Luke 5

"Dear Friend, Wow, there is so much I would like to say to you about this important moment in today's verses that forever changed the lives of Peter,...."

What happens when Jesus confronts us in our area of strength? Phil Ware continues his series on Saved at Sea looking this week at the call of Simon Peter and the miraculous catch of fish when it shouldn't have happened unless Jesus is Lord.

"Dear Child of God, What is your greatest need? Seems like a simple question, doesn't it? But when you look deeper, the events in the verses below..."

"Dear Beloved, What's with all those somber faces among those who claim to follow Me? Yes, seriousness is demanded at certain times. Yes, My call for...."

"Dear Friend, To be My disciple means that you are committed to following in My footsteps. You come to Me, recognizing your need for healing grace..."

"[Jesus] noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats,..."

"Later, as Jesus left [Capernaum], he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said....."

"But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, "Who does he think he is? That's blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!" Jesus knew..."

"Dear Disciple, Sometimes things have a way of repeating themselves. The events in the verses below occurred after My resurrection. The apostle Peter...."

"Dear Friend, Frustrated! Yes, I was frustrated at this precious man in today's verses who disobeyed My direct command not to tell anyone except the....."

"One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every..."

"When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me — I'm such a sinful man." For he....."

"Then Jesus gave them this illustration: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new..."

"One day some people said to Jesus, "John the Baptist's disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your..."

"Then Jesus instructed [the man who was healed of leprosy] not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, "Go to the priest and let him examine you...."

"[When accused of being a friend of sinners,] Jesus answered [his critics], "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the....."

"In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be...."

Inspirational illustration of Luke 5:31-32 -- Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

What such a dour and serious face? Rubel Shelly reminds us that being dour doesn't help any of us make disciples or friends.

Why would anyone ever leave the comfortable for the frightening? Following Jesus may seem scary or even a bit scary, but then that is what it means for Him to be Lord.

"One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God."

"Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus."

"Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today.""

"After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left..."

"We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his boat, nor his..."

"[Jesus continued,] "But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. 'The old is just fine,' they say.""

Inspirational illustration of Luke 5:18 -- Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.

So they pulled thier boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him. - Luke 5:11

Inspirational illustration of Luke 5:27 -- After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Inspirational illustration of Luke 5:26 -- Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

Does he really act at just the right time? Russ Lawson reminds us that even though it is hard to wait patiently, God always responds to our prayers at just the right time and we should never give up asking him for his help.

Can my life be characterized by my intentional time away from the noise to be with the Father? Jesus' life was framed by prayer, but do I find my "as usual" and "lonely places" moments in the presence of the Father in prayer?

God's people have been in lost places before our time. They made it safely through their wilderness to better times and better places. James Nored in video and Phil Ware with words reminds us that God is the finder and mender of lost and broken things and lost and broken people.

Will things ever change for me? Phil Ware reminds that God still has the whole world in his hands and he can get us out of our ruts and break through the barriers that hold us captive to boredom and sameness.

Growing in prayer, feeling a connection with the Father, and being formed to be a useful vessel for Jesus to use to bless others is a journey. Phil Ware, with the help of Chad Higgins, continues his series on Lord Teach Us to Pray focusing on learning from Jesus.

Wouldn't life be better if we could have a fresh start after making a mess of things? Phil Ware continues his series on Resurrection 2.0 focusing on Jesus' loving confrontation of Peter about his arrogance and failure and then restoring him back to ministry.

Have you touched someone in the name of Jesus, lately? Phil Ware talks about making God touchable and how we share the touch of Jesus with others.

Why is it hard to let Jesus have control of our lives? I wonder what would happen if we truly let Jesus have control of our lives.

Caught to be released into life, community, and purpose by the grace of God! Phil Ware begins a series of articles on sharing Jesus in word and deed with others called Catch and Release and focusing on following Jesus.

I want hospitals to have a “sick” wing and a “you’re really not sick” wing. Churches are spiritual hospitals full of those who need spiritual healing ... and that includes all of us.

I wait in silence for the Lord! Pat Mingarelli shares insight from his time hiking and being outdoors as a photographer and reminds us our need for silence to listen to God.

Do I aggressively pursue Jesus because his words reveal the truth and the heart of God? Phil Ware focuses on Luke 5 and a few key phrases that reveal what it means to be JesuShaped!

Can you find your Bible in the list? While there are many specialty Bibles, the Bible is really written for only one group of people: sinners.

How can this happen? Phil Ware takes a weird note in his inbox and uses Johnny Cash and his comebacks to remind us that Jesus gives us the ultimate comeback, he forgives, purifies, and heals.

Yes, we've all blown it at some point, yet Jesus does more than remind us we're valuable; the Lord calls us back to service! Phil Ware continues his 'I Doubt It' series and reminds us that Jesus not only forgives and cleanses, but he restores and calls us back to ministry.