Sunday Morning IBC. 7/7/2013. Luke 5.

Luke 5:33-29. The Joy of the New.
Pastor Nam Park.

At the heart of this: What are the characteristics of this new relationship with the Savior.

Luke 5:33 And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” 36 And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’”

Prayer: Pray for our hearts, protecting us from putting on the forms of religion without having Godliness at the core of it; without faith in Jesus Christ at the center of what we do and believe. Remind us of how great God is. And that the greatest victory and the greatest blessing by way of the Gospel is that we have YOU (Lord). More than rescue from sin and damnation, we have the living God. Teach us to live with JOY on display for ALL TO SEE.

Anyone seeing Jesus interacting with sinners. Shouldn't these people be mourning over their sinfulness?
Looking at Jesus' disciples: Is it alright for them to be so joyful in their new-found salvation? Is the Christian faith different from other religions in its joyfulness?
A: Completely, undeniably, we should be a joyful people.

They are questioning: What is unique about your (partying/joyful) expression of faith in the Lord, vs. our faith (fasting and offering prayers) in the Lord?

Fasting: Putting aside something as delightful as eating (God's good magnificence) to show commitment to prayer; denying self to this delight.
Yet fasting and prayers were becoming something of merit.

The willingness to sacrifice and fast doesn't multiply effectiveness of prayer.
True Fast: Renouncing sin and turning to the Lord for Salvation.

If I declared that you had to do something, like read the Gospels everyday for the rest of your life. It could have started off good, but our Works-Righteousness natural takes that and says "See, I'm doing it, so I'm better than most." This now is a mark of us being "super-spiritual," a form of pride.
Matthew 6:16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

John's disciples: Sacrifice
Pharisees: Suffer
Jesus' disciples: Party. Teacher, is this okay?

- Jesus' Response to them:
Luke 5:34 And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?
- Jesus hints that it just doesn't make sense for the disciples to sacrifice and suffer.
- The ENTIRE point of being saved, having your sins forgiven... is for you to discover the joy of finding the Savior.

Luke 5:35 But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days."
- It is never normal for the groom to be taken away. Rather, guests usually leave after the wedding. When Jesus is taken away, you won't have to teach the disciples to fast, it will be automatic. A natural fasting will ensue. They will lose appetite. The one that brought them joy is now gone.

There should be no other people as joyful as redeemed Christians. Forgiven. Full of rejoicing.

The more the spirit influences your life, the more joy.
Q: How can you tell a Christian is growing?
A: By increasing evidence of fruit of the Spirit.

Ruins both. 
Luke 5:36 And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 
- We don't deserve a new chance, but Christ gives it to us.

The Prodigal Son.
We don't have a 2nd class citizenship. We are adopted. We are His Sons.
We are embraced: "My son is found!" Restoration to full sonship.
Why bring the old works-mentality to this amazing faith in Christ, established in His work and His work alone.

Luke 5:39 And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’”
- Jesus' point is that if you love the old, you don't wish to look at the new. Example: Those that love the works mentality don't look to think about his need for the NEW.
The new isn't always better than the old. But here, the new (the gospel) is most definitely better than the old (works mentality).

Celebrate with the bridgegroom. Give thanks for His victory and grace. God is good, period... Not IF you do X, Y, and Z. God is good, PERIOD. And no one of us should have more joy, than those of us who understand the new covenant reality, in Him.

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/30/2013. Luke 5.

Luke 5:27-32. Calling of Tax Collectors and Sinners.
Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 5:27 After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” 28 And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.

29 And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Recap: 

We saw the POWER of the Lord to cleanse the physically and spiritually separated leper. 

Then we saw the POWER of the Lord to forgive sins in this paralyzed man (life to dead limbs.)

Now we'll look at the calling of tax collectors of sinners. The intention of the Lord to call sinners to Himself.

FACT: You are a Sinner. I am a sinner.
God has sent His Son to save whom? A: Sinners.
And unless we find ourselves categorically as undeserving sinners (in our own mind), there is no call for our redemption. This is Christ's call for us; we are tax collectors and sinners and welcomed into the family of God.

Prayer: Teach us Lord that there is HOPE for EVERY Sinner.

Most likely Levi (Matthew) was lingering around and listening to Jesus' teachings on many occasions, prior to Jesus calling him from his tax-collector booth.

The idea of "follow me" is to walk in Jesus' footsteps. 
Jesus called Levi and he immediately gets up and follows Christ. 
Levi's conversion to Christianity and his act of becoming a disciple is one of the same.
Discipleship begins at Jesus' call but doesn't end there. 

