FROM NOW ON YOU WILL FISH FOR PEOPLE

Luke 5:1-11

Key Verse; 10b

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

1. Read verse 1. Where was Jesus and what was he doing? Describe the crowd who came to him. Why were so many coming to Jesus? What does this show about them and also about Jesus? (Luke 4:4; Luke 4:43; Matt 9:35-37)

2. Read verses 2 and 3. What did Jesus notice as he taught? What had Simon and his friends been doing all night? What were they doing while Jesus was teaching the crowd? Whose boat did Jesus use and what request did Jesus make? How did this help Jesus? How did it help Simon?

3. Read verses 4-5. After Jesus finished speaking to the crowd what did he ask Simon to do? Why might it have been difficult for Simon to obey Jesus? Yet, what was Simon's response? What does this tell us about his attitude towards Jesus and towards Jesus' words? Why is it necessary to have the same attitude towards Jesus and His Words that Simon did? (Proverbs 1:7)

4. Read verses 6-10a. What happened when Simon obeyed Jesus’ words? How did Simon and his fishing partners react? (9-10a)? How did Simon respond to this event? Why did he say, "Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man?"

5. Read verses 10b-11. What new life direction did Jesus give Simon? What does "from now on you will catch men" mean? How did Simon and his companions respond? What was Jesus' purpose in calling them? (Daniel 12:3; Exodus 19:4-6; 1Peter 2:9-10; 5:2)

---