Resource Details

LUKE 5:1-11
"One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 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 5:1-3

"After Jesus finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Now launch out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because yousay so, I will let down the nets.'" Luke 5:4-5 

"When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break! So they signaled their partners (James and John) in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full with fish that they began to sink!" Luke 5:6-7a

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'VE HAD A BUSINESS SETBACK
("When You've Come Up Empty")

1.   GIVE JESUS COMPLETE ACCESS TO MY BUSINESS

"Jesus 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

                        I must get Jesus IN MY BOAT!

                        My boat is: what I do to make a living
     
                        What does it mean to have Jesus in my boat?

Action Plan: Decide on a couple of ways that you can get Jesus in your boat this week. Invite him into your business in prayer everyday. Look to Scripture for answers of moral and ethical questions. Make it a priority to pursue Christlike character in how you interact with others in your office.

2.   ADMIT MY EFFORTS AREN'T WORKING

"When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Now launch out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we'veworked hardall night and haven't caught ANYTHING!'"  Luke 5:4-5a
 
Which of these is preventing me from admitting I need help?
                         PRIDE?      STUBBORNNESS?     FEAR?     (circle)

Action Plan:  Read Pastor Tom's book Putting It Together Again When It's All Fallen Apart.

3.  DO WHATEVER JESUS TELLS ME TO DO

Even if it seems illogical, you can't afford it, or it appears foolish to others.

"Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. BUT because you say so, Iwill let down the nets.'" Luke 5:5

              WHEN: "Now launch out"
              WHAT: "Let down your nets"
              WHERE: "into deep water"

        What has God told you to do that youstillhaven't done?
              Be baptized?  Start serving?  Forgive someone?  Start tithing?

Action Plan: Look at the question above (What has God told you to do that you still haven't done?). Tell the answer to a friend who can hold you accountable and then make an actionable plan to obey God's directive.  

  4. EXPECT JESUS TO TURN THINGS AROUND

The Faith Factor: You must trust him to do what he says he'll do.

"When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break! 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!"  Luke 5:6-7

PETER'S REACTION
"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners."    Luke 5:8-9

THE REAL LESSON
"Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men!' So they pulled their boats up on shore, and THEY left everything and followed JESUS!" Luke 5:10-11

WHICH IS JESUS CALLING YOU TO DO?

       #1. Is Jesus calling ME to leave my job to serve him full-time?
                           Am I willing to do that "because he says so"?        

            OR      

       #2 Is Jesus calling ME to start using my job as a platform to share his message of hope? (Be a Marketplace Missionary)
                                   
Write either  '#1'  OR  '#2' on your response card today

Action Plan: Continue praying through these questions this week. Be open to however God wants to guide you.   

Doable Discipleship: This week's episode of Doable Discipleship finishes a series on busting Bible myths. New episodes release every Tuesday. To watch or listen,click here.

Talk It Over: Have you ever discussed the weekend message in your small group? Talk It Over provides weekly small group discussion questions as a way to bring the weekend message into your small group. To view this week's Talk It Over,click here.