Sunday February 9th 2025
Peace Lutheran Church
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11
Introduction –
Fishing stories!
Do you have a favorite fishing story?
Even if you don’t like fishing–I would imagine you have a story.
Where do you go fishing?
Why do you go there?
Who’s with you?
The insert in your bulletin describes many of our fishing stories, right?!
We can’t help but keep score.
We exaggerate how large that bass or rainbow trout was.
Did you or your kiddo catch the bigger one?
Canyon Ferry holds the popular Walleye Festival.
How many of you will be there this summer June 27th-28th?
Some of my fondest memories growing up and raising our boys were at the lake fishing. Personally, when I fish or hunt…(I’m practical)…I want to eat what I catch. I love a savory elk steak or brook trout cooked over the fire. From the field or lake to the table–it’s God’s finest!
But fishing the way we think about it was completely different than the way Simon (Peter), his brother, Andrew, and their fishing partners–James, John and their father Zebedee–experienced. Their style of fishing wasn’t a hobby. It was their livelihood. They didn’t use poles. They used nets. Their occupation was grueling work. A decent catch would have been an exhilarating day, but the catch the Lord provided blew their minds. It was unbelievable! Luke even includes the details that their nets were breaking and their boats were sinking. That’s a lot of Tilapia!
(We will get to the huge catch later.)
For now, it’s important to know about the fishing trade in Peter’s day. When they fished—they did it during the nighttime when it was cooler and the fish came closer to the water’s surface and shoreline. But during the daytime—when it was hotter—the fish dove deeper into the water. Trying to fish with heavy, dirty, and wet nets during the daytime was unthinkable. The fishing wasn’t any good then. As Luke writes, Peter and company were, “Cleaning their nets.” Yes, he was getting them ready for the next “night shift”.
We would agree. It’s frustrating to go out on the lake and come back with nothing. Again, I’m practical. I’m not out there for the looks of it. I want to bring something back for supper. Peter’s situation is much different though. It’s beyond frustrating. It’s demoralizing! If I don’t catch that much-anticipated cutthroat…oh well…there are many good options out there. But Peter and company didn’t have many options. Fishing the Sea of Galilee was the way those guys made a living. No catch, no fish to sell…no income…a scary place to be.
It still is.
Managing jobs/finances can be stressful, isn’t that true?
However, this is important. These guys had a good, fishing operation, especially in that time period. Luke explains, “They had two boats.” They were business partners. When the Lord provided the overwhelming catch—their nets were breaking. Both boats were sinking.
What’s the point? These fishermen knew what they were doing. They were experienced. They knew how to fish, but Jesus was teaching them how to fish for people. This lesson still applies today. Even if you’re not a fan of fishing, did you know that Jesus is preparing you to fish for people? Okay, what does it mean to be a fisher of people?
Look at the story again in Luke’s gospel. A great crowd was pressing in around Jesus, so he got inside Peter’s boat (a wonderful pulpit!) and put out a little ways to preach the Good News of God’s eternal Kingdom–given through Jesus Christ. Like a humongous net cast out— you can’t even begin to measure its glory–just as Jesus preached in John 14:2 “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
You see–His net–His kingdom come–His will be done–in you–as it is in heaven–is beyond any temporary, broken kingdom of this world. Because we’re talking about fishing with nets, I like to think of our little earthly kingdoms like the fishermen’s nets breaking and boats sinking.
Isn’t that true?
We rely too much on our temporary, self-absorbed kingdoms that we assume we know better than God does. My father-in-law saw a funny church sign. He told me about it. It said: “You want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.”
It’s true. God’s net–His kingdom come, His will be done–on earth as it is in heaven–given through Jesus–the Resurrection and the Life–never breaks or sinks. His unbreakable promises–His gospel–is the news that the crowds on Galilee’s shores, Peter and company, and we need daily. Pray that our/our neighbors’ hearts would be open to receive God’s kingdom come, His will be done in our lives–through Jesus. Whether that sermon is preached from a pulpit, boat, inside your home, inside your friend’s truck…wherever God leads you…tell them about Jesus’ kingdom–His unbreakable net–His Word–that never changes–while changing your life to reflect Christ and his kingdom forever.
Look at the story.
Following Jesus’ sermon, the Lord tells Peter, “Let’s go out into the deep water. Drop the nets there.”
It’s like the Lord’s was telling Peter, “You think the fishing is over? It’s just getting started.”
Look at Peter’s response (typical of our little, self-absorbed kingdoms)…“Master, we’ve been at it all night and caught nothing but as you say so, I’ll drop the nets.”
In other words…”Okay Lord but here goes nothing!”
Here’s the amazing part about Jesus’ unbreakable promises–His Grace–God’s Righteousness at Christ’s Expense–is NOT conditioned by our life circumstances. Our faults, sins, doubtful attempts, etc. do not prevent Jesus from revealing the news of His kingdom that lost, broken people desperately need. Whether you are like those standing on the shores of Galilee or–like Peter trying to fish–we need the same unbreakable net of Jesus Christ that leads Peter to his knees, confessing his sins right there in his stinky, sinking boat: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
My friends, in the same way, that’s where Jesus’ net–meets us–delivering us from our little, stinky absorbed kingdoms–for Jesus’ kingdom that has no end. Genuine confession (telling God what you actually need) leads to genuine forgiveness and commitment. In other words, your Spirit-filled confession and forgiveness turns into Spirit-filled service. This isn’t my opinion. Look at the story.
Immediately, Jesus tells Peter, you and me: “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be fishing for people.”
Naturally, the enemy wants you to stay in a rabbit hole of shame and regret, but not Jesus. Rather, His net–His gospel–meets us in the rabbit holes we face, acknowledges our need to confess His truth, and delivers us to serve Him and His kingdom–just like Peter received through Jesus.
Peter didn’t need to sit through various lectures at seminary on how to preach the gospel before the Lord called him to be a fisher of people.
Luke tells us, “After they brought their boats to shore, they dropped everything and followed Him.”
Likewise–when Jesus forgives you–He removes your fears and gives you His everlasting hope and faith and truth to proclaim/to live out His gospel–the net–that never breaks and always delivers. You might be thinking, “But Andrew you don’t understand. My little net (world) is the only thing I know how to cast.”
Listen…the truth will set you free. Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for your sins and glorious resurrection from the dead–you are a fisher of people because Jesus has given you a new net to cast.
His unbreakable net–His kingdom is not of this world where “nothing” in heaven, on earth, or under the earth can remove the hope pf His kingdom from you–just as His word promises, “38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).”
Even if you don’t like fishing–being a forgiven, Spirit-filled son/daughter of the living God through Jesus Christ–brothers and sisters–you are a fisher of people.
Amen.
Bible Memory Verse: “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be a fisher of men (Luke 5:10).”
Prayer for the Week: Lord Jesus, thank you for meeting me where I’m to confess your way, truth, and life. Thank you for forgiveness and grace that removes my fears and calls me to be a fisher of men. Teach me to cast your net–your kingdom–of truth, hope, and life eternal–through Jesus I pray. Amen.