Pastor Cal Lord's Recent Sermons
Let’s Go Fishing!
Mark 1:14-20 January 26, 2003
When was the last time you bought something new, received a very special gift, or were party to
some wonderful news? What was the first thing you wanted to do? If you are like me, you
wanted to share it with somebody special in your life. That’s what we do with good news. We
share it.
Now this morning I want to tell you about some men who heard such great news that they
decided to give their lives to sharing that news with others. In the first chapter of Mark we find
Jesus amidst a group of fisherman. Mark tells us that Jesus had just come from the wilderness,
had passed his first major test and was ready to begin his ministry in earnest.
John the Baptist’s ministry was essentially over. Mark tells us that he had been arrested and put
in prison. And this sets the tone for Jesus’ beginnings. For you see, to many seeking hope, John
the Baptist was a bright light. He offered those who would hear him, an opportunity to walk
with God. He came preaching a message of repentance and forgiveness. And when he was
imprisoned, many settled back into a state of despair. Among those early followers of the
Baptist, were Andrew and his friend, John. And in his own words, John tells us that the Baptist
introduced them to Jesus. Once John was gone, they turned their attention to the man from
Galilee.
Now Andrew and John were fisherman. They lived in the water and made their living through
hard work and long hours. They knew what it was to wait hours without much luck. They
understood that to do their job they had to prepare ahead of time, and clean up afterwards. They
knew that to be successful you had to understand the habits of the fish. They knew that at times
it could be a dirty job, but somehow, they not only survived, but they thrived at it, because it was
the passion of their lives.
I have often wondered why Jesus chose fishermen for his first disciples. But then I began to
think about all these qualities that they possessed and it all made sense. The ministry that Jesus
was calling them to would require that same kind of dedication and faithfulness.
Now you know, I am not a fisherman. I hated touching the worms and when I was a boy I went
out with a pole often enough but I never took any bait. When I finally got old enough to realize
the reason I never caught any fish, no bait, I decided that catching the fish wasn’t worth having
to touch the bait and I gave it up.
When it comes to sharing the gospel, many people feel the same way. They believe that they just
aren’t wired to sit down and talk about Jesus with people they know. Now I don’t want to
compare Jesus to bait, but if you hear some people talk, it is just as difficult as grabbing a worm
and putting it on a hook. They find it unsettling because it calls for them to reach out in areas
that are murky and dark for them. And the truth is that many of us in the church have decided
to give it up.
We would much rather go to church, sing hymns, attend Bible studies and say our prayers than
witness to one person. If that sounds like you, then I have a word for you today. You see, God
has prepared you to be an evangelist.
I am sure that if you asked James and John, Andrew and Simon Peter if they thought they had
what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, they would answer with a resounding “No!” They
had no formal education, no training in personal or group dynamics, no highly sophisticated
verbal skills, no formal training in the Bible or standing in the community.
I was talking to the kids on our basketball team yesterday and we read about Jesus’ call to
Matthew. I remarked that Matthew and these other guys were Jesus’ first choices to be on his
team. None of them had ever played the game before. Most of them would not have been
chosen for many other things. But Jesus saw something that god had put in their hearts, that no
one else could see. They had gifts which would allow them to be successful in this special
ministry, gifts they didn’t even know they had.
You know how I mentioned what it took to be a successful fisherman a few minutes ago? That
is what Jesus saw in them. He saw their grit and determination. He saw their willingness to
prepare and a heart to succeed. He saw that if they could be successful fishermen, then they
could use those same traits to be successful disciples.
And when he followed up with Andrew and john, and met their brothers, he decided to call them
and gave them a new mission in life to go alongside the old one. He called them to use their
skills, their gifts for catching fish, in a new way. And he called them to be fishers of men.
That’s the thing about God. He knows us. As he told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the
womb, I knew you and before you were born, I set you apart as a prophet to the nations.” He
knows the road we have walked. He knows our heartaches and he knows our joys and
blessings. He sees the things we have done and wants us to realize that our life, our journey has
prepared us in a unique way to reach out with the gospel.
In one of the Star Trek episodes in the original series, Captain Kirk is faced with the realization
that he is really two people inside. One is a compassionate, thoughtful person who wants the
very best for everyone. Who seeks only joy and happiness for those around him. The other is a
ruthless, selfish person, who has been hurt by betrayal and disappointed by other’s failures. In
the end, Kirk realizes that it is his experiences of joy and pain that have made him the strong
captain that he is.
So it is with us. Each of us has a story. Each of us has been there and done that. And when
our pilgrimage is combined with our faith story, we have a message to share that no one else can
tell. And god knows our stories. And he has prepared us to go out and tell it to those who need
to hear it.
Over the last few years our diaconate has set apart a time for each member to share a bit of their
story with new members joining the church. I have been amazed at the stories I have heard.
