I want to begin this morning by taking a moment of pastoral privilege and sharing something that’s been on my heart these past days. So much tragedy has been experienced around the world and certainly here in our own country with the events that happened in Pennsylvania - among the Amish community - the tragic deaths of those young girls.

And what I am amazed at - is the light and hope that continues to break forth in the midst of difficult times because of the forgiveness that has been extended by the Amish community and those families - directly touched by the perpetrator of that awful, awful, awful happening and his family is incredible. It witnesses to some of the deepest truths that we will ever know about faith. For they truly seek to model their lives in the way of Christ, the One who while he faced his own death at the hands of those who sought to crucify him and could say “Father forgive them.” So I’m just deeply touched – I’m sure you have been as well but I wanted to share that this morning.

Ever since confirmation as an adolescent, I have been spending a portion of almost every summer up in Northern Minnesota at our family cabin on beautiful Burntside Lake. And ever since I can remember – there has been a radio program on local station WELY – which I always enjoy listening to when I’m up there.

The particular program I’m referring to begins with the phrase: “Let’s Go Fishing.” Then comes the sound of an outboard motor being started. Next you hear the throttle being turned up to the high pitch of a fishing boat taking off across a lake, until finally it slows down and the engine is stopped.

For the next half hour - fishing tips, fishing highlights of activity in the area and occasionally fish stories are shared in the vernacular of the great north woods. At the close of the program – the engine is started again – accelerated as though returning to shore and then silenced – with – the concluding phrase: “What a Day!”

The sermon title for today is taken from the title of that simple, little show: “Let’s Go Fishing.” Now, before going any further, I want to say a word to our visitors and guests. It really is a delight to have you here this morning – and one of the biggest reasons we exist as a church is to share the welcome and warmth of Christ – and we hope you will experience that today.

But I also need to tell you that the thrust of this sermon is for our members – as we seek to extend the love and light of Christ beyond ourselves. Yet, I hope that each listener this morning will be drawn to a closer walk with Christ and greater faithfulness. Let’s jump right into our New Testament lesson that Pat Larrabee read for us,

“As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

Let’s pay particular attention to the sequence of this passage. Notice that the first thing Jesus does is go to where the people are and the first thing Jesus says is, “Follow me!”

He doesn’t say, “How’s it going?” or “Are you having any luck?” and he certainly doesn’t begin by asking, “Who do you say that I am?” as he does do later. He directly offers the opportunity, “Follow me!” “Come and see, come learn and come explore the things I can lead you to.” This same call has been extended to people over the last 20 centuries – and it is the same call that has been offered to you and to me.

Followers and Fishers – these are the images we are lifting up today – as we conclude our sermon series: “Images and Identity for the People of God.”

Followers and Fishers – following comes first. I suspect that many of us understand our identity to be a follower of Christ. That’s nothing new – and yet – at times it can be the most difficult thing in the world – to truly follow in the way of Christ.

In his book, On Being a Christian, Hans Kung shares this transformational truth,

“Following Christ means not only information, but formation: not merely a superficial change, but a change of heart and therefore the change of the whole person.”

Is our identity something we shape ourselves – or do we allow it to be shaped by the one we follow? The call of Christ is something special. When we think of calls – we relate most practically to the telephone and cell phones. How many calls do you have in a day? Most of us have quite a few. And for the most part they are casual conversations about the routine happenings of our days.

But the call of God in Christ Jesus is far different. It is more akin to the rare phone call from a friend or relative who says, “I have a tremendous need – can you help me?” Had you every considered that Christ in calling us to follow is also asking for our help? If Jesus had been able to do it all on his own – the matter would have been settled a long time ago.

But now, I’m getting ahead of myself for we are called to follow first. To follow Christ is to set out on an extraordinary journey. Our life is no longer our own. When we respond to the call of Christ – we are on call in a new way.

“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while the spirit of God swept over the face of the waters.”

Notice that at the foundation of creation – there were deep waters. Our physical birth – literally breaks forth from water. Is it any wonder that our second birth in the life of the spirit is symbolized with baptismal waters? And is it any wonder that the call first came to those fishing in the waters of the Sea of Galilee?

The tie between our physical birth, our spiritual birth – as followers of Christ and the creation itself – is telling indeed. While Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee – he saw two brothers – one named Simon Peter and the other Andrew – casting their nets into the sea – for they were fishermen. And Jesus called out to them, Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people – from now on you will be catching future followers. And immediately – they left their nets and followed him.

“Let’s Go Fishing!”

