Luke 5:1-16

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Great Catch of Fish; The Healing of the Leper

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Christians should be creative in their ministry.

  2. Christians should be compassionate in their ministry.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. You can loan your boat to the Lord.

  2. Let’s remember that we are not worthy.

QUESTIONS

  1. Is this great catch of fish the same event as the one recorded in John 21?

  2. Was this the first time Peter had met the Lord?

  3. What is the Lake of Gennesaret?

  4. How did the Lord Jesus as a Man prevent burnout in His ministry?

  5. What does leprosy represent in the Bible?

ANSWERS

  1. No; this miracle was at the beginning of our Lord’s earthly ministry. The one recorded in John 21 is after our Lord’s resurrection when Peter is restored.

  2. No; we learn in John’s gospel that during our Lord’s earlier Judean ministry Peter was brought to the Lord by Andrew. Some disciples were present when the Lord changed the water into wine at the wedding of Cana (John 2) and when He met the Samaritan woman (John 4) – both of which took place before this catch of fish. At this time, however, Peter and others become more committed as they leave the fishing business to follow the Lord.

  3. This is another name for the Sea of Galilee.

  4. He took time to get away from the crowds to spend time in prayer.

  5. Leprosy illustrates the ugliness of sin. In the early stages, the effects of leprosy can be covered up. But it is only a matter of time before the horrible effects of leprosy are manifested. So it is with sin. The ugliness of sin and its effects become obvious with time.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss several of the lessons we can learn from this miracle as we seek to be “fishers of men.”

  2. The Lord was creative in His ministry in order to talk to more people. Discuss ways people nowadays can be creative in spreading the gospel, perhaps through the means of technology.

CHALLENGE

  1. You might not have a boat, but do you have something you can loan to the Lord? Be creative as you think of ways to use your possessions to serve the Lord.

KEY VERSES

  • “So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” Luke 5:11

  • “Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately the leprosy left him.” Luke 5:13



Luke, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsLuke 5:1-16