The Nathan Project
Luke Chapter 5
Worship
Break out into small groups – ice breaker
Tell your name and have you made any New Years resolutions for 2011?  If so, what?  If not, what is one thing that you hope to do or accomplish this year? 

Lesson Introduction –Last week we looked at Luke Chapter 4 and talked about Jesus being tempted in the desert and then the beginning of His ministry. 

• What is one thing that you learned from last week that you didn’t know before? 
• Does anyone remember any of the things that Jesus said that He had come to do?

Read Luke 4:18-19

• Now we’re ready for Chapter 5

Read together Luke 5:1-11  

What does Jesus tell Simon to do?   Go out to deeper water and put out their nets.
Did Simon think what Jesus was telling him was a good idea?  Not really, they had been out all night and morning, which is the best time to catch fish, now Jesus is asking them to fish at the worst time.
How did Simon respond?  He obeyed anyway
What was the result?  They caught more fish than they could handle
Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something that didn’t make sense to you? How did you respond?  What was the result?  

Re-read verse 8 

Why do you think Simon Peter responded to Jesus this way? – Talk about how the closer we get to God, the more we understand our own sinfulness and unworthiness.  

Read Luke 5:12-16 

Vs. 16 says that Jesus often went off by Himself to pray, why would Jesus want to pray? Jesus was fully human and just like us, needed to communicate with God in order to receive direction, wisdom and strength.
Why do you think Jesus felt that it was important to go to a solitary place when He prayed?  Jesus knew that there would be many things that could distract Him from hearing from His father and in order to deal with that He withdrew to a place that was quiet.  

Read together Luke 5:17-39 

In Verses 27-31, why were the religious leaders angry with Jesus? He was hanging out with people who the religious leaders looked down on. 

Why do you think Jesus made an effort to reach out to these people? What do you think He expects of us?