+Preached 99 at CUMC Preached at F and F 02
There is a law of inertia--an object stays at rest until acted upon..is that right? Can someone help me with this??? Well, the title of the sermon today is Gospel Changes...letÕs look at this gospel together today.
One this Sunday of the Christian year, the third Sunday after Epiphany, we always hear about Jesus calling the fishermen to be disciples. In MatthewÕs account, as in Mark and Luke, this happens very early in ChristÕs ministry. The first part of the lesson today, verses 12-17 of chapter 4 of Matthew tells about how John had been arrested and Jesus withdrew to Caperneum; these two happenings, JohnÕs arrest and JesusÕs leaving home, are related--it is as if now, JohnÕs part is done, and now is the time for JesusÕs real ministry to begin--gospel changes were occurring in JesusÕs life at this point. JohnÕs mission was over and JesusÕs had begun. The light of Christ was starting to shine bright and these early disciples, who were about to be called, were the first upon whom the light truly shined.
Verse 18 of this chapter 3 of Matthew has Jesus walking along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, and seeing the two brothers Simon called Peter (kids: what does Peter mean?Ó and Andrew--They were casting the net, for the scripture says, they were fishermen. These��‚ two men had an identity--the werenÕt bakers or merchants or solders or shepherds; they werenÕt artists or teachers; they werenÕt rabbis or priests; they were fishermen. Andrew and Simon were fishermen.
What was life like for Simon? Being a fisherman was hard work. It was physically difficult. This was not line and hook fishing, leisurely sitting on the shore, or in a boat, drinking a cool drink and swapping stories with your brother. This was net fishing. It was at least a 2-man operation. They generally cast the nets twice a day, early in the morning and early in the evening. The work was also mentally difficult, Some days they got no fish, other days a few. And Simon also had to haggle with those who sold the fish for them, always bargaining to get the best price and worrying about the competition.
But although it was difficult work, it was comfortable for Simon. ��…He knew what would happen each day. He knew how the sling the net out just right so it wouldnÕt catch on the rocks. He knew the curve of the beach and the warmth of the sun. He knew the familiar comforting sound of waves breaking out over the blue, blue sea; Simon knew the smell of the salt air and smell of those fish which some people thought was such an odor but to Simon it smelled like sweet perfume. He knew how the sky looked when a storm was approaching and the feel of cool rain on his face. He knew and was accostumed to the sound of his brother AndrewÕs voice as he called to him across the waters; telling him to haul in the net, or to cast out a little further.
No, this was not always an easy life, being a fisherman, but it was a life Simon knew. A life filled with familiarity and with the comfort that comes from knowing that whatever happens tomorrow will be like what ha���s happened today and nothing will occur that Simon could not handle and taken in stride.
But one day, Simon and Andrew went to the sea as they did each day, and they began doing what they always did at that time of day, after straightening their nets. They cast them out into the water. It was a clear day, one of those days when the light of the Sun makes it seem like you can see forever. The fishermen heard the manÕs voice first before they saw him. His was a voice full of gentle power and strength, a voice that was full of love that spoke with such care and compassion to then that he sounded like heÕd known them forever. Just ten words he spoke to them,, words of good news, words full of gospel changes that changed their lives forever, Òfollow me, and I will make you fish for people.Ó And these two brothers, who had, day after day, week after week, month after month, year upon year, had fished and had known a familiar and good life...Simon and Andrew, these two left their nets, right there down in��
ÿ the water, walked straight up out of the water, soaked to their waists, smelling of seaweed and fish, they got up and followed. Comfortable no more, they realized that despite their previous life of familiarity and predictability, despite all that, their life was no longer beside the sea, casting their nets. They were moved to move on. The law of inertia was at work. Jesus had happened to them, and they were at rest no more. Their lives were to be to ones filled with gospel changes.
