Seeking the Lost: Jesus' Call to Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Hearing the Word of God is the First Step

The journey of following Jesus begins with a heart that is eager to hear and receive the Word of God. When the crowds pressed in to listen to Jesus by the lake, they demonstrated a hunger for truth and a willingness to be taught. In the same way, each person must come to God with an attentive spirit, setting aside distractions and preparing their hearts to listen. The enemy will always try to divert our attention, but true transformation starts when we actively listen to what God is saying. The Word of God is not just information; it is the living message that brings light, hope, and direction to our lives. [33:52]

Luke 5:1-3 (ESV)
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, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 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.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally remove distractions this week to better hear and receive God’s Word?

Day 2: Trusting Jesus Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense

Trusting Jesus often means stepping out in faith, even when His instructions seem illogical or inconvenient. Peter, an experienced fisherman, was asked by Jesus to cast his nets in deep water during the wrong time of day, defying all his professional knowledge. Yet, Peter responded, “At your word, I will let down the nets.” True faith is not just believing in Jesus, but acting on His word, even when circumstances or feelings suggest otherwise. Obedience to Christ opens the door for God’s miraculous work in our lives, and it is in these moments of trust that we see His power and faithfulness revealed. [42:21]

Luke 5:4-5 (ESV)
And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Reflection: Where is God asking you to trust Him today, even though it doesn’t make sense to you? What step of obedience can you take?

Day 3: Experiencing the Grace of God Leads to Humility

Encountering the grace of God brings a deep awareness of our own sinfulness and a humble recognition of our need for Him. When Peter witnessed the miraculous catch of fish, he fell at Jesus’ knees, overwhelmed by his unworthiness and the holiness of Christ. This response echoes the experiences of Isaiah, Job, and John, who, when confronted with God’s presence, were moved to repentance and awe. God’s grace is not given to the perfect, but to those who acknowledge their brokenness and come to Him in humility. In that place, Jesus does not reject us, but draws us near, offering forgiveness and a new beginning. [48:26]

Luke 5:8-10 (ESV)
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Reflection: When was the last time you were truly humbled by God’s grace? How can you respond to Him today with honesty and humility?

Day 4: Following God’s Will Means Seeking the Lost

To follow Jesus is to join Him in His mission of seeking and rescuing those who are spiritually lost. Jesus called Peter not just to believe, but to become a “fisher of men”—to actively pursue and bring others into God’s kingdom. This calling is not reserved for a select few, but is the will of God for every believer. It is a call to move beyond comfort and routine, to see every empty seat as a missing person whom God loves. The adventure of faith is found in dedicating ourselves to the work of finding and restoring others, just as we ourselves have been found and restored by Christ. [52:43]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Reflection: Who is one “missing person” in your life that God is prompting you to reach out to this week? How can you take a step toward them?

Day 5: Surrendering Everything to the Call of Jesus

True discipleship means surrendering all that we have and all that we are to Jesus, trusting Him with our future and our purpose. Peter and his companions left behind their boats, their nets, and even their miraculous catch to follow Jesus without reservation. This radical surrender is not just about giving up material things, but about yielding our ambitions, security, and comfort to Christ’s call. It is costly and sometimes frightening, but Jesus promises to be with us and to give our lives eternal significance. The story of the empty nets turned overflowing boats reminds us that when we let Jesus step into our lives, He fills us with purpose and calls us to join Him in His mission. [54:57]

Luke 5:11 (ESV)
And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Reflection: What is one thing you are holding onto that Jesus is asking you to surrender? What would it look like to leave it behind and follow Him today?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering centered on the heart of Jesus’ mission: seeking and saving the lost. Drawing from Luke 5, the story of Jesus calling his first disciples, the focus was on how every unsaved or far-from-God person is a “missing person” in God’s eyes. Just as the disappearance of Etan Pat led to a national movement to find missing children, God’s heart aches for every empty seat in the sanctuary—each one representing someone He longs to bring home. The call is clear: as followers of Christ, we are to be His witnesses, actively seeking out those who are spiritually lost.

