Be Careful what you ask for

February 9, 2025 Luke 5:1-11 Be Careful what Blessings You ask For 5th Sunday of Epiphany Year B Fill My Life with Meaning Prelude Greeting Call to Plenty Leader: As we continue to examine how we might be transformed into devotees of the economy of Jesus, we remember this week that abundant lives are ones filled with meaning. Work and play are important parts of life but in the economy of Jesus, we are also called to fill our jars with meaning. What does this “mean,” so to speak? Amassing more resources than we need is a game that can leave us empty and can make us feel frightened even though we have enough. But when our lives are spent playing a different game of communal cooperation and transformation, we find a richness of soul and more than enough even in hard times. “Abundance” (sing refrain only) See music assets in your downloads God’s abundance is for all, no one is left outside, kin-dom come, all people one in trust and love abide. In this world of striving, we feel the yearn to earn. The world measures our worth in those earnings. But Jesus had different ideas. Where they held tight to their narrow worldview, he offered new interpretations that opened their minds to abundance. When we feel our own resources are lacking, we can view our lives and practices again from the economy of Jesus. Let us pray: God of Transformation, we come to you today, weary from fishing on the same old side of the boat, frustrated that the tools we have often fail to yield the results we desire. In the midst of our striving, remind us that we can choose new ways of doing things, to shift our perspective so that we may see Hymn Holy, Holy, Holy UMH 64 A Sermon for all Ages Leader: Welcome, children! We are so glad you are here [and for those joining us through the screen, welcome to you, too]. Remember these six big stone jars from last week? We are talking about the generosity of Jesus and these BIG jars represent how BIG the heart of Jesus is for each one of us. He wanted everyone to have plenty of everything they need, and now it is up to us to keep helping him do that. I have something here in my pocket that I want to show you [pull out a dollar bill]. What is this? [let them respond] Yes! It is a dollar. What does it mean? [pause to let them respond… this is a trick question so they might not have an answer] That’s a weird question, isn't it? Actually, it is a trick question. By itself, it doesn’t “mean” anything. Let’s get out our Jesus Piggy Bank for this week and see if we can answer that question in a better way. [pick up the third piggy and shake it gently] Oh my. This one seems to be empty! Wait… here is another note, just like the last three weeks! Let’s see what’s up! [open a note that has been taped to the piggy bank] “Dear children. I am so grateful for your help in spreading goodness, gratitude, and generosity all around! I know all the other piggy banks had things in them already. But this one needs help from your friends out there in the seats! I think they have something to put into the piggy bank. Will you go ask them? But remember, the dollars won’t stay in the jar for very long because we have plans for good use of it. We don’t keep things locked up all the time just filling our banks with more and more and more. We look at what we already have, and the fun is in figuring out how to give it away! Always yours, Jesus.” [invite the children to go collect cash money from the congregation… organize this as best works in your space] Wow! [shake the piggy bank (you might have someone drop a few coins in it, not just dollars, so it makes some noise)] Now we have enough to make some meaning! Hmmm… I can see we haven’t figured out what that “means” yet (hahaha)! Well, I have a page from a catalog right here, and we can pick out something to do with our Jesus Piggy Bank money. [use a catalog for an organization like Heifer International… adapt the next paragraph if you use something different - see the example PDF in your downloads] I think that we have enough money collected to make a gift to a family of a flock of baby chicks! Here is what it says, “Your flock of chickens gift donation helps provide a family in need with a starter flock of 10 to 50 chicks, along with the training that will empower them to turn your donation into a lifetime of opportunity. Each flock of chicks: 1) Provides eggs and protein for nourishment; 2) Boosts income through sales of extra eggs and offspring; 3) Ensures security for generations through Passing on the Gift.” Can you believe that what’s in this little piggy bank can do all that? Yes! And then we know what this [hold up the original dollar] “means.” What this means is that a family somewhere will have enough to eat, to make a better life, and it will last for a long, long, time through their children and their children. We can make a BIG difference even when we start small. We just have to take the time and make the effort, which is something God gives us every day. This week I invite you to see if someone wants to add coins or dollars to our piggy bank to help us buy more chickens for families who need them [let people know how they can contribute, especially to those online]. Every penny, every nickel, every quarter, every dollar helps… nothing is too small because when we put it all together, we have more goodness to give away. It will be so fun to send our love by sending chickens! Let’s pray a repeat-after-me prayer, and then we’ll go [instructions per usual for your