The Best Fisherman Is The Carpenter?

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting October 22 to study Luke 5:1-11.  This is the account of the first disciples.  To catch us up with what's happened so far, Jesus has been baptized, gone to Nazareth to be rejected, healed the sick, cast out demons (and one fever from Simon Peter's mother-in-law), and taught about the Kingdom of God.  Now Jesus starts making disciples.

Read through the verses several times.  Look for details of this possibly familiar story that you missed before.  Ask questions about the timing, order of events, statements made and questions asked by the those involved.  Jot down questions and notes about what you read.  After that look through any commentary or study Bible notes you have.

Having done all that, go back through with the questions below:

•  Luke uses the term "the word of God" here for the first time, but it becomes fairly common in both Luke and Acts.  What do you think the term means for Luke at this point in Jesus' ministry?  What do you think constitutes 'the word of God'? 
• Jesus finds two boats empty on the shore with the fishermen washing their nets.  So what do you imagine is the time of day at this point?
• Jesus steps into the boat of Simon and asks him to put out a little from the shore.  This makes sense with the crowds pressing in around him, but think about the fact that Jesus has already been to Simon's house, and healed his mother-in-law (see Luke 4:38-39).  How does that help provide more context for you knowing that there is already some familiarity between Jesus and Peter?
• After Jesus has stopped speaking, He addresses His 'captive audience' in Simon.  Since we can assume Jesus already knows what He wants to do, why do you think He chooses this way to do it?  Why through fishing, if it's something Simon is already familiar with?
• Simon protests, but relents.  What do you think this says about Simon's attitude toward Jesus?
• Simon uses a term, 'master' for Jesus.  Follow the link to look this word up on the Blueletter Bible site.  Look over this term Simon uses for Jesus.  What do you learn about Jesus and His relationship to His disciples from this word/term?
• Simon puts out and lowers his nets.  The response of the fish is immediate.  Simon didn't 'chum' the water, he knew how able (or unable) he was to catch fish at that time of day.  So, what do you think this said to Simon about Jesus?
• The amount of fish nearly sinks both boats.  This is probably more than they catch on their best day, and this hasn't been a good day, up till now.  What do you think Simon is thinking as more and more fish come into the boats?
• Simon responds by telling Jesus to go away from him.  Why do you think he would do that?  Considering what Jesus just did for his business, what's with his sinfulness now?  He's not too sinful to listen to Jesus' teaching, not too sinful to have Jesus visit his house, heal his mother-in-law; but now, with all these fish, he's too sinful.  What's up with that?  What do you think Simon knows now he didn't before?
• Jesus responds with a 'do not fear' statement, common in both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.  Why do you think this is important for Jesus to say and for Simon to hear?  What do you think Simon was afraid of?
• From now on Simon will catch men, in somewhat the same way he caught fish.  How does this help you understand the choice of miracle for Jesus, again considering what His purpose was from the start?
• All of the fishermen landed (including James and John), and they 'divorce' or 'forgive' everything and follow after Jesus.  Think about the choice of word for 'left everything', click the link to see the definition on the Blueletter Bible site.  What does it normally mean or mostly translated as?  How does that help you understand what these men did to follow Jesus?

And now apply the AHA principles to what you read.

AWAKENING:  Prayerfully go through looking for the thing that God is using to awaken something in you.  Think through your life in relation to the people and teaching involved.  Jot down the 'alarm' that God is using with you.

HONESTY: Next be honest about your life in light of this 'alarm'.  Think through what God is pointing out to you about your life, like where you have strayed from a direction He gave you before, or about something you've been doing or not doing.  What do you see about your life in a new light from this passage?

ACTION:  Lastly, what do you need to do about what you discover?  What action do you need to take in light of your honest assessment of what God is saying to you?  What can you do now, before Thursday?  What do you need to do, perhaps long-term?

That should keep us busy for the week.  Be sure to bring your notes and any AHA with you Thursday!