The journey of following Jesus begins with hearing the Word of God. The crowds pressed in to listen to Jesus, and Peter, by virtue of being in the boat, had no choice but to listen attentively. But hearing is not enough; the next step is trusting the Son of God. Peter’s obedience—casting his nets at Jesus’ word, despite his exhaustion and professional skepticism—demonstrates faith that goes beyond logic or convenience. Miracles, as seen in the overflowing catch of fish, follow obedience rooted in trust.

This encounter leads Peter to a profound realization of his own sinfulness in the presence of divine holiness. Like Isaiah and Job before him, Peter’s response is humility and repentance, recognizing his need for grace. Yet, Jesus does not reject him; instead, He calls Peter into a new purpose: to become a “fisher of men.” The call is not just to receive grace, but to join in the mission of rescuing others, capturing them alive for the kingdom of God.

True discipleship means surrendering everything—our plans, possessions, and even our sense of security—to follow Jesus. The story ends not with full nets, but with empty boats left behind, as the disciples step into a new life of purpose. The challenge is to move beyond comfort and self-focus, to listen for the cries of the lost, and to let Jesus step into our “boats,” transforming our lives and sending us out to seek others. The invitation is open: to trust, to follow, and to join Jesus in His mission of redemption.

Key Takeaways

1. Hearing the Word of God is an active, intentional process. It requires more than physical presence; it demands a heart prepared to receive, undistracted by the noise of life or the schemes of the enemy. Only when we truly listen can the seed of God’s truth take root and bear fruit in our lives. [33:52]
2. Trusting Jesus often means obeying Him when it makes no sense to us. Peter’s willingness to cast his nets in the “wrong” place and at the “wrong” time was an act of faith, not logic. God’s miracles are often waiting on the other side of our obedience, especially when it stretches us beyond our understanding or comfort. [42:21]
3. Experiencing the grace of God begins with a deep awareness of our own sinfulness. Like Peter, Isaiah, and Job, encountering God’s holiness exposes our need for mercy. This moral crisis is not meant to drive us away, but to draw us into the arms of a Savior who forgives, restores, and calls us by name. [48:26]
4. The call to follow Jesus is a call to a new purpose: seeking and saving the lost. Jesus transforms our ordinary vocations and daily routines into opportunities for eternal impact. We are not just recipients of grace, but agents of God’s rescue mission, called to “catch people alive” and bring them into the kingdom. [51:47]
5. Surrendering to the call of God means leaving behind what is familiar and secure. The disciples left their boats, nets, and even their record-breaking catch to follow Jesus. True discipleship is costly, but it is also the path to a life of meaning, adventure, and partnership with God in His redemptive work. [54:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:15] - Opening Prayer
[23:43] - Introduction: The Epidemic of Missing Persons
[24:59] - God’s Heart for the Lost
[25:50] - The Call to Be Witnesses
[27:05] - Prayer, Care, Share: The Church’s Mission
[29:10] - The Purpose of Jesus’ Life
[30:06] - Reading Luke 5:1-11
[32:12] - Step 1: Hearing the Word of God
[37:03] - Step 2: Trusting the Son of God
[44:02] - Step 3: Experiencing the Grace of God
[50:55] - Step 4: Following the Will of God
[53:39] - Step 5: Surrendering to the Call of God
[56:19] - The Cost and Risk of Discipleship
[57:25] - Jesus Steps Into Our Boats
[58:44] - The Ongoing Mission: Catching People Alive
[59:32] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
[60:51] - Baptism and Church Membership Invitation
[61:25] - Announcements and Shoebox Ministry

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 5:1-11 (ESV) —
> 1 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. 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. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Observation Questions

What was Peter’s initial reaction when Jesus told him to let down the nets after a long, unsuccessful night of fishing? ([38:17])
How did Peter respond after witnessing the miraculous catch of fish? What did he say to Jesus? ([46:39])
What new purpose did Jesus give to Peter and the other fishermen after the miracle? ([51:47])
What did the disciples do with their boats, nets, and catch after Jesus called them? ([54:10])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to perform the miracle in Peter’s boat, after a night of failure? What might this say about how Jesus meets us in our everyday lives? ([35:30])
Peter’s realization of his own sinfulness came after experiencing Jesus’ power. Why is an awareness of our own need important before we can truly follow Jesus? ([48:26])
Jesus tells Peter, “From now on you will be catching men.” What does it mean to “catch people alive” for God’s kingdom, and how is this different from Peter’s old job? ([51:47])
The disciples left everything to follow Jesus. What does this teach about the cost and the call of true discipleship? ([54:10])

