January 13-What a Catch

Scripture Lesson: Luke 5:4-11

Today is the birthday of Kevin Mitchell former outfielder primarily with the Mets, Giants, and Reds. Mitchell played from the mid 80’s to the later 90’s. Probably best known for a tremendous catch he made in the 1989 season while playing for the Giants. Mitchell, playing left field, against the Cardinals, began to track a slicing line drive off the bat of Cardinals’ shortstop Ozzie Smith. Mitchell realized he had overrun the ball, but was able to reach back with his bare hand and snare the ball. He ran into the wall after the barehanded catch. This catch has been among those listed as some of the greatest in baseball history.

Jesus had gotten Simon Peter to put him out a little ways in his fishing boat in the harbor at Capernium. Jesus used the boat and the water along with the shape of the harbor to speak to the large crowd gathered to hear Him. After He finished speaking, Jesus told Peter to let down the nets. Even though Peter and his partners had fished all night with no luck, he let down the nets. The amount of fish they caught almost sunk the boats. Jesus then tells the four fishermen not to be afraid, that they were going for a different kind of fishing from now on instead of fish, they would be catching men. Talk about a great catch….the fishermen now became fishers of men. The same call is for us today….it is time to go fishing and catch men, women, boys and girls for the Kingdom of God!

1. Have you ever caught a fish? How did it feel?
2. Have you ever “caught” someone for the Kingdom of God? How did that feel?
3. When is the last time you went “fishing” for God?

Kevin Mitchell’s catch was a great one, but it cannot hold a candle to catching someone for the Kingdom of God. Today let’s make it a priority to share the good news of Jesus Christ and do some fishing for the Kingdom!