INVITE

Luke 5:1-11
 
         God invites. That’s what He is known for. His book, the Bible, is a story of invitation. He calls people to come Him when they needed help or refuge. He created the church so that together, He and they, could bring more people into His eternal kingdom. He offers people a way to share in His life beginning on earth.  

       From this story we learn a great lessons about our main vocation in life, that of inviting others to Christ.

A.   We invite people to hear the teaching of Christ. (vv. 1-3).

                  His teaching is more than moral precepts. They are spirit and life (John 6:63). Before he would call his disciples to fish for people, he teaches them His life, work, mission and promise.

B.  We invite people by “going to out” to where they are (vv. 4-10)

                  Christ commands us to go to all ethnic groups (Matthew 28:19) but beginning with those we get in touch with everyday (Acts 1:8).  Sometimes we feel and rationalize that it does not make sense to let our nets out there.  But Christ’s knows better and wants our obedience more than anything else.  He did not promise that we will catch all the fish but only those he prepared (John 6:44-45, 65)

C.   We invite people to follow Christ and be counted among his people (v. 10).

                  To fish people is to bring them to the safety net of the church. The church is a place of refuge for the frightened (Psalm 27:5), a place of rest for the weary (Matt. 11:28), a place of growth for any and all disciples (Ephesians. 4:14-16)

WE INVITE PEOPLE TO CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. THIS IS OUR REAL VOCATION. INVITE.