Sermon Central
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Gone Fishing Series
Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Oct 23, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: 247 million Americans call themselves Christians yet Jesus calls us to be disciples. What is a disciple and what are the cost and sacrifices to be a disciple. (Taken from a series by Pastor Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv)
Introduction
This is the second week- talk about being a disciple.
Last week- observation- Jesus never invited anyone to be a Christian, but called them to be disciples.
Christian has become- those w/belief system that does not change how they live.
247 million Americans- call themselves Christians- just as likely to- get divorced, abort babies.
Jesus is calling us into a level of commitment that is greater than just having a belief system.
Look at one pastors approach to resolving the difference between a Christian/Disciple.
Video Clip- LifeChurch.tv vs LiteChurch.tv
Compare today’s Christianity with the words of Jesus.
What did Jesus call us to be? Disciples, followers.
What does it mean-love Jesus more than my own life?
(solicit two/three answers from the church)
Jesus- set some pretty high standards for his followers
There are many good descent people- believe in God, call themselves Christians, but not truly disciples.
Lk 14:33
Should we lower the standards for following Christ to make it comfortable, or adhere to His standards?
Jesus calls men to follow Him
Lk 5:1-3
Nine townships around the lake- 15,000 people.
Jesus was preaching where the people were.
Lk 5:4-9
What happens is a miracle to Peter and the others.
Normal response be- Wow, amazing, unbelievable!
What did Peter do? V8 Why did Peter react this way?
(solicit two/three answers from the church)
Peter was convinced God Himself had intervened.
He recognized- Jesus was much more than just a man.
He felt unworthy to be in His presence.
He was consciousness of his- smallness, sinfulness.
Isa 6:5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
Sin- miss the mark and not share in the prize.
Peter recognized he fell far short of God’s standard.
He was an unholy man in the presence of a holy God.
Peter failed to recognize- Jesus came for men like him
Lk 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to
save that which was lost." NASU
Three truths from John 5:1-11
1. Gone Fishing
Jn 5:10
Disciple- fishes for men, he makes other disciples
Mtt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
When Jesus when after people- did not sit in church.
He did life with them … with a spiritual emphasis.
He brought the spiritual into everyday life.
He lived life with a focus toward the eternal.
i.e. If you have kids, you should be discipling them.
Not the role of the church- we can partner w/you.
Are you the number one discipler in your kids’ lives?
It says this about Jesus in John 1 …
Jn 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. NASU
Jesus came full of grace and truth.
Many people- when fishing- use only one or the other.
Truth is …
You are a sinner! You no good dog. Without Jesus, you are going to hell, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth!” Praise God.
Grace is …
Hey, dude, it doesn’t matter what you do, live however you want because Jesus loves you.
Truth is …
Without Him, you are in a heap of trouble- God is a holy God who cannot look on sin, and you were born with a sin nature. Without Jesus, you are destined for a eternal hell.
Grace is …
God loved you before you were even born and has an answer for your sin.
We must fish w/both grace/truth- that is who Jesus is.
2. Unquestioning Obedience
Lk 5:5 NLT
Here Peter says something very profound.
“but if you say so, we’ll try again.”
We must walk w/God with- unquestioning obedience.
The rabbi will ask his disciples to do things that do not make sense.
Someone strikes you on the cheek, you want to hit them back- but Jesus said …
Turn the other cheek.
Does not make sense- but if you say so, I will do it.
Someone curses you, you want to curse them back- but Jesus said …
Bless and do not curse.
Does not make sense- but if you say so, I will do it.
Someone asks you for your shirt, you want to tell them to get their own- but Jesus said …
Give them your coat, too.
Does not make sense- but if you say so, I will do it.
Someone demands you walk a mile- carry their armor, you want to tell them where to go- Jesus says …
