Gospel Trainwreck

Gospel Trainwreck, Luke 5:1-11, Zack Park

Luke 5:1-11

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

- Luke 5:1-11

A Deeper Pursuit

A Deeper Pursuit, “Pursuing God” Series – Part 5, Genesis 22:1-18

Genesis 22:1-18

“After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."  2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."  3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.  4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.  5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you."  6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.  7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"  8 Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.  9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.  11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."  12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."  13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.  14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."  15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven  16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,  17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,  18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."

- Genesis 22:1-18

Hunger For God

Hunger For God, “Pursuing God” Series – Part 4, Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Deuteronomy 8:2-3

“And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.  3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

- Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Pursuing By Tasting

Pursuing By Tasting, “Pursuing God” Series – Part 3, Psalm 34:1-10

Psalm 34:1-10  

“OF DAVID, WHEN HE CHANGED HIS BEHAVIOR BEFORE ABIMELECH, SO THAT HE DROVE HIM OUT, AND HE WENT AWAY. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.  3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!  4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.  7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”

The God Who Pursues Us

The God Who Pursues Us, “Pursuing God” Series – Part 2, Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:11-32

“11 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.  12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.  13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.  15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.  17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!  18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'  20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.  25 "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'  28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,  29 but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.  30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'  31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" 

- Luke 15:11-32

Where Are The God-Pursuers?

Where Are The God-Pursuers?, “Pursuing God” Series Part 1, Psalm 14:1-7

Psalm 14:1-7

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF DAVID. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.  2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.  3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.  4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?  5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.  6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.  7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”

- Psalm 14:1-7

A Question For The New Year: What Do I Want?

A Question For The New Year: What Do I Want?, A New Year’s Message, Matthew 6:19-21

Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Matthew 6:19-21