It's a decisive leaving and a decisive following.
If things went bad for Levi, it would be extremely difficult for him to return to tax-collecting, unlike Peter or the other fishermen that could easily return to fishing.

Luke 5:29 And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.
- Levi opens up his home and uses his resources to introduce his relatives to Jesus. He's the opposite of the rich young ruler.

Luke 5:30 The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 
- Pharisees criticize Jesus for "eating and drinking" simultaneously with these tax collectors and sinners (more than just being in close proximity). Jesus was enjoying fellowship with them.

Although the Pharisees' accusation was filled with shame, Jesus gives a hope-filled response. 
Luke 5:31 And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 

His Grace-filled calling.
Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
- The more likely candidate for the calling of Christ, unto Salvation is for the guy that knows he is a sinner.

CS Lewis, Mere Christianity: "Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness."
"Yet to those who see and acknowledge their own unrighteousness before God, the gospel offers forgiveness, blessing, and peace."

Any sinner is a prime candidate for salvation. Do you agree with Ephesians 2:1?
Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins
- These have a chance at redemption. Those that recognize themselves as shameful sinners.

One scholar said: "The church is the only fellowship in the world where the one requirement for membership is the unworthiness of the candidate."
If you recognize your sin, there is a cure.
As the church, we're offering the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ.

Repentance: "change your mind."
It's transformation of how you live your life. Live for Christ and seek to orient your mind and life to Christ. Seek to do what is His to do and to His glory alone.
Jesus called people to transformation.
Transformed in heart, mind, and conduct.

Jesus would accept every sinner but condemn every sin; thus, Jesus paid for every sin Himself on the cross.

Until the Lord takes us home, we will struggle with sin.  It's a constant reminder that we depend upon Him for our Salvation and our Righteousness alone. 
- Problem with the Pharisees: They did religion but were far from the kingdom of God because they were self-righteous.

Good reminder: Don't despise tax collectors and sinners, they are exactly the individuals that Jesus came to die for. They are the ones we are to call to repentance. They are welcomed in the kingdom of God. We need to be about the task of bringing tax collectors and sinners into the fellowship of Jesus Christ. That's who we are. And we have been welcomed as children of God. Seek out the sinners, they need the Salvation that Jesus offers.

2nd Hour IBC. 6/24/2013. Idolatry.

Idolatry. Pastor Gary Takahashi.

Idolatry is anything that we worship. Something we trust in more than God. When we worship God, we demonstrate that He is our highest priority.
Is there something that you cling to more than God?
Where is your time going?

What is idolatry ? Martin Luther defined idolatry as:

whatever your heart clings to and relies upon,that is your God;trust and faith of the heart alone make both God and idol.” 

“whatever your heart clings to or relies on for ultimate security.”The idol is whatever claims the loyalty that belongs to God alone. (We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry,G.K.Beale,pg.17)

1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

- Idolaters are mentioned here right after fornicators.

Galatians 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

- Idolatry has a new neighbor other than fornicator here, "sorcery" aka "pharmacea."

Root word of Pharmaceuticals, faith in magic/drugs instead of in God.

Ephesians 5:3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

- Covetousness and greediness; The insatiable desire to have more than you already have.

Colossians 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/24/2013. Luke 5:17-26

Luke 5:17-26. Messiah's Power to Forgive.

Pastor Nam Park. 

Luke 5:17 One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. 18 And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. 19 But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22 But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” 25 Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

To be healed/cured of a disease was only temporary; in the end, they still died. 

Luke leads us here to something deeper, the ability to cleanse. 

The Pharisees (the popular crowd) were respected for their high standard of living. Many followed along with their hope that the Messiah was coming. But it was easy for Hypocrisy to be found due to their THEOLOGICAL CONSERVATIVENESS. 

Theological Conservativeness, THIS IS US. We are concerned with every word of God (taking it at face value). And when striving to hold to a high standard, we are thus more likely to fail.

v.18 Four friends carried the man. It was simplicity of the description; the simplicity of their intention. 

Sometimes we make evangelism so complicated. But it is simply the act of inviting your friends to church. We don't need to think much deeper than that we want our friends to be "healed" aka "to know Christ."

