Communauté et discipulat

Steps of Discipleship (Luke 5:1-11)

2011.06.12Rev. Mike Lee

Jesus calls us to be his disciples through obedience, confession, and a change of direction. Like Simon Peter, we are asked to follow his word even when it is inconvenient, to confess that he is Lord and we are sinners, and to leave everything behind to follow him.

A fishing trip that changed a life

Few fishing trips change a life, but Luke 5 describes one that did. I once caught five or six fish in an hour on a tour boat, using spam as bait, and the Japanese tourists around me wondered how I did it. Yet today we look at a fishing trip that radically transformed Simon Peter's life, and at what Jesus calls us to as his disciples.

Obedience is required even when it is inconvenient (4-5)

Jesus tells Simon to put out into deep water and let down his nets, which sounds simple but was not. Simon and his companions had fished all night and caught nothing, and they had already cleaned and mended their nets for the day. Fish could see the nets in daylight and escape, so the request seemed pointless. Yet Simon answers, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing, but at your word I will let down the nets." Discipleship means obeying Christ's word even when it seems unreasonable.

Confessing Christ as Lord and ourselves as sinners (8)

When the catch fills both boats, Simon Peter falls at Jesus' knees and says, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." He first confesses Jesus as Lord, submitting like a player who gives up in the game of Mercy. Then he sees his own sin clearly before the holy God. Jesus does not turn him away or call him a fool; he says, "Do not be afraid." Discipleship requires us to confess that Jesus rules every area of our lives and to receive his grace as sinners.

A change of direction from catching fish to catching men (10-11)

Jesus tells Simon, "From now on you will be catching men," calling him to see his work with spiritual eyes rather than as an occupation alone. When the disciples bring their boats to land, they leave everything and follow him. Their boats and nets were their livelihood, their past, present, and future, yet they gave it all up. Are we concerned with the spiritual things God has placed in our jobs, children, and friendships, or do we see only a paycheck and good times?

Apply to Life

  • Let us obey Jesus' word today, even when it is inconvenient for us.
  • Let us confess that Jesus is Lord over our families, finances, and relationships.
  • Let us admit our sin before the holy God and receive his grace without fear.
  • Let us see our work, our children, and our friendships as places for spiritual mission.
  • Let us be willing to leave behind whatever holds us back from following Christ.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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