church]. Dear Jesus… [children repeat, etc.] thank you for showing us… how to to share… thank you for showing us… how to to care… help us to know… that there is no doubt… the gifts that you give us… can never run out… there’s so much in store… that we’ll give it away… making sure there’s enough… for ALL every day… Amen… Responsive Reading Psalm 138 UMH 853   The Peace Leader: Just as our worth as humans is not dependent on the bottom line of our bank accounts, our relationships are not dependent upon the earning of favors and the limitations of “quid pro quo.” The peace of Christ has no limits, and we get more just by giving it. So may jar-fulls of peace be with you today. People: And also with you. Leader: You are invited to pass the “plethora of peace” among you, remembering to pass it to those joining us remotely. Scripture Luke 5:1-11 Sermon Be Careful What Blessings you Ask For Sermon Opener - Jesus Said: “Try Again” - Luke 5:1-11 Here is the good news for today from Luke 5:1-11. This is the Word of God! A word of great encouragement and hope. Hope is the unique signature of the Christian gospel. What makes a Christian a Christian is this inability to quit hoping. A new gift from God is at work on our behalf, at all times in all circumstances. The crowds had pressed Jesus right up to the edge of the water at the Sea of Galilee to hear the Word of God. There he came upon three defeated men. They had fished all night and had only an empty boat to show for their efforts. They had worked hard but had failed. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a children’s book. It’s one of my favorite books of theology. It’s about a little boy for whom nothing goes right. The story opens with these words: "I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day… I think I’ll move to Australia. In the car pool Mrs. Gibson let Becky have a seat by the window. Audrey and Elliott got seats by the window, too. I said I was being smushed. I said, if I didn’t get a seat by the window, I’m going to be carsick and throw up. No one ever answered. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. And, that’s just the way it turned out. That night the little fellow said, “It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia.” Life does not stand still. There isn’t a once-for-all experience. It was Winston Churchill who said, “Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.” There are going to be bad days. Sometimes we are going to fall on our respective faces. These failures don’t have to be endings. They can be the avenue to experience God’s grace more widely and more deeply. Jesus of Nazareth gets into the boat with the three defeated men… Alexander was convinced the he was having a bad day, and that he was pretty unlucky. Just as Alexander felt unlucky in church, I think that many of us feel unlucky in our faith. We are convinced that no one wants to come to church anymore – the church is in decline, Christianity is dead. So it is interesting that one of the early lessons of Jesus in the book of Luke – Jesus teaches the disciples about God’s gift of abundance. The bible has a long history of abundance stories – the tradition goes all the way back to Elijah. In the midst of a famine, Elijah goes to a woman’s house and asks her to feed him. She explains that she is about to eat her last meal before starving. She feeds Elijah and miraculously has enough corn meal to make food for two weeks. And life gets better. Elijah assures her to always believe that God will provide. Luke apparently loves abundance stories, he tells them throughout the gospel, but also in the book of Acts. According to Luke, when the church was founded it grew by leaps and bounds – it was a gift of abundance. In our scripture today Luke tells a story of abundance. I always look forward to hearing about the time when Jesus needed a boat to speak to the people. The fishermen give him their boat, when Jesus is done, he asks them how fishing is going. And they report that things are not going well. They have been out all night and nothing. Jesus suggests that maybe they should change up some things, maybe fish in the day, put the nets out on a different side. They don’t believe anything will happen, but they still listen. And low and behold – they catch so much fish that there is no room for the people in the boat. All of their boats are filled. Can you imagine this scene 2000 years ago, when they would have needed to get rid of all of that fish as soon as possible – or it would start to stink everywhere. I would imagine that they were knocking on neighbors doors far and wide giving away fish so that it did not go to waste. At least if that story happened today – we have an organized way to deal with it. We even have refrigerators to store the fish and cars to drive it to neighbors far away. We have a church, that is equipped to deal with abundance. And yet we still need to be reminded of God’s abundance amongst us. The church is not unlucky because we have Jesus. When we hear this story with modern ears – it is easy for us to get misled. We think this story is talking about the disciples and what they did to catch fish. We think that God’s abundance is about techinique, we think that abundance is something that we create. About doing something different. We have to remember that abundance is from God, not our efforts. Remember Luke’s story is about how the spirit was at work in the presence of Jesus. The characters around Jesus are inconsequential to the