Wellspring UMC; Fifth Sunday after Epiphany; February 4, 2007:

-Acts 2: 14, 22-24, 32-33, 36-42; Luke 5: 1-11

“A Net + A Sinker + Faith + Obedience = A Miracle”

This is quite a story, and it can be received on many different levels. But before we take a look at this story, I want to simply state a few foundational truths of the faith. 1) We are the body of Christ in the world. That is, we are the means by which Christ is revealed and we are connected in Him. 2) Christ’s desire is for all people to receive His love and join in the revealing of that love through the Body. 3) The world needs Christ. That there is a different way to live, a different way to be, a different story, other than our own...God’s story...and we, as Christians are invited to be story tellers and truth revealers to those who are not yet followers of Christ, inviting them to be a part of the Church.

With that in mind, listen again to this story of faith, abundance, and invitation...

Jesus was standing beside the lake called Williamsburg, VA, and as he stood there a buzz arose, because people heard what he said and took it to heart. They were so intrigued that they began to come near to those places where He was being revealed.

As the world pressed in, He saw pockets of faith communities preparing to share His love. They were washing their nets, tending their needs, doing what they did in the way they did it, and Jesus spotted one particular community which needed to recognize that He had great plans for them. He stepped into the boat named “Wellspring UMC.”

There he opened up to them. He sat down and taught them who he was and what he was about. He shared with them His hopes and dreams for the world, and for Wellspring. When he had finished he said, “Put down your nets into the deep waters that surround you. Cast my vision and plan for the world.”

The leaders in the boat said, “But we’ve worked long and hard. Plus, we’ve been going at this for 27 years now. I think we know how to fish this channel thank you very much...BUT, if you say so, we’ll do it.”

They did, and when they did, there were so many people captured by the love and grace of the master, that their nets felt like they were breaking. They were overwhelmed by the abundance God lavished upon them. Realizing they could not do this alone, they recruited those who were not as active to put their hand to helping deal with God’s abundance. They reached out to those who saw what was happening and invited them to join in the catch.

As more and more got on board, more and more came, and it felt as if the boat might sink. It felt like it was too much work to become who God needed them to become. But Jesus said to them, “I know your thoughts and fears. I know your struggles. I know them because the same fears, the same innate gravity toward staying comfortable, exists among most faith communities, but this is what I need. I need you to catch people for me. I need you to share my abundant love with the community around you, and I promise, when you do, you will receive more blessings than you can imagine. You will probably need to leave behind some of your pre-conceived notions of how I work and how the church should work, but trust me and follow.”

And they took the risk. They left what they thought Wellspring should be and followed what Christ had in mind.

Are there any folks here who like to fish? Aside from rods, reels, and tackle, there are three basic things that one needs in order to go fishing. A body of water, a boat, and a net. Would everyone agree? For our purposes, let’s say that the body of water is be our community – Williamsburg/James City County...one of the fastest growing areas in the state; the boat in which we float is Wellspring UMC, and the net is us.

Now most of us don’t usually fish with nets, because individuals only fish for their fill using rod and reel. However, head out 10-20 miles from here, and you’ll find folks who catch fish for a living. In order to fulfill their purpose they need more than a single line, they need a net.

Well the nets have weights on them. Those weights are necessary, because without them the net would not sink to where the fish are. The nets are thrown out, sink around the fish and the fishermen pull a chord which draws the net around the fish to bring them in.

In order to make their livelihood they have to keep their nets in good shape, so when they are not at work they are constantly removing debris and mending their nets. They keep them in good order, because in order to bring in the most and do the best job, the net has to be in top shape.

In front of me is a net wrapped around the baptismal font and pulpit. This net is made up of string and knots. Each individual knot tied in such a way to give strength to the whole net. If the knot becomes untied or breaks, then there is a hole in the net, and the fish slip through.

So if we are the net, then each knot represents our connection and tie with others who are part of the net with us. We are united as a Church, tied to one another in Christ’s love, and as such, in order to remain in top shape, we have to care for the net. Washing our net with Holy Communion, mending our net in prayer, tying more and strengthening the knots through Bible study and worship, sharing our common purpose through fellowship. So when we fish with Jesus, we have to tend the net...constantly.

