The Call of the First Four Disciples Luke 5:1-11

(See also Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20)

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS

1. Listening to Jesus, vv. 1-3 Does Luke follow the chronological order? (Compare Matt. 4:18, etc.; Mark 1:16.) Why not? Did Jesus have much of an audience? What was it that they were after? Are there multitudes today who are eager for "the Word of God"? Was this crowd eager for "the Word of God" a welcome sight to Jesus? What did He look around for? Where did He find a pulpit? Was that a very attractive pulpit? What other pulpits did Jesus use during His lifetime? Is there any lesson in that for men who are looking for pulpits today?

What was Peter doing when Jesus asked the loan of his fishing boat? Was that proper work? Was he willing to leave it at Jesus' request? 2. Obeying Jesus, vv. 4-7 Did Jesus ask His disciples to keep hearing sermons all the time? When they had heard the sermon, what did He tell them to do? Was Peter just as pleasing to Jesus when he went fishing as he was when he sat listening to the sermon? In how much of our business and ordinary life is Jesus interested today? Of what was Jesus' command a test? (Compare Mark 3:5; John 2:7; 11:39; 21:6.)

What was there that made the command look foolish? What was the only thing in favor of letting down the nets? Was that enough? How many objections of our reason and commonsense ought the word of Jesus to outweigh? Why did Jesus tell Peter to launch out into the deep? How did Jesus know just where the fish were? (Ps. 8:6, 8.) What is the first thing Peter says in answer to Jesus' command? Do we ever have such thoughts arise when Jesus commands us? Is the fact that we have tried and failed any reason for stopping trying when Jesus bids us let down our nets?

Suppose Peter had given way to his discouragement, what would have been the consequences? How is it when we surrender to our discouragement? What was Peter's second thought and word? What is there in Peter's reply to Jesus that would make a good motto for every Christian worker? How many of His commands will a true disciple obey? (John 2:5; 15:14.) What was the result of Peter's obedience? What always awaits the obedient? (Deut. 11:27; Is. 1:19.) When was it they enclosed the fishes?

When is it always that we get the blessing? Did they get fishes enough? What does that illustrate? What did Peter do in his emergency? Is there any lesson in that? If Peter had been like a great many men what would he have done? Was there enough for both? What would always become of some of our boats if God should load them as fully as we wish? How did Peter's empty boat become so full? 3. Following Jesus, vv. 8-11 What did Peter then do? What was it made Peter cry to the Lord to depart--the sight of the great catch of fishes, or the sight of the sinking ship?

What did Peter see in Christ in the light of this miracle? ("Master," v. 5; "Lord," v. 8.) Was that right? What did Peter see in himself in the light of this miracle? Was that right? Where then was Peter wrong in his cry? If we truly know ourselves and truly know Jesus, will our cry to Him be to depart? Did the time ever come when the recognition of who Jesus was drew Peter to Him? (John 21:6, 7.) What was the effect of the miracle upon all who beheld it? At what were they astonished in the last chapter? (4:32, 36.)

Did Jesus go away because Peter asked Him to? Does He always go away when we wish Him to? Why not? What is Jesus' answer to Peter's "Depart"? (Compare also "Follow Me," Matt. 4:19.) Would it have been a good thing for Peter if Jesus had departed when Peter asked him to? Would it be a good thing for us if Jesus departed when we ask Him to? For what did Jesus take that day's fishing as a symbol? When did Peter make a bigger catch than that day? (Acts 2:41.) Where is the similarity between winning men and catching fish?

What was there about Peter that gave promise of his becoming a successful fisher of men? (vv. 2, 8, 5, 11). How might Peter know that he would be a successful fisher of men? How did Peter and the others show that they believed Jesus' promise and appreciated His call? Was it right for them to forsake all? Did it pay? (18:28-30.) How much does it pay to forsake for Christ? (Phil. 3:7, 8.) Did they do right in forsaking the fish business? Did Jesus call Peter to forsake his business the first time He met him? (John 1:40-42.)

Was the forsaking of all the important thing they did? When, then, is it right to forsake all? In what sense must every one who would be a disciple of Jesus forsake all? (Luke 14:33, R. V. and Greek.) CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS

1. Jesus

His deity, 4, 8.

His humanity, 3.

His knowledge--of what is in the sea, 4; of what is in man, 10.

His compassion--for the ignorant, 3; for the unsuccessful, 4-7; for the sinful, for the fearful, 10.

His sympathy with man in his earthly occupation, 4.

As a preacher--preached the Word in the open air, drew crowds, 1; always ready, thought more of His audience than of His pulpit, preached instructively, 3.

2. The Essential Conditions of Success in Fishing for Men

Faithfulness in our secular calling, 2; a sense of personal sinfulness, a recognition of Christ as Lord, 8; unhesitating faith, unquestioning obedience ("Nevertheless at Thy word"), 5; fearlessness founded upon the divine promise, 10; forsaking all, following Him, 11.