off forever. Their stock had plummeted to a measly 96 cents a share. They had to lay off thousands of people, paring their workforce down to a skeletal crew of just 250 employees.

By all worldly metrics, Marvel was dead. The obituary was already written.

But then, a shift happened. New leadership stepped in, and they launched a radical turnaround strategy. They looked at their situation and said, "We might be broke, but we aren't empty. We have treasures hidden in our vault." They started licensing their characters. They repositioned their comic books not just as things to sell, but as a laboratory for new, modernized ideas. They ran lean, they stayed disciplined, and they valued what they did have left. They didn't focus on the grave; they focused on the resurrection.

And because they refused to give up on their core identity, they didn't just survive—they conquered. They went from bankruptcy to a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse.

Transition to Text: This morning we are looking at one of the greatest turnarounds in the Bible. Peter was going through a normal day, but Jesus was about to change his entire life.

Luke 5:1-11

Transition to Main Point:

As a narrative, one way to study is see if there is a problem that is solved.

Jesus is at the beginning of his ministry on earth and is teaching the people. The crowds were pressing so hard on him that he needed to teach from a boat. The fishermen were picking up from an unsuccessful night of fishing. (Problem 1) The fishing was done in the evening because it was more successful. Peter and his parnters were experienced and knew it was important to fish at night. Peter began to question what Jesus said because of his experience. Essentially, Peter said, “I don’t tell you how to speak, so don’t tell me how to fish.”

However, Peter chose to obey what Jesus said to do and a large amount of fish were caught. (Solution to Problem 1) Suddenly, the nets were breaking because there was too much fish (Problem 2). They needed other boats to help (Solution 2).

After experiencing this, Peter realized his sinfulness (Problem 3) because he saw the miraculous power of Jesus. Jesus changed the direction of his life and Peter left everything behind (Solution #3)

Following Jesus means leaving everything behind to follow Him.

Follow Jesus with obedient faith

EXPLAIN

Peter was hesitant at first because of his experience. Sometimes we act the same way when God asks us to do something. Peter questioned Jesus.

Luke A. Reason to Follow: Revelation of Divine Power (5:1–11)

Then Simon caught himself: “You are talking, Jesus. You are the Master. What you say, we will do.” Note that Master (Gr. epistata) was Luke’s word of address from the disciples to Jesus where other Gospels used “Rabbi.” Luke thus shows his aim toward a Gentile rather than a Jewish audience. The Master’s word takes precedence over human experience and human knowledge. Tough, experienced fishermen let Jesus show them when and where to fish. They had seen the power and authority of his ministry.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary A. Beginning Ministry and Calling Disciples (4:14–6:16)

How often does a similar situation happen to you? Through his Word, God calls you to action in your specific circumstances, but your instincts and experience tell you that it won’t work. We have to remember that our instincts and experience have been distorted by sin. We can’t see things perfectly. We lack information. Our understanding is flawed. That’s why we depend on an almighty God who is all knowing and can accomplish the impossible.

ARGUE

Many times we think we know more because of our experiences in life and rely on our own understanding. However, remember Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 CSB

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

ILLUSTRATE

Obedient when I don’t understand. (Following a LEGO building instructions

APPLY

Obey even when you do not understand why God tells you.

Be aware of your sin

EXPLAIN

The response to Jesus is similar to Isaiahs response in the throneroom.

Isaiah 6:5–7 “Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies. Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary A. Beginning Ministry and Calling Disciples (4:14–6:16)

When human beings are confronted with the holiness of God, their sinfulness is exposed. Isaiah was a godly man. But when he saw God on his throne in all his glory and the heavenly beings describing him as, “Holy, holy, holy,” Isaiah said, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips” (

We should respond the same way when we’re face to face with Almighty God.

ARGUE

We don’t like to see the worst in ourselves. “How are you this morning? Great!” (even though everything is falling apart around me)

ILLUSTRATE

Awareness is everything because lack of awareness is ignorance. (Blindside block in football, specifically Ed McCaffrey in the Super Bowl)

APPLY

Don’t be blindsided. Be aware of your sin and turn to Jesus.

Surrender everything to God

EXPLAIN

In order to follow Jesus, the men needed to leave everything behind.

Luke & John Chapter 5

It was not much that they left—a couple of small boats and their nets; but it was all they had, even all their living. But this showed their love of Jesus, and their willingness to deny themselves, as really as if they had forsaken palaces and gold. All that Jesus asks is that we should leave all we have for him; that we should love him more than we do whatever friends or property we may possess, and be willing to give them all up when he requires it.

The disciples left everything and in the times others left Jesus, they stayed.

John 6:68–69 “Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.””

They stayed because A they had no fishing equipment or boats to go back to and B they know Jesus is worth following. They surrendered their will and let God lead them in their life.

When has God called you to do something that seemed odd? Peter and the fishermen were told there were going to fish for men. Jesus was speaking in a manner of their discipleship of others.

ARGUE

Our culture has a negative connotation to surrender. “Surrender is weak.” However, when it comes to surrendering to God, we cannot lose.

We must release control in our lives and let God take over.

ILLUSTRATE

Our move to Southwest Kansas

APPLY

As you repent and move where Jesus says to move, what nets do you need to leave behind?