Leaving Everything but Gaining Everything

Notes from Impact last night (March 10, 2010)

Luke 5:1-11
Following Christ – Leaving Everything but Gaining Everything

Throughout our study of Luke, we have seen many common themes in the text: faith, purpose, and the Kingdom of God are a few. Tonight we are going to look at a passage that really encompasses all three. The story of the disciples being called by Jesus is not really an unfamiliar one, even to those outside of the Church. However, we are going to really look at what these men were called to and what Jesus is calling us to as well.

1. Jesus Shows that He is the Real Deal (vv.1-9) – Jesus demonstrates that He is the real deal to the disciples in the boat. From the outside looking in, this might appear as an accidental meeting. Jesus is teaching by this shoreline, and the crowds become too large so He moves into some nearby boats to address the crowd. Actually this area of the shore is naturally an amphitheater, so it works out really well. Anyway, this was not a chance meeting. Jesus knew what He was doing. He knew Peter, James, and John would be here in their boats, and they spent the entire time listening to what Jesus had to say. They have tried all night to catch fish (the best time to catch fish for this area), and then Jesus asks them to try and catch some in the daytime. After they are extremely successful, these men know that Jesus is more than ordinary. Question: What is our response when we first know that God is real? Jesus is showing these guys that they will not follow just another person; He is the Son of God.

2. Jesus Calls to a Bigger Purpose (vs. 10) – Jesus calls the three men to something bigger than what they were currently doing. Instead, He calls them to be a part of the Kingdom of God – to help be a part of God’s plan to save the world. They did not fully grasp what it was they were committing to, but they knew it was worth it. Question: Do you know God is calling us to the same thing? God is calling us to be a part of saving the world. Maybe we do not know every detail or understand every part right now, but we are being called. Question: What did the disciples do when Jesus called them? They left everything they were doing and followed Him, and they really did leave their lives behind. Now they did not totally leave their families (Peter did not leave his wife), but they put the job of following Jesus above the job they currently had. The same was true for every disciple (not all of them were fisherman). Christ is calling us to follow Him as well, but He did not always specifically ask us to leave our lives behind such as jobs or school. For some, that may be true, but many times Christ is calling us to put everything we think is important behind the Kingdom of God. These men were followers of Christ first and everything second. For us, we are disciples first, and students second or something like that. When we put Christ at the forefront of everything we do, everything we do becomes ministry in the Kingdom of God! Then going to school is about reaching people with the Gospel that you go to school with, and having a job is about reaching your coworkers for the Kingdom and your money supporting the ministry of the church and your family. Paul uses his skills as a tentmaker in Acts 18:1-4 as a way to stay in the town of Corinth and reach people there. This changes our whole perspective on life!

3. Leaving Everything is Gaining Everything (vs.11) – Even though these men left everything to follow Christ, they gained everything. Having a life found in Christ is worth more than anything in this entire world. What we are giving up is nothing comparing to Who we are gaining. Today, will you answer that call God is placing in your life? Have you ever started your journey following Christ? Is God calling you to something bigger than you have in your life right now? Following Christ will change your life and the lives of others as well. Let’s save the world.



Discussion/Application Questions

1. Do you really know God and the love He has for you?

2. Are you living in the purpose that God has for your life? Are you even looking for it?

3. What is the most important thing in your life?