GodSpeak for the Week of May 19
“Gone Fishin’”
Pastor Yoseph joins us for 9:30am worship this morning, and offers his sermon based on Luke’s account of the calling of the first disciples.
Day 1…Read Luke 5:1-11
- Consider
this – read the whole passage and consider its context…its pace.
- Luke tells us that Jesus was standing there, by Lake Gennesaret – with people crowding in around Him…forcing Him closer to the water’s edge.
- And, just a little distance away – there were some fisherman cleaning up their gear after a long (and, fruitless) night of work.
- Answer
this – why would Jesus have gotten into a boat and put out a few feet from
shore to keep speaking to the crowd? (Hint
– think about what happens to your voice around water)
- What is the tone and pace of this amazing call to discipleship from Jesus to the fishermen?
Day 2…Read Luke 5:1
- Consider this – in Greek the word “Gennesaret” means “harp” (as in the instrument).
- Answer
this – how does any lake act like a harp? What does it do, how does it sound – that it
acts in this way?
- What is it about what happens at this particular lake, that makes “Gennesaret”/”harp” an accurate description?
- How does Jesus and His Word act like a harp, here?
Day 3…Read Luke 5:4
- Consider this – when the Lord calls on Peter to “put out” into the water for a catch, He specifically instructs Peter to put out into “deep water.” (literally, the “deep sea”)
- Answer
this – what might be significant about this instruction?
- What does it tell us about God’s nature, His work, etc.?
Day 4…Read Luke 5:5
- Consider
this – the New International Version of the Scripture (from which we get our
translation today), notes Peter as saying: “But because you say so, I will…”
- The original Greek specifically arranges Peter’s words this way: “But I will do as you say…”
- Answer
this – how do these two translations and order of words compare? How do they contrast?
- What does the original Greek’s ordering of Peter’s words help us to understand about Peter’s response to Jesus’ command, that the English/NIV translation might cause us to miss?
Day 5…Read Luke 5:8
- Consider this – in response to their miraculous catch, Peter falls at the Lord’s knees and says: “…I am a sinful man!” (the emphasis, here – that he is not free from sin)
- Answer this – why would this be important for Peter to declare to Jesus?
Day 6…Read Luke 5:11
- Consider
this – the response these fishermen give to Jesus’ call to “catch men” is they
“…left everything and followed Him.”
- What Luke is telling us specifically – is the disciples “left all claim” to their boats and nets…right there. Anyone was free to come claim them without cost or repayment to Peter and the rest.
- Answer
this – what does this tell us about the nature of Jesus’ call on us as
disciples?
- How does the availability of free boats and nets compare to God’s grace?