When you think you should try again. 

Bible Reference: Luke 5:1-11

There was a momentous event happening at the Lake of Gennesaret. Jesus was calling his first disciples to follow his leadership. These were the men that would be trained by Jesus, himself, and continue on in his ministry as his successors. In this moment, Jesus was preaching to a crowd of people near the shore of the lake. There were plenty of people to choose from to be his students, but his selection wasn’t from the crowd. He actually got into a boat that he saw sitting by the shore while continuing to teach the people. And guess who’s right there with him because it was actually his boat that Jesus got into? Peter (aka Simon), one of his first draft picks. 

Peter was minding his business, cleaning his nets after a long hard night of zero catches of fish. And here is Jesus, sitting in his boat telling Peter to put it back out into the water. Peter was tired, discouraged, and ready to go home after washing his nets. But little did Peter know that he would be taught an invaluable lesson, and his life would change that day.

“He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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.” Luke 5:2

The night before, the fishermen, including Peter, were out on the water for hours and were struggling with catching fish. In this moment (Luke 5:2), they’re washing their nets, ready to head home. 

Q: What was appealing to Jesus as he targeted these specific men in this specific line of work in the disciple selection process?

“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.” Luke 5:3

Q: What were the benefits of Jesus teaching the crowd from Peter’s boat?

• The benefit to the crowd.
• The benefit to Peter and the other fishermen.

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4

Q: After no success the night before, why do you think Jesus kept Peter from going home, challenging him to give it another go? What do you think Jesus was teaching him?

Q: What was the significance of Jesus telling Peter to put out into deep water? Why “deep water”?

“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.” Luke 5:5

Q: Simon could have declined, packed up his things and gone home, but he didn’t do that. Why do you think he responded to Jesus the way he did?

“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” Luke 5:6

Q: What lesson do you think Peter and the fishermen learned in this moment? 

Q: What made the difference between Peter’s failed attempt at fishing the night before and this attempt the day after?

Q: How might this account relate to your life right now? i.e. work, passion project, calling, relationship, etc.

“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord: I am a sinful man!” Luke 5:8

Identify: Give a word that describes Peter’s emotion.

Q: What triggered Peter’s emotion?

Q: If you were in Peter’s shoes but had a chance to do this all over again, what would you have done differently?

Q: Is (or was) there an opportunity in your life to do something differently?

“Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him” Luke 5:11

Q: Why do you think Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid.” 

Reflection

Journal about something you think you’re being called to try again for a big catch.

Rise and Shine Bright.