story. In this sstory, Jesus even gives the fishermen something to do. He tells them to recast their nets in a different place, But in reality, it is God who does all of the work. Everyone benefits. This story is not just about abundance, it is about what we do in response to abundance. It is the story about how Peter and the other fishermen flowed from adoration, to confession to commitment. They were willing to listen to Jesus even when it didn’t make sense. And their lives were changed forever. They became disciples. Notice how Peter recognized the work of the spirit. He know that waters, and he knew that there was nothing there. And yet through god’s actions that fish were plentiful. When he recognizes the work of God, he pauses and pays his respect. He says that words that many prophets before his have said – Lord I am not worthy of this attention because I am a sinner. That is his confession. I’m Just a Simple Housewife Once upon a time, in the late 60’s a new pastor came to a parish. Up until his arrival, the parish had pretty much limped along with the support of those folks who had grown up in the flourishing parishes of the pre-Vatican II days. They thought of the parish as a place where they belonged. However, there was little encouragement from the priests of the parish to respond to the challenges of the Council. The new pastor, though by no means a young man, still was enthusiastic about the ideas of the council. He was disappointed that so few of the parishioners showed any concern about the issues discussed at the council and that many of them were not even receptive to the new ideas. So he gathered together a group of men and women that seemed interested in some of his ideas and began holding weekly small group discussions with them. This was the time when most wives were not working so eventually a woman became the leading force of the group. Eventually, the pastor asked her to head up a program that would be offered to the entire parish. At first she demurred. "I’m just a simple housewife," she said. "I couldn’t organize anything. And I don’t know if the other members of our group would want me to do this or even help me do it." But the pastor persisted in his request, telling her she could do it. All she had to do was try and the others would follow her. And sure enough, she did what he expected she would do, She threw herself into organizing a program, appointing people to the various tasks necessary to make the program a success and eventually had developed an ongoing adult religious education program for the community. No one was more surprised at how successful the program was than the woman herself . No one was more confident that it would be successful than the pastor. Fr. Arthur M. Greeley _______________________ God works with ordinary people in ordinary situations. Some of the greatest miracles happen in the course of our lives. But it takes hindsight for us to even see it. We were worried about something and God handled it, we thought that there wouldn’t be enough and God provided, we were in a culture of scarcity- and some how we survived. We never even realized what was happening, until after it happened. Just like Jesus kept the disciples busy during the process, life keeps us busy. But we didn’t do anything special – God did all of he hard work. Catching or Getting Caught? As a boy I was never good at catching things, except a cold now and then. I tried to catch a pony to ride and failed. The butterfly trip was a disaster. I tried catching frogs but didn't try too hard because I didn't know what I would do with them once I caught them. Fish weren't my favorite for eating, so catching them was no treat, because I knew it implied that I would eat them with delight rather than gagging on them, which I always did. I never was good at catching things. A major church denomination has as its theme, "Catch the Spirit." As usual, the church got it backward. We are not to set our sights at catching or getting, but allowing ourselves to be caught. We are invited to be caught by a spirit that helps us make a giving instead of a living. The greatest spiritual arrogance is seen in the language of "catching." People are in search of God and will write endless numbers of books telling one how to find God. The truth of the gospel is that we cannot find God, but there are places we can go and things we can do where God can find us! The joy in Christian living is not in the catching but in the vulnerability of being caught by the one who made us in the first place. Catch the spirit? No! You can't. Be caught by the spirit? Of course! Life begins there. Richard A. Wing, Deep Joy for a Shallow World, CSS Publishing Company _____________________ The Greek word catch means to hold onto and to keep alive. It is the spirit that catches us. But we have to realize that it is there. Fishermen have a reputation for telling big fish stories about the catch of their lives. About the big one. Humor: Fishermen It's like a man who had spent a fruitless day fishing. In desperation he picked out three fat fish at the local market. "Before you wrap them," he said to the clerk, "toss them to me, one by one. That way I'll be able to tell my wife I caught them and I'll be speaking the truth." Fishermen must be all alike. Someone has said that the only thing that casts doubt on the miracles of Jesus is that they were all witnessed by fishermen. