Sermon Tone Analysis

*Intro* – This morning we are looking at an amazing passage of Scripture that tells how Jesus called his disciples.

Contrary to what we think, they didn’t just drop everything overnight and follow Him.

As relates to Peter and his partners, it was at least a 3-fold process.

First, John the Baptist introduces them and they spend a day together, but no mention is made of a call.

Later, back home in Galilee, Jesus finds Peter and Andrew fishing and Matt 4:19 says, “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

Their fishing partners, James and John, do the same.

But before long, they are back at the fishing business.

They are trying to have it both ways.

They are happy to have Jesus be Lord of their religious lives, but not their whole life.

Like a lot of people, at this point they were half in, half out.

The we come to Luke 5.

Vv. 1-2: “On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.”

Rather than miracles, this crowd is pressing in for the Word – what every congregation should be requiring of their leaders.

But where is Peter?

He and his crew are washing the nets.

Sermons are okay on Sabbath, but now he’s got to be ready to fish tonight.

After all, first things first and he’s got to make a living.

That’s the setting.

You might think Jesus would give up or rebuke this backsliding.

Instead, He persistently, but lovingly, continues His quest for the hearts of these men.

Paul said in Phil 1:21, “For me to live is Christ.”

Peter eventually got there too.

This passage squeezes into one day a sampling of the progression that moved Peter from fisherman to fisher of men.

Note the things he gradually gives to the Lord in his quest to put first things first.

From half in to all in.

*I.

His Boat*

V. 1 takes us to the Lake of Gennesaret -- the Sea of Galilee.

It is a beautiful harp-shaped body of water at the northern end of the Jordan River -- 8 miles wide by 13 miles long – semi-tropical climate.

Famous for fish.

Surrounded by hills and villages.

Looking today much like it did then.

Jesus is in His new hometown of Capernaum on the northern shore surrounded by people who want to hear a sermon, most having already been healed apparently.

He is severely pressed for space, but He sees a providential solution – 2 boats.

V. 3, “3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land.

And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”

Sounds coincidental; it’s not.

Jesus is about to get a two for one here – both a pulpit, and a way to finally capture Peter’s heart.

Jesus confiscates Peter’s boat and asks Peter to push off so He could preach without interference.

Peter’s fine with that – wouldn’t need the boat until evening anyway.

Like many of us.

Happy to claim to be a follower of Jesus -- as long as it doesn’t cost too much.

We’ll give our old junker as a tax write-off.

Not worth much anyway.

We’re happy to buy some snacks for the kids.

We’ll give a little money as long as it’s clear we can meet our other needs.

Of course, if anything is falling short, that goes first.

Like the child who dropped “God’s nickel.”

Some old clothes for the missionaries – they don’t mind second-hand things.

A few cans for the food drive.

Some loose change for the baby bottle campaign and a few dollars in the benevolent fund now and then.

Hey, we’ll do our part as long as it doesn’t hurt.

In truth our hearts are not in it; we’re just buying God off for a few dollars, some old clothes and odds and ends.

Listen, God doesn’t ask us to give because He is desperate for the help.

He gives us the privilege of being part of what He is doing.

Nothing wrong with any of the things listed above.

But -- are we just giving a boat we don’t need at the moment?

Is that the condition of our heart?

God once told David to raise an altar on the threshing floor of a farmer named Araunah.

Araunah tried to give David the threshing floor, the oxen for sacrifice – everything.

But II Sam 24:24?

“24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price.

I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.”

He gave more than a boat he wasn’t using at the moment.

He knew commitment costs!

How much?

C. S. Lewis says: “If our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.

If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.

There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.”

Jesus deserves more than a boat we don’t need at the moment.

Right now, we are getting excited about the possibility of a new building.

But if God is really asking us to do something like that – a church of our size, then we are going to have to be ready to sacrifice.

It’s going to take every bit that God asks of us.

*II.

His Time*

V. 3, “Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land.

And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”

Jesus says, “Peter, put out a little so I can get some room here.”

And Peter complies.

But, of course, he’s now stuck in the boat.

He’d been cleaning nets, but now he has to sit and listen.

He has to give some time.

He issues no complaint.

He was willing to give some time.

It wasn’t really crucial time.

He fished at night, so this cost him little.

You can almost imagine Peter saying, “Hey, I got a great idea.

I fish at night.

But how about if I met you here a couple of days a week and let you use my boat to preach from like today.”

Peter might have thought he could catch a little shuteye while Jesus was preaching!

A nice little ministry, right?

And it would hardly cost anything –he had a little time to spare..

So like us, isn’t it?

Willing to give a little time and think it’s a big deal.

I’ve known people who think they’re doing God a favor by showing up to church.

Or we think if we give God Sunday morning, that’s plenty good enough.

Let’s don’t overdo this religion thing.

Regular devotions, Bible studies during the week, service projects, preparation to teach some kids, coming early for Praise team practice, sponsoring a youth group -- others can do that stuff.

God’s going to have to understand, I gotta living to make.

I have a question.