Fishers of Men

Fishers of Men

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity – 7/20/2025

Luke 15:1-11

Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer – St. John’s Lutheran Church of Oakes, ND

That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our Gospel lesson from the fifth chapter of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke with special emphasis on verses 10b and 11 which read as follows:

“And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.”[1]

Thus far the Scriptures.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Introduction

Picture the scene: Jesus standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the crowd pressing in, hungry to hear the Word of God. He steps into Peter’s boat, pushes out a bit, and from that humble fishing vessel preaches to the masses. Then, He tells Peter to do something absurd: “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter is tired. He’s fished all night and caught nothing. But something about Jesus compels trust: “At Your Word, I will let down the nets.”

And what happens next is nothing short of miraculous! They get a catch so great that their nets are breaking. Peter, stunned and humbled, falls at Jesus’ knees and says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” But Jesus replies, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

This is more than a story about fish. This is a story about the mission of the Church, a mission that begins with Jesus' Word, continues through the pastoral office, and involves every believer. Today, we’ll consider this calling to evangelize, that is, to share the Gospel in three parts:

1. The Word that Does the Work

2. The Call to the Pastoral Office

3. The Participation of the Laity

The Word that Does the Work

The key to understanding this miracle is Peter’s statement: “At Your Word, I will let down the nets.” He doesn’t trust in his experience, his knowledge of fishing, or the conditions of the sea. He trusts in Jesus’s Word. And so it is with evangelism. The success of the Church’s mission doesn’t depend on marketing strategies or emotional manipulation. It depends on the power of the Word of God. As Isaiah declares, “My Word shall not return to Me empty.”[2] It is the Word that creates faith. It is the Word that brings people from death to life. It is the Word that caught you, dear Christian, and brought you into the boat of the Church. The Church goes fishing, not with gimmicks, but with the net of the Gospel. And when we do this at Christ’s command, we can trust that He will bring in the catch according to His will.

The Call to the Pastoral Office

But now look again at Simon Peter. Jesus doesn’t just work a miracle and walk away. He gives Peter a new vocation: “From now on, you will be catching men.” Here we see the beginning of Peter’s apostolic ministry. This is the moment Jesus begins to separate certain men for the task of preaching, teaching, baptizing, and administering the sacraments. This is the establishment of what we call today the Office of the Holy Ministry.

Pastors are not better or more holy than others. Peter himself admits he is a sinful man! But pastors are called by Christ through the Church to carry out the work of fishing for men with the Gospel. As Paul writes in Romans 10: “How will they hear without someone preaching? And how will they preach unless they are sent?”[3]

Your pastor is called not to entertain or manage programs, but to preach Christ crucified, to administer the sacraments faithfully, to shepherd the flock with the Word. This is Christ’s mission, not man’s invention. Pastors are stewards, not CEOs; heralds, not inventors. They stand in the boat, so to speak, and let down the net of Christ’s Word into the deep waters of the world. So pray for your pastors. Support them. Encourage them. And expect of them nothing more and nothing less than that they faithfully proclaim the Word of God and shepherd Christ’s people.

And, if you are a Christian man, ask yourself if the Lord is calling you to preach the Gospel as a pastor. It is a difficult labor at times, but it is absolutely essential in the sharing of God’s gifts. May the Lord grant us a greater number of men to preach the Gospel. Amen.

The Participation of the Laity

But evangelism is not the pastor’s job alone. Notice in the story: Peter doesn’t catch the fish alone. His partners, James and John, are there. Others help haul in the nets. In the same way, the mission of the Church involves all Christians. While this example explicitly names two others who will be Apostles, that is, pastors, we must recognize that the preaching of the Gospel is an affair that involves the whole church.

Not everyone is called to be a pastor, but every Christian are called to confess Christ, to live out their faith, and to speak the truth in love. The laity have the great and noble calling to bear witness to Jesus in their daily vocations, at home, at work, in school, in friendships. And though this sometimes seems unimportant because it does not have the trappings of formality that the pastoral office does, it is no less important. After all, you all have conversations about Christ and His church that I, as a pastor, cannot. Your witness to the truth in all of these vocations is absolutely beneficial for the Gospel.

Sometimes this witness is as simple as a quiet word: “I’ll pray for you.” “Would you come to church with me?” “Jesus died for sinners like us.” Sometimes it’s seen in acts of mercy, forgiveness, patience, or honesty that stand out in a world of selfishness and despair.

And even more, you laity also have the duty to hold pastors accountable to the Word. You are not sheep without discernment. You know the Shepherd’s voice. So listen for it in your pastor’s preaching. And when you hear it, rejoice and give thanks. And if you do not, call your pastor to account according to Holy Scripture.

Conclusion

At the end of the story, Peter, James, and John leave everything and follow Jesus. They leave behind the biggest catch of their lives, not because fish don’t matter, but because they’ve been called to something even greater: catching people alive for the kingdom of God.

That calling continues today. The Church is the boat. The Word is the net. And the sea is still full. Christ still speaks to us in His Word. Pastors still preach. Christians still confess the faith. And the Word still catches. So let us trust, as Peter did: “At Your Word, Lord, we will let down the nets.”Because the mission is His, the Word is His, and the harvest is His. And, by His Word and command, the nets will be full.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] Luke 5:10b-11 English Standard Version. All subsequent citations from the Scriptures are from the ESV.

[2] Isaiah 55:11

[3] Romans 10:14-15