Casting the Net
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-Sun. Bible Class – Miracles of Jesus
-water to wine in Cana, unspecified signs in Jerusalem (Nicodemus), healing of
the official’s son in Capernaum (from Cana)
-Word regarding Jesus was rapidly spreading.
-Rejection at Nazareth – to Capernaum
-Upon His arrival in Capernaum, a crowd followed Him and was “pressing in on him
to hear the word of God” (Luke 5:1).
-Jesus teaches from the boat of Peter (Luke 5:2-3).
-However, for the purpose of this lesson, I want to focus on what happened after Jesus
taught the crowd.
-Goin’ Fishin’
-Jesus’ instructions to Peter – Go to deeper water and let down your nets for a catch.
Notice, the purpose wasn’t just to fish but to catch fish.
-There wasn’t just a possibility of catching fish. It wasn’t simply a probability.
It was a certainty.
-Let’s divide what happens next into three categories: 1. Peter’s action, 2. Peter’s
reaction and 3. the mission.
-Peter’s Action
-“Master, we have toiled all night and took nothing!”
-The Greek word translated “toiled” has to do with feeling fatigue, working/laboring
hard, to be wearied. They had fished all night and caught“nothing” – not a single
one.
-“But at your word I will let down the nets”
-What a wonderful statement made by Peter. “Peter sacrificed his own practical
knowledge as a fisherman to the authoritative word of Jesus…” (Boles, pg 112).
-Peter’s expectations were not the key element. Rather, it was submission to Jesus.
-Peter and those with him lowered the nets and caught so many that the nets were
breaking. They motioned to their partners – James and John – to come and help.
-Both boats were filled with so many fish that the boats began to sink.
-Peter’s Reaction
-Peter and the others were astonished at what had transpired.
-“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me,
for I am a sinful man’” (Luke 5:8).
-a humble and worshipful attitude
-When confronted with the Supremacy of Jesus, Peter was mindful of his own
weaknesses and shortcomings.
-those at Sinai (Ex. 20:18-21); Jacob (Gen. 32:10); Isaiah (Isa. 6:1-5); John (Matt.
3:11); Centurion (Luke 7:6); the prodigal son (Luke 15:21)
-Yes, our God is fully aware of our imperfections, our mistakes. Yet, aren’t you thrilled
that He also recognizes our strengths and our abilities. Aren’t you thrilled that He sees
value and usefulness within us!
-Peter felt unfit and unworthy of association with Jesus. But, not only did Jesus not
depart from Peter, He wanted Peter to follow Him. He saw value and importance
in Peter. And, He was going to use Peter.
-The Mission
-“And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men’”
(Luke 5:10).
-These men, Peter, James and John, brought their boats to land – along with the
biggest single catch they had ever seen or experienced – and left it all. They left
their families, their profession, their possessions and followed Jesus.
-They were not to be afraid to be active in the service of the Lord. They were now
fishing for lost souls. And, the abundance of their physical catch was an indication of
the abundance of their spiritual catch to come.
-What About Us?
-The apostles’ mission is now our mission – Matt.28:18-20.
-Notice the time frame of the Great Commission – “to the end of the age/world.”
-We, too, despite our own weaknesses and shortcomings, need to be at work in the
service of the Lord. We, too, need to be fishing for lost souls.
-To do so, we must take the Gospel to others. This isn’t a suggestion. It is a command.
-And, interestingly, in the Greek the command element of the Great Commission is
not the word “Go.” Instead, it is the statement, “make disciples.”
-That comes by avenue of the Gospel of Christ.
-We must put confidence in the message – not in us as the messengers. Yes, we want to
do the best we can in presenting the message – but it is not up to us to convict and
convert. The power to do that is in the message. – Rom. 1:16.
-Fear not. Cast the net. If we do, we will catch lost souls.
-Invitation
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-Sun. Bible Class – Miracles of Jesus
-water to wine in Cana, unspecified signs in Jerusalem (Nicodemus), healing of
the official’s son in Capernaum (from Cana)
-Word regarding Jesus was rapidly spreading.
-Rejection at Nazareth – to Capernaum
-Upon His arrival in Capernaum, a crowd followed Him and was “pressing in on him
to hear the word of God” (Luke 5:1).
-Jesus teaches from the boat of Peter (Luke 5:2-3).
-However, for the purpose of this lesson, I want to focus on what happened after Jesus
taught the crowd.
-Goin’ Fishin’
-Jesus’ instructions to Peter – Go to deeper water and let down your nets for a catch.
Notice, the purpose wasn’t just to fish but to catch fish.
-There wasn’t just a possibility of catching fish. It wasn’t simply a probability.
It was a certainty.
-Let’s divide what happens next into three categories: 1. Peter’s action, 2. Peter’s
reaction and 3. the mission.
-Peter’s Action
-“Master, we have toiled all night and took nothing!”
-The Greek word translated “toiled” has to do with feeling fatigue, working/laboring
hard, to be wearied. They had fished all night and caught“nothing” – not a single
one.
-“But at your word I will let down the nets”
-What a wonderful statement made by Peter. “Peter sacrificed his own practical
knowledge as a fisherman to the authoritative word of Jesus…” (Boles, pg 112).
-Peter’s expectations were not the key element. Rather, it was submission to Jesus.
-Peter and those with him lowered the nets and caught so many that the nets were
breaking. They motioned to their partners – James and John – to come and help.
-Both boats were filled with so many fish that the boats began to sink.
-Peter’s Reaction
-Peter and the others were astonished at what had transpired.
-“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me,
for I am a sinful man’” (Luke 5:8).
-a humble and worshipful attitude
-When confronted with the Supremacy of Jesus, Peter was mindful of his own
weaknesses and shortcomings.
-those at Sinai (Ex. 20:18-21); Jacob (Gen. 32:10); Isaiah (Isa. 6:1-5); John (Matt.
3:11); Centurion (Luke 7:6); the prodigal son (Luke 15:21)
-Yes, our God is fully aware of our imperfections, our mistakes. Yet, aren’t you thrilled
that He also recognizes our strengths and our abilities. Aren’t you thrilled that He sees
value and usefulness within us!
-Peter felt unfit and unworthy of association with Jesus. But, not only did Jesus not
depart from Peter, He wanted Peter to follow Him. He saw value and importance
in Peter. And, He was going to use Peter.
-The Mission
-“And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men’”
(Luke 5:10).
-These men, Peter, James and John, brought their boats to land – along with the
biggest single catch they had ever seen or experienced – and left it all. They left
their families, their profession, their possessions and followed Jesus.
-They were not to be afraid to be active in the service of the Lord. They were now
fishing for lost souls. And, the abundance of their physical catch was an indication of
the abundance of their spiritual catch to come.
-What About Us?
-The apostles’ mission is now our mission – Matt.28:18-20.
-Notice the time frame of the Great Commission – “to the end of the age/world.”
-We, too, despite our own weaknesses and shortcomings, need to be at work in the
service of the Lord. We, too, need to be fishing for lost souls.
-To do so, we must take the Gospel to others. This isn’t a suggestion. It is a command.
-And, interestingly, in the Greek the command element of the Great Commission is
not the word “Go.” Instead, it is the statement, “make disciples.”
-That comes by avenue of the Gospel of Christ.
-We must put confidence in the message – not in us as the messengers. Yes, we want to
do the best we can in presenting the message – but it is not up to us to convict and
convert. The power to do that is in the message. – Rom. 1:16.
-Fear not. Cast the net. If we do, we will catch lost souls.
-Invitation
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
