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Woship Resources 2009-2010 — Year C: Live Generously, Love Courageously
Return to Year C: 2009-2010
Resource Index
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Called to Go Deeper
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Ordinary Time)
Scriptures: Isaiah 6:1–13; Psalm 138; I Corinthians
15:1–11; Luke 5:1–11; Jacob 3:9–12; Doctrine and Covenants 162:1b
Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
This morning, as we center our thoughts on Communion, we recognize the
Spirit already present in this place. Already stirring in our hearts is a
desire to go deeper individually and as a community. We may often struggle
together as we realize more fully the implications of the call to go deeper,
but we are blessed to do so during this time with people that can support us
and love us on our journey.
OR Jacob 3:9–12
*Opening Hymn: “Thank You for Giving Me the Morning” HS 74
OR “When the Church of Jesus” HS 445
OR “As We Gather” NS 3
*Invocation
*Response
Scripture Reading: Luke 5:1–11
Scripture for Peace: Doctrine and Covenants 162:1b
Prayer for Peace
Hymn: “Teach Me, God, to Wonder” HS 176
OR “O Christ, My Lord, Create in Me” HS 174
OR “Gentle God, When We Are Driven” SP 16
Communion Message
Based on Luke 5:1–11
Activity of Response
After the sermon, consider the theme scripture for the day. What does it
mean to be called deeper, going out of what is familiar and comfortable in
order to yield the results we hope for? Have the congregation consider,
“What are our ‘nets of fish’ that we are hoping for” and “What would it take
to ‘cast our nets to the other side’?”
Cut fish shapes out of paper and hand them out to the congregation. Have
each member write down their hopes for their community on one side, and a
specific action they could take individually, or communally, on the other
side. At the front of the congregation, have a “net” incorporated into the
worship setting. The net could be an actual net, a picture of a net, or
something symbolically representing a net. Have reflective music playing as
members in the congregation consider their response, bringing their fish to
the front of the congregation to place in the net.
Ministry of Music
OR “As We Gather at Your Table” Worship & Rejoice 695
OR “We Come, Aware of Sin” HS 334
Scripture for Confessional Reflection and Preparation for Communion
I Corinthians 15:1–11
Lord, sometimes I feel unfit to be called a disciple. But I feel your
grace with me now, and I deeply believe.
Communion
Blessing and Serving of the Bread and Wine
Disciples’ Generous Response
Take the fish from the net and read the hopes of the congregation.
Then read the ideas for “casting our nets to the other side.” Ask the
congregation to consider what it means to be a community dedicated to
the call to go deeper, both physically and monetarily. How can these
same hopes be realized in the larger community of Community of Christ?
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you
to integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World
Ministries Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the
church in touch with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the
peace of Jesus Christ. Please use the stories, testimonies, and
up-to-date contribution information as part of your offertory ministry.
Visit
www.CofChrist.org/generositystories to print a copy, or contact
your pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship coordinator
for a copy.
Blessing and Offering of Oblation and Mission Tithes
*Closing Hymn: “Beyond the Horizon” NS 5
OR “Now Let Us from This Table Rise” HS 327
OR “Now Let Our Hearts Within Us Burn” HS 495
*Benediction
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Isaiah 6:1–13; Psalm 138; I Corinthians 15:1–11; Luke
5:1–11
Exploring the Scriptures
It is important to remember the events of Luke, chapter 4, where Jesus
proclaimed his mission of God’s kingdom, received criticism for its
implications, and began his ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing. He
also announced in Luke 4:43 his intentions of proclaiming “the good news of the
kingdom of God to the other cities.” Chapter 5:1–11 follows as a natural
response to this proclamation as Jesus moved to the lakeshore and began his
calling of disciples, directed to normal, everyday people in the context of
real-life situations. Fish was a diet staple in first-century Palestine, and
fishing was a common practice and profession for many. For this reason, it was a
metaphor often used by the Gospel writers to tell their story.
Biblical scholars remind us that Luke’s source for this story is thought to
have connections with similar stories found in Mark 4:1–2 (setting by the lake),
John 21:3–8 (miracle story of catching fish), and Mark 1:16–20 (calling of the
fishermen). Reading these scriptures may provide additional background for
understanding Luke’s message in this story. However, it is clear that Luke’s
connecting of the miracle of the catching of fish with the calling of the first
disciples, for whatever reason he may have chosen, provides a deeper
understanding of God’s generosity and our response to God’s call in our lives.
The fishermen in the scripture story had fished all night and caught nothing.
Jesus challenged Simon and his fishing partners to go deeper and cast their nets
again. When they did, they caught more than their boats could hold. Perhaps
their obedience to Jesus’ command was a sign of their recognition of the
mysterious power that was resident in his teachings, his words, and his very
countenance. When they experienced the miracle catch, Simon Peter’s response was
one of recognizing God’s presence—and in that recognition, being fully aware of
his sinfulness. Jesus did not reprimand Simon Peter or condemn him for his
confession, but invited him and his partners, James and John, to follow him and
become fishers of people.
The true miracle of the story is not in the catching of fish, but in the
fishermen’s encounter with Jesus and God’s generosity. This encounter caused
them to respond to Jesus’ invitation to become fishers of people and
participants in the peaceable kingdom. We are also reminded that encounters with
God’s grace and generosity take place in our everyday life experiences. It is in
the context of the lives of normal everyday people that God’s Spirit is at work,
and lives are touched and transformed to become followers of Jesus. In this
story we also witness that God’s call comes to us not because of our worthiness,
qualifications, or merits; rather, it comes when we recognize we are in the
presence of God, receive God’s generous grace, confess our sinfulness, and
willingly respond by giving our all to become followers of Jesus and
participants in God’s peaceable reign on earth. Just like the fishermen in this
scripture story, God’s call reorders our priorities, resets our plans for the
future, and redirects our attentions to things that have lasting and eternal
value when we respond without hesitation.
Central Ideas
1. God’s grace and generosity are available to all people no matter what
their life circumstance. We must be continually aware of those “miracle”
moments where the mystery of the Divine intersects with our everyday lives
and makes us aware of God’s presence with us.
2. The call to become “fishers of people” is for all who will respond to
the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives, confess their sinfulness, and
reprioritize and redirect their lives to align them with God’s peaceable
reign.
Questions for the Speaker
1. What part of this familiar scripture story is most relevant to where
your congregation is feeling called to become “fishers”?
2. Are you feeling like the fishermen in the story who have fished all
night and caught nothing? If so, where is God present in your story?
3. Do you recognize God’s call to “go deeper,” but are reluctant to do so
out of fear of what you might catch or where God will invite you to go next?
4. Are your nets and boats prepared to hold the “catch” that God is
generously wanting to share with you?
5. What sins do you need to confess in order to fully respond to God’s
call to go deeper in your spiritual journey and in sharing your witness with
those who are waiting to be invited to become part of God’s kingdom?
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