Jesus has come to people sitting in the pews beside us, in many ways. He spoken to some
through a drug induced haze. To others through the voice of a Sunday School Teacher. And yet
to others through a loving spouse. The funny thing is that as the Deacons have shared their
stories, it always seems that there is someone else who can readily identify with that story. It
tells me that our story can easily help us to reach out to someone else who may have gone
though similar experiences.
I think about the fact that seven of Jesus’ first disciples were fishermen and that he grew up in a
town that was well acquainted with fishing. It was a fishing village. As they began, those
disciples could easily relate to their friends and neighbors. Then Jesus added a tax collector and
we read that the first thing Matthew did... was to have a party and invite all his tax collector
friends. Then he added a rebel and he added a set of twin brother and so forth. Every addition
to the twelve brought forth fruit. And later on, as he broadened the group to 70 and then more,
each person brought something new to the table. And the message was the same. Now that you
have heard and believe, let’s go fishing.
You know, you and I are called to go out and share the good news too!
Jesus has invited you to go fishing. How are you going to react? Excitement. Joy. "I can’t believe
I get to tell people about Jesus." Or is it something like, "I’ve got other things to do." "I don’t
know what to say." "We won’t catch anything anyway, nobody will listen." "It’s better if
somebody else does it." Those excuses didn’t work for Moses when God called him to service
and there not going to work for you, because God has called you to be fisherman. It’s not just
the job of the Pastor. God calls to each and every one of us in Matthew 28:19 "Go and make
disciples of all nations." But what a privilege, when we see the love that he has showered upon
each of us individually, the years of blessings that he has given to our church,
And there are so many opportunities. You don’t have to go foreign countries as a missionary to
find people who don’t believe in Jesus. We all have neighbors, friends and family members, all
these people who live around the church who don’t know Jesus and are therefore living in hell.
It’s time to go fishing. How many people at work even know that you’re a Christian? It’s time to
go fishing. I know it’s not easy. I know that it’s uncomfortable. I know they may laugh at you.
But our Savior is calling and he even promises you that he will do all the real work. The results
are in his hands…
My friends, we have an incredible gift. God gives us heaven free of charge and now invites us to
share that gift with others. He prepares us for fishing and gives us everything we need to be
good fisherman through his Word, and now he invites us to go. If you don’t know what to say,
ask. Trust me, you won’t be bothering me, I’ll help you find a way to share your gift. Now, let’s
go fishing. AMEN
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Mark 1:14-20 January 26, 2003
When was the last time you bought something new, received a very special gift, or were party to
some wonderful news? What was the first thing you wanted to do? If you are like me, you
wanted to share it with somebody special in your life. That’s what we do with good news. We
share it.
Now this morning I want to tell you about some men who heard such great news that they
decided to give their lives to sharing that news with others. In the first chapter of Mark we find
Jesus amidst a group of fisherman. Mark tells us that Jesus had just come from the wilderness,
had passed his first major test and was ready to begin his ministry in earnest.
John the Baptist’s ministry was essentially over. Mark tells us that he had been arrested and put
in prison. And this sets the tone for Jesus’ beginnings. For you see, to many seeking hope, John
the Baptist was a bright light. He offered those who would hear him, an opportunity to walk
with God. He came preaching a message of repentance and forgiveness. And when he was
imprisoned, many settled back into a state of despair. Among those early followers of the
Baptist, were Andrew and his friend, John. And in his own words, John tells us that the Baptist
introduced them to Jesus. Once John was gone, they turned their attention to the man from
Galilee.
Now Andrew and John were fisherman. They lived in the water and made their living through
hard work and long hours. They knew what it was to wait hours without much luck. They
understood that to do their job they had to prepare ahead of time, and clean up afterwards. They
knew that to be successful you had to understand the habits of the fish. They knew that at times
it could be a dirty job, but somehow, they not only survived, but they thrived at it, because it was
the passion of their lives.
I have often wondered why Jesus chose fishermen for his first disciples. But then I began to
think about all these qualities that they possessed and it all made sense. The ministry that Jesus
was calling them to would require that same kind of dedication and faithfulness.
Now you know, I am not a fisherman. I hated touching the worms and when I was a boy I went
out with a pole often enough but I never took any bait. When I finally got old enough to realize
the reason I never caught any fish, no bait, I decided that catching the fish wasn’t worth having
to touch the bait and I gave it up.
When it comes to sharing the gospel, many people feel the same way. They believe that they just
aren’t wired to sit down and talk about Jesus with people they know. Now I don’t want to
compare Jesus to bait, but if you hear some people talk, it is just as difficult as grabbing a worm
and putting it on a hook. They find it unsettling because it calls for them to reach out in areas
that are murky and dark for them. And the truth is that many of us in the church have decided
to give it up.