But as I said before, in order to fulfill it’s purpose, a net needs sinkers. There are many varieties of fish, all precious to Jesus, but many times faith communities, don’t go for the variety, they go for the ones that simply skim the surface – the easy catch. We who have been in the church know all too well that the easy catch can come without the sinkers, but we also know that in order to get the ones God is calling for, one has to put out into the deep.

In order to reach out to the ones whom Christ has his eyes on, we have to add weight...the knots of the net, us, have to add those things which give us substance in our faith, such as striving toward spiritual health, participating in educational opportunities, and taking risks in our faith which assure us that God is with us on this journey. Without the weights, without growth and change and being shaped by God, not only will the net remain on the surface, but we’ll be like a kite with no tail – going no where and circling aimlessly at the whim of the winds.

So if we are the net and the sinkers are those things that deepen our faith, we quickly realize that a net with sinkers is not enough, because a net with sinkers is simply thrown with hopes of making the catch. No, the net of which we are part also requires faith and obedience. It requires that we look to the one who actually provides the catch – the fisherman, Jesus Christ. It requires listening, learning, trusting, and following the one who calls all to receive His love...and when we do that, then miracles can occur. A net, sinkers, faith, and obedience when put together, God is able to perform miracles of abundance, AND fulfill God’s purpose through us.

Now, I’d like to make a couple of observations. The first one comes as a question: “What do you do with a fish after you catch it?” (Eat it or throw it back) Yes. I’ve always thought about how strange an idea Christ threw out there, but as I was reading up on this passage I discovered that the translation of the Greek word zogreo (zoos = alive/living, greo = capture, catch) is “catching alive people,” and ‘catching’ here implies being held captive or captivated.

So Jesus is really calling the disciples to follow so He might restore people to life and wholeness. He fishes in order to capture others with life, then restore them to health. And we, are invited to be the vehicles by which this is done.

The second observation is, “Did anyone notice in this story that Jesus was in the boat the whole time?” Then, did you notice that he says, “Follow me.” That is, did you notice that Jesus is the centerpiece and guide, that He never leaves us and in fact, takes the lead? Did you notice that he is the actual fisherman and the miracle worker, while we’re just called to be obedient?

The third observation I make is that this fishing Jesus talks about is fishing in a different way. It’s fishing for people through obedience and faith. It is going into the world and inviting those in the world to get on board with us, and it is a risky venture, because we don’t know the outcome, and we never know who God wants us to reach out to.

Over the last couple of weeks a question has stuck in my mind. It’s a hard and challenging question inviting us to reflect upon and eventually live out. Time and time again I hear folks around here say how much they love Wellspring and are blessed through this place. Every new member class shares how it feels like home and they knew from stepping across the threshold, that the Spirit resides here. We love this place and we love one another, because we are blessed time and time again here.

And the question that arise within me is, “If we love this place so much, shouldn’t others be invited to as well?” If we discover God here week after week, then shouldn’t we be inviting others to join us on the journey?

Oh, I know the levels of discomfort this can bring. The discomfort of stepping out of our comfort zones and inviting someone to church. The fear that if more people come, then the dynamics of the environment will change. The anxiety that with more people comes the potential for change... And yet, Christ says, “I will make you catch people alive!”

I love the quote which states that ‘the church is the only organization which exists solely for those outside its walls.’ I love the new Virginia Conference Challenge which is the centerpiece of this month’s Virginia Advocate (our monthly news magazine) which states “Let’s Get Growing: More people, More Young People, More Diverse People...All for Jesus!” I love the fact that Christ invites us to cast out a net of love and grace which invites the net-yet Christians around us to be a part of some of the greatest work of blessing in Williamsburg!

We’re here today, because someone shared Christ with us. Someone threw us a line or a faith community threw out a life-giving net for us. We, followers of Jesus Christ, are invited to change lives, one at a time, and the blessing is that with Christ at our side, the net which connects us, a sinker, faith, and obedience, a miracle of life and love can be shared and received, and Christ’s purpose for us and for the world will be fulfilled.

The invitation is given. Let’s get growing. Christ says, “Follow me. Trust and believe, for I will make you fish for people.” Amen.