The friends did their part, they brought their friend to Jesus. The rest was up to Jesus. It was loving of them. They saw their friend in need and they wanted to help him. Appreciate the tenacity they had to tear through the roof.

v.20 Jesus saw the faith of ALL FIVE of them. It wasn't just the faith of those carrying the man, but the faith of the paralyzed man as well. 

"Man, your sins are forgiven you."

The first words out of Jesus' mouth deal with sin and not the healing. Emphasizing that the greater issue is the sin and not the sickness. Sin & Sickness have a connection, due to the fact that we live in a fallen world.

v.22 Jesus is fully knowledgeable about what the Pharisees were thinking.
Luke 5:23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
- Your sins are forgiven you: Easy because no one can validate this statement.
- Get up and walk: Easy because it wasn't odd for God to heal select people in those times.
Nam's opinion: Both of these statements were "easy to say" and both of these statements are only possible with God.

Term "Son of Man" is Jesus using this name to identify Himself as the Messiah. In Daniel 7 it appropriately is the title given to a human agent...

Daniel 7:13 

“I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold, with the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him.

14 “And to Him was given dominion,

Glory and a kingdom,

That all the peoples, nations and men of every language

Might serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

Which will not pass away;

And His kingdom is one

Which will not be destroyed.

If Jesus was blaspheming, God wouldn't have healed the man. 

v.26 “We have seen remarkable things today.”
They saw something miraculous, something not merely a healing. It was the validity, the authentication that this guy could forgive sins.
We have seen amazing things today.

Jesus was able to rectify sin and sickness. The Messiah has the power and authority to forgive sins. He had it then and He has it today. The miracle is that Jesus can cleanse us from our sins.

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/16/2013. John 7:10-24.

Teaching on John 7.  John 7:10-24
Pastor Gary Takahashi.

John 7:10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. 11 So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?” 12 There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.” 13 Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

19 “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22 For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Jesus traveled alone to the feast. 

People didn't speak of Jesus aloud for fear of the Jewish leaders. (Wanting to kill Jesus).

Yet while Jesus traveled in secret, He taught to the crowds in public demonstrating that Jesus was fully obedient to the Father's will... not dependent on what was safe or dangerous in respects to the religious leaders. 

v.17 If you follow God's will, commit your life to it.

Dependence is the way to God's will. Faith is a requirement for Spiritual Intelligence. Understanding the will of God is the reward of faith.

v.18 Jesus' main purpose is to seek the glory of the Father.

"Pick up your Mat"

The Pharisees were not so much amazed that a miracle had occurred, but rather complained that Sabbath law was broken.

What happens when 2 laws are conflicting?

Example: 8th day circumcision and the Keeping of the Sabbath. 

What happens when the 8th day falls on the Sabbath? 

A: The Rabbi's have determined the priorities of these laws. The importance of the 8th day overrides the command to not work on the Sabbath.

v.23 Jesus emphasizes that he made the "entire man" well. He's forgiven of sins and healed of his sickness.

Possible Application (since this issue hits close to home): Just because a mom works doesn't mean that the family is living in sin. It's possible that the mom can take care of the home as well as a job. Get all the facts. Don't judge the lives of others too quickly.

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/9/2013. Luke 5.

Luke 5:12-16. Messiah's Power to Cleanse.

Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 5:12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Jesus has the power to cleanse. He is also WILLING to do so.
This man had a full and desperate need for cleansing since he was "covered" in leprosy.

Leprosy, aka Hansen's Disease, can be spread by touch or by breath. It is a decreasing of the nervous system. The person then becomes unable to feel pain.

He went face down in the dirt, begging Jesus to forgive him. He acknowledges that Jesus is fully capable to heal. Yet (in Greek) suggests that Jesus might not be willing to perform the healing. 
- Are you willing? (focus)
- I KNOW you can heal. (fact)

Jesus didn't have to heal him. He recognized Jesus' ability but didn't impose his desires to be healed upon the Savior. There is humility in the format of his asking, similar to a request made by method of a prayer.

Background: Lepers had to live outside the camp and if anyone came near, they needed to shout: "unclean." They were separated from family and friends and only lived with other lepers. They lived similar to dead men, away from society.
- If a leper could chose to be blind or even lame, instead of leprous  they would take the swap in an instant because at least they would be able to be with family and friends.

"Although the leper was not more sinful than others... he had the misfortune of being on the outside what everyone else already was on the inside; utterly sinful" (paraphrased quote).

In order to heal him, Jesus touched him. Jesus didn't have to touch him, but this action demonstrated His love and compassion. The healing was also immediate. The complete appearance of this man was restored back to normal. 