We would much rather go to church, sing hymns, attend Bible studies and say our prayers than
witness to one person. If that sounds like you, then I have a word for you today. You see, God
has prepared you to be an evangelist.
I am sure that if you asked James and John, Andrew and Simon Peter if they thought they had
what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, they would answer with a resounding “No!” They
had no formal education, no training in personal or group dynamics, no highly sophisticated
verbal skills, no formal training in the Bible or standing in the community.
I was talking to the kids on our basketball team yesterday and we read about Jesus’ call to
Matthew. I remarked that Matthew and these other guys were Jesus’ first choices to be on his
team. None of them had ever played the game before. Most of them would not have been
chosen for many other things. But Jesus saw something that god had put in their hearts, that no
one else could see. They had gifts which would allow them to be successful in this special
ministry, gifts they didn’t even know they had.
You know how I mentioned what it took to be a successful fisherman a few minutes ago? That
is what Jesus saw in them. He saw their grit and determination. He saw their willingness to
prepare and a heart to succeed. He saw that if they could be successful fishermen, then they
could use those same traits to be successful disciples.
And when he followed up with Andrew and john, and met their brothers, he decided to call them
and gave them a new mission in life to go alongside the old one. He called them to use their
skills, their gifts for catching fish, in a new way. And he called them to be fishers of men.
That’s the thing about God. He knows us. As he told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the
womb, I knew you and before you were born, I set you apart as a prophet to the nations.” He
knows the road we have walked. He knows our heartaches and he knows our joys and
blessings. He sees the things we have done and wants us to realize that our life, our journey has
prepared us in a unique way to reach out with the gospel.
In one of the Star Trek episodes in the original series, Captain Kirk is faced with the realization
that he is really two people inside. One is a compassionate, thoughtful person who wants the
very best for everyone. Who seeks only joy and happiness for those around him. The other is a
ruthless, selfish person, who has been hurt by betrayal and disappointed by other’s failures. In
the end, Kirk realizes that it is his experiences of joy and pain that have made him the strong
captain that he is.
So it is with us. Each of us has a story. Each of us has been there and done that. And when
our pilgrimage is combined with our faith story, we have a message to share that no one else can
tell. And god knows our stories. And he has prepared us to go out and tell it to those who need
to hear it.
Over the last few years our diaconate has set apart a time for each member to share a bit of their
story with new members joining the church. I have been amazed at the stories I have heard.
Jesus has come to people sitting in the pews beside us, in many ways. He spoken to some
through a drug induced haze. To others through the voice of a Sunday School Teacher. And yet
to others through a loving spouse. The funny thing is that as the Deacons have shared their
stories, it always seems that there is someone else who can readily identify with that story. It
tells me that our story can easily help us to reach out to someone else who may have gone
though similar experiences.
I think about the fact that seven of Jesus’ first disciples were fishermen and that he grew up in a
town that was well acquainted with fishing. It was a fishing village. As they began, those
disciples could easily relate to their friends and neighbors. Then Jesus added a tax collector and
we read that the first thing Matthew did... was to have a party and invite all his tax collector
friends. Then he added a rebel and he added a set of twin brother and so forth. Every addition
to the twelve brought forth fruit. And later on, as he broadened the group to 70 and then more,
each person brought something new to the table. And the message was the same. Now that you
have heard and believe, let’s go fishing.
You know, you and I are called to go out and share the good news too!
Jesus has invited you to go fishing. How are you going to react? Excitement. Joy. "I can’t believe
I get to tell people about Jesus." Or is it something like, "I’ve got other things to do." "I don’t
know what to say." "We won’t catch anything anyway, nobody will listen." "It’s better if
somebody else does it." Those excuses didn’t work for Moses when God called him to service
and there not going to work for you, because God has called you to be fisherman. It’s not just
the job of the Pastor. God calls to each and every one of us in Matthew 28:19 "Go and make
disciples of all nations." But what a privilege, when we see the love that he has showered upon
each of us individually, the years of blessings that he has given to our church,
And there are so many opportunities. You don’t have to go foreign countries as a missionary to
find people who don’t believe in Jesus. We all have neighbors, friends and family members, all
these people who live around the church who don’t know Jesus and are therefore living in hell.
It’s time to go fishing. How many people at work even know that you’re a Christian? It’s time to
go fishing. I know it’s not easy. I know that it’s uncomfortable. I know they may laugh at you.
But our Savior is calling and he even promises you that he will do all the real work. The results
are in his hands…
My friends, we have an incredible gift. God gives us heaven free of charge and now invites us to
share that gift with others. He prepares us for fishing and gives us everything we need to be
good fisherman through his Word, and now he invites us to go. If you don’t know what to say,
ask. Trust me, you won’t be bothering me, I’ll help you find a way to share your gift. Now, let’s
go fishing. AMEN
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