The disciple��sÕ life which had not always been easy, had, at least, been comfortable. But when Jesus called, they realized that staying in that comfort zone, as it were, was not where they were meant to stay. Like a boat that floats idly in the dock, where no wind or storm can harm it, they, Simon and Andrew had lived a life that lacked risk. But like the boat whose purpose was not to stay by the shore but to move out into the sea, so too the brothersÕs call was to move away from their comfort zone, out into a life of following Jesus.
Most of us live most of our lives in a comfort zone. Some of our comfort zones are very narrow. We require a specific set of circumstances in order to be comfortable. I have learned for example, that although I will camp with by fam��ily, my comfort zone, if we are camping during the summer must include a clean bathroom, a fan, and ice! Most of our lives are very set, and familiar, just like Simon and Andrew's lives were. We sleep on the same side of the bed, we get up on the same side of the bed; we eat the same thing for breakfast; we watch the same TV shows, we socialize with the same friends; we sit in the same seats at church each week.
We all have comfort zones when it comes to our faith, too. The same ÒseatÓ we sit in becomes a metaphor for of fai��âth. We will do what we are comfortable doing for Christ through our church, and what we do not feel comfortable doing, we will not do. Yes, we occasionally have heard ChristÕs voicer calling us, there is sometimes, at least there may have been a time, when I heard Christ call me, we might say, and ask me to follow, to leave behind something of my old life and courageously follow. But that was a long time ago. We have build up very good defenses and have stockpiled very good reasons why we donÕt follow when Christ calls us into some new path of service. After I get my kids grown and through college, thatÕs when IÕll really do something for Christ; after I pay off my mortgage, thatÕs when I'll really start giving tot the church; after I retire and I have plenty of time, thatÕs when IÕll take on that new office the nominations committee asked me to take on last year and I turned down.
But there are those, who hear, like Simon and Andrew heard, ChristÕs loving, claiming v��ßoice, and who answer with their lives. There are those who leave there nets and move on to follow. The boat must travel from itsÕ comfortable place near the shore to the open sea, itÕs true home. Our confirmation resource includes a video which has a theme song at the beginning of each segment--the song is Òthe journey is our home.Ó That is the song that Simon and Andrew heard when they left their nets that day by the sea. And there are those that find that their true home is in following Chris, living a life that entails risk and courage, self-sacrifice and compassion, a life not so comfortable, but a life of richness and true joy. As you know I serve on the Conference Ordained Ministreis team. We interview and recommend persons who are local pastors who are in the process of becoming associate members and deacons. A man came before us two years whowas applying for associate membership and ordination as deacon. These persons are usually over 35, many with only a high ��ôschool education. THis man I am speaking of isVirgil Clow, whom some of you may know who serves now at Vandalia, is the man who has gone through the 5 years of study. He had no college when he began this process seven ago. He is attended the junior college at Moberly and received his associates degree the spirng he was ordained. Why did he do this..he had been a machinist in Quincy,Illinois and had a business as a mechanic in his home, in Taylor, Missouri. He had just build a house, and had been lay speaking regularly, when he felt Christ calling him into the preaching ministry. He quit his job, got an appointment as a local pastor and started back to school. Why? Prestige? Not really...Easier work? He served a three point charge, the Brashear charge, while in school and there is nothing easy about serving a multi-church charge. Did he go into it for the money? No way. Virgil knew the truth of ChristÕs call on his life. He was able to get out of his comfort zone. Virgil knows he h��åas made the right choice. When you talk to him, you can sense the sincerity and joy in his life, you can feel his commitment. He would not take anything in the world for the life that he leads. The law of inertia has been at work in Virgil's life, Christ has sent him on his way, and there is no stopping him. Gospel changes have brought him to this point.
What about us? Not all of us are called to be pastors, though who knows, perhaps Christ is calling someone here today to that life. But Christ is calling all of us today... in some way today to climb out from our comfort zones, in which we define our lives of faith and service so narrowly, and to follow him, How Christ is calling you may be very different to the person sitting next to you. But calling you he is. We can sit still no longer for we have been moved upon by the voice of Christ, and we must follow is our life is to have purpose and joy. Gospel changes are in the air. Will you hear? Will you respond?