Invited to Faith
February 25, 2024

He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord! ” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon.“From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him. —Luke 5:2-11


Trust in God forms the

of our faith.

“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” —Luke 5:5

“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.” —Luke 5:8-10

“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon.” From now on you will be catching people.” —Luke 5:10

“Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.” —Luke 5:11

The first step in faith: Learning to

God.

“God walks along with us, making sense of our pain and bringing hope to our questions.” —Nancy Kane

When we place our trust in God, it will bring

to our life.

“No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” —Matthew 6:24

“You were seen with eyes of perfect love, long before you entered into a dark valley of life…The spiritual life starts at the moment you can go beyond all the wounds and claim that there was a love that was perfect and unlimited, long before that perfect love reflected in the imperfect and limited, conditional love of people. The spiritual life starts where you dare to claim the first love.” —Henri Nouwen

What is your response to the invitation to trust God?


For further study:
Scripture: Romans 7:15-18; Luke 4:18-19; Ephesians 1:13
Resources: “Stages of Faith” by Nancy Kane

Community Group Guide:
Read through the passage in two different translations.
As you heard the Scripture, what stood out to you?
How have you learned to trust in God?
What change has trusting in God brought to your life?
How can you help others learn to trust in God?

To prepare for next week: Meditate upon Matthew 16:13-24