Experiencing God’s Grace
A. A mundane existence? (1-3)
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.
B. When God is at work
1) It may seem unremarkable at first glance (4-5)
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.”
2) Touched by God’s grace (6-10a)
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. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 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. !
C. To leave Jesus everything and follow Jesus (10b-11)
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Summary
God is at work in our everyday lives and he meets us individually and in such a way that we can sense his presence. We experience fear and awe when we realize that God is at work in our lives because we realize that we are unworthy of his grace. God tells us not to be afraid and invites us to walk with him. Let's wait and hope in eager expectation that God will meet us in the midst of our day-to-day lives and let us walk with him without fear.
For Discussion
1) Share an experience in which it was clear that God (and not you) was at work.
2) What does it mean in your life to leave everything and follow Jesus?