This whole last week was YouthWeek 2023! About 15 FBC Adults came together to bring our youth a week of Bible study, worship in song,Small Groups, Team-Building, and a different fun activity every night! Our theme for the week was, “Twists &Turns, where following Jesus changes the game of life,” because life is not all fun and games, even afterbecoming a follower of Jesus; it’s full of twists and turns that can leave us feeling like we’ve taken one stepforward and two steps back.

That was certainly the case for ourcase-study, a man in the Bible named Peter. He messed up; he stumbled; and he wasn’t perfect. But evenwhen Peter messed up, it wasn’t “Game Over”. God still worked through Peter to help others learn aboutJesus.

We looked together at fivedifferent encounters Peter had with Jesus to discover that Jesus is holy; trustworthy; forgiving when wemess up; worth following no matter what; and that Jesus is for everyone, even all of us.

The youth did not know this, butthese are the Focus of the 5 days of this year’s VBS, which is just 3 weeks away! So, for all you VBS Workerswho participated, you are that much more prepared to help, and you didn’t even know it!

Our Theme Verse for the weekwas Psalm 25:4 – “Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths [so I’ll know how to live moreconfidently].”

Because these are amazing topicsand Scriptures to study, and so we can all be more on the same page and prepared to lead the children whowill be in our care, I am going to be preaching through these passages for the next 3 weeks.This morning we’ll be looking together at Luke 5:1-11.

In the first four chapters of Luke,we see how Jesus was born, grew up, was baptized, and began His earthly ministry. Today, we are going topick up in Luke chapter 5 and learn about one of the early encounters the Bible records between Jesus andPeter.

We know from John 1:35-42 thatJesus had previously talked with Simon Peter and Andrew before this event and had been teaching in the area.Now we’re looking at the encounter Peter had with Jesus where and when he finally saw Jesus for who Hereally is – why I’m calling today’s message, “Aha!”.It’s like this line of letters, which I used this week as well: O T T F F S S E N ?What is the missing letter at the end?If you know, just raise your hand, but don’t give it away.I’m confident all of the rest of us have some kind of idea what it might be, because you believe something,based on your life experience, about what the letter might be. Everyone has reasons for what they believe,even if they believe it doesn’t matter. (which is a belief).The Bible describes Jesus as the answer to all the heaviest things of life. The Sunday School answer foreverything is typically “Jesus”, right? Just like Jesus is the answer, there is a correct answer for what letter ismissing.What do you think it is? _ I’m sure you have reasons behind what you believe the answer is, like:

“N” because all the consonants are doubled, “D” for “SEND”, or “O” to round it off. Those are all logical, butthey are also incorrect.The missing letter is ”T”. But if you thought the answer was “T” for “SENT”, you’d miss the point. And even ifyou believe and trust me that the answer is “T”, if you don’t know why, the answer probably doesn’t exciteyou.It’s similar with Jesus. Most people in the United States have heard His name and are aware that He claims tobe the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.“Jesus” is the most frequently used name in our nation. You’ll hear it in locker rooms, on golf courses, and inbusiness meetings. People shout it when they’re happy, mad, surprised, and excited. His is the only propername that is used as a swear word. But, like the letter “T”, only those who are intimately acquainted with Himare excited. Knowing about Jesus doesn’t excite. Knowing Him is very exciting!God made you to love you, and for you to love Him back. He also made you able to recognize Jesus, His son,for who He really is when intr