Fishing for Men - Part 3
Luke 5:8
07/23/2025
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.'' (ESV)
Jesus had been using Simon Peter's boat as a pulpit. After
teaching the crowds, Jesus asked Peter to row out into the deeper
part of the lake, during the heat of the day, and let down his
nets. Although the best fishing was at night in the shallower
water, Simon Peter reluctantly agreed and did as Jesus asked.
The results were not what he expected. After all, Simon and
his partners had fished all night with no results. They were
tired, frustrated, and had just finished cleaning their nets.
They expected the daytime fishing to be futile. They caught so
many fish that both boats began to sink.
When we are confronted with the truth of God's power, we
stand humbly and in awe. We are not worthy to witness His
majesty. After all, we are sinners who deserve God's eternal
wrath and punishment.
``But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus'
knees, saying, `Depart from me, for I am a sinful man,
O Lord.'''
Simon Peter is not alone in confessing his sin when he
realized that he was in the presence of the Almighty. Isaiah
said much the same when he saw the throne room of heaven. Most
of the Old Testament prophets, including Moses, claimed to be
unworthy of the task given to them.
God calls sinners to proclaim His Word, to bring to sinners
the peace which passes all understanding. Each person God calls
responds in much the same way, ``I am a sinner, I am not worthy
to do as You request.'' They are right, it is only by the power
of the Holy Spirit that men can proclaim God's love. May our
Lord grant that as we behold His glory, we also confess that we
are unworthy sinners in need of His mercy. Amen.Author: admin
Fishing for Men – Part 2
July 22, 2025
Fishing for Men - Part 2
Luke 5:4-7
07/22/2025
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. (ESV)
Jesus, to better teach the crowds of people interested in
hearing God's Word, used Simon's boat as a pulpit. Everyone
could gather on the shore of the lake where they could both see
and hear Him teach.
Saint Luke continues the story of Simon Peter's call to be a
disciple:
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.'' And when they had done this, they
enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were
breaking. 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.
Consider Simon's reaction. He and his partners, James and
John, had been up all night trying to catch fish both for their
families and to sell in the marketplace. Their labors were in
vain. Tired, probably somewhat disgusted, all the fishermen
wanted to do was prepare their nets for the next evening's work,
go home, and get some sleep. Certainly Jesus using the boat as a
pulpit was somewhat inconvenient for Simon, but he agreed and
listened along with the crowd.
When Jesus suggested that Simon take the freshly cleaned and
repaired nets and go fishing, Simon agreed reluctantly. After
all, Jesus was not a fisherman, but a carpenter and a teacher.
What did He know about fishing? Simon soon found out that the
Word of God, the words spoken by Jesus, are more powerful than
the best practices of professional fishermen.
May our Lord grant that we hear Jesus' words and do as He
asks us to do. Amen.Fishing for Men – Part 1
July 22, 2025
Fishing for Men - Part 1
Luke 5:1-3
07/21/2025
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. (ESV)
Jesus uses unlikely men to serve as pastors and evangelists
in His Church. Consider Simon Peter. We know that he was not a
Biblical scholar, one who spent long hours debating the Word of
God with fellow Rabbis. He was a fisherman by trade, a partner
of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. All three of these men
were called by Jesus to proclaim the truth that the Kingdom of
God, the grace of God, was at hand.
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 [Jesus] 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.
Jesus began His ministry by teaching the Word of God to
those who desired to learn. So many people gathered that He
needed to separate Himself from the crowd so that everyone could
see and hear the message of hope. The boat made a good pulpit.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.
As we will see this week, Jesus called others to proclaim the
same Word which He taught, for only the Word of God brings us the
forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting.
May our Lord open our hears to hear of God's grace and
mercy. Amen.Mercy – Part 5
July 18, 2025
Mercy - Part 5
Luke 6:41-42
07/18/2025
41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own
eye?
42 How can you say to your brother, ``Brother, let me
take out the speck that is in your eye,'' when you
yourself do not see the log that is in your own
eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your
own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out
the speck that is in your brother's eye. (ESV)
We show love and concern for each other. Sometimes we are
called upon to acknowledge the sin and harmful behavior of our
neighbor. Do we do so with arrogant pride and self-
righteousness? Or do we do so humbly, first confessing our sin,
first acknowledging that we also need someone to point out our
sins?
Saint Luke recorded Jesus' words:
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How
can you say to your brother, ``Brother, let me take out
the speck that is in your eye,'' when you yourself do
not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite,
first take the log out of your own eye, and then you
will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your
brother's eye.
