This whole last week was Youth
Week 2023! About 15 FBC Adults came together to bring our youth a week of Bible study, worship in song,
Small Groups, Team-Building, and a different fun activity every night! Our theme for the week was, “Twists &
Turns, where following Jesus changes the game of life,” because life is not all fun and games, even after
becoming a follower of Jesus; it’s full of twists and turns that can leave us feeling like we’ve taken one step
forward and two steps back.
That was certainly the case for our
case-study, a man in the Bible named Peter. He messed up; he stumbled; and he wasn’t perfect. But even
when Peter messed up, it wasn’t “Game Over”. God still worked through Peter to help others learn about
Jesus.
We looked together at five
different encounters Peter had with Jesus to discover that Jesus is holy; trustworthy; forgiving when we
mess up; worth following no matter what; and that Jesus is for everyone, even all of us.
The youth did not know this, but
these are the Focus of the 5 days of this year’s VBS, which is just 3 weeks away! So, for all you VBS Workers
who participated, you are that much more prepared to help, and you didn’t even know it!
Our Theme Verse for the week
was Psalm 25:4 – “Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths [so I’ll know how to live more
confidently].”
Because these are amazing topics
and Scriptures to study, and so we can all be more on the same page and prepared to lead the children who
will be in our care, I am going to be preaching through these passages for the next 3 weeks.
This morning we’ll be looking together at Luke 5:1-11.
In the first four chapters of Luke,
we see how Jesus was born, grew up, was baptized, and began His earthly ministry. Today, we are going to
pick up in Luke chapter 5 and learn about one of the early encounters the Bible records between Jesus and
Peter.
We know from John 1:35-42 that
Jesus had previously talked with Simon Peter and Andrew before this event and had been teaching in the area.
Now we’re looking at the encounter Peter had with Jesus where and when he finally saw Jesus for who He
really is – why I’m calling today’s message, “Aha!”.
It’s like this line of letters, which I used this week as well: O T T F F S S E N ?
What is the missing letter at the end?
If you know, just raise your hand, but don’t give it away.
I’m confident all of the rest of us have some kind of idea what it might be, because you believe something,
based on your life experience, about what the letter might be. Everyone has reasons for what they believe,
even if they believe it doesn’t matter. (which is a belief).
The Bible describes Jesus as the answer to all the heaviest things of life. The Sunday School answer for
everything is typically “Jesus”, right? Just like Jesus is the answer, there is a correct answer for what letter is
missing.
What do you think it is? _ I’m sure you have reasons behind what you believe the answer is, like:
“N” because all the consonants are doubled, “D” for “SEND”, or “O” to round it off. Those are all logical, but
they are also incorrect.
The missing letter is ”T”. But if you thought the answer was “T” for “SENT”, you’d miss the point. And even if
you believe and trust me that the answer is “T”, if you don’t know why, the answer probably doesn’t excite
you.
It’s similar with Jesus. Most people in the United States have heard His name and are aware that He claims to
be the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.
“Jesus” is the most frequently used name in our nation. You’ll hear it in locker rooms, on golf courses, and in
business meetings. People shout it when they’re happy, mad, surprised, and excited. His is the only proper
name that is used as a swear word. But, like the letter “T”, only those who are intimately acquainted with Him
are excited. Knowing about Jesus doesn’t excite. Knowing Him is very exciting!
God made you to love you, and for you to love Him back. He also made you able to recognize Jesus, His son,
for who He really is when introduced to Him.
If you were introduced to someone, and then you realized they were actually Jesus – from everything you
know of the Bible – you’d have some sort of an “’Aha! moment” – a moment that makes you look at life, or a
situation, in a completely different way; sometimes described as “a lightbulb coming on in your head” that
makes the hairs on your arms, or the back of your neck, stand up.
In a similar (and much smaller) way, you have it in you already to know why “T” is the answer. Let me show
you.
Look at the letters (O T T F F S S E N ?). When you realize why “T” is the answer, raise your hand. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, ”T” for 10!
When you finally understood, you had an “Aha!” moment. You don’t know what happened, but you do know
something took place. That’s what happens when you receive Jesus. Look how it happened for Peter:
Luke 5:1-7 – 1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around Him
and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who
were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out
a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a
catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so,
I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they
signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full
that they began to sink.
I. In our helplessness, Jesus convinces us of His power.
This is an unprecedented catch of fish in a location that proved hopelessly unproductive the whole night
before. And it was caught at the powerful and authoritative request of Jesus.
Isn’t it true that often the greatest barrier to us seeing God’s power is us – what we think we can do on our
own apart from God, instead of stepping up and actually risking doing what we can – what God has actually
told us to do – and trusting God to do what we can’t?
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
II. Awareness of God’s presence convicts us of our sin and unworthiness.
THIS was Peter’s “Aha!” moment!
9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and
John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Because He cares and is kind kindness, Jesus provided these guys what they actually needed, what they were
working for, because He actually loves us and is intentional about it.
Romans 2:4 tells us “…God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.”
(v10) …Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
III. He calls us to join Him and participate fully in His ministry.
They had been catching living fish that, once they caught them, died. Now they would catch dead fish –
sinners Ephesians 2:12 says are “without hope and without God in the world” – and they would live!
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed Him.
IV. You must choose to follow Jesus – it doesn’t happen by accident!
By faith, they left everything – career, family, homes, everyday life as they knew it – and followed Jesus.
The Gospel guides you to life in Jesus that’s free, but not automatic. When you recognize Jesus for who He
really is, you can’t stay the same and be OK! Real love always provokes a response.
Jesus is the answer to our problem with sin, our separation from God, guilt and condemnation, fear and
worry, relationship problems, sickness and disease, hopelessness and despair, and loneliness.
It costs to follow Jesus, but it costs a whole lot more not to.
Acts 2:21 – “everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Because Peter recognized Jesus
for Who He really is, it changed everything for him!
I want our children and youth to know what they believe, why they believe it, and how to put it into their own
words and live it out in their own lives. I want that for all the rest of us, who just happen to be older youth.
Going along with our Game Theme: If the Christian life were a football game, the ball would be the Gospel.
Our target and goal is getting the Gospel into the lives and hearts of all people – “whosoever will”, starting
with the people we know. We wield the anchor for people’s souls. It’s an invitation to hope and friendship
with God through Jesus. And we are about developing deeper friendship with God and bringing everyone
else we can with us!
God wants not only us, but everyone saved. He wants everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: That
there’s one God and only one way to be with Him through Jesus, who offered Himself in exchange for
everyone held captive by sin, to set us all free.
1 Timothy 2:4-6 says it like this: “ 4 …[God] wants all people [everyone] to be saved and to come to a
knowledge [understanding] of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind
[all humanity], the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all people…”
If the Christian life were a football game, we move the ball down the game-field of life by sharing with others
the understanding of the Gospel with a verbal definition and a visual demonstration. Love is demonstrated,
or it’s not love – genuinely caring for the best interests of others.
What hangs in the balance is the souls of people. In Sharing the Gospel, we risk feeling awkward; they risk
eternity separated from God.
We are not better than anyone else, but we are better-off! And they can be, too – we can help that!
I’ll be down here to pray with you. Pastor Dirck and I will be around after if you need to talk. We are here for you!
“God, give us wisdom about our choices and beliefs that keep us distant from you. Make your ways known to
us, Lord. Teach us Your paths and give us courage to walk them out. And help us seize opportunities to bring
that hope and healing from You to those around us.”
