1 **NOTE: (SCREEN) indicates picture/graphic or words that appeared on the screen in the church at that time during the sermon. READ LUKE 5:1-11 Prayer: Lord, you have called us and we have come; eager to absorb your word for us, waiting for your new life to be born and take hold in us, longing for the peace and hope that only you can give to us. Even as we press in on you we are so grateful for your grace and mercy and for the peace that comes in knowing you. May our hearts and minds be fully open to your Spirit in this time of worship; that we may be ready for some new thing you will do in us today. This we pray in your holy name. Amen. Sermon: This little device here is a Nike Fuelband. Among other things it functions as a pedometer; counting how many steps one takes in a day, and a calorie counter measuring how much energy you burn in a day. Fitness gear has gone high-tech and this little baby can be synchronized with your iphone or ipad allowing you to monitor your progress and share it with friends. There was a challenge a while back encouraging people to get walking; goal 10,000+ steps a day. Just strap it on your wrist and it will tell you how fast, how far, and how many steps you ve gone. More is good. Even more is better. What amazes me even more than the technology is our need to know this. But in our busy, fast-paced world, where there seems never enough time to do everything, and we spend so much time running, perhaps a better device would be one that can actually tell us how many of those 10,000 steps have been spent worrying; about money, work, family, health, or am I good enough? How many of those 10,000 steps have been spent feeling frazzled, or disheartened, or afraid? How much energy has been spent just trying to keep all the balls in the air, or wondering why am I doing this, and what s it all for?
2 How many times have you heard someone say, Sorry, can t do it. Can t come. Can t help. Can t commit. Too busy? Maybe the voice even sounds like your own. Mine does. Then at night we collapse into our beds empty and exhausted, not able to sleep, already anticipating tomorrow s 10,000. Is it any wonder we stand in awe of a sunset, or a flower, or find peace in fishing, or pottery, or music, or taking a nap, or holding our children; anything that allows us to stop and rest and breathe; something that reminds us there is more to this life than what we make of it; another path, another way. That is what people were hungry for, searching for, that day by the sea at Galilee. Jesus is famous and everybody wants to see this miracle-working, kingdom-preaching, itinerant rabbi and hear what he has to say; There s another way, a kingdom way, where love and justice and peace are the measures of life, not how many steps you take, how fast you go, who you know, how much you accomplish, or how much you have. And people are desperate for it. Pressing in on him (he can feel his ankles getting wet) Jesus takes refuge in a boat; that of Simon the fisherman, and from a little ways out he teaches the crowd, and they love it. Sermon done, they go home. But for the disciples, for those who would be Jesus-followers, the real lesson is just begun. You see receiving the gospel isn t just about hearing, it s about living, and to discover its deeper meaning for your life, you ve got to go somewhere and do something. Set out into deep water, says Jesus, and let down your nets. The story ends with invitation, but before the call comes deep water. There is much disciples need to know to follow Jesus. Close your eyes and imagine it s you on the lake with Jesus. Warm breeze, waves lapping at the boat, rocking motion soothing, sun on your face. It s just you and Jesus in the boat.
3 Deep water is a place of risk; weather can change in an instant. Wind, waves, storms, rain suddenly strike and leave us helpless. Deep water; a place where all the conventional safeties we build into life can vanish and leave us searching for something secure to hold onto; lose a job, receive a diagnosis, a relationship ends, God puts someone in our path who needs help and it requires our time. Deep water places stretch our limits and demand of us courage (which only the Lord can give) in order for us to be opened to something new, something more. Deep water is place of encounter; one-on-one time with the Lord; time to talk to him, hear his voice, grow closer to him, and learn to trust. It s amazing how much better I am at listening, how I find myself turning to him more often, when the ground of my life is not as solid as it could be. But he never fails to show up when I need him. Deep water is a place of grace. Out they went; Jesus and Simon, and let down the nets, and how amazing to see the net overflowing with fish, to discover abundance and blessing where nothing had been before. Work hard, try your best, tempted to give up? Try again, include Jesus, and don t be surprised, okay be surprised, when your net comes up full. The hardest parts of life yield the deepest blessing. Simon discovered this, for in seeing the net full he couldn t believe what Jesus had done, but he could see who Jesus was and it brought him to his knees, Lord, go from me for I am a sinful man. Deep water is a place of repentance, a place where nothing but grace and mercy can account for the miracles that happen and left breathless with wonder something in us turns (heart) and we know, as if for the first time, we are held by God who will never let us go and we let ourselves fall into him. Calling the others, they haul in their nets and all were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken.
4 That deep water lesson would prepare them for the many deep water experiences (even though on dry land) that are their journey with Jesus; healing the sick, touching the unclean, eating with sinners, challenging authorities, naming injustice, raising the dead, facing the cross; which is where walking with Jesus will always take us. Places of risk, that s where Jesus ministry happens, where lives are mended, faith is strengthened, people are changed, and God s kingdom comes and breaks into the world. Follow me, Jesus says. There are 2 paths in this life; one that is measured by how many (steps), how far, how much; the path of rushing, worry and exhaustion. Or there is another; the path of peace and hope, not measured by how many steps we take but by how close we are to Jesus. This is the life he invites us into. Tired? Come unto me and I will give you rest, Jesus says. (Mt. 11:28) Worried? Who among you by worrying can add one hour to his life? (Luke 12:25) Feeling lost? Jesus leaves the 99 to search for the 1 who is lost and finding him rejoices. (Luke 15:4-5) Life is full of deep water moments; struggles, hurts, failures. We can t avoid them. But we can weather them and maybe even come out stronger, when we hold close to Jesus, when we practice the daily walk of faith that is walking with him. Simple things like prayer just talk to him; one-on-one time with the Lord, a few minutes every day; talk to him, listen for him, journal if that s your thing. Learn from him read the stories, take in his words, learn to lean on them. Spend time in scripture and discover the words become a life-line, a plum-line to help you stay on course.
5 Shape your life like his; with his words turn the other cheek, serve the poor, forgive others, love your neighbor, take up your cross and follow me. It will be risky. It can be scary. It will demand everything from us and more, and it will change us, and that s where the blessing is; the joy and peace that come in being close to him. It may not make life less busy, but holding onto Jesus, putting him first, making him the priority, somehow makes the weight of everything else not quite so heavy. It may not calm all the storms of life, but he gives us strength to weather them, and grace to persevere. It may not make us any more successful, or wealthy or accomplished, but he alone can make us whole of spirit. Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let [you] fall. (Psalm 55:22) 2 paths which will you take? VIDEO Mark Sandrette from Animate Response: on shoe write one word, how is Jesus calling you to follow him (prayer, mission, bible story)
6 Benediction: 1. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5 Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, 10 And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. 15 I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. 20