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Throughout our time together we are going to learn some new and different ways to read the Bible so we can listen to God God is speaking to us through it.  We want to connect our story with God's story.  

Today we are starting with one of my favorite methods of Bible Study- the Ignatian Method.  I really like this method because we can study alone or in a group and we get to experience the story for our selves.  We get to imagine the story as though it was a movie- or better yet like we were really there!

So open your Bible to Luke 5:1-11 or read the text below:

 "One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets.  Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.”

Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.”

 So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink.  When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught.  James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too.

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.”  As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus."

Step One:
You are with Jesus beside the lake.  Imagine yourself on the shore listening to Jesus teaching from the boat.  
Where are you standing? What time of day is it? Who else is there? What do you see? hear? smell? feel? taste?

Step Two:
Now, you are in the boat with Jesus and Simon, rowing out deeper into the lake.  Jesus asks you and Simon to "drop your nets for a catch." You hear Simon say, "Master, we've worked hard all night and caught nothing.  But because you say so, I'll drop the nets"
What are you thinking? What do you see? hear? smell? feel? taste?


Step Three:
The nets are so full of fish that your boat is sinking.  Other boats come quickly to help pull in the catch. Jesus says, "Don't be afraid.  From now on, you will be fishing for people."
What are the others around you doing? saying? What are you doing? saying? feeling?


When you boat comes to shore, the others leave everything and go with Jesus.  What do you do? say? feel?


Now its your turn to write... Take some quiet time to reflect on this story's message for you.
What do you think this story says to you? In what ways does it stir you, confuse you, challenge you?