Title: The Right Side (Part 1)
Scripture: John 21:1-6
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Introduction:
• In times of chaos, anxiety, or fear, we have a tendency to go back to emotions, feelings, places, and people that are familiar…
• After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Disciples did not shift to new ministry but returned to an old practice, “Fishing.”
• In this difficult season in your life and the world, don’t go back, go forward…
Lessons from the Disciples:
#1: The difference between what we Can do and what we are Called to do
Vs. 1-3 “1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”
• Can do or Called to do?
Matthew 4: 18-20 CEB
18 As Jesus walked alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, because they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 20 Right away, they left their nets and followed him.
#2: The difference between default and destiny
• Default or Destiny?
#3: The Jesus Factor
Vs. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
• In this new season, Jesus is going to ask you two questions:
1. Why are you doing what you use to do and if what you use to do isn’t working, why are you still doing it?
2. Why don’t you try something different?
“Throw your net on the right side of the boat…”
Madam C.J. Walker
• “Always at the mercy of others, she and Lelia moved frequently, often twice or more in one year. For months at a time, she lived with one of her brothers. At other times she and Lelia were scarcely steps ahead of homelessness, squeezed into whatever room they could beg or afford. Because nothing in Mississippi had prepared Sarah for the riptide of the city, she was sucked under again and again by family tragedies, an abusive marriage, dangerous neighborhood. Finally, the resilience she had first mustered after her parents’ deaths reemerged. As she set about to reinvent herself, she began to erase relationships and events too painful and shameful to acknowledge.
•The Book of Acts is not called the book of “How to Deep Sea Fish” but the book of the “Acts of the Apostles”
Part I: Starter Questions to Consider
1. Are you doing what is comfortable and convenient or what you are called to do?
2. Are you letting your default life get in the way of your destiny life?
3. What is God trying to teach you in this season?