For some of us the image of fishing may be a bit removed and difficult – especially if you have never gone fishing – or you never cared for fishing. When it comes to the life of faith, we just don’t think of ourselves as fishers. But that is the challenge of our text – to let the image of a fisher sink deep within our souls – much like a net or line sinking down into a deep body of water.

To become fishers of people we have to let that image shape our identity. Playing with an image in our minds eye can be a very helpful exercise. You see, Jesus was teaching the concept of evangelism – without ever using the word. He took a practical and ordinary image – one that the people of his day could relate to – and compared it to bringing people closer to God.

A side note – we hardly ever use the word evangelism any more – because unfortunately we gave it over to the fundamentalist a long time ago – without even putting up a fight. Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us that most mainline churches have been in decline for quite some time now.

Let’s Go Fishing!

Well, first of all, you don’t just go fishing – you have to be taught – it is a skill like anything else in life and you have to be equipped. The membership committee hopes to offer periodic training sessions to give us handles and help in articulating our faith both more clearly and simply – so that we can share with others what our church and faith mean to us.

Fishing in the Sound and for future disciples requires patience – sometimes you have to wait a long, long time. Whenever you go fishing you first have to decide where to go and where the best fishing spots are. You have to know your environment. When the weather is hot – typically one fishes in shallow water for small fish and in deep water for big fish.

The same is true for people – you have to go deeper for those who run deep. When a fish is on the line you dare not wind too fast. Churches like that are too pushy in moving people toward membership. And what about our responsibility after the catch?

One of the things we may not like in the image of being a fisher – is the control aspect. But I would wager to say that there is hardly a day goes by in which everyone of us doesn’t try to exert at least some kind of influence over others – even if only ever so slightly.

Whether we are trying to get people together for a social event, to play cards, tennis, or golf or to share a meal together – someone is exerting influence and some degree of control whenever people do something together.

If we’re going to use control – why not for God – there is no greater privilege. Jesus wouldn’t have used the fishing image – if we weren’t to wield influence over others – for God. I hope you caught the key distinction – for God. When we fish for people – we bring them within God’s control and reign – not ours. Once a person is caught by God’s spirit their life changes for the good.

And that’s where the image breaks down because we don’t die as a fish does – and yet we do die to self – offering the nourishment of God’s love through our very lives and to others.

Someone influenced and nourished each one of us – it didn’t just happen. Someone or some group of people helped Christ catch us. My father did that for me – he didn’t ram his faith down anyone’s throat – he lived it.

A man came out of his house one Sunday morning on his way to church just as his neighbor came out with his golf clubs. The golfer said: “Henry, why don’t you come and play golf with me today?” Henry, with a look of self-righteous surprise on his face replied, “This is the Lord’s Day, and I go to church. I couldn’t play golf with you.”

After a moment’s embarrassed silence the golfer said: “You know, Henry, I have often wondered about your church and admired your loyalty. However, do you know this is the seventh time I have invited you to play golf with me, and you have never invited me to go to church with you?”

A simple invitation – that’s all it takes – it’s not ramming something down someone’s throat – it’s simply casting a net for Christ. Zig Ziglar once quipped,

“The salesperson should not be afraid of his calling, but rather of his not calling.”

Think about it. Does that not apply to our faith – only more so? The Christian should not be afraid of his calling, but rather of his not calling. Friends, we have the highest calling of all – the calling of God in Jesus Christ.

The renowned and long time church consultant, Lyle Schaller, made this observation when I had the privilege of being with him for a few days,

“Churches that will see increases in growth will be those that concentrate on a strong adult education program.”

For a church to grow it’s faith and learning have to grow. To increase the catch, there has to be something vital and meaningful going on deep within the community’s life. Our church must be centered in Christ – or all growth is shallow and superficial.

We’ve launched an Adult Education program for the Fall – booklets are available in the rack – if you haven’t had a chance to get one – and there are many opportunities and we hope everyone will find someway to get involved in a deeper exploration of what your faith means and to be a follower of Christ.

Theologian Nels Ferre, knew this truth when he wrote,

“Adding members to the church roll is not evangelism; turning people to Christ is.”

In following the master fisherman, we in turn learn how to fish.

So…Let’s Go Fishing! Let’s Go Fishing! What a day! What a day indeed. What a day we have been given.

God’s catch is always full and so our lives are made full and good in him. And we are grateful – for as followers – we find faith and in turn as fishers draw others to the faith. And he said,

“Come, Follow Me! And I will make you fishers of people.”

So…what are we waiting for? Let’s Go Fishing!

Amen!