Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

The church (whole church, not just FBCAB) in a position where what we do in the short term will determine whether the church thrives or merely exists in the long term.

The church always needs its members to be winning souls for Christ, but we are currently facing additional challenges as we work to recover from COVID in an ever-changing world.

Today, I want to look at what we need to do as Christians to be able to complete the works that will be set before us in the coming months and years.

To be able to complete your works, we must MAKE OURSELVES READY, WILLING, AND ABLE to be used by God.

That’s what I want to look at today.

Luke Chapter 5 context:

Luke 5 takes place a the lake of Gennesaret, which is the Sea of Galilee (notice the lowercase lake… Gennesaret is a city of the Sea of Galilee)

We are very early in Jesus’ earthly ministry and He had no disciples at this point.

He had just undergone his temptation in the wilderness and was traveling and preaching in the synagogues.

He had just been rejected in Nazareth (there is a whole another sermon about being rejected at home, but that’s for another day), healed many, and cast out demons so his earthly ministry is growing but still in its infancy.

This is a very popular verse, taught to everyone from children to adults, and I believe is as pertinent as ever to the current state of our church.

In this time of replanting, we must be ready, willing, and able to complete the work set before us.

And it says:

Luke 5:1-11

Let’s look at how these verses can lead us, the church, today.

POINT 1: WE MUST BE READY = PREPARED v2

First: We must be ready to complete our mission.

We do this by preparing for our mission WHICH IS THIS: WE ARE CALLED TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL

GREAT COMMISSION MATTHEW 28:19

Mark 16:15 (ESV)

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

To do this, we must be prepared to minister to others, be it formally (as part of our church ministry) or informally (ministering to others in everyday life).

Most people view this and think “when the situation presents itself, I’ll be ready” but that’s not how it works.

The scripture from Luke uses fishing as an analogy for winning souls, and it’s very apt as most of the work in regard to fishing, hunting, etc… is in the preparation.

We think of a relaxing day on the water or in a tree stand, without thinking of the hours spent maintaining the boat, cleaning the equipment, purchasing supplies, and transporting the boat.

Currently, Pastor Greg is in a tree stand, but he is only able to do that because he spent time clearing underbrush, raising tree stands, and maintaining his artillery.

[JAGS PRACTICE SO HARD THAT GAMES ARE EASY]

When people think of working for God, we think of leading someone to the Lord, working with kids, ministering to seniors, or working as a preacher or missionary.

Those who are successful in these roles spend hours reading their bible, praying over their ministry, cleaning the church, and making connections in the community.

We must be willing to sow these seeds if we are hoping to reap the benefits of our efforts.

Sometimes though, our sowing does not reap the rewards that we hoped, and it’s even harder when sometimes our preparation doesn’t provide the return we hoped for, and we have to be okay with that.

Don’t miss what happened in verse 2:

Remember, these fisherman had just had a long night of fishing and had caught nothing!

Now, if you haven’t thrown a net fishing, let me tell you… it’s tough!

[TELL YOUR KINGFISH TOURNEY BAIT STORY - KNEES!!]

Despite this frustration, they were mending their nets SO THAT THEY COULD BE READY TO FISH AGAIN THE NEXT DAY!

How many times have we not seen a result from our efforts?

The bible is full of stories of people who never saw a return for their efforts, many of whom are pillars of the faith.

Jeremiah preached for 40 years with little to no success.

Moses freed his people and led them for 40 years and never got to see the promised land.

[TELL STORY ABOUT BIBLE STUDIES AT FUGE] Do you have a story like that, when you’ve put your all into something and got nothing in return?

How do you react?

It’s normal to get frustrated, but you have to keep your nets mended and clean so that when a situation arises in which you are able to fish you’ll be prepared.

I’ve had the privilege to be part of a few salvation experiences and they are all different.

But you know the one thing that is the same for all of them?

They didn’t come with pre-notification or warning!

2 Timothy 4:2 (CSB)

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season (meaning when it’s convenient and inconvenient); correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

If you have a chance to fish, but your nets aren’t ready, you may have missed your opportunity and what a shame that would be.