Jesus instructs the man to tell NO ONE. The reason was possibly that it was the right process for him to be restored into society. This was an 8-day process.  A testimony to the priesthood as well that Messianic times were upon them. 
Luke 7:20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” 21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Yet the healing Jesus repeatedly did was not the main focus, it was the PREACHING OF GOD's WORD.  What is more amazing is that a person that was once dead in his transgressions could be saved/completely cleansed. That is the greater miracle.

Jesus also didn't have His head swell. Afterwards, He finds time alone to pray. Good prayer is a difficult discipline, yet important. Seek to find private strength from God the Father.

The deeper issue is not whether we have the health/blessing of this life, but whether the things in this life point us to the Savior.

Turn to the Lord. The only one with the compassion, the ABILITY, and the WILLINGNESS to cleanse us.

Sunday Morning IBC. 6/2/2013. Luke 5.

Luke 5:1-11. How the Lord Calls Fishermen.
Pastor Nam Park.

Getting to the core of the real Jesus causes people to think of Jesus as JUST a great teacher. Emphasis on the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. 
William Templeton (Arch Bishop of Canterbury) insightfully said, "Why anyone should have troubled to crucify the Christ of Liberal Protestantism has always been a mystery"

The reality of who Jesus Christ is, speaks to everything to you and your eternal destiny.
Who and what Jesus Christ is. And when faced with who and what Jesus Christ is, how do we respond? Here, the Lord is calling ALL to become fishermen, through ONE single fisherman.
The knowledge of Jesus Christ should lead us to the worship of Jesus Christ. 
If it doesn't, it doesn't make any sense.
To know and to worship Jesus rightly and to draw/help others to do the same.
Our knowledge of Christ says EVERYTHING about us.

Luke 5 Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which 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 fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

1. It's about Teaching.
2. It's about Fishing: Literally fishing.
3. It's about Following.

The people were crowding and pressing upon Jesus because He was preaching words that seem to come from God. The Word "sourced" from God.
John 49 For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

The primary ministry Jesus had was to preach God's Word. The miracles that were done merely verified His ministry; accentuating that Jesus was worth being heard.

Lake Gennesaret (only Luke uses this name) = The Sea of Galilee = The Sea of Tiberiah (gospel of John)

They fished, usually at night.

Luke 5:4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon (specifically Peter), “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets (collectively for everyone) for a catch.”

- Simon is a representative for them all. Simon, a professional fisherman was willing to yield his fishing expertise to a carpenter. He had a willingness to obey.

This miracle sounds cool, but ranks rather low (on Pastor Nam's list) in comparison to healing a man that was blind from birth or raising a person from the dead. Yet, for Simon Peter [He was called PETER at moments of Christ-centered clarity], he is overwhelmed and falls face down in a pile of fish.

It is personal. And Peter senses the nearness of God in it. The weight of unworthiness settles upon His soul.

Job 42:5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;

But now my eye sees You;

6 Therefore I retract,

And I repent in dust and ashes.”

The reality of who God is humbles us. We are undone. No pride, no hubris. The just and right thing at that moment seems that Jesus shouldn't be associated with a sinful man like me. Peter recognized it would be right for Jesus to leave.

Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 
- the ONE sinner.

The other disciples might have shared in the amazement but also in the dismay (that the Lord shouldn't be near them).

There was a fear that Jesus might leave them. Yet even though Simon Peter feels his unworthiness, Jesus promises him a ministry. Jesus turns sinners into servants.
Acts 4 and 5 recount the many people that came to know Christ through them.

They abandoned everything to follow HIM (leaving everything, they decided to follow ONE) <- This is the summary of becoming a Christian. 
This is what happens when you meet the Son of God, He catches you alive and He employs you to catch others. 

They weren't very influential men, they were fishermen.
The most important thing about ability, is AVAILABILITY. 
God's not calling geniuses, He's calling normal people. 

"Teaching the Changed Lives" - by Dr. Hendricks.
Dr. Hendricks came to faith through a faithful man, named Walt. Walt was a Sunday School teacher that played marbles every Sunday with a group of boys, won all their marbles and challenged them to follow Christ. Out of 13 men, 11 became full-time ministers. Walt had a 6th grade education. Dr. Hendricks couldn't remember what was taught, but he could tell you everything about the man. Walt invested in him. 
God uses sinners like us, to call others.

Living it: Spend time with others. Believers and non-believers alike. Be available.