Sunday School: Called to Follow

Good morning!
We're so happy you've joined us today!

When we met together in person, we shared our joys and concerns with each other. Consider the past week. We certainly have a lot to pray for! If you have joys or concerns you would like to share, please feel free to put them in the comments so that everyone can also pray for your concern.

When you are ready, use the prayer below to begin. It is drawn from the St. Augustine's Confessions.

Great are You, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Your power, and infinite is Your wisdom. Man desires to praise You, for he is a part of Your creation; he bears his mortality about with him and carries the evidence of his sin and the proof You resist the proud. Still he desires to praise You, this man who is only a small part of Your creation. You have prompted him that he should delight to praise You, for You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You. ​

[Continue your personal prayers here.]

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Today's lesson is on Luke 5:1-11.

In today’s passage, Jesus calls men to follow him when they don’t know exactly what that meant.  Allow this passage to re-inspire your sense that Jesus has called you to something eternally significant.

​Previously Jesus taught in the synagogues, now his ministry has moved outdoors. Reports about his amazing deeds spread throughout the surrounding area resulting in large crowds following him.  He stepped into a fishing boat, moved away from the shore so that everyone could see and hear him.  When he finished teaching, he turns to the fishermen.

These men had been up all night and caught nothing. Jesus, a carpenter by trade, says; just go out into the deep water and see what happens. After some initial protest by Simon, that’s what they do. They catch so many fish that their nets begin to break, they must call in other help and they fill both boats to the point of sinking. And all because this rabbi, whose hands have experienced more splinters than scales, tells them to.  

These fishermen, represented by Simon, respond with worship: “But when Simon Peter saw [the catch], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’”

This story is indeed a call story, and there’s only one Caller in Scripture — the Lord God. In this lesson, Peter sees the Creator, the Lord God himself.   His response, in word and behavior, was rightly characterized by awe and respect.

We have the choice to follow Simon Peter’s example and act for God on his timing before you know completely what he is doing.  It matters not if your calling is to full-time ministry or to Christian witness in the secular world or to serve your family as a homemaker,  Your calling has a purpose in Christ’s kingdom.

Prayer
Thank you, Father, for the privilege of responding to your Son’s call!  Help us fulfill our calls to fish for people.  In the Son’s name we pray.  Amen.
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Thought to Remember
Followers of Jesus fish for people.  Start fishing.

Benediction
​This week's benediction is from the Good News Translation.

Next week's lesson will be on Mark 2:1-12.