Let our willingness to prepare to spread the good news be relentless...

POINT 2: WE MUST BE WILLING = MUST GO FISHING!

Even if we have completed our preparations we have to be willing to GO FISHING!! [Y’ALL: I HAVE A CONFESSION. I’VE HAD A GYM BAG PACKED FOR WEEKS NOW, AND HAVE YET TO MAKE IT TO THE GYM! STORY ABOUT TAKING PHOTOS OF SUNRISES BUT NOT GOING, or PACKING A GYM BAG BUT NOT GOING!]

We fall victim to our human nature and elect comfort, and even if we are ready, we are not willing when it comes down to it.

Luke 5:4-5 Simon Peter is an example for us of how to follow Christ.

Throughout the scripture, he is instructed by Jesus and does as he is instructed without hesitation.

[HE DOES DISPLAY DOUBT, BUT NEVER FAILS TO COMPLETE HIS TASK]

[HE HAD QUESTIONS BUT COMPLETED HIS TASK.

QUESTIONS ARE NORMAL BUT WE’LL GET BACK TO THAT.]

[NO MORE QUESTIONS!

JUST OBEDIENCE]

THROUGH OBEDIENCE PETER USES [RABBI - MASTER - LORD - WHO DO YOU SAY I AM: THE CHRIST] TEACHER - PROPHET - GOD - SAVIOR

Opportunities to be fishers of men present themselves all the time, but you must be willing to take that first (VERY SCARY) step!

Will you be able to put yourself out there?

One of the reasons that I hear most about service the Lord is that people don’t feel ready or qualified.

(I’M JUST NOT GOOD WITH KIDS.

I DON’T KNOW HOW TO START TALKING TO PEOPLE.

ETC… TOTALLY GET THAT!) How many of you are parents?

And how many of you felt completely prepared for your first child?

While we may be called to do things that we may not be ready to do, God can overcome this limitation.

[THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT, SO PLEASE DON’T MISS IT]

Jeremiah 1:6

But Jeremiah 1:7-9

We are often called to do things that we are not comfortable with, or things that are “not our job”.

Look at Luke 5:3

Again, these men were fishermen, so when Jesus asked them to push off of shore so he could speak, this was not something they were accustom to and was most definitely “not their job”.

By doing something they didn’t have to despite being tired, they served and spent time with Jesus, and spread the Gospel.

[BUT JEFF, THEY WERE GOING TO BE HIS APOSTLES, THEY OBVIOUSLY WOULD HELP HIM OUT.

YEAH, BUT AREN’T WE HIS FOLLOWERS TOO?]

Are you willing to get outside of your comfort zone to do what He calls you to do?

I can testify that this is challenging.

[GIVE YOUR TESTIMONY ABOUT COVERING FOR GREG.

PREACHERS SPEAK OF THEIR EARLY SERMONS, HOPING THESE ARE MINE! IT’S HARD! IT’S OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE! IT’S SCARY!

BUT MY FAITH AND PREPARATION HAS GROWN IMMENSELY ALREADY!

TEACHING IS MY STRENGTH, PREACHING IS MY WEAKNESS]

But look what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9

It’s only be working on our weaknesses and outside our comfort zone that we can become more effective tools for the Lord.

In sports, they say that your greatest ability is availability, and that is true with the church as well.

Give what you have to God, and he will give you the rest.

Jeremiah was called when he was only 17. Moses was a stutterer.

Gideon had no army to speak of, and Esther was called to defy a king.

ALL of these people were led by and blessed by God, and their ministry was successful.

Of your ability to be ready, willing, and able… you willingness is the most important.

If you will raise your hand and say Here Am I Lord, the rest can be provided to you.

POINT 3: ABLE = INCLUDE GOD IN PLAN

Lastly, we must be able.

The point of preparation and will is to be able to complete our task, but how do we do that.

Well... look at Simon Peter in v. 4- 8.

Luke 5:4-8

He was unsuccessful in his fishing until when?