Jesus Calls the Disciples - Luke 5:1-11

1. What did Jesus see and experience that drew him to Simon's boat? Jesus experienced a crowd of listeners pressing upon him to hear the word of God. He also saw two boats at the shore. After a night of fishing with no results, the fishermen were washing their nets. He chose to get into Simon’s boat.
2. What did Jesus request of Simon? After Jesus got into Simon’s boat, he asked him to move a short way from the shore. Simon’s boat then became the platform from which Jesus taught the crowd.
3. Luke 5:4 tells us that “When he (Jesus) had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’” Why would Simon, an experienced fisherman, consider these instructions nonsense? Fishing was done at night in those days. The fishermen would spend the night in the shallows, tossing their nets and pulling in the catch. Then as dawn broke, they would bring the fish to shore and sell them at the market.” Jesus’ approach was against Simon’s better judgment and wasn’t the way things were done in his business.
4. What is the significance of Simon addressing Jesus as “Master” when he expressed his resistance, then his compliance? Peter knew he was in over his head. ‘Go away from me.’ That’s the first thing he thinks to say in the face of someone who lived so much more deeply than he did. ‘Go away I can’t handle it; I’m not good enough for it; I don’t have the strength.
5. When have you felt “in over your head” in your efforts to follow Jesus?
6. What guidance does Simon’s honest outburst to Jesus offer you for growing through such times?
7. What will you do to sense Jesus’ comfort and calling in the midst of life’s challenges?
8. What do you need to leave behind to follow Jesus’ invitation to go deeper?
9. How can your faith community help you hear and follow Jesus?

Order of Worship

Welcome and Community Life

 Prelude
 Call to Worship

      Leader: How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

      People: All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

* Opening Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty UMH #64

 Opening Prayer

Your wisdom, O Holy Mystery, is as unfathomable as the deep, as alluring as the night sky. When all seems lost, call us from the wreckage of our lives.

Grant us the ability and the will to hear your call and bless us with the grace to embrace your promised salvation.

Help us face our fears, that we might remain sure-footed on our journey of faith. Amen.

Children’s Message Carrie Ward

 Prayer Hymn Close to Thee, vv. 1-2 UMH 407

 Prayers of the People

 Prayer Response: Hear Us, O God UMH 490

 Choral Anthem: Cone Now and Follow Me

Prayer of Illumination

Loved as your children …

We walk in the footsteps of the saints. 

Called as Christ’s disciples … we follow the you, O Lord of life.

Blessed by the Holy Spirit … we abide in your presence.

May your word dwell in us and guide us. Amen.

Scripture Reading

  Psalm 138

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; Before the gods I sing your praise;

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and faithfulness;

For you have exalted your name and your word above everything.

On the day I called, you answered me, you strengthened my life.

All the rulers of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,

for they have heard the words of your mouth;

And they shall sing of the ways of the lord,

For great is the glory of the Lord.

For the Lord is high, but regards the lowly;

Yet knows the haughty from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;

You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies and your right hand delivers me.

O Lord, fulfill your purpose for me;

O Lord, may your steadfast love endure forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

  Luke 5:1-11

Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

  Leader: The Word of God

  People: Thanks be to God

 Sermon “Left Everything and Followed” Pastor Jim

Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;  And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;* the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Lesser Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right and good and a joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

You sit in majesty upon your throne, high and lofty.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. He called ordinary people to leave their work and to labor for the kingdom.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here that you might use us - even us - now, as your disciples.

Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit to give ourselves for others in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 Offering our Gifts to God

   The Doxology

   Prayer of Dedication

Ever-faithful God, who calls us into the deep waters of faith and trust, we offer these gifts with open hearts. Transform our offerings into acts of love and service, so that we may catch glimpses of your kingdom and draw others into your embrace. Guide us to live deeply and follow Christ's call to be fishers of people in your abundant grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

* Closing Hymn I Have Decided to Follow Jesus TFWS #2129

 Breakthrough Prayer

O holy and mighty redeemer, you act powerfully on behalf of your people. Our old ways no longer serve us, and we feel stuck. Breakthrough our complacency and reluctance as you reveal to us the new thing that you are doing with us. Help us to trust you. Equip us as we make our way down unfamiliar paths into the future that you are calling us to journey toward. Relieve our anxieties about our own future so that we may freely bring your loving grace to others.

 Dismissal with Blessing