Imagine this: you are a newspaper editor in Jerusalem and Luke is your top reporter. On three occasions, he submits what are clearly front page news articles. Your decision each time is to decide: what will the headline be?
I am told that a golden rule of journalism is “don’t bury the lead statement”. When you have a story, work out what is the most important part of the story and start there. But Luke was a doctor, not a journalist! His mission was to report the facts in an orderly way – so the “lead” is not written up-front. We’ll need to find it!
Let’s look at Luke’s first major story: Luke 5 from verse 1:
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
This was a truly remarkable day! What headline would you use for this report?
- “Miraculous Catch of Fish!”?
- “Two Boatloads from One Net!”?
- “Jesus fishes like he preaches!”?
- ?
We can easily conclude that “this is the account of the miraculous catch of fish”. We can analyse the event: Jesus spoke, Peter obeyed, stepping out in faith, and a miracle resulted. It is definitely a fantastic case-study of hearing and obeying in faith!
This is a profoundly significant miracle... but there is an even greater event in this text (and the NIV editors have added a heading to help us spot it) – it’s in verses 10 and 11:
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
The catch of fish was amazing – but the CALL OF JESUS was AWESOME! Jesus engaged Peter fully through this miracle and then called him to change careers – to become a “fisher of men”.
And Peter, James and John pulled their boats up on shore, left them behind and followed Jesus.
The greatest catch of this day was three fishermen – who made a life-changing decision to follow Christ and began a new career of reaching people for Christ.
Let’s fast-forward Peter’s story – to Acts chapter 2:
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say…
This is DEFINTELY another front page story!! Another AMAZING piece of history!
The disciples were meeting together during the feast of Pentecost, and suddenly the Holy Spirit took over their meeting! It looked like fire was on them, but they didn’t burn up! Then they began to speak new languages! Foreigners heard the noise – and heard the wonders of God being declared in their home languages by these Jews! They were amazed – and confused! What was going on?
Then Peter stepped up – he stood up, raised his voice over the crowd, and preached his first sermon – without any preparation!
The sermon was powerful – so powerful that 3 000 people put their faith in Christ!
So what is your headline?
Some possible headlines:
- Strange Fire, Strange Meeting!
- Spontaneous International Translation!
- Is this what the Prophets Foretold?
- ?
As we read this amazing account, we can easily become engrossed in what is now known as “Pentecostal” activity – supernatural signs and supernatural speech. What an amazing meeting!! Imagine if OUR meetings could be like this!!
Jesus had told the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came (recorded in Acts 1:7) – this was the big moment! What an event!!
But again, the story ends with something even more spectacular – verse 41:
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
So the headline could be something like:
- “3 000 converts to Christ in one day!”
It is truly amazing! 3 000 people made the life-changing decision to follow Christ – and without hesitation, they were all baptised!
Think about it: We are (rightfully) thrilled when one person puts their faith in Christ… We want to build a 1 000-seater church… In one day, Peter saw 3 000 new converts!
Last one: let’s read on a little further – not about Peter, but about the 3 000 converts – in Acts 2 from verse 42:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
YET ANOTHER amazing account!! The Church has exploded into existence and it quickly develops into the most MAGNIFICENT community! The members are devoted… there is great teaching and great fellowship… many miracles are happening in their meetings… they have big public meetings in the temple courts and small intimate meetings in their homes… God is honoured and the believers are admired by the community…
I certainly read this in wonder – what a magnificent picture of the church! I can spend tons of time examining this description of a vibrant church and thinking about how we can be like this – who wouldn’t want this as a description of their church?
So maybe you’d write a heading like this:
- “Devotion Redefined!”
- “Believers redefine Community!”
- “From Capitalism to Community!”
- “Transformation!”
- ?
But yet again, I am stopped by the last sentence of this account:
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Every day, people were being saved – finding faith in Christ. Every day, people were being rescued from darkness and brought into the light of Jesus!
The Church life is magnificent – but people being saved every day is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!
So a better headline could be “Church Grows Daily!”
Now you may have guessed that I am not particularly interested in developing your journalism skills! There is “method in my madness” – I have a point in all this! J
And here it is – my conclusion as I gaze over these events in history:
· Hearing God is really important.
· Faithful obedience to what HE says is really important.
· Miraculous provision by God is really important.
· The work of the Holy Spirit is really important.
· The ingredients of church life are really important.
These things are all really important – in fact, this is an understatement!
And this is why they are important:
Are you paying attention? J
All of these things are really important – but they are not the end in themselves – they are really important because they result in DECISIONS TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
They are really important because:
· The “lost” need to be “found”!
· Those who are still living – and dying – in the dark need to see the light!
· Those who are still being ruled by the devil and his evil forces need to be rescued and brought under the authority – and the eternal protection – of Jesus!
Peter’s catch brought him to a place where he could make his decision to follow Jesus.
Pentecost took place so that people from all over the world could make their decision to follow Jesus.
The church was born and blessed so that, on a daily basis, people could make their decision to follow Jesus.
Many of us know John 3:16&17
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Jesus came to save the world – and we are a part of his one, massive rescue plan!
All he is doing in our lives… all he is wanting to do in our lives… it all has a significance that reaches far beyond our personal blessings – as glorious as these blessings are.
Jesus’ work in our lives brings us to the place where we can make key decisions to follow him. And his work will put OTHERS in a position to make THEIR decision to follow Jesus.
The work of God in our lives is glorious – let’s enjoy it! But let’s know that it all has a greater purpose – to rescue those around us! God’s plan is so much bigger than me… than you… than COGS… than church groupings and movements…
IT IS TO REDEEM THE WORLD. This is why you and I are not yet in heaven – we have lives to touch!
Let’s go out and touch them.
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