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com _________________ Luke tells us this fish story to give us some hope in a culture of scarcity. He wants us to hear the story of the gift of abundance – to get us to listen. In the story, Jesus tells these fishermen that they will have to same success in fishing for people. Doubters – who see nothing in life but scarcity. The disciples were so committed to the good news of abundance – they went out and spread it to the whole world. If Jesus could make a group of motely fishermen successful beyond their wildest dreams – imagine what he can do for us – and we have cars, refirgerators- and most importantly we have the church. How can we teach about the gift of abundance in a world of scarcity? What is it that we need to do? What techniques do we need to learn? Maybe we just need to be reminded that abundance is a gift from God. All of the gospels tell the story of Jesus calling his disciples. And in most versions Jesus says come follow me. In Luke’s story – jesus doesn’t extend the invitation – Peter realizes for himself. He witnesses the presence of God and knows that he needs to be a part of it. When God calls us, God gives us a task, God provides the resources. God calls us to do our part to be a part of a larger story. There is always other things going on that we are a part of. Things just flow and they fall into place. When God Calls Andrew Young is known to many of us for his civil rights leadership and for his service as ambassador to the United Nations, as a member of Congress, as mayor of Atlanta, and as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Several years ago he wrote his spiritual memoirs, entitling them A Way Out of No Way, based on the title of an old African-American spiritual. Andrew Young captures something of the experience of those first disciples of Jesus, when he writes in his memoirs: I have found that when God calls anyone to a task, there is usually a larger plan of which any one person is only a small but significant part. The way is already prepared. There are problems and challenges to be faced, but these are often there to help us grow stronger. . . . I have come to understand that all of these obstacles are but a part of the divine process. Just as weightlifters get stronger by increasing the weight and strain on their muscles through practice and repetition, so spiritual strengthening comes as we learn to follow the plan of God and spiritually discern the hand of God guiding our lives. When the Lord calls any of us to a task, there is usually a moment in which everything seems to work itself out. Joel D. Kline, God’s Surprising Call ______________________ God’s abundance is not always about boats overflowing with fish, or having the largest church in town. It is about leaving room for God in the midst of our doubts. It is about allowing God to speak in the situation. Make Room for God Many years ago Oswald Chambers said to a group of students in a college chapel service: We have to learn to make room for God -- to give God “elbow room.” We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come as he chooses. Expect him to come, but do not expect him only in a certain way. At any moment he may break in. Always be in a state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come as he likes. Life is anything but predictable! Human nature is not fixed and settled. We live under hope. That hope is rested in God, not the situation. James T. Garrett, God's Gift, CSS Publishing Company _______________________ Let us pray for the spirit to move, and for us to be faithful enough to recognize God’s presence when we see it. Amen. Hymn Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise UMH 103 Prayers of the People Leader: In the economy of Jesus, we find abundance in the most unlikely places. We ask for God’s guidance to discern when we need to change direction or try things differently. We find abundant meaning in the midst of life’s uncertainties when we look to Jesu Each week of this series we will be focusing on naming gifts of abundance we have received in the week, instances where we have seen the abundance of Christ at work in the world, and we will ask for the wisdom and strength to change so that abundance is more available to all. There are notecards in the pews/seats and, if you wish to do so, you are invited in the pause between these petitions to write your observations and we will add them to the six stone jars as a sign of thanksgiving and commitment. In this pause, O God, we ponder the many gifts you have given us. Our gratitude seems never enough for the plenty you provide. We call to mind the gifts of creation, of relationships, of sustenance. [pause] In this pause, Christ Jesus, we ponder the ways your love is still at work in the world. Our awe and wonder at the goodness of others is profound. We call to mind acts of kindness, generosity, and selflessness. [pause] In this pause, Holy Spirit, we come asking you for strength. The temptation to live by the economics of not-enough is so strong in us. We ask for revelation in our thinking and doing, so that we might live with meaning in the house. [pause] Loving God, Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit, we are yours. We bring to you now the concerns of our day, of our communities, knowing that already you are present, already you are working to bring about comfort and healing. Today we pray for…. Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment (consider using CH #342, Tu Has Venido a la Orilla in Spanish and/or English as an offertory. Perhaps a soloist? Your choir? Or the congregation, singing in Spanish and/or English) Appearing in Matthew and Mark as well as in Luke, the story of Jesus appearing in Peter’s life may well be known to many of us. Peter had caught no fish despite being out all night. Jesus appeared, asked to use Peter’s boat as his speaking platform, and then encouraged Peter to throw out his nets one more time. Peter’s response was to acknowledge he was a sinful man. Then Jesus pointed the way to a whole new life, and the fishermen brought their boats to the shore and left everything they knew in order to follow Jesus. Most of us have not given up our entire life’s work in order to follow Jesus. Have you? In my own life, ________________ (offer one short story of what you’ve given – or given up – in order to be a follower of Jesus). And I remember _____________ (offer a short description of someone you’ve known who made a life change in order to follow Jesus). Today, I invite you to call to mind your own decision to follow Jesus as you share in our morning offering. Does your giving reflect your identity as a disciple/Disciple? How might this story from Luke inspire you to be more intentional about what you give as a Jesus-follower? Prayer of Thanksgiving God of all good gifts, Thank you for the ways you provide for each and for all your beloved daughters and sons. We rejoice in our capacity to join you in helping provide for sisters and brothers who are in need. Please accept these gifts. Help us put them to full use. Inspire us to dig deep into our resources to continue building up your Realm on earth, so every person will experience the abundant life you intend for each and for all. AMEN Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook The jars are full in the Kin-dom of God. The house is full of the meaning we need and the meaning we are called to offer others. We are transformed in the economy of Jesus, bearing the witness of dividends of grace. We have heard the call to invest our interest in the transformation of our communities. And so we go, doing likewise in the world, with the help of God, the guidance of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen. Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Fellow children of God: Go forth, recognizing God’s grace on your journey. Go forth, discerning the Spirit’s calling in your life. Go forth, identifying the Christ as your guide. In this season of light, experience the steadfast love of God and sing the ways of our merciful Creator. Amen. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Michelle Torigan) Additional illustrations Many years ago the great explorer, Sir Francis Drake, was attempting to recruit a number of young men for an upcoming exploration. He gathered them around and told the group that if they came with him they would see some of the most marvelous things their eyes could ever behold. Sandy white beaches, juicy fruits, foreign peoples, priceless treasures, and gorgeous landscapes. And he told them that this wild adventure could be theirs if they came with him. Not one of them enlisted for the journey. The next day a different group came out. Drake told them that if they came with him they would encounter storms that would terrify them into tears. Tiger winds would hammer them and blow them off course for months. Water would frequently be scarce. At times they will be so thirsty that their very souls would cry out for simply one drop of water. In short, danger would always be their constant companion. Drake concluded by declaring that if they could handle these things, the joys of exploration would exceed their wildest dreams. Every single one of them in the group joined Sir Francis Drake that day, some did not even go home to say goodbye to their families, they just boarded the boat eager for the journey. What made the difference in these two groups? Why did the first group turn down the mission and the second jump at the chance? Was the second group different and more adventurous than the first? The answer is: No. It is not the men who had changed; it was the message. The first spoke of rewards; the second spoke of challenges. The first offered comfort; the second promised suffering. The first tempted them with things; the second seduced them with an experience unlike any other. I like to think that Sir Francis Drake discovered what Jesus knew all too well. And that is this: The paths that are offered to us must promise to shape us, build our character, change our world view, if they are to have any appeal to us at all. If we are presented with a challenge that will change, we will be eager for the journey. What is it about Jesus' message that made the disciples eager for the journey that was presented to them? 1. Jesus offered them a change. 2. The mission promised to be a challenge. 3. And their lives would never be the same. The Impala Problem One of the few creatures on earth that can out-jump Michael Jordon is the Impala. This is an African deer with a supercharged spring. It has a vertical leap of over 10 feet and can broadjump over 30 feet. You would think that the zoos of the world would find it impossible to keep such an animal enclosed. Not so! It's rather easy. Because the experts discovered something about the Impala. It will not jump unless it can see where it is going to land. Therefore, a solid wall even 6 feet tall is a sufficient enclosure. Lots of Christians have the Impala problem. They won't take a leap in faith unless they have all the answers in advance about where the leap will take them. But God is looking for some bold believers who, even in the face of the unknown, will leap when the Spirit says leap, will fly when the Spirit says fly, will launch when the Spirit says launch, all to the glory of the Lord. Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com ____________________________________________ Follow Me There was a field covered with freshly fallen snow. A father and a son enter the field. As they walk across the field, you notice that the father pays no particular attention to where he is going, but his son, on the other hand, follows directly behind, making a special effort to step in his father’s footprints. After the two have crossed the field, you notice that there is only one set of tracks visible in the field, although two had walked across it. The Christian life is that way. In our daily walk we ought to be following Christ's example. Whether in times of suffering, sorrow or need, whether in times of health, joy, or abundance--if someone were to observe the snow-covered fields of your life, would there be one set of tracks, those of Christ? Or would there be two sets, one belonging to Christ and the other distinctly yours? Michael Green, Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993, p.53. Adapted Little Transmitters In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe "Pioneer 10." Its main mission was to reach Jupiter and send back information about that planet. It was a bold plan because at that time no satellite had gone beyond Mars. Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and so much more. It swung past Jupiter in November, 1973, then passed Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. By 1997, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun. Despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continued to beam back radio signals to earth. The most remarkable thing was that those signals were powered by an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light. Not even the most optimistic scientist could have ever imagined what that little 8-watt transmitter could do. So it is when you and I offer ourselves to God in faithful obedience. It’s just incredible what God can do through little 8-watt transmitters like me and you, when we’re turned on for him. Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com It Is Darkest before the Dawn George Frederick Handel was dogged with misfortune. He had debt upon debt, despair upon despair. He had a cerebral hemorrhage and was paralyzed on his right side. For four years he could neither walk nor write. The doctors gave up on him. He wrote several operas, but again he fell in debt. At age 60 he thought his life was finished. Then he was challenged by a friend to write a sacred oratorio. He read the Scriptures and decided to work on the Messiah. For 24 days, without eating a crumb, he worked fanatically to produce the Messiah, which many today consider the greatest oratorio ever written. The prospects of something great happening can look grim. Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus asked him to let down his nets for a catch. It seemed foolish to do so, because Peter knew there were no fish to catch. "But at your word," he said, "I will let down the nets" (v. 5). John R. Brokhoff, Preaching the Miracles, CSS Publishing Company. Adapted. _______________ Hooked for Life If fishing is one of your passions, you will love our scripture lesson for today. Though I prefer hunting to fishing, I have a soft spot in my heart for fishing because of a childhood experience. I was about 10 or 11 years old. One Wednesday afternoon Papa took me with him to a nearby pond to do a little fishing. I was just learning to use a rod and reel. Papa caught a little bass weighing about half a pound. Then he had to leave for prayer meeting. He asked me if I wanted to stay a bit longer and make a few casts. Of course I did. I remember to this day the top-water plug I was using. I tossed it over near some reeds and let it lie still for a few seconds. Then I just twitched it a couple of times. Then something exploded all over that plug, like an NFL linebacker demolishing a quarterback. I jerked hard and then hung on for dear life. I don’t know how long I fought that fish. Once or twice I thought it was going to pull me into the water. When I finally got him to the edge of the pond, I grabbed him by the gills and ran home. I couldn’t wait for Papa to return from prayer meeting and see my three and a half pound bass. Mama took a picture of us, Papa holding that puny little fish he caught beside my monster of the deep. I can show you the picture at home as living proof. Of course, I was hooked for life. Luke’s fish story involved a lot more fish than mine. Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com For What Are We Fishing? The Synoptic accounts of this story include the miraculous catch. Kalas treats the Lukan passage in the following way: If this is where the story ended [ i.e. with the miraculous catch], it would be an interesting but rather inconsequential little miracle. It might feed our desire for a gospel of success in business and good grades in school, but it would hardly be worthy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fortunately, Simon Peter saw more than just the miracle. He was captured by the Lord behind the miracle. Thus, in-stead of responding with the bravado of a winner, he pleaded for forgiveness. Falling at Jesus’ knees, he begged, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord." (Luke 5:8) At first glance, that may seem an unlikely reaction to a moment of success. Sometimes, however, it is the experience of achievement which forces us to see how superficial our victories are. Andre Thornton, star home-run hitter with the Cleveland Indians and an exemplary Christian, has predicted that there may be a very real religious awakening among athletes as a result of the exorbitant salaries so many are now receiving. He feels that when they find themselves suddenly so financially secure they will realize how little their wealth really means, and will thus be driven to look for deeper values. The truth is, a person can have full nets but still have an empty life. After you’ve sold the fish in the market and have put a share of the money in the bank, you may still feel an emptiness deeper than empty nets and a yearning more poignant than the desire for economic security. J. Ellsworth Kalas, Reading the Signs, From Empty Nets to Full Lives, CSS Publishing Company It Takes Work When talking about evangelism in one church I served, a member answered, "They know where we are. We advertise our worship times in the yellow pages and when the doors are unlocked." He expected God to make any new members jump through those open doors. That does happen at times. It is much more likely that a large catch of fish – or of new members – will take a lot of work by those who are already in the boat – those who are already members of the church. It might be a little crude, but I think that this section indicates that when we respond to Jesus' word, we are likely to have to work our butts off. The work will be more than one person (or one pastor) -- or even one crew can handle. Brian Stoffregen, Exegetical Notes _______________________________________ Catching Men "And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.' " (v. 10) So often we read these words of Jesus and wonder why we do not see this taking place in our churches. A few years ago, Dr. Win Arn did a survey of 1,000 congregations. The answers that he received might help us better understand the problem. He asked both the members and pastors of these churches what they thought the purpose of their church really was. Dr. Arn reports that 89 percent of the people in those churches said that the purpose of their church was to take care of the needs of the members. The remaining eleven percent believed that the purpose of the church was to reach the world with the gospel. Contrast this with the pastors. Ninety percent of the pastors said that the purpose of their church was to reach the world for Christ while the remaining ten percent of pastors in those churches agreed with the laity that the purpose of the church is to take care of the needs of the members of the church. Is it any wonder why there is conflict in our churches today? The great Renaissance scholar Erasmus once told a very helpful mythical story. It seems that after Jesus returned to heaven the angels gathered around him. He told them about how on earth he had performed many miracles and how he spent time teaching the many who would come to him. He told them about his death, burial, and resurrection. He told them about his ascension to heaven. Then Michael the Archangel asked, "But Lord, what happens now?" Jesus answered by telling them that he had spent three years training his disciples to carry out his plan to reach the world with the gospel. He said, "I have left behind eleven faithful men who will declare my message and express my love. These faithful men will build my church." Then Michael asked: "What if these men fail? What then?" Then Jesus thought for a moment and said, "I have no other plan." Source: Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House), p. 82. Source: Tony Campolo, Who Switched the Price Tags (Dallas: Word Publishing), p. 170. " John R. Steward, Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit, CSS Publishing three themes of Luke at this point • Jesus is popular, gathering witnesses in Galilee (until turning point of 9:50, when he heads to Jerusalem) • Jesus is a teacher (about abundance of the Kingdom of God) • Response is repentance • • sinner” - Peter never confesses to a specific sin, but this could be a cultural designation in which to the Jewish elite, sinners were those who did not attend worship or participate in the temple sacrifices. This would have included many of the poor living far from Jerusalem (which Peter might have been one of). Gonzalez • Only after his recognition that he is in the presence of the “Lord”/ the Holy that Simon is referred to as Simon Peter- the one who will later be commended for his declaration of Jesus as Messiah abunndance and Repentance are important themes. Jesus brought abundance, not to the entrenched powers or religious leaders, but to those who were in need of repentance.. He called and ate with a tax collector, Levi. He allowed a sinful woman to ‘waste’ oil on him. He tells the parable of the soil which bears great abundance. He heals a demon-possessed man in Gerasene. He feeds 5000. the story of the church is reflected to some degree in this story itself. When Jesus calls, Peter is hesitant and thinks that what Jesus asks of him is both unnecessary and too demanding. Nevertheless, Peter responds, and he discovers that life has a surprise in store for him. By doing what Jesus asks him to do, he experiences an epiphany of God.” (Arland Hultgren, Working Preacher)