Sermon Recap | 08/23/2026

City Church – Weekly Sermon Recap

Date: August 23, 2026
Speaker: Pastor John Hardie & City Church Congregation
Sermon Title: Lectio Divina
Scripture: Luke 5:1–11

📖 What Is Lectio Divina?

This Sunday, instead of a traditional sermon, City Church practiced Lectio Divina, a simple and prayerful way of listening to God through Scripture.

Pastor John described it as a process of reading God’s Word and listening, trusting that the Holy Spirit is present among God’s people and that God continues to speak through His living Word. Rather than reading along or immediately analyzing the passage, the congregation was invited to simply listen with open ears, minds, and hearts.

Luke 5:1–11 was read three times by three different voices. After each reading, the congregation spent time in silence reflecting on a single question and making note of what stood out to them.

📖 Scripture | Luke 5:1–11

The passage tells of Jesus meeting Simon Peter after a long and unsuccessful night of fishing. Though tired and discouraged, Simon responds to Jesus’ instruction to let down the nets once more.

The result is an overwhelming catch of fish.

Confronted by the presence and power of Jesus, Peter falls to his knees and acknowledges his sinfulness. But Jesus does not reject him. Instead, He tells Peter, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you’ll be fishing for people.”

Peter, James, and John then leave everything behind and follow Jesus.

💭 Three Readings. Three Questions.

After the first reading, the congregation reflected on:

What word or phrase from the reading stood out to you?

After the second reading:

What might the Lord be saying to you through this reading?

And after the third reading:

What might the Lord be asking you to do?

These questions moved the congregation from simply hearing the passage, to listening personally, and finally to considering how God might be calling each person to respond.

🌿 Lessons We Heard Together

1. Don’t Be Afraid — Go Where God Sends You

One member of the congregation repeatedly heard Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid,” and sensed a call to become a “fisherman among the people”—to be available as a vessel for God and share His Word with others.

Following Jesus does not require having every answer. It begins with a willingness to go where He sends us.

2. Are We Willing to Leave Even Good Things Behind?

Another reflection noticed something striking about the fishermen: they had just experienced what could have been the best business day of their lives, yet they immediately walked away from the catch to follow Jesus.

That raised a challenging question: when life is comfortable, successful, and going according to plan, are we still willing to leave something behind if Jesus calls us somewhere else?

Following Christ means that even good things cannot become more important than obedience to Him.

3. God Can Use Us Even When We Feel Unequipped

Another member reflected on Peter’s response: “I’m such a sinful man.” Yet Peter’s weakness and awareness of his sin did not disqualify him from Jesus’ call.

God does not wait until we feel fully prepared. Our response can simply be, “Yes, Lord.”

Our backgrounds, abilities, responsibilities, and circumstances may all be different, but Christians share a common calling to participate in Christ’s work of bringing others into His Kingdom.

4. Don’t Disqualify Whom God Has Called

Another reflection emphasized that Jesus knew exactly where the fish were. The fishermen had worked without success, but Jesus supplied what they could not accomplish on their own.

And although Peter openly confessed his sinfulness, Jesus still chose him.

Pastor John closed by reminding us that we should not disqualify ourselves when God is calling us. Peter’s story gives us the pattern:

Repent. Believe. Follow.

God’s call is not founded upon our perfection, but upon His grace.

✨ A Final Encouragement

Pastor John shared one final word that stood out to him personally from the passage:

“Don’t let exhaustion steal the future exhilaration.”

Peter had worked all night. He was tired, discouraged, and ready to quit. Yet Jesus told him to put the nets down one more time.

Sometimes faithfulness means continuing when we are tired and trusting God with the results.

We put down the nets.

God brings the fish to the nets.