We certainly are called by God to help and serve each other.
Sometimes that includes a difficult conversation that seeks to
correct a problem, that seeks to avoid harm due to sinful
behavior. Before we speak, we prayerfully consider our words and
actions, confessing our sin before God and man.
Trinity Lutheran Church is a congregation of redeemed
sinners who confess that they are not perfect, but that God, in
His mercy has forgiven them. Come join us each Sunday morning at
9:00 a.m. to hear of God's mercy given to us for the sake of the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Receive for yourself the
peace which passes all understanding, the comfort and hope of
life everlasting.
May our Lord grant us wisdom to hear His Word and to serve
each other with love and compassion. Amen.Mercy – Part 4
July 17, 2025
Mercy - Part 4
Luke 6:40
07/17/2025
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone
when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
(ESV)
Because we are sinners declared holy by God's rich grace,
love, and mercy for the sake of the death and resurrection of
Jesus, we also show mercy to others. That mercy certainly says
that we tell others about the peace of knowing we are reconciled
to the Father for the sake of the Son.
Saint Luke recorded Jesus' words: ``A disciple is not above
his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like
his teacher.'' Our teacher can either be of this world as we
listen to the advice of many, ``Listen to your own heart, do what
you think is right,'' rather than God's Word, ``Forgive as you
are forgiven.''
The devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh make a poor
teacher. They are self-centered, slow to accept blame yet quick
to accuse. They are self-righteous and hypocritical, demanding a
perfection in others they are not willing to attempt for
themselves.
Our heavenly Father teaches us love, grace, and mercy. He
is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, quick to
forgive even our worst sins. As we have God the Father as our
Teacher, as we learn from the Bible about grace and mercy, we
become forgiving and loving.
When Jesus said, ``Be merciful even as your Father is
merciful,'' He invites us to learn of God's love and to reflect
that love to others.
May our Lord grant us strength to reflect His grace and
forgiveness as we love and serve our neighbor. Amen.Mercy – Part 3
July 16, 2025
Mercy - Part 3
Luke 6:39
07/16/2025
39 He also told them a parable: Can a blind man lead
a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
(ESV)
Although we are by nature sinful and unclean, and although
we have sinned against God and neighbor by actively doing that
which we should not do, or by not doing what we should do, we are
forgiven because of God's mercy. Our heavenly Father sent His
Son to live, die, and rise again to pay the price of our
transgressions. Because God has shown us His mercy, we show the
same mercy to others.
Saint Luke wrote: ``He also told them a parable: `Can a
blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a
pit?''' If we, in our self-righteous hypocrisy, are blind to our
own sin, how can we help our neighbor by calling them to repent?
We don't know about sin and grace, if we stand in judgment and
condemnation concerning the shortcomings of others.
Each Christian desires to help his neighbor. Sometimes that
help extends to a warning that actions and beliefs are wrong,
that actions and beliefs may lead to suffering and death. But
that help is done with humility and love, not out of arrogance
and superiority. Aware of our own sin, knowing that only by the
grace of God do we see the light of truth, we gently and
prayerfully guide others to the same light.
Showing God's mercy means that we encourage each other, help
each other, and forgive each other. It also means we protect
each other from harm and danger.
May our Lord grant us wisdom, love, and strength to see our
own sin even while serving our neighbor. Amen.Mercy – Part 2
July 15, 2025
Mercy - Part 2
Luke 6:37-38
07/15/2025
37 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn
not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and
you will be forgiven;
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, running over, will
be put into your lap. For with the measure you use
it will be measured back to you. (ESV)
Each day as we pray the Lord's Prayer we ask, ``Forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.'' In
so doing, we confess that we are sinful, that our only hope is in
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who bore the guilt of
our sin. We are forgiven for His sake and are free to respond to
the Father's mercy by showing mercy.
Jesus explained what Christian mercy is as He taught His
disciples.
Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and
you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be
forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good
measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,
will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use
it will be measured back to you.
Because we are forgiven by God's grace through faith in
Christ Jesus alone, we dare not judge others as if we are
superior and more righteous than they. The wages of sin is
death, and we do not want to see anyone suffer eternal
condemnation. Thus we seek to help our neighbor avoid those
things which are harmful. We encourage them to repent and turn
in faith to Christ.