Application Questions

The sermon compared every unsaved or far-from-God person to a “missing person” in God’s eyes. Who in your life might be a “missing person” that God is calling you to pray for, care for, or share with? ([25:50])
Hearing the Word of God is more than just showing up at church. What are some distractions that keep you from truly listening to God’s Word? What practical step can you take this week to listen more attentively? ([33:52])
Peter obeyed Jesus even when it didn’t make sense to him. Can you think of a time when God asked you to do something that seemed illogical or inconvenient? How did you respond, and what was the result? ([42:21])
After the miracle, Peter was humbled and aware of his sin. Is there an area in your life where you need to confess your need for God’s grace? How can you bring that honestly to Jesus this week? ([48:26])
Jesus called Peter not just to receive grace, but to join in the mission of seeking the lost. What is one specific way you can step out of your comfort zone to reach someone for Christ this month? ([51:47])
The disciples left behind their boats, nets, and even their record-breaking catch. Is there something in your life—plans, possessions, or security—that you sense God might be asking you to surrender in order to follow Him more fully? ([54:10])
The story ends with empty boats and full hearts. What would it look like for you to “leave your boat behind” and trust Jesus with your future and your purpose? ([54:10])

Sermon Clips

God wants us to be looking for, finding and returning missing persons to God. Because people are important to God, because they are made in his image and in his likeness. And that's what our prayer Care Share Initiative is all about. We want you learning how to share the faith that has saved you with people who are far from God. [00:28:47] (23 seconds) #CareShareFaithMission

The first thing Jesus tells us to do is to follow him. And the last thing that he tells us to do is go help other people learn to follow him as well. Those two words are the foundation of living a purpose filled life that have eternal consequences. [00:29:31] (15 seconds) #FollowAndMakeDisciples

I can preach and preach and preach, but if you're not here to hear, you're not gonna hear because Satan doesn't want you to hear. Satan wants your mind involved in your telephone and the note that your neighbor just passed you. I wish he had stopped talking so much. Whatever it may be, Satan wants to distract you so you don't hear the Word of God. But in order for that seed to be planted, you've got to listen attentively. [00:33:29] (27 seconds) #ListenToPlantTheSeed

Faith in God is trusting Jesus despite the feelings within you, the circumstances around you, or the consequences before you. And this isn't Peter's first exposure to Christ's kingdom authority. But this is the first time that Jesus ministered in Peter's personal universe, in his seas, in his nets, in his boats. And so the significance of this came to him as never before. [00:42:45] (25 seconds) #FaithBeyondFeelings

Where's God telling you to cast your nets today? What is the thing that God is calling you to be faithful and obedient to? That you would say, lord, this makes no sense. This doesn't make sense. But at your word, I'm gonna do what you tell me to do, friend. That's hard. I'm not gonna lie to you, because I've been faced with decisions like that as well. [00:43:10] (27 seconds) #ObedientCastingNets

When you're in the presence of God, that is your only proper response is to fall at his feet. The prophet Isaiah knew that. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on the throne high and lifted up. His first response was not adoration. It was fear. Isaiah experienced moral trauma in respect to his own sin. [00:47:20] (26 seconds) #FearBeforeTheLord

God calls his children from every walk of life, every vocation and every location, and sends them on a great commission to capture alive missing persons and bring them back into his kingdom. And this isn't a suggestion, it's a command. But listen, it's more than a command. It's an invitation to go on the greatest adventure of a lifetime with God himself. [00:52:57] (26 seconds) #GreatCommissionAdventure

In our lives, we've got to listen closely to the commands of God and to the cries of those who are hurting around us. Because oftentimes the lost won't come looking for us, begging for the love of God. We have got to actively seek them out and share our faith. [00:56:53] (15 seconds) #SeekAndShareFaith

Now for every believer, maybe Jesus is calling you to push your boat out a little farther. Trust him. Share your story. Invite somebody to meet the Savior who stepped into your boat. The miracle didn't end with Peter's catch. It began a mission. Jesus said, from now on, you will be catching men. And that's our calling as well, to share the same good news that called us and saved us. [00:58:47] (26 seconds) #PushOutTrustAndShare

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