Luke Chapter 5 - Called and Changed: From Encounter to Obedience

Today we are studying Luke Chapter 5. In this chapter, we see Jesus call His first disciples, heal the sick, forgive sins, and challenge religious thinking. Lives are changed as people encounter Him—fishermen leave everything, a leper is cleansed, a paralyzed man is healed, and a tax collector is called. This chapter reminds us that when we encounter Jesus, everything changes. It calls us to respond with faith, obedience, and surrender.

Transcript

Welcome to Giving God PRAISE. This is a podcast where we walk through the entire Bible, book by book and chapter by chapter. Our desire is to discover not only what God’s Word says, but what it means to praise God in our daily life. In each episode, we explore a Promise to Claim, a Response to Make, an Attitude to Change, an Instruction to Obey, a Sin to Confess, and an Example to Follow. So let’s go ahead and grab our Bibles and dive into today’s teaching.

Today we are studying Luke Chapter 5. In this chapter, we see Jesus call His first disciples, heal the sick, forgive sins, and challenge religious thinking. Lives are changed as people encounter Him—fishermen leave everything, a leper is cleansed, a paralyzed man is healed, and a tax collector is called. This chapter reminds us that when we encounter Jesus, everything changes. It calls us to respond with faith, obedience, and surrender.

Let’s begin reading Luke Chapter 5:

As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord! ” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they took, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people! ” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Him. While He was in one of the towns, a man was there who had a serious skin disease all over him. He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged Him: “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Reaching out His hand, He touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean,” and immediately the disease left him. Then He ordered him to tell no one: “But go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing as a testimony to them.” But the news about Him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed. On one of those days while He was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power to heal was in Him. Just then some men came, carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before Him. Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the mat through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus. Seeing their faith He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think: “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you thinking this in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today! ” After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me! ” So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow Him. Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them. But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to His disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? ” Jesus replied to them, “The healthy don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples fast often and say prayers, and those of the Pharisees do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” Jesus said to them, “You can’t make the wedding guests fast while the groom is with them, can you? But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them — then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. Otherwise, not only will he tear the new, but also the piece from the new garment will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, it will spill, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine should be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine, wants new, because he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

Let’s take a moment to quiet our hearts and come before the Lord.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Word and the truth we see in Luke Chapter 5. Help us to respond to You with faith, humility, and obedience. Show us what it means to truly follow You and trust You fully in every area of our lives.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now that we’ve read God’s Word and prepared our hearts in prayer, let’s begin our PRAISE study and see what He wants to show us today.

In this chapter, we first see a Promise to Claim. Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” This promise reveals the heart of God toward humanity. He does not wait for us to become perfect before calling us; instead, He calls us in our brokenness and leads us into transformation. This means there is no situation, no past, and no failure that disqualifies us from responding to Him. His invitation is rooted in grace, not performance. When we claim this promise, we are reminded that our relationship with God begins not with what we achieve, but with what we surrender. This gives us confidence to come before Him honestly, knowing that He is both willing and able to restore us. It encourages us to stop hiding behind guilt or shame and instead step forward in faith, trusting that His purpose for our lives is greater than anything we have done. His call to repentance is not condemnation—it is an invitation to new life.

Next, we see a Response to Make. In this chapter, the disciples leave everything and follow Jesus. This response is immediate and complete, showing us what true obedience looks like. They did not delay, negotiate, or attempt to hold onto their old lives while stepping into something new. Instead, they trusted Jesus enough to walk away from security, familiarity, and control. This challenges us to examine our own response when God calls us. Are we willing to trust Him fully, or do we hesitate because we fear the unknown? Responding to Jesus means more than belief—it requires action. It means aligning our lives with His direction, even when it disrupts our plans. This kind of response leads to transformation because it places us directly in the path of His purpose. When we choose to follow Him wholeheartedly, we begin to see our lives from a new perspective, one shaped by His will rather than our own. True response is not partial—it is complete surrender.

Now we consider an Attitude to Change. When Peter encounters Jesus, he immediately becomes aware of his own sinfulness and responds with humility. This moment reveals a shift in attitude that is essential for spiritual growth. Instead of pride or self-justification, Peter recognizes his need for grace. This is the attitude we must adopt. Too often, we rely on our own understanding, abilities, or righteousness, believing we can manage life on our own. However, real transformation begins when we acknowledge our limitations and turn to God with humility. Changing our attitude means moving from self-reliance to dependence on Him. It means being willing to admit where we fall short and trusting Him to guide us forward. When our attitude shifts in this way, we become open to His work in our lives. We begin to see challenges differently, not as obstacles, but as opportunities for growth. Humility positions us to receive His grace, and through that grace, we are continually shaped into who He has called us to be.

Then we see an Instruction to Obey. Jesus tells Peter to go out into deep water and let down his nets, even after a long night of failure. This instruction did not make sense from a human perspective, yet Peter chose to obey. This teaches us that obedience is not always about understanding—it is about trusting. God often calls us to step beyond what is comfortable or logical, asking us to act in faith rather than certainty. When we obey His instruction, we demonstrate our trust in His authority and His wisdom. This kind of obedience positions us to experience His power in ways we could not achieve on our own. It also strengthens our faith, as we begin to see the results of trusting Him. Obedience requires courage because it often involves stepping into the unknown. However, it is through these moments of faith that God reveals His provision and His purpose. When we follow His instruction, even when it is difficult, we align ourselves with His plan and open the door for Him to work in our lives.

Next, we come to a Sin to Confess. This chapter reveals the tendency to hesitate when God calls us. Whether it is fear, doubt, or attachment to our current circumstances, we often resist stepping fully into what He is asking of us. This hesitation can prevent us from experiencing the fullness of His plan. Confessing this sin means acknowledging where we have held back and choosing to trust Him instead. It requires honesty about the areas of our lives where we are reluctant to surrender control. When we bring this before God, He does not respond with condemnation but with grace, helping us move forward in faith. Confession allows us to release what is holding us back and step into obedience with a renewed perspective. It reminds us that God’s call is always for our good and His glory. By addressing hesitation, we remove barriers that keep us from fully following Him. This leads to greater freedom, deeper trust, and a stronger relationship with Him.

Finally, we see an Example to Follow. The men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus demonstrate persistent and determined faith. When they encountered obstacles, they did not give up—they found another way. This example challenges us to consider how far we are willing to go in our faith, not only for ourselves but for others. True faith is not passive; it is active and intentional. It seeks solutions rather than accepting limitations. Following this example means being willing to overcome barriers, whether they are external circumstances or internal doubts. It also means caring enough about others to bring them to Jesus, even when it requires effort and sacrifice. This kind of faith has a powerful impact because it reflects a deep trust in who Jesus is and what He can do. When we live with this level of persistence, we become instruments through which God works in the lives of others. Our faith becomes not only a personal journey but a way to lead others toward transformation and healing.

Let’s close by going to the Lord in prayer.

Heavenly Father,
We are so grateful that our listeners chose to spend their time with us in Your Word today. Thank You for the truth of Luke Chapter 5 and the reminder of Your calling and grace in our lives.

We pray that this message would encourage every heart listening and help them to follow You fully, trust You completely, and walk in obedience each day.

Lord, we ask that our listeners would feel led to share this podcast with someone who may need that same encouragement and truth. Continue to use this ministry to reach people all around the world, spreading Your Word and drawing hearts closer to You.

Help us to live with faith, humility, and a willingness to follow wherever You lead.

May God bless you and keep you in His grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.