Before we speak of our neighbor's sin, we confess before God
and each other that we also have sinned in thought, word, and
deed. We approach our neighbor as their equal, and ask them to
help us in our own struggles with sin. By holding each other
accountable, we look first to God's mercy and grace, then we
encourage each other in our daily struggles.
When we forgive and help our neighbor, we do so with love,
respect, and mercy. For we also need the same forgiveness, love,
and respect. We forgive as we are forgiven, without conditions,
without condemnation.
May our Lord grant us strength to reflect His love to our
neighbor. Amen.Mercy – Part 1
July 14, 2025
Mercy - Part 1
Luke 6:36
07/14/2025
36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
(ESV)
To be a Christian is to acknowledge that we are redeemed
from sin, death, and the power of the devil because of the death
and resurrection of Jesus. We do not earn the forgiveness of our
sins, for we are born enemies of God. Nothing we do can make up
for our sinful nature. Forgiveness is a gift, given to us
because of God's great love as our Father sent His Son to bear
our guilt.
Jesus told His disciples, ``Be merciful, even as your Father
is merciful.'' How is our heavenly Father merciful? He gives us
all things, natural and spiritual, temporal and eternal, because
of His great love. Even those people who do not acknowledge
God's rich goodness are daily blessed by Him with all things they
need to support this body and life. The Father's mercy extends
to everyone, regardless of who they are or how they act.
Because we are forgiven by God, because we have received His
love, grace, and mercy, we reflect the gifts we have been given.
God does not need our good works, but gives us the opportunity to
share His love with our neighbor.
Good works flow from faith, from knowing the gift which is
ours through Jesus Christ. Good works do not earn us favor with
God, but do provide proof that our faith is alive and active.
This week we will look at the way we reflect the Father's mercy
as we serve Him by loving our neighbor.
May our Lord grant us faith to recognize the Father's love
for His creation. Amen.Coming Home – Part 5
Coming Home - Part 5
Luke 15:24
07/11/2025
24 `` `For this my son was dead, and is alive again;
he was lost, and is found.' And they began to
celebrate.'' (ESV)
The parable of the Prodigal Son is a story of Law and
Gospel, of sin and redemption. Saint Paul wrote, ``For the wages
of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.''[1]
In this parable, the Father of the story certainly is our
heavenly Father. The son who wasted the Father's gifts is each
sinner, each person who has strayed from God's love.
As the young son saw the poverty of sin and the lack of hope
and comfort given by the world, he longed for the grace of God.
You and I, without knowing the Father's love, seek our peace in
all sorts of destructive ways. It could be substance abuse, or
reckless behavior, or seeking peace through hard work and having
lots of toys. In the end, however, the things of this world do
not satisfy.
We were dead in the trespass of our sins, as we learned from
the mirror of God's Law. Repenting, we throw ourselves on the
Lord's mercy and grace, finding there full redemption and pardon.
Forgiven, we are alive in Christ.
The Father told His servents, `` `For this my son was dead,
and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began
to celebrate.''
Please come home, the Father is waiting and desires to
restore you to His family. Come hear the word of hope, receive
the comfort of the Gospel, as you are invited to join us each
Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. May our
Lord grant you the peace of knowing your sins are forgiven and
that you are part of the Father's family. Amen.Coming Home – Part 4
July 10, 2025
Coming Home - Part 4
Luke 15:20-23
07/10/2025
20 ``And he arose and came to his father. But while
he was still a long way off, his father saw him
and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and
kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you. I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.'
22 But the father said to his servants, `Bring
quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put
a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let
us eat and celebrate.' '' (ESV)
In this week's study we are reading the parable of the
Prodigal Son. We've come to the point in the story where the
young man, who had wasted his father's money with worthless
things, came to his senses. He returned to his Father, repentant
and willing to simple be a servant.
The Law of God, which shows us our sin, leads to the Gospel,
which shows us our Savior. Jesus continued:
``And he arose and came to his father. But while he was
still a long way off, his father saw him and felt
compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against
heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be
called your son.' But the father said to his servants,
`Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and
put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And
bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and
celebrate.' ''
Our heavenly Father longs and waits for our return to Him.
Even before the young man finished confessing his sin, even
before begging to be allowed the most menial job in the Father's
household, the Father restored him in his position as son of the
family. The forgiveness is complete, given out of love and not
our works.
This is the Gospel, that Jesus Christ died on the cross and
rose from the dead so that you and I can be restored fully to the
household of faith.
May our Lord grant that, as we are condemned by the Law, we
know that we are redeemed and saved by the Gospel. Amen.